From the beginning of this series, we have traced the favor of God in the lives of different men and women, imperfect people who, in their own way, pointed beyond themselves to something greater. In The Blessing of Jesus, we come to the center and completion of that story: the promised Seed through whom all nations are blessed, the One in whom every spiritual blessing is gathered and offered to us, whether we are new believers, coming from another religion, or slowly realizing that the quiet, steady presence in our lives has been Jesus all along.

The Promised Blessing of Jesus

Long before Jesus was born, God spoke of a coming blessing that would touch the whole earth (Genesis 12:2–3). He told Abraham, “I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you,” and later promised that through Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). The prophets looked ahead to a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, whose government and peace would never end, and to a suffering Servant who would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 53:4–6).

The New Testament tells us plainly that this promised Seed is Christ (Galatians 3:16). In Jesus, the blessing spoken over Abraham is opened to Jew and Gentile alike, so that in Him we receive the blessing of Abraham and the promised Holy Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13–14; Acts 3:25–26).

The Blessing of Jesus Fulfilled

When Jesus was born, heaven announced, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people… a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10–11). He stood up in the synagogue, read from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”, and then said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18–21).

Jesus blesses us by who He is and by what He has done. He is the Word made flesh, full of grace and truth; from His fullness we receive grace upon grace (John 1:14, 16–17). He came not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). Exalted at the right hand of God, He pours out the Holy Spirit on all who believe, extending the blessing of His life into our lives (Acts 2:32–33; Luke 24:50–51).

What the Blessing of Jesus Gives Us

The blessing of Jesus is far more than material provision; it is a whole new standing and life with God. In Him we are justified by faith, we have peace with God, and we stand in grace with a living hope of glory (Romans 5:1–2). Through His blood we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7–8). He rescues us from the domain of darkness and brings us into the kingdom of the beloved Son, where we receive the Spirit of adoption and can call God “Abba, Father” (Colossians 1:13–14; Galatians 4:4–7).

By His kindness and mercy, He washes and renews us by the Holy Spirit so that we become heirs, having the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4–7). In Christ, we are not just forgiven sinners; we are new creations, reconciled to God and entrusted with the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17–19).

The Pattern and Responsibility of the Blessing

• What Precedes the Blessing

The blessing of Jesus is not an afterthought; it is the center of God’s eternal plan. Before the foundation of the world, God purposed that we would be chosen in Christ, adopted as His children, and that all things would be brought together under one Head, Christ (Ephesians 1:4–5, 9–10). From the first promise that the Seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head, through the covenants and the prophets, God was preparing the way for His Son (Genesis 3:15). Jesus Himself taught that Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms all point to His suffering and His glory (Luke 24:25–27, 44–47).

• How the Blessing Works

The blessing comes to us through Jesus’ perfect life, His sacrificial death, His victorious resurrection, and His outpouring of the Spirit. The sinless One was made sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification, so that nothing would stand between us and the Father’s heart (Romans 4:25).

Having been raised and exalted, Jesus now blesses His people and sends the Spirit as the seal and power of the new life (Acts 2:32–33). The same Jesus who lifted His hands and blessed His disciples as He ascended continues to speak peace and life over all who come to Him (Luke 24:50–51).

• What the Blessing Produces

When we receive the blessing of Jesus, something deep and real changes. We move from guilt to peace, from striving to grace, from fear to hope; God’s love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:1–5). We are redeemed and forgiven, transferred from darkness to light, adopted into God’s family, and given an inheritance that nothing can steal (Ephesians 1:7–8; Colossians 1:13–14).

We begin to live as those who belong to God: washed, renewed, and empowered to say “no” to sin and “yes” to His purposes (Titus 3:4–7). Our identity shifts from “far away” to “brought near,” from “not a people” to “God’s people” (Ephesians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:9–10).

• Our Responsibility in the Blessing

The blessing of Jesus is a gift, but it must be received. To all who receive Him, who believe in His name, He gives the right to become children of God (John 1:12–13). The Bible says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, and that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:9–10, 13).

Our responsibility does not end with a single moment of decision. We are called to abide in Christ, to continue to live our lives in Him, rooted and built up, and to go into all the world making disciples in His name (John 15:4–5; Colossians 2:6–7; Matthew 28:18–20). As a chosen people and a royal priesthood, we are blessed so that we might declare His praises and carry His blessing to others (1 Peter 2:9–10; Galatians 3:8–9).

Where the Blessing of Jesus Meets Us

The blessing of Jesus meets us right where we are. To the weary and heavy-laden, He says, “Come to Me… and I will give you rest,” inviting us out of self-effort and into His gentle, humble heart (Matthew 11:28–30). To those crushed by condemnation and shame, He offers the assurance that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and that the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1–2).

If you feel distant or unworthy, He calls you to come with confidence to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14–16). If you are thirsty, empty, hungry for something real, He invites you to come to Him and drink, promising rivers of living water flowing from within (John 7:37–38).

Living in the Blessing of Jesus

To live in the blessing of Jesus is to keep walking in the same way we first came, by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). Just as we received Christ Jesus as Lord, we are to continue to live our lives in Him, drawing our identity, strength, and direction from Him (Colossians 2:6–7). We learn to say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” counting everything else as loss compared with knowing Him (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8–9).

In view of God’s mercy, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices and allow Him to transform our minds and hearts (Romans 12:1–2). As we do, His blessing flows through us into our homes, workplaces, communities, and nations, we become salt and light, blessed to be a blessing (Matthew 5:13–16; Galatians 3:8–9).

A Prayer of Salvation

If you have never received the blessing of Jesus, or if you know you need to come back to Him, you do not have to wait. Salvation is a gift of grace, not something you earn; it is received by trusting in what Jesus has done for you (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9). The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, and that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

If this is your desire, you can pray something like this from your heart:

“Lord Jesus, I come to You today just as I am. I confess that I have sinned and gone my own way, and I cannot save myself. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that You rose again, conquering sin and death. Today I turn from my sin and I put my trust in You as my Lord and my Savior. Please forgive me, wash me, and make me new. Come live in me by Your Holy Spirit. I receive the blessing of Your salvation and I choose to follow You all the days of my life. Thank You, Father, for making me Your child, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

If you prayed that sincerely, you can be confident that God hears you and responds to a heart that calls on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32).

Next Step

If you prayed that prayer and said “yes” to Jesus, whether for the first time or as a rededication, I want to walk with you as you learn to live in Him. If you are new to Christ and wondering, “What do I do now?”, I have written a book named, “Being Perfected in Godliness“, and published a Quick Start Guide designed to help you begin your journey, understand the habits that are basics of walking with Jesus, and build simple rhythms of faith in your everyday life.

If you have rededicated your life and are hungry to go deeper with God, my Being Perfected Workbook will help you explore Scripture, process your story with the Lord, and grow in a more intentional, intimate relationship with Him.

And if you are longing for community and a place to walk this out with other like-minded people, you are invited to join my Discipleship Circle, where we learn, share, and grow together as followers of Jesus.

You are so welcome in the family of God, and you do not have to figure this out alone. If you prayed the prayer of salvation and are looking for a discipleship relationship or want to know which resource is best for you, reach out to me and let me know your story, I would be honored to help you take your next steps in Christ. You can also follow me on my social platforms to stay connected, receive regular encouragement, and find updates on all of these resources and spaces.

This article was the conclusion of the Being Perfected in Favor Series. Find the full study outline here: Being Perfected in Favor: Walking in the Favor of the Lord