Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:23 — 16.8MB)

12-23-2018 Weekly Message

The contemplation of the week: Psalm 16:1-11

Text: Luke 2:8-20

The title of the book: Jesus who was born in the world to be the  Lord and Christ

         The first people that heard about the news of Jesus’ birth were the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock by night  in the fields. In  Bethlehem Jesus was  born. When the wise men who followed the star from the east came to Jerusalem and asked where was born the king of the Jews, and the priests and scribes answered Herod the king:

” And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. “(Matthew 2: 6)

       Bethlehem means “House of  bread”. It was not by accident that Jesus was born in Bethlehem as the prophets prophesied. Jesus said that his body is the bread of life:

” I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world….. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.“(John 6: 51, 53-58).

        There is also a deep meaning of God; why the angels appeared  to the shepherds for the first time who was watching  the sheep. Jesus said that he is the  good shepherd:

” I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”(John 10:11-15).

        The angels who appeared to the shepherds also witnessed the future Christ, who was born in Bethlehem. The angels  said that He will be the Lord and Christ in the future. The Lord appeared to the people of Israel was the LORD  Jehovah God. The prophets testified about the Lord Jehovah:

” That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, artthe most high over all the earth….. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation…. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH iseverlasting strength: “(Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 12:2; 26: 4)

         That’s right! God told the Israelites in Old Testament times that he  is Jehovah, their LORD. But the angels who announced the birth of Jesus prophesied that the baby Jesus will be the Lord and the Christ in the future. The Lord Jesus also prophesied that he would be the Lord of all Jews, as well as all the people of the whole earth:

‘” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14).

           Apostle Paul made clear witness to the grace of God to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ:

” For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. “(Romans 1: 16-17)

          That’s right! Jesus is the only Savior who has been given to the whole world since he died on the cross to take away the sin of the world and resurrected. Therefore, when anyone believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, the Lord God, the Father is glorified in heaven. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Apostle Peter testified about Jesus who became the Lord and Christ of the whole world on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit appeared in the world:

” This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. “(Acts 2: 32-36)

           The Apostle Peter made a clear witness that Jesus’ name has now become the Lord of all the house of Israel. And as God had anointed the prophets, the priests, and the kings, now God  anointed Jesus for him to be Christ giving him  all the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.

         Jesus lived as a prophet by being subjected to all kinds of persecution and slaughter by witnessing the truth when he was in the flesh. But after lifted up to heaven, he is interceding for us as the High Priest.  But sooner or later he will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords  to reign over all the earth. The prophet Zechariah prophesied of this:

” And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14: 9).

          Jesus spoke of them that shall reign over ten cities and five cities when he come back as the King to reign in the earth. He also spoke of them that not want him to be the King. :

” But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.,”( Luke 19:27).

         In the Holy Spirit, Apostle John testified in the Holy Ghost that Jesus will judge all the nations that not want him to rule over the world,

” And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. “(Revelation 19: 17-18)

Amen! Hallelujah!