What does it mean that Jesus is the answer?

Answer

“Jesus is the answer” is a well-known phrase. The missing piece is the question. What is Jesus the answer to? What message are people trying to convey when they assert that Jesus is the answer?

Jesus is the solution to our fractured relationship with God. When God created Adam and Eve, they experienced perfect communion with Him. However, Adam’s disobedience introduced death into the world, (Genesis 3:8-19;Romans 5:12;Romans 6:23;1 Corinthians 15:21-22). A crucial aspect of this death is spiritual separation. Humanity’s connection with God was severed. God provided clothing for Adam and Eve «Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. », (Genesis 3:21) and promised a Savior who would conquer Satan and restore harmony between God and humanity «and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. », (Genesis 3:15). The Old Testament gradually unveils God’s plan for redemption. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is the promised Savior. Jesus sacrificed Himself for our sins and reestablishes the opportunity for a relationship with God.

Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). Jesus is the solution—the only solution—to our broken relationship with God. Without Him, there is no salvation (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). The biblical term for God’s act of making peace with sinful humanity is reconciliation: “And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;”, (see 2 Corinthians 5:18). Romans 5:10 reminds us that, in Christ, God’s enemies were made His friends and given life: “If, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Jesus is the solution to the issue of our estrangement from God. It is Jesus who makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be children of God (John 1:12-13). It is Jesus who restores our relationship with God so that we can fellowship with Him during our lifetimes as well as eventually live with Him for eternity.

Jesus is the solution to our guilty consciences. Even after we are saved, we still sin and experience the temporal consequences of sin. Sin keeps us from fellowshipping with God fully. But we have God’s promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”, (1 John 1:9). Jesus is the One who “washes our feet” of daily impurities, even after we have been “fully bathed” see John 13:10. Jesus is the reason we can receive forgiveness and be purified. He is the solution to our sin problem both now and for eternity.

Jesus is the solution to our broken relationships with each other. When Adam and Eve sinned, not only did they break their relationship with God, but they alsoAlso damaged their relationship with each other (see Genesis 3:12,16). Humans have been struggling in relationships with one another ever since (see Genesis 4:8). This relational breakdown manifests in various ways, including the walls we erect between races. In the New Testament era, there was a major division between Gentiles and Jews. Jesus is the answer to all types of disharmony: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups [Jew and Gentile] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away and peace to those [Jews] who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-18;cf: Galatians 3:26-29).

Jesus instructed His followers to love one another humbly and sacrificially (John 13:34-35). Jesus prayed for unity among His followers (John 17), a unity embraced by the early church (Acts 8 and 10). Because we have received forgiveness in Jesus, we can forgive others. Jesus is the answer for our relational turmoil.

Jesus is the answer to a meaningless existence. The writer of Ecclesiastes bewails the meaninglessness of worldly pursuits apart from God. When we are spiritually dead, life is ultimately empty. Nothing in this world will fully satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts (see Psalm 73:25). But, in Jesus, we have purpose. He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” «The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.»

Antly. », (John 10:10). The Christian life is a fruitful life. We are invited to be part of God’s work in the world, tasked with sharing the gospel and making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). We can do nothing apart from Jesus, but in Him we bear much fruit «I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. », (John 15:5).

Jesus is the answer to our worries and doubts. Life involves hardship, and with hardship come worries, fears, and doubts. Jesus told His followers, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” «These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.», (John 16:33). Jesus reminded us of God’s love and care (Matthew 6:24-33). Jesus also gave us the Holy Spirit to live with us forever (John 14:15-21;16:7-15). Jesus is the reason we are not alone. Jesus is the answer to our fears and heartaches. He is able to sympathize with us because He has lived a human life in this broken world (Hebrews 4:15-16). Jesus gives us peace and equips us to endure, and even rejoice in, the hardships of this life (James 1:2-5).

Jesus is the answer to the problems of the world.Experience teaches us that the world is flawed and requires fixing—sometimes its flaws are quite evident. Jesus is the solution. He has a strategy to mend this flawed world: “The government will be on his shoulders. And he will be known as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and peace will have no end. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will make this happen” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Achieving world peace has proven to be a challenging goal in our conflict-ridden world, but one day Jesus will correct all things, and the Prince of Peace will govern with true justice, ushering in an era of blessing and abundance unlike anything the world has experienced (Isaiah 11). Revelation 21 foretells of a new heaven and new earth: “Behold! God’s dwelling is now among the people, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-5).

A time will come when the world’s issues will be resolved; everything will be renewed, and peace will prevail. This is all because of Jesus. We eagerly anticipate His return, believing that “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not desiring anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” «The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. », (2 Peter 3:9).

Regardless of our individual

Indeed, Jesus is the solution for our current life challenges, and He assures us of a brighter tomorrow.