Jesus Was Born Into A Family

Family and Christmas:

My family is pretty spread out.  Kathy and I have six living siblings.  They live in five different states.  Our two sons live just under, and a bit over, a thousand miles from us.  Our two oldest grandkids have moved out of their parent's house.  They aren't far away from them, but it does complicate visiting.  For a third of the year Kathy and I live on the other side of the world. Everybody is busy.  When we can get together with family we really appreciate it.  We had a wonderful week-long visit with family around Thanksgiving, we've seen all our siblings except one in the last couple of months, and one of our boys and most of his family are stopping by after Christmas. : ) One of the joys of the Holiday Season is family. That is intirely appropriate, because when God the Son came to earth He not only became human; He became part of a family.  The church tradition I grew up in probably doesn't make enough of that.  Luke records these summary words about Jesus growing up in Nazareth.   “The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. . . . [a]nd Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:40 & 52).   We get some idea of how Jesus appeared to His neighbors when we hear their objection to His claims to be Someone other than what He appearted to be.    "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him” (Mark 6:3). Though the church fathers argued as to whether it was appropriate to refer to Mary as the "Mother of God," there was never any doubt that Jesus was the son of Mary.  Though we know from the fulness of the Bible record that Jesus was not biologically the son of Joseph, in the social sense he was the "Carpenter's son" (Matthew 12:55). One of my students reminded me this morning about another way that family and Christmas are related.  Christ did not come to earth for selfish reasons.  Though His career as Savior of the world will result in great Glory to God, The Trinity had no lack before Bethlehem and would not have suffered loss had the Son never been given.  Philippians 2 points out that the coming of Christ was an act of humilty.  John 3:16 holds it up as the supreme act of love, and Jesus, Himself, said that He "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  Neither I, nor my family, can save the world, but we can be part of the process.  God chose family--wife and husband--as a miniture model of the relationship between Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:21-33).  One of the greatest things we can do, to impact the world for Jesus is to have a Godly family before a watching world.  Christmas is a great frame for that picture. (I didn't include my family's picture in this STTA, for a reason that is totally in line with what I'm saying.  One of my family members is sometimes involved in serving the Lord in some places that don't embrace the message of Christmas.  If someone reposts the picture and mentions his name, and someone traces it back to this ministry, it could create problems.  What I have done instead is to, with permission, include some lovely pictures of some lovely families, friends of mine who are seeking to do family God's way and for God's glory.)  It's STTA. Merry Christmas.

CHRIST'S DEATH GIVES LIFE

Something To Think About Jesus' Death:

A week ago we remembered the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All around the world people remember the death of people, especially people we love.  There are cemeteries all over the world.  It is common for churches in Europe and North America to be surrounded by graves.  The Pyramids one of the wonders of the world and the Taj Mahal are among the many edifices and monuments erected “In memory of.”  I’m not a particularly sentimental guy, but I have several objects that I keep because they remind me of someone who was important to me in life. Remembering the death of the Lord is different, though.  Surely His life was inspirational and exemplary, but the Bible says that something remarkable was accomplished by His death. Romans 5:8 & 1 Thessalonians 5:10 says “Christ died for us.” Hebrews 2:14-15says that the death of Christ “render[ed] powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, [and made] . . . free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  In heaven the Lord is worshipped because He “purchased for God with [His] blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). It is a bigger topic than this daily-thought format can handle, but the fact is that Jesus death accomplished something, it changed and changes lives, and will lead to the renewal of all creation.  Read more about it here and here. The short version is Christ’s death brings life. It’s STTA. Find information about how Christ's death can change your life here.