“The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”
So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.”
He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.
- Ruth 3:10-15
Understanding the context of this passage is essential for understanding its meaning. Before this, Naomi gave instructions to Ruth on what to do in her encounter with Boaz. Then Ruth does just what Naomi tells her, including making the official request to Boaz to be their guardian-redeemer. Now, Boaz is giving his response to Ruth’s request.
Boaz begins his response in verse 10 with a blessing. His use of “daughter” indicates not only his affection but also the cultural acknowledgment of an age difference between them. Ruth’s request—essentially a marriage proposal—would have been bold in that society, where women typically did not initiate such arrangements. However, rather than reacting with shock or disapproval, Boaz commends Ruth’s kindness (hesed), which extends beyond simple loyalty to Naomi.
By stating that Ruth did not pursue younger men, whether rich or poor, Boaz affirms her commitment to family duty over personal gain. This contrasts with the common assumption that young widows would seek remarriage for economic security. Instead, Ruth demonstrates covenantal faithfulness, seeking the well-being of Naomi’s household rather than merely her own interests.
Boaz assures Ruth that her boldness will not be a detriment to her in verse 11. He will take care of her, and he will make sure that her reputation is not tarnished from this incident since it was very counter-cultural at the time.
In verse 12, Boaz acknowledges his role as the guardian-redeemer, having the responsibility of ensuring that land and lineage remained within the family. However, Boaz points out that another relative holds a closer claim. This introduces an important legal principle: the process of redemption must follow the proper order.
Boaz’s integrity is evident in his commitment to follow the correct process. Instead of secretly marrying Ruth that night, he ensures that the closer relative has the first opportunity to act. This adherence to justice aligns with the cultural importance of maintaining fairness in property and marriage rights.
Boaz tells Ruth to stay until morning (verse 13), raising questions about propriety and protection. Some might view this as improper, but in the cultural context, this decision safeguarded Ruth from potential danger. The threshing floor was typically a place where men celebrated after the harvest, sometimes with excessive drinking. By keeping Ruth near him, Boaz likely ensured her safety from potential harm.
Moreover, Boaz’s command that no one should know a woman had come to the threshing floor highlights his concern for Ruth’s reputation. Ancient Israelite society placed immense value on a woman’s honor, and an unwed woman being seen at night with a man could lead to damaging rumors. Boaz’s discretion demonstrates his respect for Ruth’s character and his desire to protect her from societal judgment. Ruth did as he instructed and left before she was seen the next morning (verse 14).
In verse 15, as Ruth is leaving, Boaz gives her six measures of barley. While the exact weight of these “measures” is debated, the symbolic meaning is clear: provision and promise. This act serves as an assurance for Naomi that Boaz had good intentions to take care of them. This gift also shows that Boaz values Ruth, not simply dismissing her but taking an extra step to provide for her and Naomi. This gift could also be an affirmation of Ruth’s proposal, confirming that Boaz desires to fulfill his role as the guardian-redeemer.
Boaz’s response to Ruth shows his integrity, patience, and adherence to the law. His actions demonstrate key cultural values of legal faithfulness (following proper procedures for the culture), kindness, generosity, honor, and respect. This reveals that he is deeply rooted in faith, honor, and integrity.
While our culture today would handle situations like this much differently, those principles of faith, honor, and integrity should still be evident in our lives today. How do your actions with those around you reveal those principles in your life? Or do you need to make changes to ensure that you are living your life in a manner worthy of your calling as a follower of Jesus Christ, the ultimate redeemer?
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One of the biggest misconceptions about Jesus is that He is just love, mercy, and compassion, but He is not about judgment and wrath. Jesus said He did not come to condemn the world but to save it; however, in the very next sentence, He said the world is condemned already. He simply is not adding to it. It’s already there. We have already sinned, and therefore, Jesus does not need to come around and bring judgment. However, Jesus does warn of that judgment that is already due, but in that judgment, He offers peace, hope, and salvation – the one means of escape from that judgment. A clear case study of this is found in Matthew 11:20-30.
In the first part of this passage, Jesus condemns three towns: Bethsaida, Corazin, and Capernaum, all towns in which Jesus had based His Galilean ministry and where He spent most of His time in ministry for three years. They all saw Him and heard Him, and yet there was no change in how the towns as a whole operated. They came for a spectacle, to get what they wanted, and then went right back to their lifestyles as though Jesus never was there. And this made Jesus mad and sad.
Many say Jesus was fond of using hyperbole, but I find many times people will argue that to try to lessen the sting of the message. The Bible is full of very strong language, equating witchcraft to idolatry, comparing our own righteousness to menstrual rags, and even making Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Hosea do some very strange things to showcase just how graphic the nature of sin is. I think the Bible actually holds back on the severity of sin because we simply don’t have the language to understand it. I don’t believe Jesus is using hyperbole here. I believe Jesus did believe Sodom, Gomorrah, and Nineveh would have repented had they seen Jesus in action. And because the towns who saw Him in action, the very Son of God on display, nonchalantly went about their way, what else would it take? This is the same thing Jesus confronted the Pharisees with in Matthew 12 with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. As John MacArthur put it, “If after you have seen what I do and heard what I say and all you can do is conclude this to be the work of the devil, then you are beyond the possibility of being saved. There is nothing more you could receive.”
Judgment was coming, and because Jesus was rejected, there was nothing more that could be done. This is also why God condemned the pre-Flood world, why He condemned Sodom and Gomorrah even with the hope of finding ten righteous men, and why He condemned the adult generation leaving Egypt. Because they did not receive the message, and even if God the Father had come down and shown all His glory to prove Himself to them, they would only hate Him all the more.
But with this condemnation that Jesus is merely stating is already there, Jesus offers hope. To come to Him, to be with Him, to take your yoke upon Him because every person’s daily life is simply brutal. When we find rest in Jesus, He does the heavy lifting. I don’t get how people think they can survive without Christ because they simply aren’t. They may put on a good façade, and they may have deceived themselves into being fine, but human life is not designed to operate without God. And Jesus doesn’t call for us to pull our fair share of the load. He simply asks us to come alongside Him and let Him do all the work.
Jesus did not want to condemn anyone; He wanted to save people from condemnation. He offered life and life abundant, but to acquire it requires denial of the old life. To get the new life, you need to get rid of the old life. And the new life is so much better than the old life. I have heard it said that the world is simply amazed at how Christians can engage in parties and enjoy company without the use of beer or drugs. Why? Because we have a source of joy that far supersedes any temporary pleasure the world offers.
What Jesus offers is the best thing that could be offered. I am reminded of what God offered Israel as they entered the Promised Land: life for obedience or death for disobedience. Such an easy choice… or more accurately, such an obvious choice which one would be better. But what did Israel do? They chose sin and death. Then they blamed God for it, and we are no different. So many times, we go back to the very vomit we throw up, and I am reminded of what Paul says in Romans 6: We are to be dead to those things. We were supposed to have given those up, abandoning the old life to embrace the new life. I am so grateful to have a God who doesn’t give up on me. Because He very well could. He gave up on three towns that saw Jesus in the flesh. He gave them over to eternal judgment, though obviously, there were individuals who escaped and believed.
We can desire to see someone saved all we want, but there does come a point when God says: “They are finished. They are dead. There is nothing more that can be done.” Yes, God could just snap His fingers and “save everyone,” but that is not how He designed things. Why would sinful people want to spend eternity with the very God they hate anyway? They want paradise but not God. And only those who want God are getting in. Do we want Him? Or do we just want what He offers? The towns Jesus cursed only wanted the show, the miracles, and the feel-goods. They didn’t want Jesus, and they didn’t want to give up their lives to Him. But those who did found rest and comfort. They found a load in life that was easy and light, lighter than anything they could ever find anywhere else. And they would never go back.
Find your rest in Jesus. And while it sounds cruel, the dead cannot be saved; you have to let them go. That is what Jesus did. They refused to get on the “ark,” and when the Flood came, there was nothing more that could be done. Don’t reject the message. Come to Christ before it is too late.
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When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
- Ruth 3:7-9
In the section before this, Naomi had given Ruth specific instructions of what to do when she goes to see Boaz. Ruth trusted Naomi and promised to do exactly what she instructed (verse 6). To modern readers, Ruth’s actions might appear bold, inappropriate, or just plain odd, but within the ancient Israelite context, they were a profound statement of faith and submission.
The threshing floor was a significant site in agrarian societies, where harvested grain was separated from the chaff. After the hard labor of threshing, landowners like Boaz would sleep near their grain to protect it from thieves. This was their livelihood, after all – not just financially but also their food to survive. The setting of Ruth’s approach is important because it reflects a moment of vulnerability and trust between her and Boaz.
While the exact meaning of Ruth uncovering Boaz’s feet (verse 7) isn’t explicitly stated, there are several interpretations that help us understand its cultural and theological significance.
In ancient Israelite culture, placing oneself at someone's feet was often an act of humility, submission, and supplication. By uncovering Boaz’s feet and lying down, Ruth was symbolically placing herself under his authority, signaling her request for his protection and provision as a guardian-redeemer. This echoes other biblical moments where people fall at the feet of someone in a position of power or grace.
The uncovering of feet may have been a marriage custom in the ancient Near East. Ruth’s act could be interpreted as a discreet but formal way of asking Boaz to marry her under the levirate marriage tradition, which aimed to preserve a deceased man’s family line. The request to “spread the corner of your garment” (verse 9) further reinforces this idea, symbolizing God's protective covering over His people. The Hebrew word for "corner" can also mean "wing," which has connotations of protection and covenant love (Ezekiel 16:8). This act parallels God's care for Israel (Psalm 91:4) and signifies Ruth’s desire for Boaz to take her as his wife under the guardian-redeemer tradition.
In some biblical passages, feet are associated with authority and possession, such as Joshua 10:24, where placing feet on a conquered king's neck symbolizes dominance. By uncovering Boaz’s feet, Ruth may have been invoking his role as her potential redeemer, asking him to take responsibility for her and Naomi in accordance with Israelite customs.
Ruth’s actions placed her in a vulnerable position, both socially and physically. Some scholars suggest that her approach was a test of Boaz’s character—whether he would act righteously or take advantage of the situation. Boaz’s response (offering protection and ensuring the legal process was followed) demonstrates his integrity and commitment to honoring Ruth in a godly manner.
Some theologians see deeper spiritual symbolism in Ruth’s act, drawing a parallel between her seeking Boaz’s covering and believers seeking refuge under God’s wings. Just as Ruth sought Boaz’s redemption, we are called to seek Christ’s covering and redemption in our own lives.
But regardless of the deeper meaning, naturally, this woke Boaz up at some point during the night (verse 8). Boaz’s reaction further highlights his integrity and righteousness. Boaz does not react with anger or reject her. Instead, he seeks to understand what’s going on in this situation. First, he simply asks who she is (verse 9). While they had interacted while she was gleaning, the more likely reason for this question is simply that it was dark, and Boaz had just woken up, so he did not know who this person was who had uncovered his feet.
Ruth explains who she is and makes her request for Boaz to be her guardian-redeemer. In Israelite society, a guardian-redeemer was responsible for protecting family members and ensuring their welfare. This role could include redeeming a relative from slavery (Leviticus 25:47-49), repurchasing family land that had been sold (Leviticus 25:25), and marrying a deceased relative’s widow to preserve his lineage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10).
Boaz, as a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband Elimelech, had the potential to fulfill this duty, though there was another closer relative with the first right of refusal, as we will discover in the next chapter. But since Ruth and Boaz had interaction while she was gleaning in his field, it makes sense that she approached him first. Ruth’s request was thus both bold and lawful, appealing to Boaz’s role within their family’s legal framework.
But even still, Ruth’s approach to Boaz was an extraordinary act of faith. As a Moabite woman, she was stepping into a foreign culture and placing herself at the mercy of Boaz’s response. Her actions reflect courage, loyalty, and trust. Ruth defies social norms, risking misinterpretation and rejection, especially since she was still a foreigner in this land. Ruth remains faithful and loyal to Naomi, doing what she needed to do to secure a future for them both. Ruth trusted both in what Naomi was telling her to do and in the God of Naomi’s people, who Ruth was accepting as her own.
God was working in this situation, both in Ruth carrying out Naomi’s instructions and in Boaz’s reaction to Ruth. In the next section, we’ll see more about how Boaz handled the situation.
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There is one miracle Jesus did that is recorded in all four Gospels: the feeding of the 5000. I will focus on John’s account here. Each biographer emphasized some details over others, but they all emphasized one thing: a massive crowd of 5000+ men, not including women and children, which likely would have made the crowd upwards of 20,000. Jesus taught them, had compassion on them, and fed them. But then John’s account takes it further. The crowd followed Jesus for a large discourse afterward, and Jesus didn’t give them another bite. He instead told them to stop seeking physical food that would make them hungry again but to seek Him for eternal bread, which the manna of the wilderness was a picture of. As a result, the whole crowd quit following Him, and that ended Jesus’ ministry in the upper parts of Galilee. So what is the deal here, and what was Jesus thinking?
If we know our Biblical history, this crowd was already prepared for Jesus because this was the same region where Jesus healed the demoniac who lived among the tombs and then told him to go tell everyone what Jesus did for him. So when Jesus showed up again, word spread very quickly in the whole region, and this massive crowd gathered around Him. Jesus saw all these people, who were like lost sheep with no shepherd, and He longed that they might be saved. After teaching them, it became clear that there was no food, and it was now becoming a distraction from the teachings. So Jesus, in His compassion, fed them. He only had enough to feed a couple of people at best, but it was enough. Jesus multiplied the food that was enough for maybe two people and fed 20,000 people with plenty of leftovers: twelve baskets full, which would have lasted each disciple a good week or more.
I personally have seen a similar miracle take place on more than one occasion, having grown up on the mission field. It’s always awesome to see. One time in March 2010 stands out the most because I recognized it happening while it was happening. We were at a children’s home on the far outskirts of Juarez, Mexico, and we brought a sloppy joe meal for them: 40 people, including kids, staff, and our team. We had the meat mix for 40, 40 buns, 40 apples, canned corn for 40, 40 plates, 40 napkins, 40 forks, and our standard team “snack box.” We didn’t know that during lunchtime, the community around them came by also, especially noticing that Americans were there. We ended up with double the number of people that we had food for. We chose to feed the people full servings, and our team would sacrifice, just eating from our snack box if necessary. But we just kept serving and serving, and I noticed that more people had gone through the lines than we had food for, and we were like, “God’s doing His thing again.” We were about 10+ miles from the nearest store where we could get any food, not to mention that you can’t just buy our sloppy joe mix, as we had it in our pots. No one left to get more. But in the end, we served over 75 people, served them seconds, and had leftovers.
There were other times when the last bite went to the last person. Back when I was too young and unobservant, my mom described this miracle happening with eyeglasses – every person got their exact prescription down to the last box. So yes, these miracles still happen, and no, we know better than to put God to the test. It only happened when we planned properly, and the crowds were still way above what we could expect. God did not let them go hungry.
Jesus filled that crowd till they were full and then dismissed them. However, the crowd noticed this was going on, too, and they chased Jesus so they could get another meal out of Him. But Jesus put His foot down. He didn’t give them another bite. Jesus was not going to be anyone’s welfare system, a genie that makes food appear at convenience. He did have compassion on them, but He was not going to give anyone a free ride. This miraculous feeding had a much bigger purpose: it’s not what Jesus has to offer that sustains us; it is Jesus Himself that sustains us.
Let’s not forget the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus knows our physical needs. He did not at all dismiss them, but He had a priority: to seek the Lord and to see His Kingdom first and foremost. When we do that, all “these things” – food, water, clothing, shelter – will be provided. They may not be in the form we like, but they will be provided. This is what Jesus was seeking to do with this crowd. He didn’t want them dependent upon Him for handouts. He wanted them dependent upon Him for literally everything. To walk as He walked. To talk as He talked. To love as He loved. To hate as He hated. To think as He thought. And to be obedient to the Father as He was obedient. He wanted these people to make Him the very source and sustenance for every aspect of life. And that was too much for them, so they left.
Then Jesus did a strange thing: He turned to His disciples and asked them if they wanted to go, too. Jesus wasn’t looking for fans. He wasn’t looking for popularity. He was only looking for those who would be dedicated through thick and thin. Jesus took solace in the fact that those who would follow Him would be those the Father selected. And while it grieved Him that so many would perish, He did not let His emotions control Him. He let the Father’s will control Him. So must we in our lives.
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One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”
“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
- Ruth 3:1-6
As we start chapter 3 of the book of Ruth, this passage presents a significant turning point in Ruth’s life. To fully grasp the weight of this passage, it is essential to understand the ancient Israelite customs at play. In that patriarchal society, a woman’s security often depended on her connection to a male provider. As widows without male heirs, Naomi and Ruth were particularly vulnerable. Naomi’s plan for Ruth to seek Boaz’s favor was not merely about marriage but about securing redemption through a cultural practice known as levirate marriage and the role of the kinsman-redeemer.
The kinsman-redeemer was a male relative responsible for protecting the interests of needy family members, including marrying the widow of a deceased relative to provide an heir. Boaz, as a relative of Naomi’s late husband Elimelech, was in a position to fulfill this role. However, Ruth’s approach to Boaz is anything but conventional—it is bold, risky, and a leap of faith.
Naomi begins in verse 1 by expressing her desire to find Ruth a permanent home, ensuring her well-being. The Hebrew word for "home" in this verse implies rest and security, not just a house, signifying Naomi’s deep concern for Ruth’s future stability. Despite her own hardships, Naomi prioritizes Ruth’s welfare, reflecting the selfless love that underscores their relationship.
Naomi had previously realized that Boaz was a relative, but in verse 2 she calls him out to Ruth as the potential redeemer. Naomi recognizes the opportunity provided by the threshing floor since the harvest was still going on. The threshing floor is where the valuable grain was separated from the worthless chaff. Men would sleep there overnight to protect their harvest, making it a secluded and strategic setting for Ruth’s approach.
In verse 3, Naomi instructs Ruth to wash, put on perfume, and wear her best clothes. These actions signify more than personal grooming; they symbolize transition. Some scholars suggest that Ruth was signaling the end of her mourning period as a widow, presenting herself as eligible for marriage. This was also, of course, for her to appeal to Boaz during their encounter.
Naomi’s instructions for Ruth to "uncover his feet and lie down" in verse 4 might seem unusual to modern readers. However, in ancient Near Eastern culture, uncovering a person’s feet could symbolize submission and seeking protection. By doing so, Ruth is not seducing Boaz but rather making a humble and clear request for redemption. This act reflects trust in both Naomi’s wisdom and Boaz’s integrity.
Ruth responds, "I will do whatever you say" (verse 5). We don’t see any objection or questioning of Naomi’s intent by Ruth. Her obedience is not blind but rooted in faith—faith in Naomi’s guidance, in Boaz’s character, and in God’s provision.
Ruth follows through with Naomi’s plan in verse 6, stepping into an uncertain situation with courage. Her actions demonstrate initiative, humility, and faith, laying the groundwork for what follows in the rest of the chapter.
Along with continuing the narrative, we see multiple lessons in this passage. Ruth does not passively wait for a redeemer; she steps forward in faith. She trusted Naomi’s plan that it was of God, which demonstrates how we as believers are called to trust God’s provision while actively participating in His plans. It is important to remember that Ruth was still a Moabite “outsider,” but she was learning Israelite customs. She trusted Naomi to guide her correctly, but yet she is courageous in this unconventional approach to Boaz.
Ruth, a Moabite outsider, respects Israelite customs yet courageously challenges traditional gender roles. Her approach to Boaz is unconventional, but it is done with wisdom and respect.
After her initial deep despair in Ruth 1, we see Naomi now full of hope and expectation. She now sees a path forward for herself and her daughter-in-law. Even when life seemed bleak, God was working behind the scenes, guiding their steps.
Boaz, as the kinsman-redeemer, foreshadows Christ, who redeems humanity from spiritual destitution. Just as Ruth sought Boaz’s protection, we as believers seek refuge under Christ’s redemption. We know that we are unable to save ourselves, but when we approach Jesus with courage, He is always there as our redeemer.
This passage offers encouragement to trust God in seasons of uncertainty, to act in faith while honoring the wisdom of others, and to recognize that God’s provision often comes through the community He places around us. Just as Ruth found favor with Boaz, believers can rest in the assurance that God, our ultimate Redeemer, provides security and hope beyond our circumstances.
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There is one thing Jesus did that triggered both the general population and the priesthood more than anything else: when He declared Himself to be God. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus gave Himself seven “I am” statements along with one very big “I AM” statement. Here they are:
- I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
- I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
- I am the Door (John 10:9)
- I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
- I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
- I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
- I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)
- Before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58)
Let’s examine each one and discuss why Jesus would say this about Himself, especially at the risk of extreme peril and rejection.
Jesus is the Bread of Life. John 6 opens with the feeding of the 5000 and covers Jesus’ discourse with the people who sought to make Him an automated food machine so they didn’t have to work for their food. He didn’t give them a second bite. He instead told them that their trust sustenance would be Him, His very life. To the Jews, eating any flesh and blood of a human was the ultimate food sin, yet Jesus said we were to eat His flesh and drink His blood. He was speaking of The Lord’s Supper and, of course, His crucifixion, but He is also the Word of God made flesh. And man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus is that word. Jesus wanted us to take no other source of sustenance other than Him.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Jesus is the only source of visibility, knowledge, and understanding. Yes, we have the sun for physical light, and yes, we have education, but they are mere shadows of the true light and true knowledge – Jesus. Jesus is the only one who helps us to see clearly in any circumstance.
Jesus is the Door. Jesus is the only way in. He was speaking about a sheep pen; being the door, He marks and identifies who belongs in the pen and who doesn’t. But this also applies to the door of the Ark of Noah – one door, one way in, one means of salvation. Trying to get in any other way is like a thief trying to sneak in and claim what is not his. Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the guardian, protector, and supplier for the sheep. He will beat up the wolves, and He will lead us to the fields and waters to eat in peace. Even when enemies are around, He will prepare a table for us while He protects us. But as the Good Shepherd, He also corrects us and disciplines us so that we may walk with Him instead of going our own way.
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus is the source of life. He won’t merely bring us to resurrection, He is the resurrection itself. It is in and through Jesus that life is given, taken away, and even given again. Lazarus had died, and Jesus waited intentionally for him to die so that He could perform His final public miracle: raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus did this to demonstrate that physical death, physical sickness, or even the pain of suffering and torture mean nothing to a Christian who has their trust in Jesus because He has the power over it. It does not mean all will be healed physically in this life or there will be no suffering, but it means there is far more with Jesus than this physical life.
Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Life. Jesus is exclusive. I know that is not a popular thing to say, but there is only one means of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. He is the way to life. He is the truth, the only standard of reality that is never wrong. He is the life, and those who have Christ have something that no one or nothing else can offer: hope beyond this world. No other religion can do it. No achievement of man can do it. Only Jesus can do it. And the best part about it is we don’t have to do the heavy lifting. All we have to do is follow Him and He takes care of all the details.
Jesus is the Vine. Jesus is the source of life and the power behind all life. We have to rest and trust in Him and stay connected to Him. Otherwise, we are like a dead branch that can do nothing but be a pawn or tool in someone else’s hands. But if we are attached to Jesus, not only will we bear spiritual fruit, but we will have the “goods” to grow. The more we grow, the stronger the attachment to the vine.
Jesus is the I AM. This is the ultimate statement of Jesus’ self-identification where even above His declaration to be one with the Father, here He declared Himself to be the very God who appeared to Moses. And newsflash: He was. It was the Angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses and declared Himself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was Jesus who appeared to Abraham multiple times and it was Jesus who wrestled with Jacob. Jesus is the I AM. He truly could declare Himself to be God because He was the very one who gave Moses that name.
Jesus is everything – quite literally, everything. He is God. Everything is about Him and for Him. He created everything for His glory and His pleasure, and He created us to be able to partake in that love He has. He is the purpose of all things, and we exist to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever. He is to be the center of our thoughts, the source of our sustenance, our go-to, our protection, our provider, our everything. While we have our doctrines and our theologies, every one of them is centered around Jesus. And if we miss Jesus, we miss everything. Don’t miss Him.
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