Video “Christmas: God with us
I really enjoyed that video of a father and child having a Christmas talk. Today I want us to look at another father/ child conversation about Christmas. In fact, the first conversation about Christmas. Romans 8:3 reads “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.”
This is why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus being born in a manger to a virgin, so that He could live the perfect life we are incapable of living so we can have salvation.
However, before He left heaven do you wonder if He and his Father said “Good-bye?” Have you ever given thought to what was exchanged between the two? Well, this week I discovered Heb 2:9-18 and found what may be a glimpse of that very conversation. Now I have taken a little literary license to bring this scripture into more of a conversation format so please, don’t be offended. I promise to stay true to the text.
The Father: “It seems Mary is about to deliver so I guess you should be on your way. It’s a big step down for you. You have always ruled over the angels but when you leave, you will be a little lower than them. Moreover, I look forward to when you come back so I can crown you with glory and honor. When you get to the death part remember that you are doing it so all my other children can come also to receive glory. You are perfect for this task and don’t forget it.”
Jesus: “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. I will put my trust in you and lead your other children to do the same.”
I know this is the only way. Your other children are flesh and blood so I have to become one of them. In addition, I know to beat the devil and his power of death, I have to die and that cannot happen if I am not flesh and blood. There is no other way.
And you angels, I am not doing this for you. I’m doing it for them.”
The Father: “It’s time to go. When you come back, you will still be in the flesh. I will have a Priestly robe waiting for you to wear. You will forever be their High Priest but no need to bring a sacrificial lamb with you. You will do just fine.”
Jesus: “Ok Dad. I am ready. I am ready to suffer and be tested. And in doing so help him and him and her and him and her and her in their testing and suffering”
The Father: “Remember why I sent you and know I am well pleased.”
Therefore, Jesus is born with a mission on Earth. And He reveals that mission in the Scriptures. Today we will look at seven reasons Jesus gave for coming to Earth, seven reasons for the season.
1) To fulfill prophecy.
“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” (Matthew 5:17)
There are over 400 prophetic statements made concerning the Messiah or Christ. Jesus fulfilled them all. The odds of a man fulfilling just eight of these prophecies are 10 to the 17th power. This is equivalent to covering the entire state of Texas with silver dollars two feet deep, marking one of them, mixing them all up and having a blindfolded person select the marked one at random the first time. The chance that any one-man fulfilling 48 prophecies are 1 in 10157. The estimated number of electrons in the universe is around 1079. Jesus said, “I have come to insure none of God’s prophets are found guilty of false prophecy. I have come to fulfill all 400.”
2) To serve
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt 20:28)
All other Rabbis would have expected to be served by their followers. However, Jesus came to serve his followers. All others gods would have expected many lives sacrificed to them. But Jesus came to sacrifice his life for many.
Jesus would turn the idea of service and sacrifice upside down. Even with his disciples when He wanted to wash their feet He was met with resistance. It can be humbling to be served by one you should be serving. That is why He came, to humble us.
3) To preach to all
But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” (Mark 1:38)
There were many rabbis in the time of Jesus. There were also a few false messiahs. But one thing they would have had in common was a desire to stay where they were well known or respected. Leaving your area would have exposed you to others who might reject your teaching or stone you for your claims. Leaving your area meant invading someone else’s territory.
Like us, the disciples were content to stay in familiar territory but Jesus said, “I have come to preach to everyone.”
4) To divide the world
Luke 12:51 “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (Luke 12:51)
God has always been a God who divides. It starts at the very creation of the world. He divided the light from the darkness and created day and night. He separated the waters of the earth to create the sky. He divided the water from land to give us a place to live. He separated Abraham’s descendants from all other nations to give himself a chosen, holy people. All of these actions created turmoil.
Jesus came to divide. He came to separate the sheep from the goats. He came to divide the true followers of God from the hypocrites. Christianity has been responsible for more martyrs than any other religion. Governments have been over thrown in an attempt to apply Christian principals.
Jesus did bring peace, spiritual peace. However, He brought decisiveness in the physical realm.
5) To save the lost
“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”(Luke 19:10)
Jesus compared himself a lot to a shepherd. A shepherd was in charge of watching sheep that usually belonged to someone else. If a sheep got lost the shepherd would leave the other sheep to find the lost one. Why? Because the sheep that were safe in the pen did not need saving. He would seek for the lost one. As long as the sheep felt safe he would do what sheep do, mostly graze. But once he knew he was lost he would begin baaing. The shepherd would hear this cry and follow it to the lost sheep and carry it home.
Jesus did not come to save those who already are saved. We just need to stay in the pen. He came to save those who have wandered away. That is the grace of God. And He came to seek the sheep crying for rescue that belonged to his enemy. That is the mercy of God.
6) To be a light
“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” (John 12:46)
When I was in the Navy I went through fire fighting training. The put me in a room with no lights. it was so dark I could not see my hand in front of my eyes. Suddenly a fire begin to burn in the corner and the room was filled with light. Even though it was fire training and I would be a part of the crew extinguishing it, there was comfort in having light to lead me around the room. Jesus came into this dark world to lead us.
When the Chinese government decided to become more westernized, they invited American teachers to come to China to teach their students English. They were allowed to bring any written material they desired. One of those books was the Bible. And so now we read; “As the book business goes, Amity Printing is not unusually prolific. In the last 20 years it has printed some 50 million books; some publishers churn out that many in a year. But Amity focuses on one title — the Bible — and primarily one market, China.”(Time World Magazine)
Jesus came to shed his light.
7) To testify to the truth
John 18:37 “Pilate said, “So you are a king?”
Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” (John 18:37)
Seventy two times we find Jesus saying “I tell you the truth.”
He was in fact making a statement of clarity each time. His birth, life and death was a testimony to the prophetic statements made about him. His very existence testified to the truth of God’s Word.
And then He draws a line in the sand. Those who love the truth will recognize the truth but those who follow the devil, the father of lies, will not recognize the truth.
Jesus still testifies to the truth 2000 years after his birth. Every time you look at a calendar, He testifies to the truth. Every time you see a widow or an orphan receiving care, He testifies to the truth. Every time you enter a hospital and see patients receiving care and not being licked by the dogs, He testifies to the truth.
Only Jesus could accomplish all these things that brought him into our world. And for that we have the reasons for the seasons.
