NOTE: Last month’s chronicles set forth my apostolic burden for the Church and her leaders to declare the whole counsel of God, and to embrace the whole redeemed family. My apostolic concern for this month is for us all to return to the Christo-centric paradigm so that all we do and say would be marked by the centrality and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, our exalted Head and King.

No one has ever resisted the real Jesus, the embodiment of the love of God. You can’t fight love because love won’t fight back.

Men and women have resisted a Methodist Jesus, a Baptist Jesus, a Catholic Jesus, a Pentecostal Jesus, and even a Kingdom Jesus—but no one has ever said no to the real Jesus. It is little wonder that the world has no use for the Jesus that religion has misrepresented by precept and lifestyle.

For those of you who have never met Him, did you know that the real Jesus is:

1. The Bread of life, the only One who can ever satisfy you (Jn. 6:35)?
2. The Light of the world, the only One who can light your darkness (Jn. 8:12)?

3. The Door of the sheep, the only One who can keep you safe (Jn. 10:7-9)?

4. The Good Shepherd, the only One who can truly care for you (Jn. 10:11-14)?

5. The Resurrection, the only One who can raise you up (Jn. 11:25)?

6. The Way and the Truth, the only One who can lead you to God (Jn. 14:6)?

7. The True Vine, the only One who can give you life and joy (Jn. 15:1-5)?
For those of you who have met and received Him as your personal Savior and Lord, and are faithfully walking with Him, did you know that the real Jesus:

1. Taught that the righteous would be “left behind” (Matt. 24:37-41)?
2. Promised that we are a “mansion,” and not that we’ll have one (Jn. 14:2,23)?

3. Endorsed and encouraged speaking with other tongues (Mk. 16:17)?

4. Prayed that His followers should not be taken out of the world (Jn. 17:15)?

5. Was the friend of sinners (Matt. 9:10-13; 11:19)?

6. Endorsed and ordained women to minister (Mk. 15:40-41)?

7. Hated the religious spirit of legalism (Matt. 23:1-35)?
I grew up in religion, and for the first seventeen years of my life was a devout church-going sinner. When my earthly father died in open-heart surgery at the young age of 49, the Lord came to me and healed my broken heart. On Friday evening, May 12, 1966, I experienced the real Jesus, the King of glory. He came to me, washed away my sins with His own blood, and gave me eternal life.

Do you know Him? Have you met the real Jesus?

FURTHER RESOURCE: Chapters Four and Five of my book, Whose Right It Is, available at www.Kelleyvarner.org/online-store/