It was a life that had left him rich in experience, but poor in goods of the world.”
–Louis L’Amour (“Mistakes Can Kill You”)
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
–Luke 2:52 (NASB)
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What is the most important scripture verse? It may be different things to different people. Some would certainly say, John 3:16 and wouldn’t be wrong. I know of folks who have taken for themselves a “life verse” and there probably isn’t anything wrong with that, but they need to remember that they took it at an earlier time in their Christian walk. We must also remember that “all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16) I want today to draw your attention to one of the key verses in the Bible–John 1:1-4 (NASB)
1 — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 — He was in the beginning with God.
3 — All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 — In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Son and the Word are the same; the Son is the manifestation of the Word. Here was the thought of Christmas before there was a Christmas. The Word was God. From this very first verse we are told “of Christ’s eternality, His personality, and His deity.” (Alistair Begg) He was in the beginning, and we are told later in the Bible that He laid the foundations of the world, therefore, He was before the beginning.
Lay hold of that for a minute, dwell upon the thought of the infinite, eternal Christ. The One who spoke and the cosmos was created. He was/is the word, the thought, principle, speech, action…He is the “divine reason.”
What does that have to do with Christmas? I want you to take a different look at the baby in the manger. This miraculous Child, lying there, actually helpless depending upon Mary and Joseph is this “Logos”–this Word. The mystery of the Incarnation–the Son of God laying aside His glory to be born as a man. The One who spoke the world into existence is in a manger of straw. The One who put the natural and physical laws of the universe in order is there dependent upon the mankind He created. “The child in the manger was the very same person who put the stars in the sky–including the very star which led the wise men from the east to come and worship Him.” (Begg)
This year when you look at a nativity scene try not to see just a cute little Jesus. See Him as He really is–the Creator, the One who brings life both physical and eternal. See Him in His deity, not as a cute, cuddly infant. “He is more than a man. He was, is, and forever will be one with the God of all creation.” (Begg) Look at the mystery, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NASB)
———————————-
What is the most important scripture verse? It may be different things to different people. Some would certainly say, John 3:16 and wouldn’t be wrong. I know of folks who have taken for themselves a “life verse” and there probably isn’t anything wrong with that, but they need to remember that they took it at an earlier time in their Christian walk. We must also remember that “all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16) I want today to draw your attention to one of the key verses in the Bible–John 1:1-4 (NASB)
1 — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 — He was in the beginning with God.
3 — All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 — In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Son and the Word are the same; the Son is the manifestation of the Word. Here was the thought of Christmas before there was a Christmas. The Word was God. From this very first verse we are told “of Christ’s eternality, His personality, and His deity.” (Alistair Begg) He was in the beginning, and we are told later in the Bible that He laid the foundations of the world, therefore, He was before the beginning.
Lay hold of that for a minute, dwell upon the thought of the infinite, eternal Christ. The One who spoke and the cosmos was created. He was/is the word, the thought, principle, speech, action…He is the “divine reason.”
What does that have to do with Christmas? I want you to take a different look at the baby in the manger. This miraculous Child, lying there, actually helpless depending upon Mary and Joseph is this “Logos”–this Word. The mystery of the Incarnation–the Son of God laying aside His glory to be born as a man. The One who spoke the world into existence is in a manger of straw. The One who put the natural and physical laws of the universe in order is there dependent upon the mankind He created. “The child in the manger was the very same person who put the stars in the sky–including the very star which led the wise men from the east to come and worship Him.” (Begg)
This year when you look at a nativity scene try not to see just a cute little Jesus. See Him as He really is–the Creator, the One who brings life both physical and eternal. See Him in His deity, not as a cute, cuddly infant. “He is more than a man. He was, is, and forever will be one with the God of all creation.” (Begg) Look at the mystery, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NASB)