Isaiah 9 is one of those portions of Scripture that is so significant we need to rehearse it, read it, meditate on key words from the text and evaluate it from various perspectives. This month of December we are looking at 4 perspectives as revealed in the 4 Gospels as we look into this important revelation of Christ.
Luke’s account portrays Jesus as the Son of Man, a title Jesus often used of Himself, and was written to the Greeks. It presents the human side of Jesus and emphasizes his teaching. Greeks were famous for their story telling so the most frequent phrase in Luke is “and it came to pass.”
Most movies of the life of Jesus rely primarily on Luke’s gospel because of its flowing narrative form. Luke is the most vigorous champion of the outsider. An outsider himself, the only Gentile in an all-Jewish cast of New Testament writers, he shows how Jesus includes those who typically were treated as outsiders by the religious establishment of the day; women, common laborers (sheepherders), the racially different (Samaritans), the poor.
We can identify with Jesus. Jesus identified with us so we would be able to identify with him.
For years Monterey, CA, was a pelican’s paradise. As the fishermen cleaned their fish, the birds feasted on all that was left over. The birds became fat and lazy having grown dependent upon the fishermen’s continued practices.
Eventually these scraps were utilized and the practice of feeding the pelicans ceased. No longer in the practice of fishing for themselves many starved to death. New pelicans were imported from the south and placed among their starving relatives. These new arrivals immediately started catching fish. The process of mentoring had begun and before long the famine was ended. These pelicans needed another pelican they could identify with to show them the way to live. This is a great demonstration of how Jesus came and became one of us to show us how to live!
Isa 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever... NIV
Jesus was so deeply human that sinners loved him. He brought truth that bridged the gap between humanity and deity. This is why religious people hated him. He exposed elitism that oppressed the common man by becoming a common man who outclassed them all and never using his influence or power to promote himself.
Phil 2:3-9 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. NIV
If you self-promote you will self-destruct. Jesus came handing out towels not titles!
A lot of people start off as servants and end up as celebrities. Your greatest strength will always be born from your deepest humility. If you never discover humility you will always strive from a point of prideful weakness.
Just as Jesus ushered the kingdom of God into the world by giving himself as a gift to the world we are commissioned to do the same.
God brought citizenship and power from heaven to Moses’ earthly dominion. This is how heaven was unlocked in the earth to liberate the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt. Agreement of these two realms brings alignment of these two realms so God’s Kingdom can be released into the earth. Some things in your life simply will not come to pass if you don’t get into a place of alignment with God regarding his desires for your life.
God's will does NOT just happen: "He who created you without you will not justify you without you." -Augustine
Ex 3:8-10 I have come down to rescue (the Israelites)…their cry has reached me…10So now, go. I am sending you… NIV
Moses hadn’t been a slave. He’d grown up in a palace. He had to purpose to identify with the slaves though he was the son of the king and it cost him everything. Then after coming back from a place where everybody thought he was dead he liberated God’s people into the pursuit of God’s promises.
These slaves were destined to be slaves except for a man who was actually from among them who could identify with them to bring hope. You can relate to people others cannot relate to. Who do you identify with?
Invite your friends and family to our Christmas Eve service.
GP2RL: Begin praying about your New Year’s Revelation personally. God has something in mind for you in 2019!