That’s My Jesus
Some folks write a foreword to a book to introduce the author or the main character.
So I figured I’d sit down and write one for my favorite book of all time.
Now, I ain’t no scholar. I’m just a country boy who loves Jesus. I dropped out of school and sometimes have trouble spelling my own name. But when it comes to this Book, I can’t help but get fired up.
Some people say the Bible is hard to read. They say it’s jumbled, confusing, out of order. But when you read it the way it was meant to be read. Like a story unfolding from beginning to end, It comes alive.
And you start seeing one character Show up over and over again. He walks through every page. He speaks in every book. He is woven into every word. And once you’ve truly met Him. Once you’ve given Him your heart. You start reading this Book a whole different way.
You don’t just see cool stories about some ancient character. You start seeing it for what it really is: A love story. A rescue mission. A war plan. A roadmap to eternity. Or what I like to call His-story.
It’s like a man who’s been teaching his boy how to play ball. And now it’s the big game, He’s on the sidelines, watching...
And his boy smashes his first home run. And that dad jumps up and shouts as loud as freakin’ possible:
“THAT’S MY BOY!”
When you’re reading the Bible for what it really is, You can’t help but see HIM.
And when I see HIM? well I can’t help but be like that dad on the sidelines, And shout with everything I’ve got:
“THAT’S MY JESUS!”
In the Beginning
The very first words of the Bible say God created the heavens and the earth. But right in the middle of that creation, He said something strange:
“Let us make man in our image…”
Who’s “us”? It was God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus wasn’t created in Bethlehem, He was already there in the beginning. He’s the one who spoke the world into being. He’s the Word of God made flesh. He made man for relationship, not religion. He walked with Adam in the garden. But man sinned and broke that bond. And from that moment on, God had a plan to bring us back — through His Son. (Genesis 1:1–3, Genesis 1:26, John 1:1–3)
The Promise Savior
Right after sin entered the world, God looked that old serpent in the face and gave the first prophecy:
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
Who was this? Some folks get confused on this, what is it talking about, The Seed of the woman, the One who would crush the devil’s head. But when I read this I just can’t help but shout! “That’s my Jesus”. (Genesis 3:15, Romans 16:20, Hebrews 2:14)
The One Who Met Hagar
Hagar was a slave woman, pregnant and alone, by Abraham that was trying to fulfill Gods promise on his own, but Sarah treated her so bad that she ran off out in the desert with nobody to help her. But then it says “the Angel of the Lord” found her and spoke kindly to her. He didn’t just deliver a message, He said: “I will surely multiply your offspring.”
Only God can say that. Hagar named Him El Roi, “the God who sees me.” And when you realize that it wasn’t just a messenger, but the Lord Himself…You can’t help but shout! “That’s my Jesus”! (Genesis 16:7–13)
The Man Who Ate with Abraham
One day Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. Turns out, one of them wasn’t just any man, it was the LORD Himself. They sat under the trees, and Abraham cooked Him a meal. Imagine feeding the Creator of everything a steak dinner, wow! But not only that but Abraham had to go prepare this meal it took awhile and so they had time to talk and Abraham had time to realize who he was talking to. But he actually had the guts to argue with the. LORD about Sodom and Gomorrah — “Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” He was talking to God… face to face.
And once you understand this you just can’t help but get excited and shout this with me. “That’s my Jesus”! (Genesis 18:1–33)
The Wrestler Who Blessed Jacob
Have you ever read the story of Jacob wrestling with a man all night long? Jacob held on, even after his hip got dislocated, and said, “I won’t let go until you bless me.” Then the Man said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel…” And Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face.”
You might think, “Well, that’s just some wild story.” But when you know who Jesus is, when you know how He shows up, you then realize Jacob wasn’t just wrestling with a stranger. He was holding onto the Lord Himself. And you know what’s next, that right, you can’t help but shout! That’s my Jesus! (Genesis 32:24–30)
The One in the Burning Bush
Moses was just tending sheep when he saw a bush on fire but not burning up. Then a voice spoke from the flame. Scripture says it was “the Angel of the Lord”, but right after that, the voice says: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
That wasn’t just a messenger. That was the great I Am!
And when I read it now, I know I can’t help but say, That’s my Jesus! (Exodus 3:1–6, John 8:58)
The Passover Lamb
When God told Moses to have each family in Egypt kill a lamb and put its blood on the doorposts, He wasn’t just saving them from Pharaoh. He was painting a picture, a shadow of what was to come.
That night, when the destroyer passed through Egypt, death passed over every home covered by the blood. Not because of their good works, their status, or their effort, but because of the blood of the lamb.
That lamb was a symbol. A pointer. A preview. The real Lamb was still to come.
Jesus Christ is that Lamb. John the Baptist saw Him and cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Paul said it plainly: “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”
And in the book of Revelation, John saw Him again—not as a baby in a manger or a man on a cross—but as a Lamb that was slain standing in glory, worthy to open the seals. The whole of heaven worshiped Him because He redeemed people by His blood from every tribe, tongue, and nation. That’s the same Lamb, the Lamb from Egypt, the Lamb on the cross, the Lamb in Revelation.
Spotless. Sinless. Sacrificed. Not just to protect Israel from Pharaoh… But to save the whole world from sin and death.
That wasn’t just a moment in Jewish history, it was the plan of God before the foundation of the world.
And now, when I see that lamb in Scripture, through Moses, through John the Baptist, through Revelation, I can’t help but shout:
That’s my Jesus! (Exodus 12:1–30, John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19–20 1 Corinthians 5:7, Revelation 5:6–9)
The One Who Led by Cloud and Fire
When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He didn’t just give them a map and say, “Good luck.” He didn’t leave them to figure it out on their own. He led them. Personally.
A pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. That wasn’t just a weather event, it was God Himself showing up in a visible, powerful way to guide, cover, and protect His people.
The Bible says, “The LORD went before them.” He wasn’t behind them pushing or above them watching, He was in front of them. Leading. Clearing the path. Holding back the enemy. Giving shade from the desert sun by day and light and warmth in the darkness of night.
Think about that, Jesus was there in the desert. Long before Bethlehem. Long before the manger. He was there in the wilderness. In the middle of their complaining. Their fear. Their rebellion. Still leading. Still faithful.
He didn’t give up on them then, and He doesn’t give up on us now.
We don’t follow a God who shouts instructions from the mountaintop. We follow a Savior who walks ahead of us, walks beside us, and when we’re too tired to walk, then He carries us.
So when I read that, and I see Him leading, loving, and never leaving, just like He always has...
I can’t help but shout: That’s my Jesus! (Exodus 13:21-22)
The Rock in the Wilderness
When God told Moses to speak to the rock, it wasn’t just about water, it was about trust and relationship. The rock was going to give water simply by being spoken to. No force. No striving. Just obedience and faith in the One and Only.
But Moses didn’t speak to it. He struck it. And not just once, he struck it twice, probably in frustration and anger. But in doing so, he bitterly disobeyed God. He treated the moment like the last time in Exodus 17, when striking the rock was commanded. But this time was different. This time, God was showing something deeper: a relationship, not religion. Speak, don’t strike.
That rock wasn’t just a rock. Paul tells us plainly “The Rock was Christ.” Christ is our source of living water. He was already struck once for us in that awful time at the cross. Now, we ain’t supposed to strike Him again. We speak to Him. We walk with Him, We follow Him. It's not about anger, performance, or bitterness, it’s about a freakin relationship.
Moses misrepresented God to the people. Just like “Christians” do today, He made it seem like God was angry and distant, instead of gracious and near. Made it seam like God was all about the rules and religion instead of personal relationship with Him, Because of that, Moses wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised Land. But still, even in the middle of their complaining and all their crap, the rock still gave them water. Christ still poured out His love & life. That wasn’t just a miracle. That was His gracious mercy.
And now, when I read it today, I can’t help but shout: That’s my Jesus!
Still faithful. Still pouring out grace, even when we get it wrong. (Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:7–12, 1 Corinthians 10:4)
The Commander of the Lord’s Army
Right before the walls of Jericho were about to fall, Joshua had an encounter that changed everything. He looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword. Naturally, Joshua asked what any military leader would ask:
“Are you for us, or for our enemies?”
But the answer wasn't what he expected. The man said:
“Neither. But as Commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.”
In that moment, Joshua realized, this wasn’t just a man. This wasn’t just an angel. He fell on his face and worshiped.
And here’s the key: He was told to take off his sandals, because he was standing on holy ground, Sound familiar?
Just like Moses at the burning bush, this was no ordinary meeting. This was a divine encounter. And we know this wasn’t just an angel, because angels don’t accept worship. In Revelation, when John bowed down to an angel, the angel stopped him and said, “Don’t do that! Worship God!”
But this Commander receives the worship. This Commander speaks as God. This Commander stands on holy ground. So who was He?That was Jesus. Before He ever came in the flesh, He showed up in power, in glory, as the Commander of Heaven’s armies.
He didn’t come to take sides. He came to take over. He wasn’t there to serve Joshua’s plan, He came with God’s plan. And just like then, He still stands with sword drawn, ready to lead His people into victory.
So when I read that story and see who it was, there’s no doubt I’m gonna shout: That’s my Jesus! (Joshua 5:13–15, Revelation 22:8–9)
The Fourth Man in the Fire
Most folks know the story: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, just three Hebrew boys who wouldn’t bow to a golden statue, no matter what the law said. The king made the rules, but they served a higher King. They said, “Even if our God doesn’t deliver us, we still won’t bow.”
So King Nebuchadnezzar had them tied up and thrown into a furnace seven times hotter than normal—so hot that it killed the soldiers just getting near it. They should’ve been ashes.
But when the king looked in, he jumped back in shock. He didn’t see three men burning, he saw four men walking.
He said, “Didn’t we throw in three? I see four, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”
Okay come on now this one is easy folks! That wasn’t just a heavenly being. That wasn’t just a vision. That was Jesus!
Before the manger. Before the cross. Right there in the middle of the fire, Jesus showed up. He didn’t pull them out of the furnace right away, He stepped into it with them. And when they came out, not a hair was singed, not a thread was scorched, and they didn’t even smell like smoke.
Wow! That’s who He is folks. The God who steps into the fire with you. Not just the God of mountaintops, but the God of blazing furnaces. The One who stands with you when the world turns up the heat.
And when I read that, I can’t help but smile, shout, and say:
That’s my Jesus! (Daniel 3)
The Great Stone
Daniel saw it all. He lived through the rise and fall of a lot of kingdoms, Babylon, Persia, lions’ dens, fiery trials, visions of beasts and horns and rulers full of pride. But in the middle of it all, Daniel saw something greater.
He saw a Rock.
Not a statue. Not a throne. Not a man-made kingdom. A stone, cut without human hands, that came crashing down and struck the feet of the statue, the kingdoms of the world, and shattered them all. The gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, all of it turned to dust and blew away like chaff in the wind. But that Rock remained. It grew into a mountain that filled the whole earth.
That wasn’t just some cool vision of justice. That wasn’t just political revolution. That was a picture of Jesus.
The One who wasn’t made by man, who didn’t come from worldly power or earthly glory. The One who came humble and lowly, but struck every false kingdom to the ground.
The prophets said it like this:
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
Jesus repeated it in Matthew 21:42, because He was that stone. The one religion rejected. The one the world still overlooks.
The one people trip over, but can’t get rid of. And while every throne, every president, every empire will fall…
That Stone will still be standing. His Kingdom will not be destroyed. It doesn’t crack. It doesn’t rust. It doesn’t bow to anyone.
So when I read that, and I see that Rock that became a mountain…
Come on now, you already know folks, Yep, That’s my Jesus! (Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42)
The One Isaiah Saw in Glory
Isaiah wasn’t just dreaming. He had a vision of the Lord Himself, high and lifted up, seated on a throne, and the train of His robe filled the temple. The place was shaking. Smoke filled the room. And around the throne were fiery angels, seraphim’s crying out:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”
Isaiah fell on his face, overwhelmed.
“Woe is me! I’m a man of unclean lips!” he cried.
Why? Because he saw the holiness of God. The weight. The majesty. The glory. But here’s the deal the religious world misses
Fast forward to John 12:41, and John tells us plainly:
Isaiah saw Jesus. Not just a vision of God in general, Not just a heavenly throne room experience…
He saw the glory of Christ, our Jesus, before the manger, before the cross, before the crown of thorns, before the holes in His and and feet, before the scares on His face a back.
He saw Him in glory. He saw Him on the throne. He saw Him being worshipped by angels who never stop singing. That wasn’t just a “Old Testament moment.” That was the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, before He ever took on flesh.
So let’s not water it down, That glory Isaiah saw? That throne? That holiness? The Great I AM?
Come on folks! YES! That’s my Jesus! (Isaiah 6:1–5, John 12:41)
The Vision of Habakkuk
Habakkuk saw something that shook him to his bones. Not just trouble. Not just injustice. He saw a vision of God Himself coming in power, riding in from Teman, with brightness like the sunrise, lightning flashing from His hands.
Mountains shook. Hills crumbled. The earth trembled beneath His feet. Creation itself couldn’t stand still in His presence.
This wasn’t some soft, gentle image, it was terrifying and awesome.
But if you read it slow… and your eyes are open… You realize, this wasn’t just wrath. This was a rescue mission.
Habakkuk says:
“You went out for the salvation of your people, for the salvation of your anointed.”
“You crushed the head of the house of the wicked.”
He came like a storm, but His target was clear: To save His people. To crush the enemy. To bring justice once and for all. Sound familiar?
The One who rides in glory… The One who splits the sky… The One who saves the righteous and destroys evil at its core…
Come on now, Who else could that be?
The same One who came humble the first time, riding a donkey to bring peace, He will come again in power, riding a white horse, crowned in glory, sword in hand.
He’s not just the Lamb, He’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
So when Habakkuk trembled, and the world shook, and evil was crushed, That wasn’t just a prophecy.
That was a preview of the One coming in glory and judgment to save His people and destroy evil. So who the heck could this be?
Yep, You guessed it! That’s my Jesus! (Habakkuk 3:3–13, Revelation 19)
The Virgin-Born Son
Hundreds of years before Mary ever held Jesus in a stable, before shepherds saw angels and wise men followed stars,
God dropped a promise.
And not to a godly man, but to Ahab, one of the most wicked kings in Israel’s history.
But here’s the thing: God doesn’t show off just for the holy. He doesn’t need perfect people to prove His power.
He’s no respecter of persons. He wanted to show His greatness, so He gave even Ahab a sign.
And what a sign it was.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
That wasn’t just poetic. That wasn’t symbolic.
That was prophecy, clear, bold, and straight from heaven.
And when the time came, the angel told Joseph exactly what it meant:
“Immanuel” means “God with us.”
Not God above us. Not God beyond us. Not God sending someone else to do the job. He didn’t send an angel this time. He didn’t send just another prophet. He came Himself. Wrapped in flesh. Born of a virgin. Cried real tears. Took real nails. Walked among us. Took our sins, Died for us. And rose again to make a way to heaven for us.
God with us. In the fire. In the storm. In the stable. On the cross. Still with us now, All we got to do is follow Him.
And when I read that promise, and I see that baby in the manger, and I hear the name Immanuel…Come on now, say it with me:
That’s my Jesus! (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
The Coming King on the Mount of Olives
Zechariah wasn’t guessing. He saw it. He looked ahead to the end of days and saw the Lord Himself, standing on the Mount of Olives.
And when His feet hit that mountain, it split in two. One half moved north, the other south, making a way of escape.
And in that moment, when the dust settles and the earth trembles, the Lord will be King over the whole earth. Not just in heaven. Not just in our hearts. But King over all.
But here’s the coolest part:
The Mount of Olives. That’s not just some random hill. It’s the same place Jesus ascended from, where He gave His final words to the disciples, then rose into the clouds.
And the angel told them,
“This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw Him go.”
Come on now, you can connect those dots!
The One who left from the Mount of Olives… is coming back to the Mount of Olives. And when He does, there won’t be any doubt.
No debates. No votes. No rivals. Every eye will see. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess.
The Lord will be King. And He won’t be hiding in a corner. He’ll be reigning over the whole earth. And when that day comes,
every heart will know the same thing I’ve been saying this whole time: That’s my Jesus! (Zechariah 14:3–9, Acts 1:11–12)
The Suffering Servant
Some folks try to say Isaiah 53 is just about a prophet… or maybe a metaphor for Israel’s suffering…
But come on. Just read it. Don’t twist it. Don’t water it down. Just read the words, and let them hit your heart.
It’s too detailed. Too real. Too clear.
“He was despised and rejected by men…” Not respected. Not welcomed. Rejected.
“A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief…” He didn’t float above our pain, He felt it. Lived it. Carried it.
“He was pierced for our transgressions.”
Not His own. Ours. Pierced hands. Pierced feet. A pierced side.
“He was crushed for our iniquities…” He took the weight of our guilt and let it crush Him instead of us.
And then it says something that’ll stop you in your tracks: “By His wounds, we are healed.”
Not by religion. Not by effort. Not by being “better.” By His wounds.
This chapter doesn’t just describe pain, it describes a Person. A Savior.
Peter understood it, and he said it plain. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree…” He quoted Isaiah straight-up, and pointed right to Jesus.
So if you’ve been saved, If you’ve ever felt forgiveness wash over your shame, If you’ve ever seen grace cover what you thought could never be fixed…Then you already know.
When you read those words, your heart can’t help but cry:
That’s my Jesus! (Isaiah 53:1–12, 1 Peter 2:24)
The Lamb of God
When John the Baptist saw Jesus walking up, he didn’t say, “Here comes a good teacher.”
He said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
The very One they’d been waiting for, the One the whole Old Testament pointed to, He had finally shown up.
He didn’t come to build a religion. He didn’t come to congratulate us on making a place for Him to visit. He didn’t come for those who think they’re already righteous. He came for those who knew they were sinners and needed a Savior. He came to fulfill the whole purpose of the law and to make a way for us straight to the Father.
You can’t help but picture being in John’s shoes, seeing this Man walk up, and just shouting: That’s my Jesus! (John 1:29, Matthew 5:17, Mark 2:17)
The Friend of Sinners
He didn’t sit with the rich and powerful. He didn’t hang out with the Pharisees and all the religious leaders.
He walked with fishermen, ate with outcasts, healed the sick, cleansed lepers, loved the poor, helped the broken, and raised the dead all while being criticized by the religious leaders for doing these very things.
He wept with Mary and Martha. He called Lazarus out of the grave.
He left the ninety-nine to go find the one who was lost. He didn’t just talk about love, He proved it by living it out for all of us to see, and told us to follow His example.
The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the more excited you get. And the more excited you get, the louder you’ll shout: That’s my Jesus! (Luke 15:4–7, John 11:25–26, John 13:15, 1 John 3:18, Matthew 9:10–13, Mark 1:40–42)
The One Who Took My Place
He didn’t come for a vacation in a land far, far away No, He came on a mission, sent by the Father. He lived perfectly, not messing up even once, But He took on all our sin, just so we could be forgiven by the Father. He was nailed to a cross for something He never did. He was mocked, beaten, and left hanging to die, All that just for us, so we could live for eternity with Him.
He cried out, “It is finished.” And it was. He wasn’t surprised by the cross, That’s the whole reason He came. This was planned from the start. He knew what was coming and told the folks around Him Multiple times exactly what was going to happen.
He fulfilled the law. He broke the curse. And He tore the veil in two. Only One can do that, Not a prophet, Not a magician, But the Son of Man.
That’s right... That’s my Jesus!
(Luke 23:44–46, John 19:28–30, Isaiah 53:10, Matthew 16:21, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 10:19–20, Matthew 5:17)
The Risen Savior
They took Him down off the cross, He was dead. They even stuck a spear in Him just to make sure. Then they placed Him in a rich man’s tomb And guarded it to make sure nothing happened to the body.
But something crazy happened, just like He said. Three days later, BOOM! The stone was rolled away, And His body was gone. The tomb was empty. The grave couldn’t hold Him. Death couldn’t stop Him. He conquered death and the grave And showed us that through Him, We can have everlasting life!
He rose again with the keys of death and hell in His hands, And now He lives forever. Satan lost all power under the name of Jesus!
And that my friend just makes so I can’t help but shout: That’s my Jesus!
(Luke 24:6–7, Revelation 1:17–18, John 11:25–26, Matthew 28:5–6, Romans 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:55–57)
The King is Coming
My friends, the story isn’t over. He ain’t done. He’s coming again. Not as a baby in a manger, but as a King in glory. Just like He said He’d rise from the dead and He did, He also promised He’d come back again. And you can bet your soul on it: He’s coming. In like manner. Just like He said.
Riding on a white horse. Fire in His eyes. Many crowns on His head. Blood on His robe. A sword from His mouth. And a Name written that no one knows but Himself, But on His thigh it’s written clear for all the world to see: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”
Every eye will see Him. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess, not just in “church”, not just in private, But out loud, in full view of heaven and earth: JESUS IS LORD. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him…”
And I believe it’ll be soon, Maybe even while I’m still breathing. But whether I’m here when the sky cracks open, Or my early tent has already been laid in the ground.
One thing’s for sure…When those clouds part, And the thunder rolls, And the trumpet sounds, I’ll be looking at that white horse, And I’ll see the One riding it:
The Alpha and the Omega, The Lion and the Lamb, The Resurrection and the Life, The Light of the World, The Great I AM, The Savior of my soul.
And I’ll be shouting louder than ever: THAT’S. MY. JESUS!
(Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:11–16, Philippians 2:9–11, Acts 1:9–11, Matthew 24:30–31, 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)
That’s My Jesus
I know some folks will say,
“You’re crazy, man. The Bible’s just full of metaphors and stories of ancient crap and fairy tales, just for entertainment purposes.”
But I would challenge you with this, You can read the Bible like a book of stories if you want.
Or...
You can read it for what it really is, A history book full of facts, About the main character from the first page to the last, From the beginning to the end. From Genesis to Revelation, He’s there. Not a religion. Not a rulebook. Not a fairy tale.
But the Living God in the flesh, The Friend of sinners, The Savior of the world. The only way to the Father. The Word made flesh, who was and is and is to come. And when you see Him….I mean really see Him, The true One, the Jesus of the Bible, The Jesus who wants relationship, not religion...
Not the feel-good, watered-down, modern-day “Jesus”... But the actual Jesus, The Lion and the Lamb, The one and only Great I AM...
I promise you, You’ll never be the same.
I hope someone got a little entertainment out of this, Or maybe a little encouragement, Or maybe even a wake-up call.
But from now on, Read the Bible for what it truly is. And read the whole thing from Genesis to Revelation.
Because Jesus isn’t just a part of the story. He’s not something you add on the side. He’s not a chapter, a verse, or a Sunday morning thought. He’s not a sidekick to your religion. He’s the center. The Cornerstone. The One True Foundation. He’s not part of the Bible story, He’s the WHOLE FREAKIN’ THING!
And I pray He truly blesses you—
Every single second of your life.
(John 1:1–5, Colossians 1:15–20, Revelation 22:13, Isaiah 9:6, Hebrews 12:2, Acts 4:12)
~ Joe Lester ~