The Mystery Of The Messiah

God is within you.” (Luke 17:20,21)

ILLUSTRATION:

We live in a generation that has shown so much fascination over the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. When a preacher would talk about Christ’s Second Coming, Christians jump to their seats, with attentive ears and alert mind ready to absorb whatever the speaker would say about the subject. No wonder Tim LaHaye and co-author Jerry Jenkins sold more than 65 million copies of their book “Left Behind” (over 75 million counting the graphic novels and children’s versions). Twelve volumes are now in print. So far, it generated more than 650 million dollars in sales since first published in 1995. (http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/BookReviews/left.htm)

Let us be very careful in what we are believing. Test every teaching in light of scriptures. Just as Israel should not be concerned about the future, the same applies to all Christians for the future is in God’s hands. Our utmost concern is to be obey the command of Scriptures that we may grow strong in our faith.

The traditional view among the Jew, just as what we’ve discussed the last time, the Messiah would be an earthly conqueror who would free Israel from Rome’s oppression and improve the nation’s socioeconomic status—from poverty to riches; having freedom to toil and cultivate their own land without too many restrictions.

Little did they know that the Messiah to come whose mission was more than just freeing them from Rome’s oppression or improving their daily living. What the Messiah can give was and is worth more than all the treasures in all the earth combined. He is not someone who measures to man’s standard. But someone who is going to provide what no man can attain and ever achieve in this earthly life—What is that? Eternal glory!

1. THE MYSTERY OF THE MESSIAH IN THE INCARNATION

“Beyond all, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among

the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up to glory.“ (1Tim 3:16)

ILLUSTRATION:

One winter night a farmer heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass.

Touched, the farmer got out and walked his way through fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, covered one corner with hay, and sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers to lead the birds to the barn. But the sparrows, which had scattered in all directions when he came out from the house, still hid in the darkness, afraid of him.

He tried various tactics to drive them toward the barn but nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them; the birds could not understand that he actually came out of the house to help them.

He went back into the house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared a thought hit him: If only I could become a bird—like one of them—just for a moment. Then I wouldn’t have frightened them. I could show them the way to warmth and safety.