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What happened on Christmas? – Perspective Matters

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On December 25, 2020

In Christian

Going through some old pictures, I came across a picture that we as a family took in front of the art piece Lion au Serpent (1830s) when we visited the Musée du Louvre in Paris, in June 2015. While this may not seem to be directly connected with the motif of Christmas, closer scrutiny of this rendition surfaces the hidden treasure of what happened on Christmas?

Many a time we leave Christ as a babe in the manger instead of letting him be the reigning Savior and King of our lives. Pictures of the nativity, the star of Jacob, the magi and the manger, and more are shared through cards as greetings and while these things are apt to describe the unfathomable historic event of Christ Jesus’ birth on earth, they tend to limit our perspectives of what happened on Christmas.

Reflecting on this thought, there are a few perspectives of Christmas that I’d like to share that we ought not to miss.
On Christmas:
The Son of God (Col 1:15) became The Son of man (Luke 2:12)
The Prince of Peace from heaven (Isa 9:6-7) became a pauper on earth (Isa 53:9)
The King of Heaven became homeless on Earth (Matthew 8:20)
The Promised Son (Gen 3:15) was given for the prodigals 
God condescended so man could ascend (Heb 2:9-10)
The Potentate Lion of Judah came to earth as The Passover Lamb (Rev 5:5-6)

And you may ask – So What?
The son of God became the Son of man so sons and daughters of men can become sons and daughters of God);
The Prince of Peace became a pauper so that we who are paupers can become prince and princesses in heaven;
The King of heaven became homeless on earth so we who are homeless can have a home in heaven;
The Promised Son was given for the prodigals so that we who are prodigals can return home and be accepted just as we are;
God condescended so that we can ascend as sons and daughters of glory and be blessed in heavenly places.

What does Christmas mean to you? What is your Christmas perspective?
Is Christ Jesus, The Lion King of your life?

Merry Christmas. The Lord Jesus – The Lion of Judah has triumphed over the serpent.

Christmas Perspectives :: Supreme to Simple

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On December 24, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the mighty God (Isaiah 9:6-7), Supreme Lord over all of creation (Colossians 1:15; NLT), became a simple child and came to the world of man. Some of the definitions in the dictionary that you will find for the word “simple” are “easy to understand or deal with”, “not elaborate or artificial, plain”, “not complex or compound, single”. The unfathomable Supreme God of the universe became on Christmas day, the expressed image of the invisible God (Colossian 1:15), easy to understand, easy to deal with, an unelaborate, plain and real baby, not complex or compound, but the triune God in one.

Points to ponder:
Though Jesus is Supreme, he willfully chose to become simple, so that we who are the real simple ones, could become supreme, able to make mountains plain (Zechariah 4:5), as co-heirs with Christ of God’s glory (Romans 8:17), by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, who comes to dwell in all who believe in Jesus, for it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Holy Spirit, says the Lord (Zechariah 4:6-7). Are you supreme or simple?

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Colossians 1:15 (NLT)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation

Romans 8:16-17 (KJV)
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Christmas Perspectives :: Prince to Pauper

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On December 22, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), willfully left all the glories of heaven (Philippians 2:6-7) and came to the world of man, where he became a pauper in a worldly monetary and material sense, so much so that he advised that one cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24), and advised the rich young man to sell all the possessions to be perfect (Matthew 19:21) as he was and go follow him, and even his tomb was borrowed (Isaiah 53:9).

Points to ponder:
Though Jesus is a Prince, the Prince of Peace, he became a pauper so that we who are really paupers, storing up our treasures here on earth, must be willing to relinquish all the glories of this world and go follow him, as princes and princesses of heaven. To all who believe and receive Jesus, he gave them the privilege to be called the children of God, which is other words, is that he made us princes and princesses of heaven if we believe in him.  This Christmas season, don’t let this question go unanswered – Are you a pauper or a prince / princess?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

John 1:12 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Christmas Perspectives :: Heaven to Homeless

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On December 21, 2015

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when Jesus Christ, the God of heaven, willfully left his home (Philippians 2:6-7) and came to the world of man, where he became homeless (Matthew 8:20) for there was no place for him in even an inn. He did this so that man who was truly homeless (without a home in heaven) could find a home in heaven, by being accepted and adopted into God’s family (John 1:12), if we believe in Jesus as our Lord, and Savior and King.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, he is going to prepare a place (home) for us in heaven, so that where he is, we may be also (John 14:3). In other words, at Christmas, Jesus became homeless so that we no longer need to be homeless. Are you homeless? If so, believe in the Lord Jesus, today (wait no longer), and be adopted into God’s family, so that you can call heaven your home. Are you homeless?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 8:20 (KJV)
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Christmas Perspectives :: Promised Son for the Prodigal

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On December 25, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

Christmas is the occasion when the Promised Son of God (Genesis 3:15) willingly chooses to go away from his Father’s eternal home in heaven, to come to a temporary home on earth, so that we, the prodigal sons and daughters can leave our temporary home on earth, to go to our eternal home in heaven with Father God.

Points to ponder:
Have you believed in the Promised Son of God, so that you can inherit the place that he has gone to prepare for all those who believe in him and who have received him, in the home, whose builder and architect is God himself?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Christmas Perspectives :: Condescension for Ascension

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On December 24, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

On Christmas, Jesus Christ did not condescend leaving his eternal glory and treasures in heaven, to live amongst us, but condescended to live AS us, as a Son of man, so that we may be able to ascend, leaving the ephemeral glory and pleasures of this earth, to live with God as sons and daughters of God.

Points to ponder:
Have you accepted and believed in Jesus Christ, the God who condescended, for when you do, he brings you into glory.

Hebrews 2:9-10 (KJV)
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Christmas Perspectives :: The gift of our life

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On December 21, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, were given to Jesus, who was born in a dirty manger, to signify that when Jesus is born in our dirty (sinful) lives, we must offer the gift of our life.

We must offer
– our life purified as gold, in the refiner’s fire, to the King of kings,
– our life as a living sacrifice whose incense rises to the One High Priest,
– our life as perfumes of myrrh, that adorns the flesh (body) that is to be dead.

Points to ponder:
Is your life and mine in a presentable state? Can it be said of us that we give the gift of our life as gold, frankincense and myrrh, to the King of all kings, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Christmas Perspectives :: The wise seek to worship

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On December 20, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

The wise men asked, “Where is he that is born, the King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2).

Points to ponder:
Do we like the wise men seek Jesus Christ, who is not just the king of the Jews, but also the King of kings and Lord of lords and do we seek to find him, to worship him?  Am I wise? Are you wise? The wise seek to worship God!

Matthew 2:2 (KJV)
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Christmas Perspectives :: God’s will towards all men

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On December 19, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

On Christmas, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and good will to all men” to tell us all, that God’s will that can bring a peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7) can now be ours.

Points to ponder:
Do you have the peace of God which is a peace that passeth all understanding and which comes only when the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ – Isaiah 9:6) is born in our lives? This is God’s will towards all men.

Luke 2:14 (KJV)
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Christmas Perspectives :: God With(in) Us

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On December 18, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

It was the will of God and it pleased him to send forth his Son, who was to be called Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with us.” (John 1:13; Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 1:23).

Points to ponder:
Many today are happy as long as God is just with us and not necessarily within us. What is needful is not just God with us, but God within us, for it is God who worketh [with]in us, both to will and do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Is God with you and me? More importantly, Is God within you and me?

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
13 For it is God which worketh [with]in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

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