Christmas Day: Jesus is Savior

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, The Lord.

Luke 2:11

Over the past few weeks (26 days to be precise) has lead up to this day.  Jesus is our Savior.  The Old Testament points directly to Jesus and our dire need for Someone to save us from ourselves.  I feel like that if God had given us Jesus from the beginning we wouldn't appreciate Him.  Now we can study the Old Testament and understand why we can't save ourselves.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that serves as Atonement Sacrifice and the High Priest that offers Himself to cleanse us from our sins.  Once we are cleansed and forgiven we are clothed in Jesus' righteousness so that we can now come close to God.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us.

The Hebrew people would have been anticipating Jesus for years and generations yet they didn't recognize Him when He came.  The Shepherds saw the angels and believed.  They went to see Him and worship Him.  Why didn't the angels appear to the religious people?  I'm not sure but I can only imagine from their later reactions to Him, that they wouldn't have gone to Him.  In fact the Bible doesn't record any religious people going to see Him.  

Those who did go and worship Him are recorded for all eternity.  How can this apply to us?  Do you seek out Jesus amongst this rushed and chaotic season?  We have already received the greatest Christmas Gift we could ever need.  We needed a Savior and God gave us One.  Jesus saved us from sin by His sacrifice.  

All Advent long,  a theme that gifts are sacrifices have come up in all my devotions that I read.  The reasoning is that the gift is a sacrifice of the giver.  Didn't God sacrifice His Only Son?  Isn't that a huggggeee sacrifice just for us!  Have you thought about giving Jesus a gift?  What can you sacrifice to give to Him--time, money, all of you?

Merry Christmas!!!

With His Love,

A

Christmas Eve: Jesus is Emmanuel

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel. 

Isaiah 7:14

It's been 25 days since I started this journey of blogging during Advent.  Tomorrow is the big day to celebrate but we should really be celebrating each and every day.    The second to last name for Jesus is Emmanuel or Immanuel.  This name is so wonderful because it means "God with us".  

Jesus came down from Heaven to dwell among, literally the Greek word for dwelling is ἐσκήνωσεν and means tabernacled among us!  The original reason that God had the Israelites build the Tabernacle was so He could dwell among the people.  Then Jesus comes down to dwell among the people and teach them.  

However, Jesus didn't leave us when He ascended to Heaven after His resurrection.  He is always with us.  We are never alone in any circumstances.  Sometimes I feel as if I am alone when no other humans are around or can understand my situation.  Jesus is there for me and has gone through the same feelings and temptations that we face every day. 

Jesus fulfilled the original intent of the Tabernacle.  He came and dwelled with us in human flesh and then returned to Heaven.  The Holy Spirit was sent down so that we can have God in us not just with us.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, closer than any relationship with God prior to Jesus.  

Our relationship with God is even more intimate than Moses and God because Jesus has fully cleansed.  With this cleansing we can now come so close to God that He can live inside of us!!  Does this change your view on the celebration tomorrow?  Will you take some time tomorrow to give thanks and just rest in the awe of God's amazing love?

With His Love,

A

24th Day of Advent: Jesus the Messiah

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

 Matthew 16:16

I love this exchange between Peter and Jesus.  Jesus asks His disciples who they think He is.  Peter answers that He is the Messiah.  Jesus tells him that God revealed this truth to Peter.  Isn't that so amazing that the Truth about Jesus' identity was revealed by God in His timing?! Jesus calls Peter blessed and then tells him, he will be the rock to build the church on (Matthew 16:17-20).  

Messiah is the Hebrew term and Christ is the Greek term for both the same meaning: Anointed One.  A little more than two weeks ago, I wrote about Jesus as the Anointed One.  He was chosen by God to fulfill His plan.  Jesus fulfills more than 18 Old Testament Prophecies about the Messiah.  I think He fulfills many more but these are specific for the Messiah.  

All the way back in Genesis 3:15, God promises that someone will come and crush the serpent (the Devil) down.  Jesus is that Person.  I am still in awe that so early on the Bible, God revealed His plan to us.  The people knew about this prophecy and were waiting for it to be fulfilled.

Everyone was so caught up in life when Jesus did finally come to Earth that they didn't believe He was the one.  He didn't come in regally or flashy but humbly and approachable.  Jesus the Messiah, the long awaited Person to deliver the Hebrew Nation once and for all wasn't recognized.  

Is that us today?  We are so caught up in life and celebrating "Christmas" that we don't recognize when Jesus the Messiah, the long awaited One to deliver us, shows up in our lives?  I don't want that to be me this week.  I want Jesus to be the focus.  I need deliverance and Him.  How are you going to let Jesus into your life?  Will you make room for Him unlike so many 2000 years ago (and still today!)?

With His Love,

A

23rd Day of Advent: Jesus is the King of kings

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers."

Revelation 17:14

Last year I started to listen to more Christian based Christmas music.  I found some really great songs that hold the true message of Christmas-Jesus instead of Santa Claus.  Point of Grace is one of the groups that I enjoy listening to.  It wasn't until this year that their song, "One King" really hit me.  The premise of the song is that the there were four kings that night (the Three Wisemen Kings and Jesus):

One king held the frankincense
One king held the myrrh
One king held the purest gold
And one King held the hope of the world

When I heard that last lyric line, it hit me that Jesus was a King even lying in that manger.  He came down from His Heavenly thrown to be with us.  So many contempory Christian Christmas songs carry this message and I love that.  I want to be reminded of the true reason we are celebrating this week.  I may have not gotten it all right this year (my sis and I just remembered that we forgot to get my mom a present) but I want my heart to be right.   

Jesus is the King of all the kings who have ever ruled.  He is the Ultimate King because His Throne is in Heaven.  Just because He is a King doesn't mean that He is not approachable.  He can be King of your heart if you let Him in! 

Have you let Jesus rule over your heart?  It's okay if you are not perfect because He still loves you and will help you along the way towards perfection.  We have the gift of the Bible to be able to read through so many others' stories who have come before us and made mistakes or got things right.  We can use them and most importantly Jesus' life as an example to lead ours.  Just another reason to read your Bible!

With His Love,

A

22nd Day of Advent: Jesus the High Priest

"For this reason He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, and that He might might make atonement for the sins of the people."

Hebrews 2:17

Yesterday and Friday, I wrote about Jesus as the Atonement Sacrifice and Lamb of God.  I briefly mentioned that the high priest went into the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle to offer sacrifices for the sins of all the people.  Jesus is not only the sacrifice but the One offering the sacrifice!  How amazing is the duality of Jesus.  He can serve as the Blood that covers our sins and the One who can atone for our sins.  

Only the holy priest could atone for the sins of the people on that special Day of Atonement, once a year.  Since Jesus' sacrifice was more powerful than any other sacrifice, there only needs to be One.  His sacrifice is Eternal and will last forever.  So. Much. Power.  I love studying these roles of Jesus because it sheds such depth and understanding to Who He really is!

Also the holy priests had to cleanse themselves from their sins.  However, Jesus was sinless so He did not have to offer any sacrifice for Himself.  Therefore, His death on the cross, is all for us.  Let me repeat that....His Death is ALL FOR US.  Jesus came to Earth to die for us.  Jesus set aside His Heavenly Kingdom to come to our sinful, broken world to deliver us.  He is our Holy Priest to offer the Sacrifice of Himself as an Atonement for all of our past, present and future sins.  Let that sink in.

Lastly, the holy priests entered the earthly Tabernacle that was built by human hands.  God had given Moses the instructions to build this Tabernacle straight down to the dimensions and colors of fabric.  God was reflecting the Tabernacle that is built in Heaven (Hebrews 8:5).  His plans were precise and direct because He knew what He wanted it to look like.  Jesus entered this Tabernacle in Heaven when He offered Himself as a sacrifice.  

Jesus the High Priest went into the Most Holy Place in Heaven to atone for our sins.  He didn't enter the Tabernacle that was built by human hands but by the Hands of God.  Can you see the beautiful picture that God has given us through scriptures?  The reflection of Heaven here on Earth?  The Old Testament points to Jesus and gives us insight as to the magnitude of our need for Him.

How does Jesus' role of a High Priest impact your life?  Have you read Exodus and studied the role of the high priests in the Israelite nation?  I encourage you to look through Exodus and learn about the Tabernacle and the sacrifice system because it makes me appreciate the work Jesus has done for me!

With His Love,

A