LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Is “My Jesus” the Same Jesus as the Jesus of the Gospels?
Submitted to Dr. William Victor
NBST 515 BO9
New Testament Orientation I
by
Jimmy Paden
February 18, 2021
REFLECTIVE ESSAY ASSIGNMENT
Is “My Jesus” the Same Jesus as the Jesus of the Gospels? The more time I spend in the Gospels
and the Bible overall, the closer I draw to Jesus and the more dependent I am to His Word. The book of
James in chapter 4, verse 8 states, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” So, to answer
the question from above, no, the Jesus that I knew yesterday is not the same Jesus as of today. He is
someone that I desire to be closer to and to follow. He lived a perfect life here on earth with showing us
ways towards better living and how to interact and love people, both good and bad, and how to live a life
with compassion and understanding while providing guidance and direction for people who would listen
and believe in Him. Again, why is my Jesus not the same Jesus as yesterday, because I learn more about
Him every day through His Word. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your
commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.” (Psalm 119:97-98, NIV) My
respect, adoration, and love for Him grows more deeply each and every day. Even more than yesterday.
My compiled video report was more of a politically correct news report to target and inform
listeners without a religious background or maybe interested in engaging with the opportunity to learn
more about Jesus. This high-level knowledge which was delivered through video of who and what Jesus
did, I believe, is how numerous people know Jesus in our present day. When people are asked who Jesus
was, they respond by saying that he was a prophet, teacher, and good man who helped a lot of people.
These people are missing out on who the true Jesus was and what He really did do and did for us. They
are missing out on a personal relationship with God which Jesus provided a way for.
When reflecting, again, on the question “Why is my Jesus not the same Jesus as I knew
yesterday?” I not only learn from the Word but I key in on certain attributes from the Word. One of these
attributes are the many names of Jesus. There are many names throughout the Bible, both in the New and
Old Testament, for Jesus. The names of Jesus connect with people in so many different ways in so many
different time and settings. Whether His name(s) shows up in the Old Testament as prophecy, “For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV), as provided
by Isaiah seven hundred years before Jesus was born. The prophet Isaiah saw his coming and I believe
this truly tells of God’s ultimate control over all of the earth. It is truly amazing to know that the entire
Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is being written by God and the Holy Spirit. What a sovereign and
omniscient God He is. Not only was prophesized as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and Prince of
Peace, but He was also know by the Good Shepherd “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, NIV) and The Way - "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV).
Whatever name you prefer to call Him, His name is Jesus Christ. He was fully God and fully
human. His teachings were and still practical and full of information that peopl can use today to obtain a
closer relationship to God. Even though the messages and the names for Jesus are over 2000 years old,
they are still pertinent, active, and alive for us today.
