“From a LOWLY Manger to a SHAMEFUL Cross”

“From a LOWLY Manger to a SHAMEFUL Cross”

 

 And while Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem in Judea, the time came for Mary’s baby to be born.  She gave birth to her firstborn son.  She wrapped Him snugly in strips of cloth and laid Him in a MANGER, because there was NO lodging available for them.  Luke 2:6-7

So, the Word (Jesus) became flesh and made His home among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:14

And He, bearing His cross went out to a place called the ‘Place of a Skull’, which is called in Hebrew GOLGOTHA, where they crucified Him and two others with Him one on either side, and Jesus in the center.  John 19:17-18

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on Him the SINS of us ALL. Isaiah 53:6. When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish, He will be satisfied.  And because of His experience, my RIGHTEOUS Servant will make it possible for many to be COUNTED RIGHTEOUS, for He will BEAR ALL their SINS.  (VV11)

 

The birth of Jesus Christ, the KING of KINGS, and LORD of LORDS, the ONE and ONLY SON of the LIVING GOD, was not ELEGANT or FESTIVE.  Mary and Joseph, did not stay in the FANCIEST INN nor did they have the BEST doctor and hospital to go to for the birth of this VERY SPECIAL BABY.  Instead, they ended up in a SMELLY, COLD, NOISY STABLE, with ONLY the horses and cattle to WELCOME the Christ Child into a very SIN-SICK WORLD.

 Until the BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT to some LOWLY SHEPHERDS in the fields around BETHLEHEM, who were keeping watch over their flocks of sheep, when a multitude of ANGELS appeared in the DARK NIGHT SKY, proclaiming to the SHEPHERDS, (who were considered VERY LOWLY PEOPLE) that a SPECIAL BABY, their SAVIOR, who is CHRIST the LORD was BORN and they would find Him lying in a MANGER in a STABLE in BETHLEHEM. And so, Jesus who is called the WORD, in John chapter one, verse fourteen, became FLESH or HUMAN through His VIRGIN BIRTH. And He lived AMONG mankind, the rich and the poor. 

That, however, is NOT the END. In Jesus short lifetime, He exemplified His UNFAILING LOVE and FAITHFULNESS to ALL people, REGARDLESS, of their standing in society.  But He was RIDICULED, OPPRESSED, TREATED HARSHLY, REJECTED, and considered a REBEL. Yet it did NOT diminish His LOVE and FAITHFULNESS for mankind. Nor did it STOP His MISSION of PROVIDING SALVATION to a LOST and DYING WORLD. And that included the SHEDDING of BLOOD, from the PERFECT SACRIFICIAL LAMB, who is the ONLY ONE who can SAVE ALL MANKIND from an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. JESUS did that with His DEATH and RESURRECTION.  The ONLY WAY for mankind to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, is to ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIEVE that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a CHILD of the LIVING GOD, on your way to an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, with ALL its BLESSINGS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL CAN!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!