Birth of Christ

The Longest Journey – Part 1

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law Galatians 4:4 ESV

On the night Jesus was born the shepherds had followed long dark pathways down from the hills where they had been watching the flocks. Joseph and Mary had wearily journeyed all the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem at just this right time. Farthest of all came the wise men who had journeyed all the way from the east. But of all who were there in Bethlehem no one had traveled father than the one for whom they came.

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The shepherds came at the time they heard the angels. The wise men journeyed at the time they saw His star appear. Mary and Joseph arrived when the time was completed for the birth of the child. How interesting that Jesus also came at just the right time,

 

It was at His chosen hour that God sent His Son. It was the longest journey from the place of the pure love of God to a world where King Herod ordered the execution of innocent children. It was an enormous distance from the halls of worshiping angels to a stable with the snorting of cattle and the rustle of mice in the hay. But at God’s exact day and hour Jesus came. He could wait no longer. Our dark and cold world awaited Him as angels stood on tip-toe to witness His birth. He came as hope when all our hopes had been wrapped in night. He arrived in the natural pains of child birth and but He opened His eyes His journey was only just beginning.

In the Beauty of His Weakness

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25

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In one of the verses from the Battle Hymn of the Republic we sing, “In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea…” And as we set out our manger scenes or listen to the familiar carols on our favorite radio station, the story of Jesus born in a manger seems to us so appealing and beautiful. But the reality was of an unwed virgin about to give birth; a bride-groom offended, a village scandalized and a young couple traveling by donkey from Galilee to Judea to pay taxes. In the dirty stable of Bethlehem filled with smelly shepherds it might have been better to sing, “In the beauty of His weakness Christ was born…”

Maybe God sent us His Son in weakness so that His lowliness could say to us, “Welcome to all who wish to come!” Then onto that stable floor God sent shepherds with the joy of angel songs ringing in their ears. Later to their small home, came amazing gifts, from wise men who sought Christ in all His weakness and they kneeled to worship Him.

 

Today, in your life and mine God comes, He gives and guides in some of the most foolish of ways because of His unfathomable love for us. The foolishness and the weakness of God lead us to Bethlehem where the Savior was born. He came for all who would believe and all who will come and worship Him!

 

 

 

The Name of Jesus -Part 1

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And she will have a son and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins Matthew 1:32 

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her,” for you have found favor with God.”  You will conceive and give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31

When God gave the name Jesus it is interesting to see that he spoke both to Joseph and to Mary. To Mary Gabriel explained all that Jesus would do as the Messiah, but to Joseph God defined the name. The name Jesus was given because God had given His Son, not only to teach us the ways of Heaven, heal our sickness, or give us a comfortable life; Jesus came to save His people from their sins.
One of the most beautiful sounds in the entire world to each of us is the sound of our own name. We love to hear our name mentioned especially if it is linked with assurance, love or praise. The sound I want most to hear as I cross into eternity is my own name being called by God himself with the phrase “Well done good and faithful servant” Our name is what calls our attention at any moment.
Imagine Jesus entering the world cradled in Mary’s arms. One of the first words Mary and Joseph would say was, “Jesus!”  God had kept His promise to them just as He said. From that day forward every time Jesus heard His own name it would be a reminder of why He had come. When He was growing up in the home with His brothers and Mary called out, “Jesus” he would remember that he was different. God had sent Him not just to be born in the humble stable, but also one day to give His life as a sacrifice for us!

Name of Jesus