QT 12/24/2021 John 1:14-18, The miracle of God dwelling in human form

 

John 1:14–18 (ESV) —

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

 

NOTE: The "Word," in Greek the Logos, was first introduced in verse 1: as existing in the beginning, as God and with God, as creator, as life, and as the light. Now John concludes his description of the Logos as the Logos becomes flesh (the incarnation) and dwells (tabernacles) with us. The tabernacle was the first symbol of God's presence to Israel. It went with them through the Exodus. Moses would speak to God, "face-to-face," as a man might speak to another. Now God tabernacles in the form of a human, a fully human in flesh. Verse 18 tells us that no one has ever seen God (because God is spirit), but Jesus has made him known. We see God when we see Jesus. We cannot see the eternal, holy, omnipresent God, but somehow God stepped out of eternity to live among us and show us himself. That is why the celebration of Christmas is so important. The miracle of God dwelling in human form to save us from our sins is only eclipsed by his carrying our sins, dying, and rising again. Today, be thankful that God did the impossible to make our salvations possible.

 

PONDER:

1. My mind is overwhelmed trying to put into the words the idea of God tabernacling among us. It is not a simple thing to take the infinite and present him as finite.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the impossible and unbelievable incarnation. The proof is in Jesus' life and the careful documentation of all he said. It is in all the eyewitnesses. It is in the people who knew him very well, and gave up their life rather than deny him. Anyone can believe an idea and be a martyr, but people who were eyewitnesses to everything, they do not give up their lives for a lie. Thank you!

QT 12/23/2021 Isa 9:6-7, Two most important events in history (incarnation and resurrection)

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV) —

6 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

 

NOTE: This is a great verse prophesying the incarnation. This child or son is "born." And this same child is called "Mighty God" and "Everlasting Father. In other words, since it is a prophecy, God will be born upon the earth. He will somehow be God and yet a descendant of David. And this child fulfills the promise of a kingdom without end. The words of this prophecy are too specific to write-off as a metaphor or luck guess -- God will be born. And he was, in the most humblest of places because there was no room for him. He was hated by the elite, he was ignored by the religious, but he was worshipped by the needy and low.

 

PONDER:

1. Where do I fit in the range of responses?
2. There was no room for him when he arrived. Is there room for him in my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would not ignore the greatest gift of all time. The world went on, not knowing what had happened. The signs were in abundance throughout his life. I want to remember his birth (the incarnation) and his resurrection from the dead -- most especially this Christmas season.

QT 12/22/2021 Gal 4:4-7, The gift of sonship

 

Galatians 4:4–7 (ESV) —

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

 

NOTE: It was the right time, why? I don't know. I'm sure when the plan is fully revealed we will marvel at the intricacies of God's detail. But it was the time, and Jesus came from the Father, born of a woman to redeem those under the law, so that we MIGHT receive adoption as sons. "Might" is a very important word because, in this context, it means you have to believe and receive. And for the person who truly believes (not an intellectual assent, or simply an emotional response, and definitely not a good work or works), the Holy Spirit of God enters our hearts and we become the most glorious of earthly creations, sons of the most high. What an honor! What an amazing gift!

 

PONDER:

1. Do we really appreciate this Christmas season what the birth brought us?
2. Do we ever spend specific time thanking God for this indescribable birthright (which was never a right until we believed)?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that I am a son. I believed, I was born again, and I've seen incredible changes in the person I was to the person I am now. Thank you for the new birth. Thank you for the new creation. Thank you for the new relationship. Thank you for the future as one of you sons.

QT 12/20/2021 Matt 2:7-8, What is my response to Jesus

 Matthew 2:7–8 (ESV) —

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

 

NOTE: Herod had already inquired as to the location of the Messiah's birth from the chief priests and scribes. That was public. Now he secretly summons the wise men, obviously not wanting anyone to know, and asks when the star appeared. In verse 16, after realizing that he had been tricked by the wise men, he kills all the male children in Bethlehem two years and younger. My guess is that the wise men saw the star a little over a year ago (possibly two). The parents were probably living in a house by this time (verse 11 confirms). And to be safe, Herod kills all the boys two years and under.

 

There are many responses to Jesus. Some seek him (the wise men). Some came to see him and celebrate him (the shepherds). Some didn't really care (the chief priests and scribes). Finally, some were enraged by him and sought to eliminate any reference to him (Herod -- one of the elites of society). There are many responses to Jesus, what is mine?

 

PONDER:

1. Am I indifferent or enraged by stories of Jesus?
2. Or am I a seeker of Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, the world clearly falls into the group that is largely indifferent or openly hostile. They do not understand the significance. And they are blinded by their sin. We, believers in Jesus, need to show them a reason to seek the savior. We need transformed lives such that others cannot ignore the claims of the gospel.

QT 12/17/2021 Matt 2:3-6, Missing out on the greatest gift

Matthew 2:3–6 (ESV) —

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

 

NOTE: Herod shows an unusual lack of knowledge for a "King" of Israel since God had commanded each King to read through the scriptures. Additionally, other versions translate the word for "troubled" as deeply disturbed (HCSB, CSB, NLT), frightened (NSRV), disturbed and troubled (AMP). Herod died in 4BC, so these events did not proceed his death by much. And I doubt he cared for his progeny since the saying at the time was that Herod's pig was safer than Herod's sons. But this is a classic response of a person without hope and without knowledge of God. Life is insecure. The things we put our hope in do not fill our deepest needs. Power is no substitute for true love. Wealth only covers over the pain--it does not remove it. Herod's actions throughout his life show a man always worried about losing life or power to the person closest to him or some unseen event taking power away. In one sense, he was right, he died probably later that year, never realizing that the newborn king was not a threat but a savior. And still today, people see Jesus as a threat to their lifestyle and not as the savior they desperately need.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I really see Jesus--threat, a nice person, or my Lord and Savior? Only one response is correct.

 

PRAYER: Father, this world does not understand what is before it. The greatest gift in history was given and humanity prefers to wallow in its sin. Open our eyes to see our deepest need.

QT 12/16/2021 Matt 2:1-2, Is Jesus really first?

Matthew 2:1–2 (ESV) —

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

 

NOTE: Not everyone was blind to the events 2000 years ago. It is possible that these men are also Jews (proselytes) and may have been influenced by a remnant originally started by Daniel in Babylon. We don't know. They were unlikely to be kings, but rather wise men and priests. What everyone else but these strangers, a few shepherds, a young couple, and a couple of old people realize, is that the Savior of the world has been born. An event of enormous significance and consequence! God himself has entered human existence, somehow in a human frame. No event will ever compare; no time period in human history matches the significance. And yet, the people who should have known and should have cared, don't. What would happen today? Would the religious of people today recognize him? Would we worship when he calls out our selfishness, sin, and meaningless rituals? Would we crucify him all over again? I think we do when we do not take his call upon our life seriously. He doesn't want second best. He wants our first love.

 

PONDER:

1. Is Jesus first in my life? Is Jesus first in my words but not in my actions?
2. What would it mean for Jesus to truly be first?

 

PRAYER: Father, we are so foolish. And I include myself in that assessment. We claim Jesus is first, but few meet with him each morning, few ever pray, few ever share their faith, few ever sacrifice for others, few truly give anything but what is extra. Open our eyes to what it means for you to be first in our lives.

QT 12/15/2021 Luke 2:15-18, He is coming again, and we have the good news

 

Luke 2:15–18 (ESV) —

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

 

NOTE: God had revealed the most important event in history to a nameless group of shepherds. He had revealed to them a glimpse of heaven with a host of angels filling the night sky and singing. And they responded immediately by going to Bethlehem to see their savior, the long-awaited Messiah. And like all true believers in God, they shared their joy with all who would listen. In sharp contrast will be the religious leaders of Jerusalem, who will correctly predict the Messiah's birth location, but will make no attempt to visit and confirm, despite the visit of the wise men from the East.

 

I think this is still true today. The gospel is revealed to the humble and needy, and obscured to the arrogant and self-indulged. Likewise, Christ will return again. First, he will come back to rapture his saints from the wrath to come (meeting us in the air), and then, at the end of the tribulation, he will return to earth for the second time, finishing the long promised wrath to the arrogant and unbelieving.

 

PONDER:

1. Are we ready for Christ's return?
2. Are we doing all that we can to make his name known to those around us, just like the shepherds who were given a special gift of seeing the truth?

 

PRAYER: Father, help us to be a great witness to those around us. Help us to live in such a way that we draw people to the savior. Give us the words, the love, and the display of hope that others will see and ask about our savior.

QT 12/14/2021 Luke 2:13-14, Living in peace

 

QT 12/13/2021 Luke 2:8-11, No one was truly worthy of that good news 2000 years ago

 

QT 12/10/2021 Luke 2:6-7, What is God's place in my life?

 

QT 12/9/2021 Luke 2:1-5, He is working HIS WILL always

 

QT 12/8/2021 Luke 1:46-53, Depending upon God

 

QT 12/7/2021 Luke 1:35-39, Trusting in the good times and bad times

 

QT 12/6/2021 Isa 7:14, The infinite meets the finite

 

QT 12/3/2021 Matt 1:18-21, Understanding the importance of truth (of what really happened 2000 years ago)

 

QT 12/2/2021 Luke 1:31-33, Jesus is coming again--it is future fact

QT 12/1/2021 John 1:11-17, Deceived by religion

 

QT 11/30/2021 Luke 1:5-10, Do I believe the facts?

 

QT 11/29/2021 John 1:1-5, Do I believe in a person or an ideal? It makes a difference