Update Article Archive
Jesus Became Man!
Big works can often express a fullness of an idea or concept much more than a whole bunch of little works put together. However, big works can also mask powerful and significant things. This is especially so in religion. One big word we may often hear at Christmastime is “incarnation”. And many people will have no idea what it means, or may think it is something to do with flowers for buttonholes! However the word “incarnation” is powerful. It means in simple terms ‘the act of having become human’. And Christmas is a time to particularly be reminded that the eternal God in the person of the divine Son was conceived within the womb of Mary and became human. Jesus was God and yet fully human.
This is amazing but how often have we pondered and meditated upon it? The Bible tells us that Jesus came in the likeness of man (Rom 8:3 and Phil 2:7). But whose likeness?
When Jesus was born and he grew up he looked like Mary. Or he looked like Mary’s father and mother. He was marked with the clear likeness of man. The neighbours couldn’t really know where Jesus had come from. And they would see in him facial characteristics of his mother and her family. Jesus had not come as a man with unique physical features. He would have the black hair of the people of that area. It is likely that his nose would be the characteristic shape of that of many Jews.
Now this is important for us. Because when Jesus became man he fully identified with us even to the point of taking on the family likeness of Mary. Until the time of him, as it were, being commissioned for his ministry, he would walk about, work and live as every other of his peers. By some he was even known as the “carpenter’s son”. But he was Jesus, the Christ, the son of the living God.
Now something similar is happening with us as the Spirit works within ordinary people, who look just like anybody else, the very likeness of Jesus! GJJ
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Revelations For Christmas
As I have contemplated again this week something of the birth of Jesus, it has occurred to me that there must be many times when we don’t know what God is doing, and probably many more times when we are totally unaware that he is doing anything at all.
This struck me as I thought of what was happening on the night of Jesus’ birth in the stable of that inn in Bethlehem. They were in the stable because there was no room for them in the inn. I suspect that to those who were in the inn, there was no great thought towards those in the stable. But God still went about his business. The divine son of God was born into this world, of a woman who had never engaged in sexual intercourse with a man. This was no small miracle, and it was taking place right there in the stable. And there is no record that the inn-keeper or other guests were remotely aware of it. Had they really known, would Mary and Joseph have finished up in the stable?
Then there was a whole host of other activity taking place – an angelic choir in the sky, shepherds coming down from the hills, a bright new star shining above the town of Bethlehem. And yet it appears in general that the locality of Jesus’ birth was totally unmoved. But God was at work – and how he was at work. He had just entered the world as man!
It is true that there was an ignorance abroad of what was happening. But even when ignorance is dispelled it is still not unusual for the powerful works of God to encounter apathy.
Let’s not look outside of ourselves. But what is our attitude to the great work God has done in each of our lives? When I was born again, it was a miracle. Similarly with yourself, if you are born again. But am I or are we apathetic to that fact?
Nevertheless, God will still do his work. He will accomplish all he has intentioned. He doesn’t need our approval or plaudits, any more than he did of the people in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. GJJ
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Christmas Cometh!
Seven weeks today will be Christmas Day! At this time of the year I let my thoughts dwell afresh on the incarnation of God – Jesus being born. The incarnation of Jesus is the greatest miracle that has ever taken place or ever will take place. Yet at times we can make more fuss over a headache healed than over the fact that Jesus became man.
Over these coming weeks why don’t you read again and afresh – in a totally different Bible version if necessary – the Biblical records of Jesus’ birth. And allow the Holy Spirit to give you fresh revelation – I would love to also appreciate it.
So great is this miracle of the birth of Jesus of a virgin that even the most seasoned and well studied of Christians cannot fully grasp it. It really is difficult to understand that Jesus in God became man. He is fully God and fully man. We somehow can’t help thinking that as a man he is, compared to us, a sort of superman. In the incarnation, God laid aside his glory and became fully human. The only way in which Jesus as a man is different to us is that he was without sin. Jesus, according to Hebrews 4:15, was tempted in every way that we are tempted and yet was without sin. If Jesus is in any way whatsoever a “super” human being, then he cannot fully identify with us, nor sympathize with our weaknesses. Often when I use Jesus as an example, Christians will say “Yes, but that was Jesus!”
In what way have you been tempted? Then Jesus has also been tempted in the same way.
This fact of the full significance of the incarnation is the major problem for all religions who do not hold to the faith of Christ, or, as we call it, the Christian faith.
So let’s rejoice with greater fervour at this season and don’t forget to share with us your revelations. GJJ
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“……….. only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” – Rev 21:27
In my recent “devotions” I have been reading through the early chapters of 1 Chronicles. As many will be aware, the first 9 chapters of the Old Testament are a catalogue of genealogies of the children of Israel. And it can be a bind to keep reading through the lists. And we could even ask “why bother?” Do we really need to read these texts? Well, the answer is no! We don’t have to read anything! But “all scripture is God (out) breathed” (2 Tim 3:16) or, as some versions say, “all scripture is inspired by God”. There is no indication within scripture that some scripture is more out-breathed of God than any other. Therefore these 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles are as much “inspired” by God as is John 3:16.
So why did God take the trouble to breathe out these words? After all, who really is interested in a bunch of names? Well, obviously God is! And as I read through these names again, I felt God instructing me somewhat about their significance.
There are some names there that which are only mentioned in this one place in the scriptures. No-one living today can remember them, nor is there anything recorded concerning their life or achievement. But God says it may only be a simple mention of a name but that person is on my heart forever. He also says that it is not the fame, reputation or accomplishments that count with him but simply the person themselves.
As a fairly quickly almost step through these lists, God said to me, “You may quickly rush through these lists but I pause at each name, because each of these people is precious to me.
God also said to me that although I may see it as a boring exercise, he finds it exciting to ponder afresh that each individual name represents an investment of his glory.
Then God reminded me that my name is also on a list – The Lamb’s Book of Life. And it has been penned there by the “lamb” himself. The fact that my name is there is very important to God, and a great blessing for me. - GJJ
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Hospitality
Here he goes again! I can almost hear those inward words/thoughts as you read this article. But I have been provoked to write this because of something that has happened recently.
This is to do with the issue of hospitality.
We are exhorted by both Paul and Peter, the two major apostles of the early church, to practice hospitality. In Rom 12:13 Paul simply says “Practice hospitality”. In Heb 4:9 we read “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”.
But what is hospitality? To have your best friends round for a meal? Biblical hospitality most definitely does not mean the latter. The New Testament Greek word which is translated into the English word ‘hospitality’ means ‘love of strangers’. If you read the details of practical outworking of the law given to Israel in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, you will find that being aware of and showing practical love to the alien in their midst was a godly duty. It was only specific nations Israel was to drive out of Canaan. But the “general alien” in their midst had to be cared for. One of the most poignant and challenging of Jesus’ parables is that of the Good Samaritan. You don’t need me to tell you what this is about – loving your neighbour.
We have had meet with us every Sunday for about 4 months some people who have stopped coming. The reason why one person stopped coming was that, apart from the person she came with, she had no friends here.
I am saddened that after 4 months with us, the relationships hadn’t developed to the point of feeling some friendship! Now whose responsibility is this? Surely we all share this? Let’s for Jesus’ sake, try to make sure this never happens again. Look around! Is there anyone you don’t know very well? Or even is there anyone you’ve never spoken to? How about making them your point of fellowship and friendship this morning? GJJ
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A Breakfast !
I am sure that those who have read the Bible, especially more that once, will have noticed how often God repeats himself to the children of Israel concerning matters of importance. These things include the fact of his covenant with them, and their need to instruct their children concerning his deliverance of them from captivity in Egypt. We also find in the New Testament both Paul and Peter writing to the churches to remind them of important things. And so I make no apology for repeating myself about things close to my heart and which I believe are important for us as a church.
So why a breakfast? How many of us think, as we come to breakfast, what is the purpose and why are we not having our “usual” time of praise, worship and preaching/teaching? I know that because of the absence of the latter, there have been times when some have chosen to stay away from the breakfast. But, surely, if the breakfast is an important statement we are making then we all ought to own it.
So what statement are we making in having a breakfast? I suggest the following:
- Church is family, not a building. Families don’t have church meetings but they do have meals together. Breakfast says we are family.
- While church meetings are necessary and useful for the purposes for which they are convened, they do not represent normal life. Eating together does! And church is to do with normal life.
- There is probably more said about Jesus being at gatherings for meals than “religious gatherings”. Perhaps Jesus understood something that we don’t!
- When we came into relationship with God through Jesus, we were called into a fellowship. One thing which the breakfast emphasizes is fellowship and this is an important dimension of our Christian experience. So enjoy this morning together! GJJ
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