In this short blog, I want us to focus on the reason why Jesus came to earth. There are many passages that speak about the coming of Jesus, but it is good for us to hear the reason from His lips. These verses give us heaven’s perspective.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (10:10). No wonder we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was the beginning of a life that brought hope and eternal life to those “dead in sin” (Ephesians 2:1). It was the only life that could make an eternal impact on a world heading to judgment and destruction. If you have not accepted what Jesus came to do for you, your opportunity is right now. Confess to God that you are sinner and need the forgiveness provided by His Son through His death for you. He will at this moment save you and give His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of eternal life and a place in the Father’s house. THIS IS THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS!!
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For centuries, Christmas has become a time when we are more interested in gifts we receive and give along with large amounts of time and money decorating. Some gifts we receive, such as food, last a very short time and others may last for a lifetime. There is one gift that is not bound by time, will not break, and never loses its value but receives far less time and attention.
Paul refers to salvation through Jesus as a “free gift” by grace (Romans 5:15). Though we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [we] are justified by His grace as a gift” (3:34). When making it clear that we are not saved by works, Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). This is the attitude of God toward all mankind; ““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Why do we give so little recognition to the only gift that has eternal value? As the world squeezes Christ out of Christmas as being ‘too religious,’ do we let that influence our attitude and priorities? He was not wanted at His birth by Herod and the religious elites, and He is not wanted now. What place will you give God’s FREE GIFT? As the days pass and we get closer to Christmas and the end of this year, I pause to reflect on what has shaped my thinking, motivated my heart, and become clear in my perspective. COVID-19 hit us hard! Thankfully, none of our team came down with the virus, but it affected us in other ways.
· All travel was suspended. · Training plans were cancelled. · Communications changed to electronic (Zoom, WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.). · BUT, indigenous leaders stepped forward and began training their own people. In fact, more disciples and leaders have been trained in some places than we ever planned. · AND, translation and printing of our training materials continue to expand. Personally, my time with the Lord has become sweeter and more cherished. I like what my friend John Piper says about this year: “As I look back over 2020, the most fundamental experience for me, which colors everything else and has shaped everything else, is the experience of sweeter fellowship with God, and with Jesus through his word, and through the mercies of the Holy Spirit. As I have tried to figure out why this is, I think the most persistent reason that I come up with is that I have lived this year as though walking along the precipice of eternity.” (Desiring God, 12/19/20). We have a choice to make as we approach December 25th and 31st – continue to complain about what went wrong and all we missed this year, OR, thank God for every opportunity to know Him better and serve Him in some way. Many have argued that the coming of Jesus should have taken place hundreds of years before it did. They say that human conditions were far worse under some of the Pharaohs and kings like Nebuchadnezzar. Since God was coming first to His people (Israel), why did God choose the beginning of the first century AD when they were under Roman rule?
We might also ask about all the Old Testament (OT) saints who were waiting for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham? “All these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39–40). What was this “something better”? “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5). That included the faithful in the OT. It was the time set by God the Father so that both Jew and Gentile could receive the promise given to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). God always had a plan much bigger than Israel. Part of that plan was for the nations to know Him through His chosen people, but they rebelled and rejected God and His plan. It was the RIGHT TIME for Jesus Christ to come and provide salvation for ALL who believe in HIM! You and I are also living ‘at the right time’ when we have the privilege of telling others of the GOOD NEWS! Each of us are pointing others to something. We all reflect priorities by the way we speak, act and use our time and resources. John the Baptist made the purpose and direction of his life clear.
“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:15–16). Even when people were just “questioning in their hearts concerning John” regarding his identity, John wanted to make it very clear to those who did not ask that he was NOT the Christ – the coming Messiah or Anointed One. John stayed true to the prophecy about himself; just “a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’” (3:4). On another occasion, John made it very clear; “He (Jesus) must increase [become greater]. but I must decrease [become less]” (John 3:30). Is this the attitude of our hearts? In a world where most want to point to themselves, we as followers of Jesus are challenged by whether our lives really point to Christ in a way that makes Him greater in their eyes. Some time had passed. Zechariah’s son John was now a young man and started fulfilling the call on his life that came through his father (Luke 1:76-79). Part of this call was very specific: “you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him” (76). This preparation was definitely not what the people or leaders of Israel were expecting.
“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (3:3). Who wants to identify with REPENTANCE? They had little or no understanding that the nation or individuals had sinned, so why call for repentance? Repentance was exactly what was needed if persons were going to be ready for their Messiah and Savior. Crowds came to John to be baptized. But what was their motive? “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance…Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”” (3:7–9). In other words, start acting with real repentance. The crowd came back to John with a question and we will look at that tomorrow. For now, we must be willing to accept the call to repentance. Salvation comes to hearts who acknowledge their condition before God and are willing to prepare their hearts for Christ to take over. The more anyone looks intently into the life of Jesus, the more they will see treasures that we can learn from. It was natural for His parents to wonder why Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and did not tell them before they left for Nazareth. I think this was intentional.
“And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”” (Luke 2:49). Though Joseph and Mary had little understanding of how consuming their son’s life would be, revolving around the purpose of God in coming to earth, moments like this would help in small increments. The “Father’s house or business” was the reason for being here. There was no argument. Jesus “went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (2:51). Living God’s purpose was never at cross purposes with being fully human. In fact, it was in this condition that He could model what a son should be, even in a sinful world! We must remember that living as a Christian (a follower of Jesus) means that we represent God in every stage of life and at any age. Even at twelve years-old, a boy or girl can be a powerful witness and influence on those around them – even to parents. Mary treasured what she saw! If you are a parent, read these verses in Luke 2 to your children and discuss how powerful their influence can be through following the model of Jesus. Like most religious holidays, the family went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Extended family members mingled among each other and it was customary that extended family would naturally care for each other, especially the younger ones. It was not unusual for Joseph and Mary to leave Jerusalem without checking first to see if all the kids were present.
As responsible parents, they returned to Jerusalem once they realized that Jesus, the twelve-year-old was not with their family. What they found was no cause for discipline or consequences. “They found Him in the temple [courts], sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46). This was not as surprising as the fact that “all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers” (2:47). As I read this statement, it becomes more amazing to me that these ‘learned men’ didn’t wonder who this mature lad was. Though Jesus was only twelve, in Him was “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). If these men missed the opportunity of tapping into a divine resource that would have turned their world upside down and changed their lives forever! As you ponder the Christmas account, are you drawing from this resource for understanding? As much as we love the story around the birth of Jesus and all those who were part of this momentous occasion, there is a path we must follow that leads to the cross – the greatest work in all human history. Along this path we read of events that have special meaning.
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40). Luke records this before Jesus went into the temple at twelve years old (2:42). All children grow physically. We watch our newest granddaughter who is only a couple months old and she is changing all the time. This was also true of Jesus, but in addition to this natural growth and strength was the fact that He was filled with wisdom (meaning; prudence, discretion, or the capacity to understand and act wisely). This should not surprise us considering who He is. When Luke says that “the favor of God was upon him,” he means that it was apparent to those around Jesus, even at this young age, that the presence and grace of God was upon Him. Though He did no miracles at this point, Jesus stood out as different from other children. Some have called these years of growth the ‘silent years.’ I think they were anything but silent considering that “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). This truth was never reserved for a certain age. He always was this. WHAT A SAVIOR!! As I study Scripture, it is so amazing to notice persons God brought to the right place at the right time who had a heart for what God was doing. The whole world was silent about the most significant event in all human history. The Spirit of God, through the quill of a doctor, writes of persons who were “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25). They knew that the good of their nation and the whole world hinged on the arrival of this one person.
Among these people was a widow, Anna. “She was advanced in years… a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” (2:36-37). Paul calls this type of widow one “who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Timothy 5:5). That is Anna. Notice a couple of very important characteristics of Anna. 1. Though she was old, she spent most of her time in the presence of God. 2. Worship and fasting were a way of life for her. 3. Day and night were consumed with her devotion to the Lord. Out of the abundance of her passion for the Messiah’s appearance, she told as many as possible what was taking place. At “eighty-four,” she had a voice that others could not avoid. Are people hearing you tell about the Savior? Age is never a limitation! |
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