Re-published Sunday 26th November 2017
CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR ROUND
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand
The Jesus that they celebrate is much more than a man
'Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven when they nailed Him to a tree.
But most of all the children they're the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our Saviour and He's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day and all days aren't the same
Perhaps they'll think about the word and see it spells His name
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven, mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
So Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.
Hoo-hoo. Ooo-ooh.
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand?
("Christmas Song For All year Round" written by Randy Stonehill, released as a single, and featured on his 1976 album "Welcome To Paradise".)
With Christmas Day just four weeks away, it is timely to remember that, as the song says: The Jesus that they [we] celebrate is much more than a man.
It seems to the natural mind to be a paradox that the baby Jesus, the one who was prophesied to be the King of the Jews, should be faced with the indignity of being born in a dirty stable and laid in an animal feeding trough atop a pile of hay. But that is exactly the way the Lord of the universe chose to enter the world of humanity. The fact that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet His earthly body was formed in the womb of a normal teenage girl, Mary, and who entered this world through the usual avenue of childbirth as a helpless baby - helps us to understand, at least in some measure, how Jesus could be fully God, as well as fully man, or hu-man.
That the God who created all things by speaking them into existence - the God who is all-knowing, everywhere present, and all-powerful should divest Himself of these divine attributes in order to limit Himself to a human body, is nothing short of amazing.The divine Kenosis, the self-emptying described by the apostle Paul in Philippians 2 further attests to the reality that God, in Jesus, confined himself to a body like ours, in identifying with us:
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father. Phil.2:5-11.NLT
The ongoing message of Christmas celebrated by Christians down through the past 2,000 years is that
"God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish [in their sins] but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Jesus Christ, said of Himself: I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12
From the time of the early church to the present day, millions upon millions of people have been able to testify of the power of God to deliver them from darkness and despair, and spiritual bondage to a place of light, and hope and unspeakable joy, having been forgiven of their sinful pasts, washed clean through the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, and made alive spiritually by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the eternal God, who, with the Father and the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, inhabit eternity.
This Christmas, you can know with absolute certainty, the love of your Creator God, who sent His Son to earth to be born a baby in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. He is coming back to earth someday. He will not come back, however, as the gentle Jesus meek and mild, but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 5; 19:11-16)
If you are would like to know how to become a Christian, and to be reconciled to the God who created you for fellowship with Himself, a couple of sites which will lead you in the right direction are:
vision.org.au Click on the Growing you faith tab, then "Looking for God?", or
billygraham.org Click on Growing your faith, then "How to know Jesus."
Make Jesus your Saviour and Lord. This could be your best Christmas ever!
The Jesus that they celebrate is much more than a man
'Cause the way the world is I don't see how people can deny
The only way to save us was for Jesus Christ to die
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven when they nailed Him to a tree.
But most of all the children they're the ones I hope will learn
That Jesus is our Saviour and He's going to return
And Christmas isn't just a day and all days aren't the same
Perhaps they'll think about the word and see it spells His name
And I know that if St. Nicholas was here he would agree
That Jesus gave the greatest gift of all to you and me
They led Him to the slaughter on a hill called Calvary
And mankind was forgiven, mankind was forgiven
We were all forgiven when they nailed Him to the tree
So Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.
Hoo-hoo. Ooo-ooh.
I wonder if this Christmas they'll begin to understand?
("Christmas Song For All year Round" written by Randy Stonehill, released as a single, and featured on his 1976 album "Welcome To Paradise".)
With Christmas Day just four weeks away, it is timely to remember that, as the song says: The Jesus that they [we] celebrate is much more than a man.
It seems to the natural mind to be a paradox that the baby Jesus, the one who was prophesied to be the King of the Jews, should be faced with the indignity of being born in a dirty stable and laid in an animal feeding trough atop a pile of hay. But that is exactly the way the Lord of the universe chose to enter the world of humanity. The fact that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, yet His earthly body was formed in the womb of a normal teenage girl, Mary, and who entered this world through the usual avenue of childbirth as a helpless baby - helps us to understand, at least in some measure, how Jesus could be fully God, as well as fully man, or hu-man.
That the God who created all things by speaking them into existence - the God who is all-knowing, everywhere present, and all-powerful should divest Himself of these divine attributes in order to limit Himself to a human body, is nothing short of amazing.The divine Kenosis, the self-emptying described by the apostle Paul in Philippians 2 further attests to the reality that God, in Jesus, confined himself to a body like ours, in identifying with us:
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father. Phil.2:5-11.NLT
The ongoing message of Christmas celebrated by Christians down through the past 2,000 years is that
"God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish [in their sins] but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Jesus Christ, said of Himself: I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12
From the time of the early church to the present day, millions upon millions of people have been able to testify of the power of God to deliver them from darkness and despair, and spiritual bondage to a place of light, and hope and unspeakable joy, having been forgiven of their sinful pasts, washed clean through the blood of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, and made alive spiritually by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the eternal God, who, with the Father and the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, inhabit eternity.
This Christmas, you can know with absolute certainty, the love of your Creator God, who sent His Son to earth to be born a baby in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. He is coming back to earth someday. He will not come back, however, as the gentle Jesus meek and mild, but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 5; 19:11-16)
If you are would like to know how to become a Christian, and to be reconciled to the God who created you for fellowship with Himself, a couple of sites which will lead you in the right direction are:
vision.org.au Click on the Growing you faith tab, then "Looking for God?", or
billygraham.org Click on Growing your faith, then "How to know Jesus."
Make Jesus your Saviour and Lord. This could be your best Christmas ever!
