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WHAT CHRIST CAME TO SHOW US
Explanatory Introduction
This is the season of Epiphany which means the manifestation of God to the whole
world in the person of Jesus Christ. January 5 is the day of Epiphany, and sometimes
refers to the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. Christ's coming into the world is
compared to a light that has shined upon humankind. Indeed, the wise men followed the
light of the star that led them to the baby Jesus. The Old Testament looked forward to a
light represented by the Messiah who would liberate the people from Roman
domination, and set up a new Davidic kingdom. The Hebrews had no conception of a
Messiah coming to the Gentiles. The Messianic hope was always the overthrow of
Roman bondage and the establishment of a new type of Davidic kingdom.
As far as we know, the Jews had no conception of the Messiah being anything other
than a human being. However, God's purpose was to manifest himself in the person of
Jesus Christ who would be God in human flesh.
God had manifested himself to persons in the Old Testament in different ways and for
specific purposes through what were called theophanies. He manifested himself to
Abraham in the form of three men who predicted that his wife Sarah would bear a
son.(Genesis 18) He manifested himself to Jacob as an angel who wrestled with him all
night. (Genesis 32) He manifested himself to Moses in the form of a burning bush to
commission him to lead his people out of Egypt.(Exodus 3) Now God has come to
manifest himself in a new way through the person of Jesus Christ. What did Christ
come to show us about God?
1 CHRIST CAME TO SHOW US WHAT GOD IS LIKE
a. God is like Jesus
In comparing the people's blindness to those in Isaiah's time, he said,"Whosover sees
me sees him who sent me." (John 12:45)
At the portico of Solomon during the festival of the dedication, he said "I and the Father
are one." John 10:30
After healing on the Sabbath, he said, "Whatever the Father does, the son does also."
(John 5:19)
In John 5:26, Jesus says, "As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son
also to have life in himself. "
In the Garden, he prays that his disciples may be one as he and the Father are one."
(John 17:22)
Note: We have little trouble calling the name of God, but Jesus is more controversial,
despite the above verses showing Christ to be equal to God. However, the Black church
has little trouble calling the name of Jesus, probably due to the legacy of slavery when
the slaves considered Jesus to be sympathetic to their suffering.
b. God is truth
In John 8:26 while talking to the Pharisees, Jesus said, "The one who sent me is true."
(Note) When Jesus appeared before Pilate, Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" Little did
he know that Truth was standing before him.
ll CHRIST CAME TO SHOW US WHAT GOD CAN DO
a. Talking to his disciples, Jesus said, "For God all things are possible."(Mark 10:27)
b. Jesus told his followers that God can answer prayer. (Matthew 18:19)
c. Jesus says as God feeds birds of the air, he will supply our needs. (Matthew 6:26)
d.In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says to come to him and find rest.
e In John10:28, Jesus tells the unbelieving Jews that God the Father gives eternal life
and no one can snatch them out of the Father's hand. (God's hand)
III CHRIST CAME TO SHOW HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US
Love can be a noun or verb. However, we illustrate love with action. It takes on even
greater significance in the midst of suffering. God showed he loved us through Christ's
death on the cross. George Harkness says the cross was "God's way of uniting suffering
with love."
A long time ago, a medieval monk announced to the congregation that he would be
preaching on the love of God the following Sunday. When the congregation gathered the
next Sunday in a darkened altar, the monk lighted a candle and took it to the crucifix,
which you know is a cross with the figure of Christ on it. First, he set light to the crown
of thorns. Next, he set light to the wounded hands, followed by the spear wound in the
side. Then he blew out the candle and left. There was nothing else to be said.
An old spiritual expresses it well:
THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD. AND HE NEVER SAID A MUMBLING WORD
THEY NAILED HIM TO THE TREE. AND HE NEVER SAID A MUMBLING WORD
THEY PIERCED HIM IN THE SIDE. AND HE NEVER SAID A MUMBLING WORD
THE BLOOD CAME TRICKLING DOWN. AND HE NEVER SAID A MUMBLING WORD
HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND DIED. AND HE NEVER SAID A MUMBLING WORD
NOT A WORD. NOT A WORD. NOT A WORD.
THAT'S HOW MUCH GOD LOVED US!
