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VOLUME 25, NUMBER 7                                     February 16, 2003

THE BIRTH OF JESUS

The birth of Jesus was truly a wondrous event. It contains elements that are beyond our human comprehension; We have no words or concepts to adequately explain all that this birth entails.

GOD BECOMES MAN
Jesus was always God. He was God before he came to earth (John 1:1). He was God while he was on the earth (Hebrews 1:6). He is God now that he has returned to heaven (Revelation 1:8-11).
But Jesus became a man. He was made in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man (Phil 2:7-8). This is a difficult thing to understand. How can God be man? We must accept this truth, not because we can explain it, but because God has revealed it.

THE CREATOR BECOMES A CREATURE
Another difficult concept is that Jesus was creator of all (John 1:1-3), and yet when he became a man he took on himself the body of a created being.

THE AUTHORITY BECOMES OBEDIENT
As God, Jesus has authority to command the universe. Jesus has authority over all beings except his Father and the Holy Spirit. The winds and the sea obeyed him (Matt 8:27). And yet, as man, Jesus had to be obedient. He was subject to his parents (Luke 2:51). Jesus was subject to the law of Moses, the very law he had given (Luke 2:42). Jesus was subject to taxation and demanded that his disciples pay tax in obedience to the law (Matt 17:24-27). And Jesus was obedient to his Father’s will for him as our savior. Hebrews 5:8_9 – 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

THE OMNISCIENT GOD LIMITED HIS KNOWLEDGE
One of the characteristics of God is his omniscience. God knows everything (Psalm 139:1-6). But when Jesus was here on earth he had limited his own knowledge. He claimed he didn’t know when he was going to return (Mark 13:32). How can an omniscient God limit his own knowledge? I don’t know, but it certainly appears that he did.

THE GOD OF ALL STRENGTH BECAME TIRED AND WEARY
God is all powerful (Matt 19:26). When Jesus was on earth he had a physical body. That body became tired and weary (John 4:6).

GOD WHO CANNOT BE TEMPTED ENDURED TEMPTATION
God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13). He is so pure that evil does not appeal to him. When Jesus took upon him a physical body, that body was subject to temptation. He was tempted directly by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). He was tempted in all points like we are (Heb 4:15).

THE SINLESS GOD TOOK OUR GUILT UPON HIMSELF
God is pure and righteous in an absolute sense (Hab 1:13). Even though he was tempted in all points like we are, Jesus remained sinless while he was on the earth (Hebrews 4:15). Yet God laid our sins on him (Is 53:6). He carried our guilt, and in so doing he bore our punishment.

THE IMMORTAL GIVER OF LIFE SUFFERED DEATH
This is the most wondrous of all. Jesus gave life to man, but he suffered death as a man (Phil 2:8). He suffered a terrible physical death, and he also suffered spiritual death to pay for our sins. Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 John 2:2 – And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

CONCLUSION
These things defy explanation and understanding. When we contemplate them we see a small glimpse of the wonder of our God, both his power and his mercy. We can only echo the words of old – Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.
 

Family Bulletin Board

Remember those who have chronic illnesses with prayer, visits, phone calls, and cards. Jamie Farmer, Delsie Bishop, Lola Mae Hamlett, Ella Brumitt, Louise Hunt, Reva Brewer, Savannah Green, and Elizabeth Fowler.

SECRET SISTERS - Will reveal their identities at a get-together today at 4:00 pm., at the building. Even if you haven’t been a Secret Sister before, you can still join in. Please see Shaya Pethe.

QUESTIONS - Rusty will be doing another question and answer sermon this evening. Be sure to attend.

NEWS - Reva Brewer had two surgeries on the 13th. They went well, but as of this printing, she is still at Lakeland Hospital.

Don and Ruth Smith are moving to Pennsylvania to work with the church in Selinsgrove. We pray that God will bless them and the congregation there. (Don has left already and Ruth will join him soon)

Many of you know Phil Johnsen. He had a heart attack this past Tuesday. Four stints were inserted through angioplasty. Phil is now home.

EYG MEETING - February 25th, from 6:45 - 8:00 pm.

PERSONAL WORK - Don’t forget the things we studied in our personal work class. We still have tracts – Searching for the Lord’s Church – available to give to others. Be courageous! Talk to others, invite people to services, offer to study with them. Their souls and yours depend on it.