DEVOTIONAL
CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE EYES OF JESUS
HEBREWS 10:5-10
The Christmas story is a grand epic. It’s chalked full of suspense and monumental moments filled with miracles and God's Will being Done!
Joseph and Mary were visited by angels bringing divine and glorius, sometimes mysterious but glorious messages...
Shepherds were stunned when the sky became heaven’s stage, and the angelic host played a private performance heralding the Messiah’s arrival...In a far-away land Wise Men noticed a celestial signal shining in the darkness of the night sky, and they began their journey to worship the King...After being warned that King Herod was after the baby to try to stop what he did not realize could not be stopped, "Namely God's Will", Joseph lovingly and quickly through the obedience to the angels directions brought Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt.
The Nativity narrative is full of high drama, but one scene stands out. Here is where the intensity peaks - it’s a scene shot on location in heaven itself. The highpoint of the Christmas story occurs on the doorstep of heaven when Jesus leaves on His mission, when the Father and His only Son exchange farewells. Imagine, a young man in his military fatigues saying good- bye to his parents. He's embarking on a tour of duty to Afghanistan... Likewise, Jesus was a soldier deployed to a distant battlefield. His mission began with a dramatic departure - a good-bye to His Father!
Usually when we read the Christmas story we turn to the book of Matthew and read of Joseph and the wise men - or Luke and recall Mary and the shepherds.
We don’t turn to Hebrews... But the opening act in theChristmas drama is recorded in Hebrews, Chapter 10.
Here’s an important, yet an overlooked scene.
Hebrews 10:5-9 records the conversation Jesus had with His Father on the day He left heaven for his tour of duty on Earth.
Just before He left His eternal home and arrived in His embryonic home, Mary's Womb, God’s only Son quoted Psalm 40 - a prophecy of His Incarnation...
Hebrews 10:5 tells us, “Therefore, when He (that is, Jesus,God the Son) came into the world, He said:“Sacrifice and offering You (God the Father) did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.Then I said, 'Behold, I have come - in the volume of the book it is written of Me - to do Your will, O God. Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He (or Jesus) said (to His Father in heaven), “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”
When Jesus said His good-bye in heaven He had an understanding of what awaited Him on earth. He knew that the wages of sin had always been death!
For centuries, Jesus had gazed down from His lofty perch in heaven. He watched Jewish priests sharpen their knives and slit the throats of innocent lambs.
Jesus had kept one eye on the sacrifices - but His other eye was on His Father. He watched the Father God receive the sacrifices, but achieve no satisfaction.
There was reluctance in the Father’s acceptance.
The look in His eye indicated all was not quite right.
By the time Jesus entered the world,
the Father had tired of the animal sacrifices.
All the blood of bulls or lambs could do is cover sin - not change the sinner.
At best the sacrifices secured a parole. It would require a sinless sacrifice to grant a permanent pardon. But where would the Father go for such a sacrifice?
That’s when the Son stepped up and said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared in Me.” Jesus would be the spotless lamb.
The Bible teaches that “God is spirit” - and spirit has no blood. A spirit neither cuts, or bruises, or bleeds. From heaven Jesus saw the blood flow from the animal’s throat. He imagined what it’d be like to bleed. And this is why He says “a body You have prepared in Me.”
From Day One bleeding was in His future. Cold steel would open the tender skin of Mary’s baby. From the moment Jesus left heaven He was headed to the cross.
Philippians 2 says of Jesus, "Being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even to death on the cross...
”The manger was the beginning of a mission. The Bethlehem baby was born to die!
Author John MacArthur puts it this way, "Here's a side to theChristmas story that isn't often told...
Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them...
Those baby feet - pink, and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross...
That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto his head - his eyes would see the world through the Love of God - and his mouth would speak the powerful words that we should never forget.... "IT IS FINISHED"
From the moment Jesus stepped out of heaven and headed to earth, He was fully aware where the road would eventually lead.
Imagine, the courage it took to take that first step.
Jesus knew what needed to happen, and had the wherewithal to get the job done.
There's a story of a little boy coming home from school in tears. His teacher had asked the students to make a Christmas banner. When the little boy showed the class his banner... the teacher sneered - the other kids made fun... HE WAS CRUSHED!
Of course, his mom took him in her arms and asked....."My son, what was it that you wrote on the banner?" Her little boy replied,
"Mary had a little lamb, and named Him Jesus.”
That mother made sure that every year thereafter her son's banner was the centerpiece of their Christmas. Here is the core of the Christmas story, it’s heartbeat, "Maryhad a little lamb!”Jesus' mission was no mystery -
The Father served notice that a sinless sacrifice would inevitably be necessary!
But then comes the mysterious parts and some not so palatable to a human mind not yet touched by the Spirit......
Eyebrows were raised when the wise men showed up with their gifts. Myrrh is a ground up resin, used as an embalming fluid. Who gives formaldehyde at a baby shower? What a bizarre gift for a baby shower?
When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan, he introduced Him to His subjects - not as the promised king - but as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
John knew before Jesus would wear a crown of glory, He first wouldwear a crown of thorns.
imagine Mary at the cross. She's watched her Son - Jesus, the sinless Lamb -
Being Beat and Scourged, Thorns pushed down onto her son's Head, Nails, not just plain nails, BUT SPIKES pounded into his wrists and ankles...... an UNBEARABLE SCENE for Any Mother and now her son, her Lamb who is The FINAL SACRIFICE
is now on the altar.
I have no doubt, that from THE CROSS, again the Son looked into the Father's eyes - GOD RECEIVED THE FINAL SACRIFICE .... THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY SOLVED........ THE PENALTY OF SIN WAS PAID IN FULL!
This time Jesus seeing the approval in His Father's eyes, cried out with a loud voice, "IT IS FINISHED"
And it is finished... No longer do sacrifices have to be repeated over and over.
Today, forgiveness flows with no strings attached! It’s now offered fully and freely to ALL MANKIND!
Jesus did all that had to be done to insure for us a permanent pardon.
Now, all that’s left unfinished is for us to open our hearts, and receive His offer by faith.
Realize, it doesn't matter that you're willing to say Christ died for the sins of the world. Faith can become diluted that way - it tends to lose its punch when it’s applied in general.
When Jesus forgives He doesn't look at a globe. He looks into a set of eyes.
Yes, He's got the WHOLE WORLD in His Hands, but let us realize the meaning here:
He's got YOUR whole WORLD in His Hands! ..... He died for the sins of the world, but
KEEP IN MIND, He died for YOUR SINS..... He died for MY SINS!
Jesus always makes His pardon personal.
"The world" in general can't think, or feel, or talk, or act. It doesn't recognize its sin as an act of defiance. It doesn’t see that its sin is breaking God’s heart.
The world feels no remorse. It can't confess. It won't turn from sin.
Oh, the world spins, but it stays on the same axis -
it never really moves or seeks after God.
But you, a person, can think about what you've done.You can feel the pain you've caused, and the shame you've brought. You can confess your sin, and express your
remorse. You can call to Jesus to come to you, to forgiveyou of your sin, and to change your life.You can look into His eyes and find His acceptance.
The Baby in the manger was born to die, yet most people don't like to think about the cross at Christmas.
Christmas is about birth and new life.The cross is an ugly, nasty, tasteless reminder of man's darkages, when men acted in barbaric ways.The cross is an offense to dignified sensibilities...Most people want Christmas to be a time for tinsel, and glitter, and blinking lights, and evergreen trees, and warm fires, and eggnog, and fuzzy feelings...Christmas is supposed to focus on peace on earth and good will toward men.
Why spike the Christmas punch with a reminder of violence and suffering?
OR BETTER SAID, "WHY SPIKE CHRISTMAS WITH TINSEL AND GIFTS WITHOUT FIRST THANKING JESUS FOR THE PRICE
THAT WAS PAID FOR US TO HAVE A DAY
OF CELEBRATION AND JOY?
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON AND ON THIS DAY THAT YOU ARE HERE READING THIS OR HEARING IT BEING READ, PLEASE WON'T YOU OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND INVITE JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE SPOTLESS LAMB & THE FINAL SACRIFICE TO COME AND BE YOUR SAVIOR? ..... Allow this Christmas to be a Favorite with all of the meaning behind what brings us to this very day? .... To God be ALL Glory Forever and Ever!
May the Greatest Gift under your tree be the stage for the Nativity - The FIRST CHRISTMAS?..... That is what my family started doing when our youngest was 4 years old and made a Nativity with Ceramics.....after it went into the Kiln or THE HOT FIRE, it came out WHITE AS SNOW - SHINEY AND BEAUTIFUL and 35 years later HERE IT IS.....AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE DAY IT WAS INTRODUCED TO US AFTER THE FIRE!
"If Christ were born a thousand times in Bethlehem, and not born in our hearts, we would be lost forever. Don’t let CHRISTMAS Come and Go without inviting Him to come into your heart, to be your Lord and Personal Savior, to forgive you of your sins, to write your name in the Lambs book of life, to prepare a place for you in Heaven's Paradise and Lead the Way for You to Follow Him until He returns for His Own!
To see Christmas through the eyes of Jesus is to see our need for a sacrifice. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice! He came to bear our sin and die in our place.To see Christmas through His eyes is to trust our lives to Him.
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Pastor Cindy - The Glory Chain
HEBREWS 10:5-10
The Christmas story is a grand epic. It’s chalked full of suspense and monumental moments filled with miracles and God's Will being Done!
Joseph and Mary were visited by angels bringing divine and glorius, sometimes mysterious but glorious messages...
Shepherds were stunned when the sky became heaven’s stage, and the angelic host played a private performance heralding the Messiah’s arrival...In a far-away land Wise Men noticed a celestial signal shining in the darkness of the night sky, and they began their journey to worship the King...After being warned that King Herod was after the baby to try to stop what he did not realize could not be stopped, "Namely God's Will", Joseph lovingly and quickly through the obedience to the angels directions brought Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt.
The Nativity narrative is full of high drama, but one scene stands out. Here is where the intensity peaks - it’s a scene shot on location in heaven itself. The highpoint of the Christmas story occurs on the doorstep of heaven when Jesus leaves on His mission, when the Father and His only Son exchange farewells. Imagine, a young man in his military fatigues saying good- bye to his parents. He's embarking on a tour of duty to Afghanistan... Likewise, Jesus was a soldier deployed to a distant battlefield. His mission began with a dramatic departure - a good-bye to His Father!
Usually when we read the Christmas story we turn to the book of Matthew and read of Joseph and the wise men - or Luke and recall Mary and the shepherds.
We don’t turn to Hebrews... But the opening act in theChristmas drama is recorded in Hebrews, Chapter 10.
Here’s an important, yet an overlooked scene.
Hebrews 10:5-9 records the conversation Jesus had with His Father on the day He left heaven for his tour of duty on Earth.
Just before He left His eternal home and arrived in His embryonic home, Mary's Womb, God’s only Son quoted Psalm 40 - a prophecy of His Incarnation...
Hebrews 10:5 tells us, “Therefore, when He (that is, Jesus,God the Son) came into the world, He said:“Sacrifice and offering You (God the Father) did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.Then I said, 'Behold, I have come - in the volume of the book it is written of Me - to do Your will, O God. Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He (or Jesus) said (to His Father in heaven), “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”
When Jesus said His good-bye in heaven He had an understanding of what awaited Him on earth. He knew that the wages of sin had always been death!
For centuries, Jesus had gazed down from His lofty perch in heaven. He watched Jewish priests sharpen their knives and slit the throats of innocent lambs.
Jesus had kept one eye on the sacrifices - but His other eye was on His Father. He watched the Father God receive the sacrifices, but achieve no satisfaction.
There was reluctance in the Father’s acceptance.
The look in His eye indicated all was not quite right.
By the time Jesus entered the world,
the Father had tired of the animal sacrifices.
All the blood of bulls or lambs could do is cover sin - not change the sinner.
At best the sacrifices secured a parole. It would require a sinless sacrifice to grant a permanent pardon. But where would the Father go for such a sacrifice?
That’s when the Son stepped up and said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared in Me.” Jesus would be the spotless lamb.
The Bible teaches that “God is spirit” - and spirit has no blood. A spirit neither cuts, or bruises, or bleeds. From heaven Jesus saw the blood flow from the animal’s throat. He imagined what it’d be like to bleed. And this is why He says “a body You have prepared in Me.”
From Day One bleeding was in His future. Cold steel would open the tender skin of Mary’s baby. From the moment Jesus left heaven He was headed to the cross.
Philippians 2 says of Jesus, "Being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even to death on the cross...
”The manger was the beginning of a mission. The Bethlehem baby was born to die!
Author John MacArthur puts it this way, "Here's a side to theChristmas story that isn't often told...
Those soft little hands, fashioned by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, were made so that nails might be driven through them...
Those baby feet - pink, and unable to walk, would one day walk up a dusty hill to be nailed to a cross...
That sweet infant's head with sparkling eyes and eager mouth was formed so that someday men might force a crown of thorns onto his head - his eyes would see the world through the Love of God - and his mouth would speak the powerful words that we should never forget.... "IT IS FINISHED"
From the moment Jesus stepped out of heaven and headed to earth, He was fully aware where the road would eventually lead.
Imagine, the courage it took to take that first step.
Jesus knew what needed to happen, and had the wherewithal to get the job done.
There's a story of a little boy coming home from school in tears. His teacher had asked the students to make a Christmas banner. When the little boy showed the class his banner... the teacher sneered - the other kids made fun... HE WAS CRUSHED!
Of course, his mom took him in her arms and asked....."My son, what was it that you wrote on the banner?" Her little boy replied,
"Mary had a little lamb, and named Him Jesus.”
That mother made sure that every year thereafter her son's banner was the centerpiece of their Christmas. Here is the core of the Christmas story, it’s heartbeat, "Maryhad a little lamb!”Jesus' mission was no mystery -
The Father served notice that a sinless sacrifice would inevitably be necessary!
But then comes the mysterious parts and some not so palatable to a human mind not yet touched by the Spirit......
Eyebrows were raised when the wise men showed up with their gifts. Myrrh is a ground up resin, used as an embalming fluid. Who gives formaldehyde at a baby shower? What a bizarre gift for a baby shower?
When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan, he introduced Him to His subjects - not as the promised king - but as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
John knew before Jesus would wear a crown of glory, He first wouldwear a crown of thorns.
imagine Mary at the cross. She's watched her Son - Jesus, the sinless Lamb -
Being Beat and Scourged, Thorns pushed down onto her son's Head, Nails, not just plain nails, BUT SPIKES pounded into his wrists and ankles...... an UNBEARABLE SCENE for Any Mother and now her son, her Lamb who is The FINAL SACRIFICE
is now on the altar.
I have no doubt, that from THE CROSS, again the Son looked into the Father's eyes - GOD RECEIVED THE FINAL SACRIFICE .... THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY SOLVED........ THE PENALTY OF SIN WAS PAID IN FULL!
This time Jesus seeing the approval in His Father's eyes, cried out with a loud voice, "IT IS FINISHED"
And it is finished... No longer do sacrifices have to be repeated over and over.
Today, forgiveness flows with no strings attached! It’s now offered fully and freely to ALL MANKIND!
Jesus did all that had to be done to insure for us a permanent pardon.
Now, all that’s left unfinished is for us to open our hearts, and receive His offer by faith.
Realize, it doesn't matter that you're willing to say Christ died for the sins of the world. Faith can become diluted that way - it tends to lose its punch when it’s applied in general.
When Jesus forgives He doesn't look at a globe. He looks into a set of eyes.
Yes, He's got the WHOLE WORLD in His Hands, but let us realize the meaning here:
He's got YOUR whole WORLD in His Hands! ..... He died for the sins of the world, but
KEEP IN MIND, He died for YOUR SINS..... He died for MY SINS!
Jesus always makes His pardon personal.
"The world" in general can't think, or feel, or talk, or act. It doesn't recognize its sin as an act of defiance. It doesn’t see that its sin is breaking God’s heart.
The world feels no remorse. It can't confess. It won't turn from sin.
Oh, the world spins, but it stays on the same axis -
it never really moves or seeks after God.
But you, a person, can think about what you've done.You can feel the pain you've caused, and the shame you've brought. You can confess your sin, and express your
remorse. You can call to Jesus to come to you, to forgiveyou of your sin, and to change your life.You can look into His eyes and find His acceptance.
The Baby in the manger was born to die, yet most people don't like to think about the cross at Christmas.
Christmas is about birth and new life.The cross is an ugly, nasty, tasteless reminder of man's darkages, when men acted in barbaric ways.The cross is an offense to dignified sensibilities...Most people want Christmas to be a time for tinsel, and glitter, and blinking lights, and evergreen trees, and warm fires, and eggnog, and fuzzy feelings...Christmas is supposed to focus on peace on earth and good will toward men.
Why spike the Christmas punch with a reminder of violence and suffering?
OR BETTER SAID, "WHY SPIKE CHRISTMAS WITH TINSEL AND GIFTS WITHOUT FIRST THANKING JESUS FOR THE PRICE
THAT WAS PAID FOR US TO HAVE A DAY
OF CELEBRATION AND JOY?
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON AND ON THIS DAY THAT YOU ARE HERE READING THIS OR HEARING IT BEING READ, PLEASE WON'T YOU OPEN UP YOUR HEART AND INVITE JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE SPOTLESS LAMB & THE FINAL SACRIFICE TO COME AND BE YOUR SAVIOR? ..... Allow this Christmas to be a Favorite with all of the meaning behind what brings us to this very day? .... To God be ALL Glory Forever and Ever!
May the Greatest Gift under your tree be the stage for the Nativity - The FIRST CHRISTMAS?..... That is what my family started doing when our youngest was 4 years old and made a Nativity with Ceramics.....after it went into the Kiln or THE HOT FIRE, it came out WHITE AS SNOW - SHINEY AND BEAUTIFUL and 35 years later HERE IT IS.....AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE DAY IT WAS INTRODUCED TO US AFTER THE FIRE!
"If Christ were born a thousand times in Bethlehem, and not born in our hearts, we would be lost forever. Don’t let CHRISTMAS Come and Go without inviting Him to come into your heart, to be your Lord and Personal Savior, to forgive you of your sins, to write your name in the Lambs book of life, to prepare a place for you in Heaven's Paradise and Lead the Way for You to Follow Him until He returns for His Own!
To see Christmas through the eyes of Jesus is to see our need for a sacrifice. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice! He came to bear our sin and die in our place.To see Christmas through His eyes is to trust our lives to Him.
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Pastor Cindy - The Glory Chain