A Christmas Blessing
A Christmas Blessing
Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.org)
Jesus was born during a time when the Jews were anticipating a great and mighty king that would come and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans. They expected Him to reign in Jerusalem and establish His kingdom on this earth. Yet, our Savior did not come as imagined in the minds of first century Jews. He did not come as a mighty king. He came as an innocent baby boy, born in a manger in Bethlehem, to die for us. He died so that we might be forgiven of our sins. He came to make a way for us to live with Him eternally.
Jimmy, an eight-year old, was one of the best students in his Sunday school class. One day, the teacher asked her students to draw a picture of the baby Jesus. Jimmy worked and worked and came up with a picture of a modern jet airplane with four people inside. The teacher couldn't figure it out although she thought maybe it was a modern rendering of the Christmas story. She asked, "Jimmy, this is a nice picture, but what is it?" "Why, that's Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus on their flight into Egypt." "But there are four people in there. Who is the fourth one?" "Why, that's Pontius the Pilate!" [Dr. Paul Chappell]
Even as this little boy wasn't sure of all the facts of Christ's earthly ministry, many have misunderstood why Jesus came to a lowly manger in Bethlehem. Revelation 19:16 reads, "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." He was born a meek and lowly child to identify with the meek and lowly of this world. When He returns to this earth, He will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule and reign over his eternal Kingdom. Our flight to heaven won't be on a jet plane, nor will it terminate in Egypt. We're going via the Rapture, past the moon, sun and stars to a new heaven and new earth!
H.G.Wells, a noted historian, when asked who had left the most permanent impression on history, replied that if one judged a person's greatness by historical standards then Jesus stands first. Over 2000 years ago Jesus entered the human race through a small community called the Jews. He was a member of a poor family and a minority group and resided in one in the smallest countries in the world. He lived only 33 years, 3 of which were used for public ministry. Yet people all over the world still remember Him. Why? Because He is the most important person ever born on this planet. Even atheists are forced to agree to that.
He came into the world dividing time and history into two parts labeled AD and BC. He never wrote a book, yet more books have been written about Him than any one else. The nearest thing we have is His biography-the Gospels. The Gospels are translated in whole or in part in more than 1500 languages. He never led an army, but millions had laid down their lives for His cause.
Jesus had only a small number of disciples. But they went into the world and turned it upside down. They went into unexplored parts of the world to share the Gospel with people who lived not much better than animals. Today Christianity is over 2.1 billion world wide.
Consider this...
Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth - the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead - living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.
This one Man's life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history.
Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.
Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us keep that in our hearts and minds this Christmas season. You and I have what we have because Jesus gave it to us. This is a debt we owe Him but could never repay, so just receive it. I pray that your Christmas is merry and Christ centered. In Jesus' name: Merry Christmas!
Pastor T.
Terry Dashner (www.ffcba.org)
Jesus was born during a time when the Jews were anticipating a great and mighty king that would come and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans. They expected Him to reign in Jerusalem and establish His kingdom on this earth. Yet, our Savior did not come as imagined in the minds of first century Jews. He did not come as a mighty king. He came as an innocent baby boy, born in a manger in Bethlehem, to die for us. He died so that we might be forgiven of our sins. He came to make a way for us to live with Him eternally.
Jimmy, an eight-year old, was one of the best students in his Sunday school class. One day, the teacher asked her students to draw a picture of the baby Jesus. Jimmy worked and worked and came up with a picture of a modern jet airplane with four people inside. The teacher couldn't figure it out although she thought maybe it was a modern rendering of the Christmas story. She asked, "Jimmy, this is a nice picture, but what is it?" "Why, that's Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus on their flight into Egypt." "But there are four people in there. Who is the fourth one?" "Why, that's Pontius the Pilate!" [Dr. Paul Chappell]
Even as this little boy wasn't sure of all the facts of Christ's earthly ministry, many have misunderstood why Jesus came to a lowly manger in Bethlehem. Revelation 19:16 reads, "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." He was born a meek and lowly child to identify with the meek and lowly of this world. When He returns to this earth, He will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to rule and reign over his eternal Kingdom. Our flight to heaven won't be on a jet plane, nor will it terminate in Egypt. We're going via the Rapture, past the moon, sun and stars to a new heaven and new earth!
H.G.Wells, a noted historian, when asked who had left the most permanent impression on history, replied that if one judged a person's greatness by historical standards then Jesus stands first. Over 2000 years ago Jesus entered the human race through a small community called the Jews. He was a member of a poor family and a minority group and resided in one in the smallest countries in the world. He lived only 33 years, 3 of which were used for public ministry. Yet people all over the world still remember Him. Why? Because He is the most important person ever born on this planet. Even atheists are forced to agree to that.
He came into the world dividing time and history into two parts labeled AD and BC. He never wrote a book, yet more books have been written about Him than any one else. The nearest thing we have is His biography-the Gospels. The Gospels are translated in whole or in part in more than 1500 languages. He never led an army, but millions had laid down their lives for His cause.
Jesus had only a small number of disciples. But they went into the world and turned it upside down. They went into unexplored parts of the world to share the Gospel with people who lived not much better than animals. Today Christianity is over 2.1 billion world wide.
Consider this...
Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth - the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead - living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.
This one Man's life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history.
Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life.
Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us keep that in our hearts and minds this Christmas season. You and I have what we have because Jesus gave it to us. This is a debt we owe Him but could never repay, so just receive it. I pray that your Christmas is merry and Christ centered. In Jesus' name: Merry Christmas!
Pastor T.