Grace For The Journey

Because of the commercialism and secularism of Christmas it is easy to miss the real announcement at Christmas – “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, as Savior Who is Christ the Lord.”  To miss this message is to miss what Christmas is all about.  When Jesus is older, He gives us insight into Who He really is and what He came to do.  In John 14:6 He says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

In addressing that question, in today’s blog, I want to ask some questions and look at the answer from the Word of God.

Who Does God The Father Say He Is?

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, plunging all of humanity and creation into ruin, God did not abandon them.  He did not leave them as rebels ruined, guilty and ashamed in their sin.  He pursued them; and in their presence, He made this promise to the serpent who had deceived the woman:

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

God promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior who would redeem them from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and ultimately the very presence of sin.

At in Matthew 3:16-17, God the Father announced that this promise was fulfilled in His Son, Jesus: “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.   And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Who Does Jesus Say He Is?

In John 4:25-26 records this account, “Then the woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (Who is called Christ), when He comes, He will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

When the Samaritan woman at the well used the term “Messiah,” she was speaking of the expected King of the Jewish people, who had been promised by God and anticipated by the nation of Israel for hundreds of years. There are many Old Testament prophecies of a promised descendant of David who would come down from heaven and save His people. Those promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The verse I quoted at the beginning of my blog today reveals the importance of knowing Who this child born at Bethlehem is, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)

Who Do You Say He Is?

The Bible teaches that throughout the ages men have various ideas and opinions about Who Jesus is.  One such account is in Matthew 16:13-17, where the Bible says, “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ He asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’”

Jesus made it crystal clear that only God can open the eyes of our hearts to know Jesus.

This knowledge does not come

Through human reason;

It does not come

Through the witness of miracles;

It will not come through

A burning bush or

A Damascus Road experience.

It will only come through

The revelation of God,

Which makes the blind see,

The deaf hear,

And the dead rise

To new life in Christ.

So . . . as Christmas Day approaches . . . what will you do with this Jesus, who is called the Christ?  Who do you say this Jesus is?  This is the most important question you will ever answer.

It is my prayer that today’s blog . . .

Serves to sharpen your focus

On the Reason for this season . . .

The One and Only King of kings

And Lord of lords,

The Savior of the world:

Jesus Christ.

He laid aside the glories of heaven to be born in a stable . . . and ultimately to die and rise again from the grave . . . so that by believing in Him you may be forgiven and have eternal life.

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”