THE GREATEST GIFT!

THE GREATEST GIFT!

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.  He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him.  He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.  Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. —Isaiah 53:1-3 

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        Rulers were not attracted to Jesus.  Sports enthusiasts were not attracted to Jesus.  Jesus did not stand out in a crowd because of His looks or His position as a man.  From the human perspective there wasn’t anything that would cause people to desire Him.  Instead, he was despised by men.  He was rejected by men.  He knew great sorrow.  He knew greater grief.  Mankind did not recognize Him for Who He Is and so did not exalt Him.  He was treated like an outcast.

        Who knew that Jesus was born that night about 2000 years ago?  God’s Word reveals that surely Mary & Joseph knew.  Of course they were the first to know.  Two people without any major influence in this world saw our incarnate Savior first.  Then it was the angels who first told the lowly, humble, despised and looked down upon shepherds the good news of His birth.  They were given the sign as to how to find Him— “wrapped in swaddling clothes” — Ok, but that was common with babies… —“and lying in a manger” — ahhhhh, that was not where you placed a newborn baby.  In a feeding trough?  That is where we would find the Lamb of God.  The shepherds did that with their newborn lambs— they would wrap them in swaddling clothes and lay them in a manger.  They were lambs that would be sacrificed in Jerusalem.  But, really, was this where the King of the kings and Lord of lord would be laid?  Was this where the One who was the Lamb of God to be laid?  Was this where the One would be laid in recognition that He came to be… sacrificed… outside of Jerusalem?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT4VDAIaMwU  Yes, this was the One!

Bloody red sky

Of night and morn

Tis a witness

His body torn

And was for me

Planned cross forlorn

That I could be

Once again born        

 —tw

        This Christmas morn of 2019 let us stand amazed at Jesus the Nazarene who love us and gave Himself for us.  This One who said, “I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.  And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed” (John 17:4-5).  Yes, Dear Father, I do stand simply amazed at Who You are and what You have done through Your Son, Jesus.  Oh, may I live faithfully for you and all that means.  Please forgive me of my many failings.  Help me to fail less and honor Your Name.  May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  Yes, so be it!