Jesus
Christ, the Son of God
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He
came from splendor to be born in poverty. He left the presence of
angels, for the company of men. He laid down a scepter in heaven
to be laid in a manger, and exchanged the worship of Arch-angels,
for the praise of lowly shepherds.
He
walked into the world with all the power of Almighty God at his
bidding, but he was carried out a mutilated body lowered from a
cross.
He
rebuked the pious, but he comforted the sinner. He refused earthly
Kingship, although he was still a King. He loved his mother yet
gave her away at the Cross. He healed the broken-hearted, yet he
himself, died with a broken heart.
He
loved the fellowship of friends, yet was cast out by his kinsmen.
He rebuked both sage and seer, then blessed the little children.
He held an executive meeting on the Mount of Transfiguration, then
wept alone in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He
could walk on water, but could not walk away from the tears in the
eyes of the Widow from Nain. He could command the stars in their
orbits, but he refused to change the circumstances of his own execution.
His mission was a commitment to free all men, yet he was imprisoned
on the testimony of one man.
He
delivered many from pain, but he was delivered to suffer agonizing
pain. He dried the eyes of multitudes, but no one dried his eyes
in Gethsemane. He carried the burdens of the world, but only one
was brought forth to help him bear his cross to Calvary.
His
execution was thought to be insignificant, but became the controversy
of the ages. His life was extinguished in a brief second of time,
but then ignited to lighten the world. His short span of thirty-three
years on Earth should have passed unnoted were it possible, but
no one life has ever had such impact on the minds of men.
His
three and one-half years in the public’s eye was brief indeed,
but his achievements are the greatest ever recorded.
He
has inspired more men, conquered more hearts, delivered more prisoners,
consoled more mourners, than any figure in the history of man. He
spoke of love, but was murdered with hate. He shared all that he
had, then on the Cross...he shared paradise with a thief. He gave
the World light, only to be driven into the cavern of Death. He
gave mankind guidance, only to be guided to Golgotha. He pointed
men to the Tree of Life, they nailed him to a tree on a hill called
the Skull. He laid down a scepter in heaven, to be laid in a borrowed
tomb.
He
walked out of heaven, pure, perfect, and beautiful. He returned
beaten, mutilated, and nail scarred. He fulfilled all that was written
of him, and yet man did not believe Him. His coming changed the
course of nations, his return will be to judge the nations. His
title was simple as stated on the Cross, “Jesus of Nazareth,
King of the Jews,” but to those who have ever known him, He
is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God!
Would
We Know
If we had been
the shepherds one night long ago,
I wonder if we’d recognize the star or if we’d know
the reason for His birth and if we’d really go
to worship at the manger. I wonder, would we know?
Is it really
any different than if Jesus came today?
I wonder, would we recognize His face in any way?
Or would we turn away from Him
not knowing what to say?
If Jesus
walked among us in our hurried, busy pace,
I wonder if this stranger would really find a place?
Rebecca Barlow Jordan
Much
More
Twas much,
that man was
made like God before,
But that God should
be like man
much more.
- John Donne
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Your
Cross
Whatever your cross,
Whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine
After the rain.
Perhaps you may stumble,
Perhaps even fall,
But God always rescues His children
Out of it all.
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