Manifestation - A Cause for Reflection and Celebration

UV 2745/10000 Manifestation –A Cause for Reflection and Celebration
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1 v 1
One thinker had said it is impossible to define God. But Jesus is defined or identified by John as the Word who was with God and was the same as God. The Father defined Himself as “I am who I am.” One of the implications is that God can and does manifest Himself as the need arises or in accordance with His sovereign will. He manifested Himself to the nascent Israelite nation in the desert as a cloud by day and a fire by night which implies He covers the entire range of options to manifest His being from cool to red hot, from the soft vapour of a cloud to the fiery flames of the fire. Even today, in a twenty four hour walk with God, we can experience a soft and gentle manifestation of His presence or a fierce and powerful manifestation. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God is defined as the Comforter and Remembrancer. He is also the Enabler. He enables us to remember and understand and apply the Word in the context of our world.
Jesus also described Himself in seven different ways: the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Resurrection, the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, the Door, the Bread of Life, the Light of the world. He is certainly the most enigmatic personality of history for He is both Lamb of God and Lion, sacrificial lamb and Almighty Shepherd, Judge and Saviour, all conquering hero and gentle Messiah. He deliberately did not define that He is the way to a particular goal. He left it open ended. It implies that He is the way to God, salvation, joy, victory, service, liberty, truth, healing, deliverance, blessing, forgiveness, power, wisdom, grace and mercy. In all these much needed dimensions of life, He is the Word of truth, judgement, healing, deliverance, eternal life, wisdom, blessing, provision, promotion, protection, restoration, guidance, correction, hope, fulfilment, vindication, upliftment, enablement, conviction, empowerment, encouragement. He is the cause and source of the beginning, sustenance, continuity and fulfilment of life.

Jesus is the Word that was, that is and is to be. All time or all tenses converge in Him. History finds its focal point in Him. He is also described as the Lord Amen in the book of Revelation or the One who causes all prayers to be heard and answered. The versatile manifestations of the Lord means that our relationship with Him has many dynamics. Every day with Jesus is different, every experience and testimony or encounter of His manifestation. Every time and every way He manifests Himself in our lives, we need to genuflect, reflect and celebrate. It is our “ Emmaus moment” to discover another hitherto unknown or unrecognized aspect, another appearance or manifestation of Jesus in our lives.

Prateep V Philip