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In our series on the study of Christ (Christology) we are following Emil Brunner and Dale Moody as we look at the work of the Christ and then the Person of the Christ. This makes the most sense to me because what we see, hear and handle with our hands of the Christ is His work. He is Savior, Redeemer and Rescuer. All of these words we use to describe His Person are in fact we discover in His work(s), so it seems to me natural we should scrutinize His work to describe His Person.
In no way do I demean His Person. Jesus often referred to His works in order to demonstrate His identity. The disciples of John the Baptizer came asking for evidence of His Messianic identity. Jesus might have given a long theological discourse. Instead, our Lord gives a Biblical list of His prophetic works to establish His credentials.
Only toward the end of His earthly ministry does Jesus stress His Person. Even then He is prone to announce His identity and then to point out to actions past, present and future to define His Person.
Simply put, Jesus is a Doer. He demonstrates how we may know how we ma approximate the image of God in our own lives. He asks us to follow Him, to imitate Him and even to take up our Cross as He carries His Cross.
The earthly ministry of Jesus divides neatly into two parts. Of HIs three years of works, see the time from the wedding feast at Cana of Galilee to the Mount of Transfiguration is eighteen months and from there to the Cross/Resurrection Event is another eighteen months. During the first half of His earthly ministry Jesus majors on miracles and also teaches. In the last half Jesus majors on teaching (usually with the closest disciples) and also performs miracles.
Ergo, as Jesus approaches His death and resurrection (and coming departure to Heaven) Jesus focuses His attention (to His people who must soon live without His earthly presence) Jesus acts in such a way as to point first to Himself and then to Heaven. His behavior would be natural if He believes Himself to be the only divine means by which the masses of humanity may come to Heaven.
Friedrich Niethzche, the early precursor of the pragmatic philosophers (Niethzche writes about love too much to be a true pragmatist) has this happy thought for us, to wit:
If you have a why, you can get through almost any how.
Jesus had a why, has a why and will have a why.
Jesus is The Way to Heaven.
Watch what Jesus does.
What Jesus does will tell use who Jesus is.