Qualified

Often when we turn to a person for help we wish to know their qualifications. If we are ill, we want to know that the person we are speaking to is a qualified doctor. If we are wanting advice about an investment, we want to know that the person telling us what to do is a qualified financial adviser. Usually such individuals go through years of training and pass appropriate exams before they are regarded as qualified.

Jesus offers himself to us as our Saviour, indeed the only Saviour. There is nothing wrong with us considering his qualifications for that role. Indeed, an entire book has been written about his qualifications – the Bible – and we are advised to go to it and see what it says about him. Once we have read what it says about him, we will respond to him, either by accepting him as our Saviour or by not accepting him.

Here are a few of his qualifications. First, Jesus was chosen for this role by the One with all-knowledge and all-wisdom. God the Father chose him. Today, people are headhunted for top positions, but the Father did not need to engage in such a speculative method. His choice had been with him eternally and was as wise as himself. 

Second, Jesus personally provided the salvation that we need. He did so by living a perfect life (that could be reckoned to our account), by dying an atoning death (paying the penalty for sin), and by rising from the dead (indicating that he had defeated that most powerful of enemies, death). Now he offers this salvation freely to us. In fact, his salvation is the most valuable product available. Apparently, Apple recently became the first company to be valued in two trillion dollars (I could write out the number of zeros in that figure, but it would not really help you very much). Those who think that is amazing have not really considered the value of the salvation given freely by Jesus.

Third, Jesus is now in the position of total authority, reigning from God’s throne. He governs all things because he intends for his gospel to be blessed and for his kingdom to keep on growing. His actions have been totally successful from the start (Day of Pentecost) and he keeps on saving people, and millions of them have already reached the safety of heaven. So will all others who put their trust in him. In the future, on the day of his return, he will raise them all from the dead and give to them a new universe in which to live forever.

So he is well-qualified.