"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God," ( 1 John 4:2 )
What makes Christianity different from every other religion in the world is the resurrection. Our leader does have a tomb like the other founders, only his is empty.
Sadly in the past century many churches in America's mainline Christian denominations have rejected belief in the supernatural in order to become more culturally friendly to "enlightened" modern minds. In doing so they have cut the very heart out of the Christian faith. I'm not sure what is left, but it's not Christianity. And a faith emptied of its power will never satisfy the longings of the empty human soul nor can it wash away its sin, guilt, and shame without an empty tomb. It becomes little more than self-help.
However, thankfully, ours is a supernatural faith from start to finish. There's no getting around it.
"And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 )
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." ( 1 Corinthians 15:17 )
"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead." ( 1 Corinthians 15:20 )
Our redeemer lives. The Good News of the gospel is that Jesus Christ has resurrected from the dead.
But we first must have a baby.
A God baby. One who is mysteriously to us fully man and at the same time fully God.
Born of a virgin.
He comes as one of us, sleeping in a manger. Little did man know this is how the greater comes into the filth and sin of the lesser, surrounded by manure and smelly, ruminant cattle breath. I love cows, but their breath is gross if you've ever smelled it. His initial visitors were keepers of sheep from the poorest ranks of society while the wealthiest and most powerful were left to travel miles and wonder much or plot his murder.
Jesus couldn't just show up as a 33 year old God man if he was to be our propitiation, voluntarily sacrificing himself in our place. He must start as a humble, helpless infant, growing from a toddler into an adolescent and into a man, experiencing everything we experience, even our temptations, living the perfect, obedient life as he suffered and struggled in our messy world before he ever got to the horrific execution that we deserved
Some religions and individuals say that they just can't believe in the doctrine of the incarnation - Jesus becoming flesh - because God is so great that he would never lower himself like that. But don't you see? This is what makes the incarnation so believable and so great.
The Greater has come down to the lesser.
The Greater has lowered himself for us, coming as a servant, stepping inside of vulnerable human flesh. We can not reach God. The lower does not remotely possess the ability to go up, but the Greater can come down. And he did. Jesus became a man whose flesh we can touch. ( Romans 3:10-18, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3 )
Yes, Jesus Christ is arguably the most influential person to ever live, in fact, touching every single facet of human existence, from art to literature to music to human rights to healthcare to education to missions of mercy to family life to work ethics to science to the dignity of women and children even to holidays, and the list continues. It's astounding. The evidence surrounding the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ is overwhelming and everyone owes it to themselves to investigate his claims. Please. It would be foolish not to with all that is at stake.
Not only did he touch every generation and culture in the history of mankind, but he touched our pain and sorrows with his flesh. He carried our guilt, shame, and sins in his flesh. Unless Jesus comes in the flesh there is no resurrection, no remission of sins.
Nothing for the angels to announce or rejoice about; no peace with God on earth, goodwill toward men. No Christmas.
"If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, " ( 1 Corinthians 15:20 ) The Apostle Paul goes on to tell us that one day the end will come, and so will Christ. Again. For us. For God's children. This time not as a baby, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we too will be resurrected from the dead, given imperishable bodies because Jesus's body was resurrected, and he is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
John, the disciple and apostle, writes possibly some of the most glorious words in the Scriptures in the Revelation of Jesus Christ: "for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." ( 5:10 )
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold I am making all things new.... these words are trustyworthy and true.'" ( 21:4-6 )
But first we must have a baby. 💜
"Christ, by highest Heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord:
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.'Glory to the newborn King!'”
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| Cranberry bread from my sister in law |
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