The Essential Jesus

A couple months ago, I signed up for “The Essential Jesus” Bible-reading plan on YouVersion.com, which was created by Scripture Union, where they also have a book that you can purchase to help guide you through the readings. As described on the website, “In 100 carefully selected passages from the Bible you will discover who Jesus is and why he is so significant — even life transforming. Through both Old and New Testament readings you will discover why God sent Jesus, what Jesus taught, how he treated people, why he did miracles, and the meaning of his death, the significance of his resurrection, and what the Bible says about his second coming.”

As I had previously been on a very intense reading plan of reading through the New Testament each month for the previous six months, I wanted to change things up this time and really take my time reading through, meditating on and studying these passages about Jesus. So while it is a 100-day plan, I know it’s going to take me much longer to get through it.

On the first day I sat down with my Bible and my journal and I was about to start writing a journal entry in prayer form, with me talking to Jesus about the passage. This is a common approach to meditating on scripture and one that I fully enjoy. But as I was about to begin writing, I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit to change the perspective and write as though Jesus was speaking to me personally about Himself. While I have written letters to myself from God before, this was a little different, because this was Jesus telling me about Jesus!

I have found this method of journaling the scripture to be extremely life-giving to my spirit, but it is also a little intimidating. I go forward with some fear and trembling, for who am I to put words in Jesus’ mouth?? I feel I have such limited revelation and understanding on Who He really is and that I am sort of stumbling my way through this. But at the same time, I need to trust that the Holy Spirit really does dwell inside of me and that He will lead me into all truth and that He will reveal Jesus to my heart (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13; Ephesians 1:17).

Of course, I write using the scripture as my basis for everything, as much as I am able, and when I have been at a loss for the meaning of a passage, I have been finding much helpful instruction from Bible commentaries (especially Matthew Henry’s Commentary, which I love). I pray that I am not writing anything that is completely untrue, but I am certainly not the expert on God, so I am completely open to being corrected and having my extremely basic understanding of Jesus brought continually into greater fullness.

So, I have decided to start a new series on my blog to share my journal entries with you – Jesus talking to us about Himself and His heart towards us. I’m not sure how long this will go for or how regularly I’ll post and I may not always follow the Essential Jesus reading plan exactly, but I pray that it will be life-giving and encouraging and challenging to those of you who read them. Feel free to challenge or question me and to add your own insights and revelation in the comments, that we could all go together in discovering who Jesus is.