Centuries before it came to pass, the prophets were foretelling the coming of the Messiah, God's anointed one. Isaiah declared, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine . . . For a child is born to us, a son is given to us . . . And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Jeremiah prophesied, " 'For the time is coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.' " And although Isaiah also said, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities," few people of Israel seemed to recognize that Jesus was coming not to be a military deliverer but a Savior. Why did the nation of Israel, God's own people, need a Savior?
For hundreds of years, they had been governed by the law God had given to them through Moses. Sometimes they kept that law, many times they did not. But God promised, "The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with them. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." Israel needed a Savior so that obedience to God would be an inner response of the heart."
Israel needed a Savior because they were separated from God by sin. Mary may have been one of the first to know that, although she could hardly comprehend her part in the plan. The angel told her, "You will bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus." That name literally means "savior." And an angel also told Joseph very specifically, "Mary will bring forth a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
People today need peace and light too, as much as anyone ever has. We come from a long line of sinners, ever since Adam and Eve. Yes, and we have all personally sinned too. We need a Savior in order to have relationship with God.
In the Scripture, we are told of some who, even though they knew the truth about why Jesus had come, were reluctant to accept Him fully and some did not receive Him at all. Why did they hesitate?
Nicodemus visited Jesus at night; He may have been afraid of what the other Jewish rulers would think of his seeking spiritual answers. The rich young ruler turned away because he was did not want to face the cost. The woman with the issue of blood must have been embarrassed by all the "nice," ordinary people around her, even though her situation wasn't her fault. But she was also desperate, and pressed through to Jesus. The prodigal son was only in a parable, but it was his own fault he ended up in a dirty pig pen. He was deep into selfish sinning until there wasn't any way out except to go home. And some people hesitate because they don't know how bad off they are! Lazarus couldn't help himself; he had to have Jesus come on the scene to bring him back to life before his friends could unwind the grave clothes and set him free to live again.
Israel needed a Savior because they were separated from God by sin. Mary may have been one of the first to know that, although she could hardly comprehend her part in the plan. The angel told her, "You will bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus." That name literally means "savior." And an angel also told Joseph very specifically, "Mary will bring forth a son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
People today need peace and light too, as much as anyone ever has. We come from a long line of sinners, ever since Adam and Eve. Yes, and we have all personally sinned too. We need a Savior in order to have relationship with God.
In the Scripture, we are told of some who, even though they knew the truth about why Jesus had come, were reluctant to accept Him fully and some did not receive Him at all. Why did they hesitate?
Nicodemus visited Jesus at night; He may have been afraid of what the other Jewish rulers would think of his seeking spiritual answers. The rich young ruler turned away because he was did not want to face the cost. The woman with the issue of blood must have been embarrassed by all the "nice," ordinary people around her, even though her situation wasn't her fault. But she was also desperate, and pressed through to Jesus. The prodigal son was only in a parable, but it was his own fault he ended up in a dirty pig pen. He was deep into selfish sinning until there wasn't any way out except to go home. And some people hesitate because they don't know how bad off they are! Lazarus couldn't help himself; he had to have Jesus come on the scene to bring him back to life before his friends could unwind the grave clothes and set him free to live again.
We also hesitate for many of the same reasons. We are bound by what people think, or we are afraid of the cost. We are embarrassed, or we are ashamed, especially if we feel like what we've done and where we've been makes us too bad to come to Jesus. And it's true for us, as well, that we often don't realize our own need. No matter why we hesitate, the Father is waiting for us to come to Him.Jesus came to us, so that we could come to the Father. "Home" for Christmas!
MaryMartha
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
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