Many of us have faced a great deal of trouble in the past few years, and although our usual tactic is just to "grin and bear it" (or whine and bear it, depending on our nature), God actually has several prescriptions for tackling trouble laid out in the Scriptures:
For Example:
Jesus had a lot to say about trouble. He lived in the midst of it, His future was circumscribed by a date with a Roman Cross, and He knew it. How did He deal with trouble in His own life?
1. He faced it. Matt. 16:21: "From that time forth Jesus began to show his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day."
2. He expected His followers to be realistic about it: "Jesus began to show His disciples..."
3. He was honest about the suffering and shame: He would "suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed..."
4. He expected a good final result: He would "be raised again the third day."
When the writers of the Bible speak about suffering, they don't sugarcoat it. They discuss it as reality. They tell the truth, but they always point out that it ends. They also remind us that God walks with us through it, and that we are precious to Him: Ps. 23: "Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
God loves you. He loves you when you prosper, He loves you when you are happy, and He also loves you when you suffer, when you are hurting, depressed and sad. Every Christian has been troubled, depressed, sad or worried about something in his life. Even though we may not feel His presence because of our struggles God goes with us in these difficult times, and His power sustains us: Is. 43:2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither shall the flame set you on fire."
God loves you just as you are, TODAY.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Jesus Christ in Prophecy
Jesus taught that in Him were fulfilled ALL the prophecies of Scripture about Messiah, or the Christ:
Luke24:25-27: And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 24:32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?Luke 24:44-47 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
It is manifestly true that Jesus Christ is the subject of many prophecies in the Scriptures. Those who catalog such things have described over 300 specific prophecies related to Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, but there are many more, if we consider the following:
The Old Testament sacrificial system points to Jesus Christ. There are many types and shadows that point to Jesus Christ. There are numerous appearances ("The Angel of The LORD") of Jesus Christ prior to His arrival on earth as a human.
We are told that the creation depended on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is personified as the "wisdom of God" in Proverbs 8.
Jesus Christ is the great "mystery Man" described by David, in his own person, in many of the Psalms.
If we were to take the Person of Jesus Christ from the Old Testament, we would have to set it afire and let it be consumed down to ashes, and then scatter the ashes. He is woven into the Old Testament in so many ways, and so carefully, that His presence pervades and informs the entire book.
Who is this Jesus Christ of Prophecy?
Our study today can only scratch the surface of this excellent topic, yet it is one of the key topics of all the Scripture, and certainly one of the clearest proofs that the Bible is true--and that Jesus is Lord.
1. Jesus Christ referred to Himself many times as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies: See Luke 4:17-19, Luke 24:44, Matt. 26:54.
2. The Apostles, Likewise, referred to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the O. T. prophecies: See Acts 3:18, Acts 13:29-31, 33, 1 Cor. 15:3-4. Many people have found the gateway to their conversion in a study of the prophecies of Scripture, but it is NOT TRUE that the mere intellectual study of prophecy will effect a conversion: See 1 Cor. 2:13-14. Also see Rom. 10:9-13. The Holy Spirit is the agent, and I respond to Him with a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It's an act of the will. I choose Him.
Prophecies about Jesus Christ throughout the Bible
1. Jesus refers to Himself as the "Root and offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)." This is the key to understanding the prophetic Scriptures about Jesus Christ-He is both progenitor, or Creator, of the human race, and the Greatest Man of all. This is true because He is "God manifest in the flesh," and "The word made flesh." Hence the Old Testament is really part of a giant circle, in which the Creator takes on humanity, becomes man (Phil 2:5-6), and the Savior of mankind (see Romans 5:12-21). (There is NO WAY we can deal with all this material; here are a few highlights)
2. Genesis. Jesus is the "Seed of the Woman;" Genesis 3:15 (See Is. 7:14, Matt. 1:20-23). This is a fascinating statement, because the only way Jesus could have been "seed of the woman" (an expression never used in the Old or New Testaments of anyone else), is to have been born of a virgin. Even from earliest times, Jesus Christ is presented to us as unique. Jesus is the descendant of Judah, Genesis 49:8-12, yet God is His true Father (Genesis 49:24); on the other hand, he's the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel. It's interesting that the fact that Jesus Christ is unique is everywhere foreshadowed in prophecy, but the extent and manner of His uniqueness had to wait until His conception for its full revelation.
3. Exodus and Deuteronomy. Jesus is the Passover Lamb, Exodus 12. This is not strictly a prophecy, in the sense that it is expressed in so many words; however, it is a prophetic event, in that the clear intention of the writer of Exodus is to separate Israel from Egypt in judgment, and the blood sprinkled on the doorposts in the shape of a cross protected the Israelite families from the Angel of Death. See 1 Cor. 5:7, Rev. 5:6-12, John 1:29-36. Jesus is the Prophet "like Moses," whom all Israel (and all men) are to hear, Deut. 18:15-19. See Acts 7:37. This makes Jesus the final "word from God" concerning the salvation of mankind (see Heb. 1:1-2); God has no more to say after Jesus, regarding salvation. Jesus is IT. (see 2 Samuel 7)
4. The Psalms and the Wisdom Literature: Many of the Psalms discuss Jesus Christ in His sufferings and glory, but they do so with David as the "personification" of Jesus (Matthew 1:1 partially explains this-Jesus is the "son of David" but mentioned first, since He is also the LORD of David (Matt 22:43 + Context), and his progenitor and Creator). Psalm 2: The entire Psalm is an announcement of Jesus' Victory over His foes, and what He will do with them as the King ("Yet have I set my King...); it concludes, "Kiss the Son..." meaning, bow down to Him as Lord...See Acts 4:25-31. Psalm 16:10, see the context; quoted in Acts 2:27; David did "see corruption;" Jesus did not-he rose from the dead. Psalm 22: The entire Psalm is a prophecy of the sufferings that Jesus experienced on the Cross. Psalm 110: This Psalm is a Psalm of the reigning King, Jesus. Jesus quotes it in Matt. 22:42-46, asking the question, "How can Messiah both be Son of David and Lord of David (the answer: Jesus is David's Creator-He is the "root and offspring of David," as we mentioned earlier). Acts 2:32 refers to Him as the Ascended Lord, in fulfillment of Prophecy. There are others, of course-Psalm 69; Psalm 45; Psalm 102; and on and on. David's heart beat with the heartbeat of His Descendant and Lord, and his songs unfolded the worship and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Then there is Job, with his famous passage in Job 19:23-27.
5. The Prophets: Time and space fail me. But here are a couple: Isaiah 40:3-11; 49:5-6; Is. 50:5-7; And of course, Isaiah 52-53:12, the great theological statement of the reasons for the death of Jesus Christ. Then there is Daniel 7 and 9 (about the Return of Christ), And Zechariah-Zechariah 12:10, and Zechariah 13:6-7. These are truly amazing, and reflect the Divine intention to bring His Son into the world that "the world through Him might be saved," and then for Him to return as King of Kings.
Luke24:25-27: And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 24:32 They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?Luke 24:44-47 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
It is manifestly true that Jesus Christ is the subject of many prophecies in the Scriptures. Those who catalog such things have described over 300 specific prophecies related to Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, but there are many more, if we consider the following:
The Old Testament sacrificial system points to Jesus Christ. There are many types and shadows that point to Jesus Christ. There are numerous appearances ("The Angel of The LORD") of Jesus Christ prior to His arrival on earth as a human.
We are told that the creation depended on Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is personified as the "wisdom of God" in Proverbs 8.
Jesus Christ is the great "mystery Man" described by David, in his own person, in many of the Psalms.
If we were to take the Person of Jesus Christ from the Old Testament, we would have to set it afire and let it be consumed down to ashes, and then scatter the ashes. He is woven into the Old Testament in so many ways, and so carefully, that His presence pervades and informs the entire book.
Who is this Jesus Christ of Prophecy?
Our study today can only scratch the surface of this excellent topic, yet it is one of the key topics of all the Scripture, and certainly one of the clearest proofs that the Bible is true--and that Jesus is Lord.
1. Jesus Christ referred to Himself many times as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies: See Luke 4:17-19, Luke 24:44, Matt. 26:54.
2. The Apostles, Likewise, referred to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the O. T. prophecies: See Acts 3:18, Acts 13:29-31, 33, 1 Cor. 15:3-4. Many people have found the gateway to their conversion in a study of the prophecies of Scripture, but it is NOT TRUE that the mere intellectual study of prophecy will effect a conversion: See 1 Cor. 2:13-14. Also see Rom. 10:9-13. The Holy Spirit is the agent, and I respond to Him with a personal commitment to Jesus Christ. It's an act of the will. I choose Him.
Prophecies about Jesus Christ throughout the Bible
1. Jesus refers to Himself as the "Root and offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)." This is the key to understanding the prophetic Scriptures about Jesus Christ-He is both progenitor, or Creator, of the human race, and the Greatest Man of all. This is true because He is "God manifest in the flesh," and "The word made flesh." Hence the Old Testament is really part of a giant circle, in which the Creator takes on humanity, becomes man (Phil 2:5-6), and the Savior of mankind (see Romans 5:12-21). (There is NO WAY we can deal with all this material; here are a few highlights)
2. Genesis. Jesus is the "Seed of the Woman;" Genesis 3:15 (See Is. 7:14, Matt. 1:20-23). This is a fascinating statement, because the only way Jesus could have been "seed of the woman" (an expression never used in the Old or New Testaments of anyone else), is to have been born of a virgin. Even from earliest times, Jesus Christ is presented to us as unique. Jesus is the descendant of Judah, Genesis 49:8-12, yet God is His true Father (Genesis 49:24); on the other hand, he's the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel. It's interesting that the fact that Jesus Christ is unique is everywhere foreshadowed in prophecy, but the extent and manner of His uniqueness had to wait until His conception for its full revelation.
3. Exodus and Deuteronomy. Jesus is the Passover Lamb, Exodus 12. This is not strictly a prophecy, in the sense that it is expressed in so many words; however, it is a prophetic event, in that the clear intention of the writer of Exodus is to separate Israel from Egypt in judgment, and the blood sprinkled on the doorposts in the shape of a cross protected the Israelite families from the Angel of Death. See 1 Cor. 5:7, Rev. 5:6-12, John 1:29-36. Jesus is the Prophet "like Moses," whom all Israel (and all men) are to hear, Deut. 18:15-19. See Acts 7:37. This makes Jesus the final "word from God" concerning the salvation of mankind (see Heb. 1:1-2); God has no more to say after Jesus, regarding salvation. Jesus is IT. (see 2 Samuel 7)
4. The Psalms and the Wisdom Literature: Many of the Psalms discuss Jesus Christ in His sufferings and glory, but they do so with David as the "personification" of Jesus (Matthew 1:1 partially explains this-Jesus is the "son of David" but mentioned first, since He is also the LORD of David (Matt 22:43 + Context), and his progenitor and Creator). Psalm 2: The entire Psalm is an announcement of Jesus' Victory over His foes, and what He will do with them as the King ("Yet have I set my King...); it concludes, "Kiss the Son..." meaning, bow down to Him as Lord...See Acts 4:25-31. Psalm 16:10, see the context; quoted in Acts 2:27; David did "see corruption;" Jesus did not-he rose from the dead. Psalm 22: The entire Psalm is a prophecy of the sufferings that Jesus experienced on the Cross. Psalm 110: This Psalm is a Psalm of the reigning King, Jesus. Jesus quotes it in Matt. 22:42-46, asking the question, "How can Messiah both be Son of David and Lord of David (the answer: Jesus is David's Creator-He is the "root and offspring of David," as we mentioned earlier). Acts 2:32 refers to Him as the Ascended Lord, in fulfillment of Prophecy. There are others, of course-Psalm 69; Psalm 45; Psalm 102; and on and on. David's heart beat with the heartbeat of His Descendant and Lord, and his songs unfolded the worship and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Then there is Job, with his famous passage in Job 19:23-27.
5. The Prophets: Time and space fail me. But here are a couple: Isaiah 40:3-11; 49:5-6; Is. 50:5-7; And of course, Isaiah 52-53:12, the great theological statement of the reasons for the death of Jesus Christ. Then there is Daniel 7 and 9 (about the Return of Christ), And Zechariah-Zechariah 12:10, and Zechariah 13:6-7. These are truly amazing, and reflect the Divine intention to bring His Son into the world that "the world through Him might be saved," and then for Him to return as King of Kings.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Who is Jesus Christ?
Who IS Jesus Christ?
The Bible is exceedingly clear about who Jesus is, and if theologians can't get it right ("He's a mythical figure, a popular teacher, a political agitator," etc.), the musicians certainly have done so, and they did it with reference to simple Bible facts, without playing the mental games of unbelief (see below the songs for a list of Bible verses that discuss this topic).
Here is a propositional statement about Jesus Christ that describes His Person:
Jesus Christ is God and man. He is completely God, and completely man. Neither the human nature of Jesus, nor His Deity, is reduced in any way, and both exist in perfect harmony.
Here are some popular songs that express Jesus Christ's true nature well.
The Lion and The Lamb
Who is He...The mightiest of all
Who is He...Creation trembles at His call
Who is He...The lowly sacrifice, who paid a victim's price
His name is JESUS
CHORUS:
Jesus...From the Father's own right hand
Jesus...Son of God and Son of Man
Jesus...Who died and rose again
Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb
Who is He...With the power none can tame
Who is He...That every foe would fear his name
Who is He...Who was humbly led away, to suffer that dark day
His name is JESUS
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
He's the lamb that was slain
He's the lion that reigns
My savior and King both the same
Who is He...With the eyes that burn like fire
Who is He...Oh the wonder he inspires
Who is He...Who bore the guilt and shame, for those who'd gone astray
His name is JESUS
Mary, Did You Know?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hands?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kissed your little baby,
You kissed the face of God.
Oh, Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again;
The meek will lead, the dumb will speak
The praises of a man.
Oh, Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Was Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect lamb?
That the sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I Am?
Jesus is declared to be BOTH God and Man in many places in the New Testament.
John 1:1-3, 14, 18.
John 8:58--[Jesus is speaking]: "before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
Philippians 2:5-11 "Let the same attitude that Christ had be yours..."He existed in the form of God, but didn't try to stay in heaven...instead, He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a man, and when he was a man, he submitted to death, even death on the Cross (Paraphrase mine).
I Tim. 3:16 (KJV and NKJV)-- God was manifest in the flesh--The NASB, ESV, NIV and NRSV has "He who was manifest..."
Heb. 1:1-3, 2:14-18.
1 John 3:2 expresses one side of this truth--Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (i. e., He is truly human).
1 John 4:9, 15 express the other side--"confess.. that Jesus is the Son of God... God sent His only begotten Son into the world."
Both of these truths are held in tension. Neither is fully explained (who could do that?), and both are always affirmed to be true, wherever they are considered. Jesus is not "only man," but He is "fully man." He is not "only God," but He is "fully God."
Fortunately for us, God does not attempt an explanation, except to state that it is this way--and indeed, the Scriptures are clear that we cannot fully understand:
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knows the Son, except the Father; neither does any man know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
In other words, knowing the Son is impossible, but you CAN know the Father by revelation. I take this to mean that nobody can understand the Son, because what happened in the Incarnation is unknowable.
Because the Son is who He is, God delights in presenting Him as a series of contrasts:
1. He is the King who enters Jerusalem, not at the head of an army, but with a bunch of palm-wielding peasants. Matthew 21.
2. He is the despised Servant who died, but is the King of Kings, who will receive homage from all other kings. Is. 52:14-53:12.
3. He is the Savior who will save all who come to Him, yet He is the Judge, who will judge all men. John 5.
4. He is the mighty Lion of the Tribe of Judah, but "the Lamb who was slain," Revelation 5.
5. He is the Almighty God, but also a man born of a woman, subject to every human problem and stress, apart from sin (Phil. 2:5-11, Heb. 4:15, Luke 2).
6. He's the "Master and Lord," but the One who humbles Himself to wash our feet, John 13.
7. He is the Eternal God (Micah, 5:2, John 1:1-3), but also a man who could die, John 19:30.
God, in this way, says to us, "This Person is unique--do not try to categorize Him."
He is the "Only Begotten Son," "who is in the bosom of the Father," who "became flesh, and dwelt among us."
He Heals lepers, forgives sins, raises the dead, and death cannot hold Him, but He falls asleep with exhaustion, becomes weary with a journey, weeps at the death of a friend, and loves his mother, even in death.
Truly, "Great is the mystery of godliness..."
God did all this because He loves us with an everlasting love, which no man can measure or comprehend (John 3:16, Rev. 1:5, Eph. 3:16-21, Romans 8:31-39 ): Why He loves us, we do not know. But thank God that He does.
Love was When
Love was when God became a man,
Locked in time and space, without rank or place;
Love was God born of Jewish kin;
Just a carpenter with some fishermen;
Love was when Jesus walked in history,
Lovingly He brought a new life that's free,
Love was God nailed to bleed and die
To reach and love one such as I.
Love was when God became a man,
Down where I could see love that reached to me;
Love was God dying for my sin
And so trapped was I my whole world caved in.
Love was when Jesus met me, now it's real;
Lovingly He came, I can feel He's real!
Love was God, only He would try
To reach and love one such as I.
Holy, righteous, clothed in His shining light, Yahweh, I am, for us was crucified,
This chosen one (this chosen one) is the King of Kings, This spotless lamb (this spotless lamb) is the Lord of Lords!
Thus do the songwriters tell us things that the theologians cannot express...
The Bible is exceedingly clear about who Jesus is, and if theologians can't get it right ("He's a mythical figure, a popular teacher, a political agitator," etc.), the musicians certainly have done so, and they did it with reference to simple Bible facts, without playing the mental games of unbelief (see below the songs for a list of Bible verses that discuss this topic).
Here is a propositional statement about Jesus Christ that describes His Person:
Jesus Christ is God and man. He is completely God, and completely man. Neither the human nature of Jesus, nor His Deity, is reduced in any way, and both exist in perfect harmony.
Here are some popular songs that express Jesus Christ's true nature well.
The Lion and The Lamb
Who is He...The mightiest of all
Who is He...Creation trembles at His call
Who is He...The lowly sacrifice, who paid a victim's price
His name is JESUS
CHORUS:
Jesus...From the Father's own right hand
Jesus...Son of God and Son of Man
Jesus...Who died and rose again
Jesus...He's the Lion and the Lamb
Who is He...With the power none can tame
Who is He...That every foe would fear his name
Who is He...Who was humbly led away, to suffer that dark day
His name is JESUS
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
He's the lamb that was slain
He's the lion that reigns
My savior and King both the same
Who is He...With the eyes that burn like fire
Who is He...Oh the wonder he inspires
Who is He...Who bore the guilt and shame, for those who'd gone astray
His name is JESUS
Mary, Did You Know?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hands?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kissed your little baby,
You kissed the face of God.
Oh, Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again;
The meek will lead, the dumb will speak
The praises of a man.
Oh, Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Was Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect lamb?
That the sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I Am?
Jesus is declared to be BOTH God and Man in many places in the New Testament.
John 1:1-3, 14, 18.
John 8:58--[Jesus is speaking]: "before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
Philippians 2:5-11 "Let the same attitude that Christ had be yours..."He existed in the form of God, but didn't try to stay in heaven...instead, He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a man, and when he was a man, he submitted to death, even death on the Cross (Paraphrase mine).
I Tim. 3:16 (KJV and NKJV)-- God was manifest in the flesh--The NASB, ESV, NIV and NRSV has "He who was manifest..."
Heb. 1:1-3, 2:14-18.
1 John 3:2 expresses one side of this truth--Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (i. e., He is truly human).
1 John 4:9, 15 express the other side--"confess.. that Jesus is the Son of God... God sent His only begotten Son into the world."
Both of these truths are held in tension. Neither is fully explained (who could do that?), and both are always affirmed to be true, wherever they are considered. Jesus is not "only man," but He is "fully man." He is not "only God," but He is "fully God."
Fortunately for us, God does not attempt an explanation, except to state that it is this way--and indeed, the Scriptures are clear that we cannot fully understand:
Mat 11:27 All things are delivered to me by my Father: and no man knows the Son, except the Father; neither does any man know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
In other words, knowing the Son is impossible, but you CAN know the Father by revelation. I take this to mean that nobody can understand the Son, because what happened in the Incarnation is unknowable.
Because the Son is who He is, God delights in presenting Him as a series of contrasts:
1. He is the King who enters Jerusalem, not at the head of an army, but with a bunch of palm-wielding peasants. Matthew 21.
2. He is the despised Servant who died, but is the King of Kings, who will receive homage from all other kings. Is. 52:14-53:12.
3. He is the Savior who will save all who come to Him, yet He is the Judge, who will judge all men. John 5.
4. He is the mighty Lion of the Tribe of Judah, but "the Lamb who was slain," Revelation 5.
5. He is the Almighty God, but also a man born of a woman, subject to every human problem and stress, apart from sin (Phil. 2:5-11, Heb. 4:15, Luke 2).
6. He's the "Master and Lord," but the One who humbles Himself to wash our feet, John 13.
7. He is the Eternal God (Micah, 5:2, John 1:1-3), but also a man who could die, John 19:30.
God, in this way, says to us, "This Person is unique--do not try to categorize Him."
He is the "Only Begotten Son," "who is in the bosom of the Father," who "became flesh, and dwelt among us."
He Heals lepers, forgives sins, raises the dead, and death cannot hold Him, but He falls asleep with exhaustion, becomes weary with a journey, weeps at the death of a friend, and loves his mother, even in death.
Truly, "Great is the mystery of godliness..."
God did all this because He loves us with an everlasting love, which no man can measure or comprehend (John 3:16, Rev. 1:5, Eph. 3:16-21, Romans 8:31-39 ): Why He loves us, we do not know. But thank God that He does.
Love was When
Love was when God became a man,
Locked in time and space, without rank or place;
Love was God born of Jewish kin;
Just a carpenter with some fishermen;
Love was when Jesus walked in history,
Lovingly He brought a new life that's free,
Love was God nailed to bleed and die
To reach and love one such as I.
Love was when God became a man,
Down where I could see love that reached to me;
Love was God dying for my sin
And so trapped was I my whole world caved in.
Love was when Jesus met me, now it's real;
Lovingly He came, I can feel He's real!
Love was God, only He would try
To reach and love one such as I.
Holy, righteous, clothed in His shining light, Yahweh, I am, for us was crucified,
This chosen one (this chosen one) is the King of Kings, This spotless lamb (this spotless lamb) is the Lord of Lords!
Thus do the songwriters tell us things that the theologians cannot express...
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