Christmas from Jesus' Perspective
The 1st 'Christmas' was a dramatic event for all involved. We've looked at Christmas from the perspective of Heaven (Father, Spirit, Angels), the young couple (Mary & Joseph), the visitors (Shepherds & Wise Men), Israel (Simeon, Anna, Prophecy) and the World (Herod, Caesar, etc).
But there's 1 Character whose role was most complex. 1 who's story is most fascinating. One for whom the 1st Christmas was the most dramatic change. That 1 person is Jesus. Consider the change from His perspective!
Before the incarnation, Jesus existed as the 2nd Person of the Trinity in heaven. What was it like to be God in heaven?
God is Spirit (John 4:24)
God is complete (Matthew 5:48)
God can’t be tempted (James 1:13)
God is all-knowing (Hebrews 4:13)
God is all-powerful (Isaiah 40:28)
God can’t die (1 Timothy 1:17)
If you had even 1 of those characteristics, would you even THINK of limiting yourself to what the flesh is capable of? But that is what the 2nd Person of the Trinity did:
(Jesus) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus in heaven was not limited in any way, but by becoming flesh, He voluntarily limited himself to the realm of flesh:
Jesus came in the flesh (John 1:14)
Jesus was incomplete (Luke 2:52, Hebrews 2:10)
Jesus was tempted (Mark 1:13)
Jesus grew weary (Matthew 8:24)
Jesus didn’t know everything (Matt 24:36)
Jesus died (Mark 15:37)
Why would He give up all of that (His experience in heaven) for all of this (His experience on earth)?
1. LOVE (Philippians 2:2)
2. HUMILITY (Philippians 2:3)
He became one of us to save us
But what does this all mean for us?
Is the point of church to come and learn some facts about Jesus/God?
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
We must emulate His love and humility
We've lost the excuse of saying that Jesus was simply God in skin, that we can't do what He did...... because everything Jesus did was in obedience to His Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. He didn't do what He did because He was God in flesh (though He was that!), but because He was the perfect human (to be an example for us).
How did Jesus minister? (Matt 3:16, John 1:32, Luke 4:1)
How did Jesus heal? (Matthew 12:15)
How did Jesus cast out demons? (Matthew 12:28)
How did Jesus make decisions? (Luke 4:1, 14)
How did Jesus preach (Luke 4:18)
How did Jesus praise (Luke 10:21)
He did all these things BY THE SPIRIT!
We have access to the same Spirit, so....
We can be 'Christmas continued' because we are the body of Christ
He wills to work through us in the world
We can fulfill John 14:12 if we LOVE and HUMBLE ourselves...
If we have the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ
Some questions to ask ourselves...
Do I love enough to meet with sick strangers?
Do I love enough to leave my job if called?
Do I love enough to go without sleep when necessary?
Do I love enough to go without luxeries?
Am I humble enough to deflect compliments to the Father?
Am I humble enough to risk my reputation for what is right?
Am I humble enough to get dirty?
Am I humble enough to cry desperately in prayer?
Jesus loved enough and was humble enough to do these things
And we are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus
by LIMITING our SELF and our RIGHTS
And by serving others in LOVE and HUMILITY
But there's 1 Character whose role was most complex. 1 who's story is most fascinating. One for whom the 1st Christmas was the most dramatic change. That 1 person is Jesus. Consider the change from His perspective!
Before the incarnation, Jesus existed as the 2nd Person of the Trinity in heaven. What was it like to be God in heaven?
God is Spirit (John 4:24)
God is complete (Matthew 5:48)
God can’t be tempted (James 1:13)
God is all-knowing (Hebrews 4:13)
God is all-powerful (Isaiah 40:28)
God can’t die (1 Timothy 1:17)
If you had even 1 of those characteristics, would you even THINK of limiting yourself to what the flesh is capable of? But that is what the 2nd Person of the Trinity did:
(Jesus) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Jesus in heaven was not limited in any way, but by becoming flesh, He voluntarily limited himself to the realm of flesh:
Jesus came in the flesh (John 1:14)
Jesus was incomplete (Luke 2:52, Hebrews 2:10)
Jesus was tempted (Mark 1:13)
Jesus grew weary (Matthew 8:24)
Jesus didn’t know everything (Matt 24:36)
Jesus died (Mark 15:37)
Why would He give up all of that (His experience in heaven) for all of this (His experience on earth)?
1. LOVE (Philippians 2:2)
2. HUMILITY (Philippians 2:3)
He became one of us to save us
But what does this all mean for us?
Is the point of church to come and learn some facts about Jesus/God?
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus
We must emulate His love and humility
We've lost the excuse of saying that Jesus was simply God in skin, that we can't do what He did...... because everything Jesus did was in obedience to His Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. He didn't do what He did because He was God in flesh (though He was that!), but because He was the perfect human (to be an example for us).
How did Jesus minister? (Matt 3:16, John 1:32, Luke 4:1)
How did Jesus heal? (Matthew 12:15)
How did Jesus cast out demons? (Matthew 12:28)
How did Jesus make decisions? (Luke 4:1, 14)
How did Jesus preach (Luke 4:18)
How did Jesus praise (Luke 10:21)
He did all these things BY THE SPIRIT!
We have access to the same Spirit, so....
We can be 'Christmas continued' because we are the body of Christ
He wills to work through us in the world
We can fulfill John 14:12 if we LOVE and HUMBLE ourselves...
If we have the same attitude as that of Jesus Christ
Some questions to ask ourselves...
Do I love enough to meet with sick strangers?
Do I love enough to leave my job if called?
Do I love enough to go without sleep when necessary?
Do I love enough to go without luxeries?
Am I humble enough to deflect compliments to the Father?
Am I humble enough to risk my reputation for what is right?
Am I humble enough to get dirty?
Am I humble enough to cry desperately in prayer?
Jesus loved enough and was humble enough to do these things
And we are to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus
by LIMITING our SELF and our RIGHTS
And by serving others in LOVE and HUMILITY
posted by matthew at 1:27 PM
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