“Jesus is the answer” is a phrase thrown around by many Christians. Pastors and Sunday School teachers often use it when teaching. But is it always true?
Consider the following scenario:
A senior pastor is visiting a young Sunday School class. In an effort to build rapport with the children, he asks them this simple question, “What is brown and furry with a big bushy tail?”
The children just sit there staring at him.
He sits quietly for a few minutes waiting for one of them to answer. Sheepishly a child in the back raises their hand and the pastor calls on them. The child replies, “I know the answer is Jesus, but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.”
This story has been told as a joke, but the illustration is clear of how it can be confusing to say Jesus is the answer all the time. This implies Jesus is always the answer to every question, especially at church.
Clearly that isn’t true. It matters what the question is. It’s important to clarify what Jesus is the answer to.
Jesus is not the answer to a math problem, but he is the answer to the problems in your life. The late American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer, and pastor Andre Crouch wrote a song in 1995 titled Jesus is the Answer. Perhaps this is why many use the phrase. In his lyrics, he puts it this way: “Jesus is the answer to the world today.”
The line narrows it down a bit but is still pretty vague, so let’s explore some specific things Jesus is the answer to:
Jesus is the answer to all these and more. The evidence is found in the scriptures.
The Bible never says specifically “Jesus is the answer…” but we can find how he is the answer to our needs.
In the following scriptures, you’ll see how Jesus: Removed our sin, reconciled us to God, gives us a clear conscience, takes our cares, helps our relationships, heals our bodies, gives us hope, and never leaves us alone.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water (Hebrews 10:22, GNT).
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2).
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25, 33-34).
Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully] (1 Peter 5:7, AMP).
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God. (Ephesians 5:2, GNT).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5).
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,” (John 14:16, ASV).
“And remember that I am always with you until the end of time” (Matthew 28:20, GWT).
There are many more verses that reveal how God answers our needs through his son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Whatever your need, search the scriptures and you’ll find he has an answer to the problems in your life.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Matt Botsford
Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God. She’s written Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, Because You Matter, and hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast. A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren. For more information or to connect with Danielle https://www.daniellebernock.com/