TO
KNOW
HIM
as
He is
today, not
as a manger –
babe, but as the
One who lived and
died and lives
again, enthroned and
reigning in our hearts.
To sense the need of those
who only know the tinsel
and the rushing of the crowds,
who celebrate a day and nothing more – –
because to them, He slumbers yet at
Bethlehem!
To love Him , God’s Living Word, above all else, and
loving, wish to tell others everywhere
the Good News of redemption!
. . . this to us
IS CHRISTMAS!
Christmas tree message from Pastor Mark Anderson Lutheran Church of the Master, Corona del Mar, CA
Filed under: Christmas |
The Old Adam Lives! 
I was looking at Christ’s birth in Mathew and Luke, the story everyone is familiar with. I then turn to John and I thought of your post. The gospel of John starts out:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
Such an interesting contrast. The book of Matthew is more upfront that Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21) and tells the complete story of His birth, but John focuses on how Christ is eternal.
I guess what I am getting at is found in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” This is in no way a criticism to your post, it just made me think when it said “know Him as He is today.” It just made me think what message of Christ we as Christians are sending at Christmas. Is it just a portion of Christ or Him in His entirety?
Craig,
You are right to point out the eternal nature of Christ.
I think what Pastor Mark Anderson was saying in the Christmas tree message is that some only think of Jesus in terms of the little baby born in a manger, and do not realize the full impact of that life in light of their need and God’s answer to that need.
I think that is where the rubber hits the road. Who is Christ for you, today?
I think that people of faith are at different levels of understanding. And that the eternality of Christ and the implications of His life, death, and resurrection for each and every one of us will be revealed as the Spirit of God works in our hearts.
Thanks Craig.
I think the key is to see both (hence the message of all the gospels), but as Luther shows in his Christmas sermons, the nativity truly invites us to draw close and wonder at Christ as God with US !
The blessings of the Season be with us all richly.
Thanks Howard!
Emmanuel! God with us! Your post titled ‘Behold’
http://wwwjustifiedsinner.blogspot.com/ hits the nail on the head. Thank you.
A very Merry Christmas to you!
– Steve
Howard hit the right note. Jesus is not a historical figure lost in the remote pages of antiquity. God, in Christ, is with us!
A blessed Christmas to you all!
Merry Christmas Steve and all at this site!
Merry Christmas Jason!
I wish all here a joyful, blessed Christmas…filled with His Peace!
– Steve M.
Merry Christmas to you and all your family Steve!!!!!
Merry Christmas, Steve!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Steve!
Merry Christmas, Bror!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas, Craig!
Peace to you Steve.
The wonder of it all, allowing Himself(Christ) to be held vulnerably by sinful men.
LPC
And you as well, L.P.C.
He surely is an amazing, wonderful, gracious god!
A merry Christmas to you and your family!
– Steve
A belated very Merry Christmas to you Steve, and many blessings for you and yours!
W.E. Messamore,
Thank you! And you and yours as well!
– Steve