JESUS

Jesus, God’s Son, sent as His gift to the world.  His gift to each of us.  How many times we’ve heard His name.  But, just how often do we stop, really stop and drink it all in. And think about His life…..

His birth was foretold through many prophecies in the Old Testament including Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (KJV)

Most people whether you’re a parent or not have held a newborn infant in their arms.  Jesus, was once a newborn infant tiny, fragile and he smelled like a new baby.  He cried when he was hungry or uncomfortable just like every other baby ever born.  His mother, experienced the emotion of holding her child for the first time.  She looked down into his tiny little face and fell in love. I’m sure the magnitude of the importance this child would play on the world was in her mind……. But I also can imagine as she looked into that tiny face she simply saw her infant son.

Her baby would be named Jesus because an angel had told Joseph this when he appeared to Mary’s betrothed.  So on the baby’s eighth day of life according the Law in Leviticus 12, He was taken to the temple by Mary and Joseph, circumcised and officially given the name Jesus.  Also, according to this law they were to present a year old lamb for burnt offering for the purification process.  If she cannot afford a lamb she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons.  In Luke 24, God’s word tells us Jesus parents presented two doves or two young pigeons for the burnt offering.  It seems by this scripture that even though God could have chosen His son be born into the most wealthy and financially stable home in this world, He chose a humble family.  How profound, the Mother of the Savior of the world took the least expensive of the sacrifices.

He grew, and I’m sure in the eyes of His mother He grew quickly.  I imagine He experienced everything a toddler experiences, including bumps, bruises and mischief.  I wonder if Mary guarded Him ever more carefully because she knew He was God’s son.

The Bible doesn’t speak much about His adolescent years. But each year His family would travel three days from their home in Nazareth to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of the Passover.  In Luke 2, he writes about what happened on the trip the year Jesus was twelve.  And to make a long story short, He was lost from His parents for three days.  And after looking everywhere they found Him in the temple.  I can just imagine, as a mother, Mary couldn’t decide whether to scoop Him up and hug Him or box His ears for scaring her so badly.  But Jesus answered, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know I was in my Father’s house?”  Jesus was Mary and Joseph’s child but He was God’s Son. In Luke 2:51, he tells us Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

When He was 30 He began His ministry, He was baptized by John and spent the next forty days fasting.  Then He was tempted and tempted and tempted again. But He stood strong and showed us that His battle was fought and won by using the words of His father.  And His faithfulness made Him stronger.

I don’t think there are big enough words to describe his ministry.  The beauty, the stories, the healing and miracles.  His teaching; we can read and re-read and each time learn and grow.  His parables impact our lives still today and can be compared to almost every situation we find ourselves in.  Seeking Him, desiring Him, having a passion for Him makes our lives worth living.

I think I will end there…..We should think on His life.  The Baby, The Child, The Man.  The Teacher, The Preacher, The Healer, The Master, Immanuel,  The Lamb of God, The Anointed One,  The Son of God, His gift to the World.  His gift to you.

 Cindy Montgomery, New Beginning’s Outreach Ministries Women’s Ministry Leader