As Christ's followers we certainly know the miracle of that amazing angelic pronouncement:
"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-32).
As we discovered in our message series entitled “We call Him…” we saw He was called both the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd. He was called Lord, Messiah, Master, True Vine and Prophet. We know the Wise Men called Him “King of the Jews” and we discovered He was not only called Lord but “Lord of Lords.”
What all that meant to the world then may stand in stark contrast to what it means now, but the bottom line is the same. God sent His Son into the world to redeem lost people from their sins.
There were other miracles surrounding His birth, and we are going to consider several of them this Advent Season, but try to imagine with me that eternal God would descend from heaven as a newborn baby, and try to imagine with me why that gift from heaven would be laid in a stone feeding trough designed for sheep and cattle. WHAT? The King of the universe, the Lord and Master of all placed in a stone manger? WHY? This is all part and parcel of who Jesus really is. We know that when the royal grandsons of Queen Elizabeth were born the world stood in awe and wonder, and there is little that is simple or humble about their way of life. We certainly don’t expect our president to walk from town to town so could Jesus not have enjoyed the regalia of a king?
The answers to these questions are actually part of the miracle, and again, it’s wrapped up in who He is, and frankly in who we should be.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I love being pastor of the Journey church! Why not join us this month for our Advent series of messages to gain a greater appreciation of why this season is so important to celebrate. God bless!
"Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-32).
As we discovered in our message series entitled “We call Him…” we saw He was called both the Lamb of God and the Good Shepherd. He was called Lord, Messiah, Master, True Vine and Prophet. We know the Wise Men called Him “King of the Jews” and we discovered He was not only called Lord but “Lord of Lords.”
What all that meant to the world then may stand in stark contrast to what it means now, but the bottom line is the same. God sent His Son into the world to redeem lost people from their sins.
There were other miracles surrounding His birth, and we are going to consider several of them this Advent Season, but try to imagine with me that eternal God would descend from heaven as a newborn baby, and try to imagine with me why that gift from heaven would be laid in a stone feeding trough designed for sheep and cattle. WHAT? The King of the universe, the Lord and Master of all placed in a stone manger? WHY? This is all part and parcel of who Jesus really is. We know that when the royal grandsons of Queen Elizabeth were born the world stood in awe and wonder, and there is little that is simple or humble about their way of life. We certainly don’t expect our president to walk from town to town so could Jesus not have enjoyed the regalia of a king?
The answers to these questions are actually part of the miracle, and again, it’s wrapped up in who He is, and frankly in who we should be.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
I love being pastor of the Journey church! Why not join us this month for our Advent series of messages to gain a greater appreciation of why this season is so important to celebrate. God bless!