God's Great Love For Us

Reading: John 3:16-21, Ephesians 3:14-21

Last year a precious little grandson was born into our family. I love to hold him, this precious gift from God and look into his bright face with wonder, and consider who will he be, what has God purposed in his life, how will his life affect our family and the world around him.

Birth of Christ by Carl Bloch

I wonder if on the first day of Jesus life, that when Mary held Him and looked into His brilliant face; she must have wondered what He would be like? How would God's purpose for Him play out in His life? How would it affect her and Joseph? And what would His life mean for the entire world? 

"Mary kept all these things 
and pondered them in her heart."  
Luke 2:19 NKJ

Could she have known that God's plan for humanity would pierce her own heart? Probably not yet, though Simeon would tell her in eight days. Could anyone have understood how God's plan would pierce His Own Heart? God, the Father knew from eternity past what it would take to rescue human kind. He foretold this in the life of Abraham. How must Abraham have felt when God said:

"Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, and... 
offer him as a burnt offering".
Genesis 22:2 NKJ

 

This verse foretells God the Father's plan and the pain it would cause Him.. Somehow, the suffering of humanity was an even a greater pain. It reveals the extent of His profound deep love for us. We are His Creation. He formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Gen. 2:7, We are His workmanship, His masterpiece, His work of art. Eph. 2:10 We are lovingly crafted by Him.

 

David had a question for God. To paraphrase: In light of Your majesty, Who are we that You would even think about us, let alone care? Look how God answered that question, by sending His Son, His one and only, beloved Son, knowing full well we'd kill Him. In fact that was the plan, that He would provide once and for all people, a perfect sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins.

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son,  
 that whoever believes in Him  
shall not perish but have eternal life."  
John 3:16 NIV

 

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,  according to His power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:17-21 NIV

Glory in the Highest

Luke 2:8-20

Today just enjoy this beautiful portion of scripture, with family and friends, even though we read them previously. A section of today's reading was even recited on "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Charlie was feeling down because everything about Christmas seemed empty and commercial. He was looking for the real meaning of Christmas. Perhaps after weeks of shopping, eating and parties you feel the same way and will rejoice in the simple meaning of the profound gift we received from God, our Savior Jesus Christ.

"Now there were shepherds living out in the fields,keeping watch over their flock by night.And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

The the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace ,goodwill toward men!' So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,

'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger..."

Luke 2:8-16 NKJ

Order a print of Birth of the King by Michael Dudash

Tomorrow we will see God's Great Love for Us.

Mary and Joseph Travel

Mary and Joseph lived in the small town of Nazareth. This is where the angel came to each of them to announce the coming of Jesus. Nazareth is a small town up in the northern part in Israel, near the sea of Galilee. The prophet Isaiah prophesied the coming of the King.  

 

"In Galilee of the Gentiles, 

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light... 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..."

Isaiah 9:2, 6

 

What? In Nazareth? "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"John 1:46 Isn't Jesus supposed to be born in Bethlehem as the song goes?  "O Little Town of Bethlehem"? 

 

"But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, 

Yet out of you shall come forth for Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, 

whose goings forth are from old, 

From everlasting." Micah 5:2

 

How is it then that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Interestingly enough, It was through a decree from the Roman Emperor Augustus that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem for a census. Ironically it was through Augustus that Micah's prophesied was fulfilled.

"At that time the Roman Emperor Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire... All returned to their ancestral  towns to register for the census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there... with... Mary, his fiancee, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them." Luke 2:1-7 NLT

"Joy to the world, the Lord is come.

Let earth receive Her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room."

There was no room for them in the Inn. So He, the King of all heaven and earth was born in a stable with animals to simple peasants. Through the ages since His Coming, millions have prepared room for Him in their hearts across the face of the earth.

Joy pierced through the darkness of sin and entered the world as a baby, beginning the gathering of heaven and earth into one and the reconciliation of God and man. Though the Creator came unto His own creation, most did not recognize Him. But that did not keep heaven from rejoicing and those in whom His light has shown from from worshiping the infant King.

An Angel Visits Joseph

 As you read this section of Matthew's gospel (18-25), put yourself in Joseph's place as he discovers his beautiful, pure betrothed bride is pregnant and not with his child. As he considered breaking their engagement quietly, an angel appeared to him and said:

Angel Visits Joseph- Tissot, Brooklyn Museum

"Joseph, son of David, 

do not be afraid 

to take Mary as your wife. 

For the child within her 
was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

And she will have a son, 
and you are to name him Jesus, 

for he will save his people 
from their sins."

Jesus is the "Anointed One",
God's promised Messiah, 

who does save His people from their sins,
even today. 

Praise God for His wonderful gift

of Jesus our Messiah and Savior.