Dr Robert C Putnam, Bible Scholar
For two thousand years the prophets told of the coming Messiah. Finally he appeared and began his brief ministry. In 3 short years he started a revolution which was to gather momentum & sweep the West. It destroyed Greek philosophy. It replaced barbarism with civilization. It gives a basis for Western culture. It gave answers where others could only ask questions. It emphasized Spirit rather than the flesh. What was the prime distinction of Jesus’ ministry that raised and separated it from all others? It was healing. This was the keynote. Jesus devoted three solid years to healing. He healed the sick and he healed the sinner. He raised the dead and showed the way to a full salvation. There are more than twenty-five individual healings recorded in the Bible. Many others were performed and the accounts say he healed all that were in need of healing. Jesus daily and hourly healed the people. This was the proof that he was the Messiah and that he spoke the truth. This was what he enjoined upon others and was the sign given to Moses. It showed that what Jesus said was of greater value, more powerful and more truthful than all that had been said before. Jesus revealed a new name for God. That name was Love. What hint of God as Love do we have from those who preceded Jesus? There is very little. Some of the earlier prophets healed, but none were able to teach others to heal. Jesus was the first to reveal and prove God to be Love and this enabled him to teach others to heal. Love expresses man’s true relation to God and to his fellow man. Love means infinite giving. Love is the fulfilling of the law.Show all
Dr Robert C Putnam, Bible Scholar
In John 17:4 Jesus said, “I have glorified thee on the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” This is a remarkable statement. In three short years Jesus had completed his mission. His work was finished. Did this mean that all revelation was complete? Not at all. In John 16:12 he said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” It is evident that he had completed his work, yet there was more to be said. Therefore revelation was not yet complete. There must remain a further revelation. In John 16:13 he said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” It is evident that a further revelation would come which would guide to all truth, i.e., it would complete revelation and leave nothing unrevealed. In John 14:16,17 Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth.” It is indicated that Jesus was one comforter, but that another comforter would come which would remain forever and would complete all revelation. The coming of Jesus and his presentation of the truth was the first coming of Christ. The arrival of the second comforter was to be the second coming of Christ. We shall now inquire into the details of this second coming as revealed by the Bible. (See also John 14:2)Show all