Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)

There's a song that's been going through my mind and heart these Advent days.  I even find myself bursting into a line of lyric here and there. The thoughts I love most in it are truths that have become more and more precious to me as I reflect Advent after Advent -- that our Emmanuel came to earth from heaven, not just to pay for our sins (as crucial as that is), but also to give us His divine eternal LIFE...deity indwelling our humanity.  We can become children of Almighty God!!!

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Knowing the God who LOVES you and Who is THERE Wherever You Are

Knowing the God who LOVES you and Who is THERE Wherever You Are

the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:35

Early one recent morning, John was up, dressed, and on his regular Tuesday morning ZOOM call with his guys’ Bible study group. I was in the kitchen pouring my morning coffee into my favorite mug, ready to begin my own personal devotions and Bible study.

All of a sudden, I heard banging and crashing coming from John’s office….

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Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)

Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven (A Children's Carol)

There's a song that's been going through my mind and heart these Advent days.  I even find myself bursting into a line of lyric here and there. The thoughts I love most in it are truths that have become more and more precious to me as I reflect Advent after Advent -- that our Emmanuel came to earth from heaven, not just to pay for our sins (as crucial as that is), but also to give us His divine eternal LIFE...deity indwelling our humanity.  We can become children of Almighty God!!!

Read More

The Beauty of the Incomparable Christ...the Son of Man (Hebrews 2:5-18)

Incarnation
Incarnation

CS Lewis calls the Incarnation "The Grand Miracle."

The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation...God became Man.  Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this….it was the central event in the history of the Earth–the very thing the whole story has been about. Miracles, “The Grand Miracle,” C.S. Lewis

In chapter 2 of Hebrews, we continue the thought that Jesus Christ is better than the angels...not just because He's the Son of GOD, but because He's the Son of MAN.  What an incredibly important truth for fallen man!

Our destiny that was lost (Hebrews 2:5-8) is now regained in the God-Man Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:9-18).  Here are a couple suggestions for your study of this passage:

  • Go through Hebrews 2:9-18 and see if you can give 5 descriptions of Jesus as our God-Man.  They are listed for you below,* but why not try them on your own first.
  • Spend time reflecting on how your Great High Priest has come to your aid in the past and how you need Him to come to your aid today.  Praise and pray!

*Descriptions of Jesus Christ, the God-Man:

1.  He is my Substitute (2:9)

2.  He is my Savior (2:10-11a)

3.  He is my Brother (2:11b-14a)

4.  He is my Deliverer (2:14b-15)

5.  He is my Helper / High Priest (2:16-18)

Living from Who You are

A couple years ago, I took my grandsons, Evan (5 y.o.) & Carter (4 y.o.), to visit my mother-in-law ("G-G" to them) who lives in a local senior center. I told the boys how happy old people are to see little guys.  I described to them how these old, sad, depressed faces would change to happy and smiling faces when they saw them.

"Those old folks will 'come alive' because you boys are so special!  You just watch!" I said.

Sure enough! Resident after resident began talking, smiling, stopping the boys to interact with them.  In fact one man was so overcome that he had to try to hold himself back from trying to hug them and squeeze them.

So after we made it through the "gauntlet" of popularity, we visited with G-G, taking her to the ice cream parlor as usual.

As we were driving back to my house, here's the conversation we had in the car:

Me:  "Didn't I tell you?  You boys are very special!"

Carter:  "That boy (pointing to Evan) isn't special! "

Me, somewhat taken aback but figuring it was the usual sibling stuff:  "Oh, but he is special!"

Carter:  "But he's mean to me!"

Me:  "That doesn't mean he isn't special...that just means he's not acting like the special boy that he really is!"

As I drove on that day, I reflected how this is a perfect illustration of our lives as believers.

We are such special people because God has made us so. We are...

children of our Abba Father God,

brothers & sisters of our Brother, King Jesus,

one with the Triune God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

But rather than letting the living, indwelling Lord Jesus Christ live though us as us, we, more often than we like to admit, chose to live from the deadness of our flesh.

How sad...actually tragic!

Brothers and sisters, let's live from the fullness of Him who made us special.  Amen!

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!  1 John 3:1a NLT

...this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.  Colossians 1:27 NLT

I have been crucified with the Anointed One—I am no longer alive—but the Anointed is living in me; and whatever life I have left in this failing body I live by the faithfulness of God’s Son, the One who loves me and gave His body on the cross for me.  Galatians 2:20 VOICE

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.  Colossians 2:9-10 NIV

Hebrews 2:5-18 -- The Beauty of the Incomparable Christ...the Son of Man

CS Lewis calls the Incarnation "The Grand Miracle."

The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation...God became Man.  Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this….it was the central event in the history of the Earth–the very thing the whole story has been about. Miracles, “The Grand Miracle,” C.S. Lewis

In chapter 2 of Hebrews, we continue the thought that Jesus Christ is better than the angels...not just because He's the Son of GOD, but because He's the Son of MAN.  What an incredibly important truth for fallen man!

Our destiny that was lost (Hebrews 2:5-8) is now regained in the God-Man Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:9-18).  Here are 3 suggestions for your study of this passage:

  • Play and read through the lyrics of your favorite Christmas carol or enjoy the one below.  Take 2 colored pencils and mark in one color, references to Jesus as God and in another color, references to Jesus as Man.  If you are really ambitious, do the Bible study associated with each line.
  • Go through Hebrews 2:9-18 and see if you can give 5 descriptions of Jesus as our God-Man.  They are listed for you below,* but why not try them on your own first.
  • Spend time reflecting on how your Great High Priest has come to your aid in the past and how you need Him to come to your aid today.  Praise and pray!

Homework --   Read Hebrews 3:1-4:13 Answer questions in Hoping for Something Better, p. 190-192 Read chapter 3, p. 37-53, Hoping…

Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing!

Hark!  The herald angels sing,        Luke 2:13 “Glory to the newborn King!            Luke 2:14 Peace on earth and mercy mild,      Luke 2:14 God and sinners reconciled.”   Luke 2 :14; Rom 5:8-11; II Cor 5:18-19 Joyful, all ye nations rise,                 Luke 2:10; Luke 2:32 Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.            Luke 2:11 Hark!  The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heaven adored;    John 17:23-26; 15:9; 3:35; Matthew 3:17 Christ the everlasting Lord!              Luke 2:11 Late in time behold Him come,        Galatians 4:4 Offspring of a Virgin’s womb.           Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:34,35; Galatians 4:4 Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;       Hebrews 10:20; Romans 8:3; John 1:14 Hail the incarnate Deity.            Colossians 2:9 Pleased as man with man to dwell, Philippians 2:5-8 Jesus, our Emmanuel                   Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 1:21,25 Hark!  The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!  John 1:14; Isaiah 9:6 Hail the Son of Righteousness!               Malachi 4:2 Light and life to all He brings,       John 6:35, 8:12, 10:2, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:5 Ris’n with healing in His wings.             Malachi 4:2 Mild He lays His glory by,                       Philippians 2:5-8 Born that man no more may die            John 3:16; 1John 4:9, 3:2 Born to raise the sons of earth;  I Corinthians 15:20-28, 35-49; Philippians 3:20-21 Born to give them second birth. Hark!  The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-88), George Whitfield (1714-70), Music: Mendelssohn, from a chorus by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47), adapted by William H. Cummings

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiP6HtIaJ70[/youtube]

 

For the story behind the carol, click HERE

 

Just for fun...a story and a song.  We closed with this in our group this week :)

A Cake and a Savior:  Welcome to our World

 

 

 

 

*Descriptions of Jesus Christ, the God-Man:

1.  He is my Substitute (2:9)

2.  He is my Savior (2:10-11a)

3.  He is my Brother (2:11b-14a)

4.  He is my Deliverer (2:14b-15)

5.  He is my Helper / High Priest (2:16-18)