It’s Me, Jesus!

Have you ever sent a message but were concerned that it did not reach the person or persons you intended? You hit “send” again and again, but silence echoes back. To what lengths would you go to ensure the message reaches the one you love if their life depended on it?

There are many voices and bits of chatter that are sent to distract and confuse. This is no coincidence. The Bible teaches that an angel named Lucifer was once perfect and beautiful (See Ezekiel 28:14-15). But pride led him to desire God’s place (See Isaiah 14:12-14). He became Satan, the adversary. His goal is not just to tempt us, but to distort God’s voice and character so that we do not know Him and trust Him. The apostle Paul says,

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

You see, Satan already experienced the beauty, joy, and peace of heaven, but he lost it by choosing pride and rebellion. Now, seeking revenge, he tries to make people care more about earthly things than about God and the things of heaven, so they will fall just as he did (See The Desire of Ages, p. 115). He will work through distractions, confusion, entertainment, stress, and self-focus to drown out God’s voice. His greatest strategy is to replace Jesus in our hearts—with anything else.

Then there came an amazing announcement in heaven. Jesus said, “Lo, I Come. I am coming to do Your will, God.” This was the moment when God’s long-hidden plan of love was revealed. Jesus was about to come to our world and become human for us. Jesus came to our world to show us what God is really like. The Bible calls Him Immanuel, which means “God with us.” When we look at Jesus—how He treated people, how He loved, helped, forgave, and sacrificed—we can see the heart of God. Jesus was like God’s voice in human form, showing everyone the truth about God’s character: loving, patient, kind, and full of grace (See The Desires of Ages, pp. 23,19).

Jesus is God, desiring to be known. The Bible tells us clearly, “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Eternal life does not begin in eternity—it begins by knowing God personally today.

God has always wanted a relationship with us. He says, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). He is not hiding. He is calling. God is all-powerful, but He will not shake the heavens to make us hear Him. Through the Bible, and mostly in the life of Jesus in the miracles which he performed, we can say that nature and even demons knew who He was. But His desire is also personal.
Jesus is more than a teacher or healer. He is God in human flesh.

“In the beginning was the LOGOS, and the LOGOS was with God, and the LOGOS was God […] The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made […] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3,14).

Even though He had always been with God in heaven, He came to earth and lived life just like we do. He got hungry, tired, and faced temptations, just like we do—but He never sinned. Jesus was loving, gentle, and caring toward everyone. He helped people, comforted them, and treated them with kindness. By the way He lived, Jesus showed us the true character of God—a God who cares, understands, and loves us deeply (See Ministry of Healing, p. 422).

But what does it mean that Jesus is the LOGOS?

The word LOGOS means The Word, the Expression, the Explanation. Jesus is the clearest revelation of God’s heart and mind. Through Jesus, God speaks His love into our world. Without Jesus, we would not truly understand what God is like. Jesus is the message of God’s love, hope, and salvation to humanity. He is the One who shows us truth: “I am the Way, He says, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). These are just a few of His names. Why does Jesus have many names? It is for us to better understand His mission.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE,

More than this, Jesus says He speaks to his own, calling them by name: “My sheep hear My voice […] and they follow Me” (John 10:27) We must learn His voice above all other voices. But how? “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

I wish I could say that I always knew the voice of Jesus—but I didn’t. Even though I grew up Christian, I didn’t grow up in this church. I didn’t always know God personally. I tried to be a “good” person. I took part in worship, obeyed my parents (most of the time), and did what I was taught because I wanted to hear God’s approval. But I didn’t truly know Him. When I was about nineteen, I had a friend who talked about the Bible as if every story lived inside his heart. I didn’t read the Bible much then, so God used that friend to reach me. Something in me woke up. I started going to church again—but this time, I came hungry. And God fed me.
I learned quickly, and I wanted others to know Jesus too. I went with brothers and sisters in the faith to share literature and visit homes. I especially loved the book The Great Controversy—I read it cover to cover several times. We also gave out Steps to Christ, which was shorter and easier for many people. I gave away many copies, but I couldn’t get past the first chapter myself. I loved the words—I believed them—but I told myself, “I already know this.”

Then one day, while shopping at the Adventist Book Center for soy milk and meat alternatives, I saw Steps to Christ on two cassette tapes. I bought them and played them constantly in my car. The words were always there—but it was as though they were passing over my mind without entering my heart. I listened, but I didn’t hear Jesus.

Until One Day

I don’t remember what I was thinking about, but I remember the moment a phrase from the tape suddenly struck deep. In that moment, it was no longer just narration—it was Jesus. Speaking to me. Not to the world in general. Not to someone else. To me. It was as if He said, “Hello, Orlando. It’s Me. I have been here the whole time—and I have so much to tell you.”

From that day on, I listened differently. I read Steps to Christ again and again—this time with an open heart. And Jesus became real to me—personal, close, and dear. My prayer is that your encounter with Jesus will also be personal. Not just something learned in Sabbath School, not just something your parents or leaders believe, and not just information in your mind—but a voice in your heart. Jesus wants to be known. He is calling you, just as He called me. If you listen, you will hear Him. And once you hear His voice for yourself, you will never be the same.