There are many descriptors of Jesus, a few favorites 521-2 - 21 - 2

John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” This is the most indicting and denied descriptor of Jesus. This passage repudiate the claims of universality that all roads lead to God.

Revelation 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Yes, Jesus is and was and always will be, “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

The book of Revelation has many descriptors of Jesus including those found in chapters two and three, the letters to the seven churches.

To the church of Ephesus, “These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”

To the church in Smyrna, “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.”

To the church in Pergamos, “He which hath the sharp sword with two edges”

To the church in Thyatira, “the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass”

To the church in Sardis write, “He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars”

To the church in Philadelphia, “he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

To the church of the Laodiceans, “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God”

These descriptors of Jesus are favorites as they relate to the churches throughout the ages. Although the early apostolic church was the first of the seven churches (stars, candlesticks?) and followed the teachings of Jesus, they got caught up in the letter of the law.

The early church suffered greatly but had the promise of life. Then came tolerance and degradation of the church through the marriage of the church to the world. The “the sharp sword with two edge,” the Word of God, was co-mingled with pagan beliefs.

This gave rise to the medieval church and to such horrors as the Grand Inquisition. Perhaps part of this descriptor of Jesus, “eyes like unto a flame of fire,” relates to the threat of this church going through the tribulation.

The Reformation was never completed and many of the churches are comatose. However, there still are “the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars,” a subject for which I need a refresher. .

Through the ages there have been multitude of Christian martyrs. Today, Christians throughout parts of the world are suffering persecution and death. These persecuted Christians are reminded that Jesus holds the key to the door to their eternal life.

As for the descriptor of Jesus with regard the church of Laodicea, I prefer the warning that Jesus will not tolerate lukewarm “followers.” He will spit them out.

There are many, many more descriptors throughout the Bible, however, the reminder that he is our shepherd is the most important to me. From that flows every good thing including living water.

Psalm 23 provides great comfort as “The Lord is my shepherd….”

John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

What a great comfort it is that just as we know Jesus’ voice, He knows ours. Sometimes it’s that small still voice that guides us, the Holy Spirit, the comforter given us at Pentecost.

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

He gave his life as a propitiation so that we can appear before a righteous God rather than face damnation. Just as John the Baptist had to decrease so that Jesus could increase, Jesus “returned to His place” so that the Holy Spirit could come to us.

John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” We Gentiles are “grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree”