Gods Great Love Pursues Us - Part 3 of 6

In our continuing exploration of Gods Great Love For Us, Jesus, the Son of God is as best we can tell, 30 years of age... What comes next is a determined pure act of love. Jesus would make a decision as both a human servant and as God in the flesh just for us!

(3) Jesus leaves the wood shop, More than a Carpenter!

Please note that some of the content contained within the Reflection Moments depicted here is not recorded in the scriptures. They are merely human attempts to relate and ask some questions of certain aspects of the Son of God, which may help you see the Savior’s human side of His divine life on earth.

click to play

God speaks the following:

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law , that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Gal 4:4-5)

Reflection Moment

It’s a splendid night with all its stars and planets and the millions of heavenly hosts watching in the Judean sky. In the fullness of time this newly created dawn like no other anticipates a great change. For the fabric of the universe is suddenly brought still awaiting His love cry.

Jesus sets His wooden mallet down on the old worn out workbench. He places the wood chisels and drill bits in their resting place for the last time. He does a final sweeping and picking up of the sanding dust on the floor he stood upon with divine feet for over 25 years. Then, for the last time as He peers outside the old wood shop full of furniture and such made with His divine hands, he humbly says, “I am coming Father.” 

With these first steps in all of mankind out of this very special wood shop, Jesus the Son of God begins to place one divine foot in front of the other toward heaven again. He knows he will never return to laugh and converse with customers about their hand made stool or bench he personally made for them. He knows exactly who he is and what his purpose is. That, the tears now flowing down his divine cheeks are tears of suffering and great joy. For the Savior has hung up his tools and sweat band trading them for an eternal crown. With just sandals on his feet and clothing on his back, having no money or provisions, with great love He begins the journey that will save mankind. God Pursue's Us!

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Now in the fifteenth year (29 AD) of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." (Luke 3:1-3)

“Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

John preached about the coming kingdom and the need to repent. The Palestine in which the prophet’s ministry was launched was firmly in the grip of a grossly pagan force, the Roman empire. Edersheim graphically describes the conditions of the time.

“It has been rightly said, that the idea of conscience, as we understand it, was unknown to heathenism. Absolute right did not exist. Might was right. The social relations exhibited, if possible, even deeper corruption. The sanctity of marriage had ceased. Female dissipation and the general dissoluteness led at last to an almost entire cessation of marriage. Abortion, and the exposure and murder of newly-born children, were common and tolerated; unnatural vices, which even the greatest philosophers practiced, if not advocated, attained proportions which defy description.”

Moral corruption had made deep inroads into Judaism as well. It was into this world that John came with his piercing message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 3:2; cf. Mk. 1:4).

John’s message of “repentance” entailed a deep consciousness of offense to God within the sinner’s heart, with a required reformation of life. When he saw superficial Hebrews submitting to his immersion, void of any radical change of conduct, he rebuked them: “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance” (Mt. 3:7-8).

Jesus first walk of love for us equaling at least 3 marathons is completed. Once John see's Him coming his way, he says, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" 

The timing was perfect. Jesus pursued us finding John and is now with us never looking back! He is about to be witnessed by His Father, and all the people there on the banks of the Jordan River at Aenon as Gods only Son, the long awaited Messiah! Surely the people would recognize Him? Jesus had arrived at precisely the right time and place to be baptized by John. Lets let God tell us what happened next on this planned day in history.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17)

Reflection Moment

Remember earlier in Luke 3 we are told "the word of God came to John in the wilderness?" A parallel scripture also confirms this:

I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." (John 1:33)

We can be assured considering the whole word of God through harmonizing the scriptures (Psalm 119:160), baptism of repentance for for remission of sins was spoken to John the Baptist as he received Gods plan. Baptism came not from man but from God making it a requirement or condition to salvation (Mark 16:16). This will later be confirmed by Jesus words Himself as He unfolds His plan of salvation during His ministry to the Jews (John 3:26, 4:1).

While the sinless Jesus did not require baptism to remit any sins, God shows us that baptism is associated with the Holy Spirit as well as an action that God approves of, for He spoke it to John (Luke 3:2).

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matt 3:11).

Three reasons why Jesus had to be baptized

(1) It was to identify the Lord as the Son of God at the beginning of His ministry. (Luke 1:17)

When Jesus approached, John didn’t have complete knowledge that Jesus was the actual Son of God. The proof of His Sonship didn’t reveal itself to John until he saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus and heard the voice from heaven that Jesus was in fact the Son of God. Now He could testify that, "This is the Son of God, He is the one we have been waiting for.” (John 1:31-34). The Messiah had arrived!

(2) It was a commencement of the total dedication and obedience of Christ in carrying out heavens plan.

Righteousness is associated with the commands of God (Psalm 119:172). To fulfill righteousness is to be obedient to Jehovah. After all as we are noticing, the life of Jesus is all about obedience isn't it. Jesus through David‘s prophetic words a thousand years before His birth affirm, “I delight to do thy will, Oh my God, Yea thy law is in my heart.” (Psalm 40:8) Do we have the law within our hearts, and delightfully so? Jesus is our perfect model for our lives.

(3) It was a visual precursor to the Saviors ultimate death, burial and resurrection.

Later we will see these words from Apostle Paul that demonstrate the need for Jesus to be baptized by John. Paul says, “Now I make known unto you, brethren, the gospel… that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He hath been raised from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Cor. 15:1-4) The death of Jesus, as the key ingredient in Gods plan of redemption, was in the mind of God before the foundation of the world (1 Pet 1:19). I can’t help but wonder at what point in Jesus mental maturity did he become aware of His ultimate destiny on the cross? We know that by the age of 12 he was cognizant of His unique status as the Son of God. And it seems clear now at the waters of His baptism at the hands of John, He knew of His appointment with the cross, and likely long before that.

The Temptations

After Jesus was immersed by John, He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:1; Mk. 1:12; Lk. 4:1). The exact location of the temptation scene is unknown. What is significant is that the Lord was alone, fasting, tempted, and tested. Jesus’ total submission to the will of God was tried from the very beginning of his ministry. How necessary this must have been for the difficult years of ministry toward the cross that lay before him (Luke 12:50).

Reflection Moment

How could the Holy Spirit lead Christ into temptation (Matt. 4:1)? The Holy Spirit did not lead Jesus into temptation. He led him into the wilderness. God knew that the devil, a willing villain, would utilize this moment of Jesus’ physical weakness and exhaustion to tempt him. Satan would consider this “an opportune time,” and he would look for other “seasons” as well. The devil did the tempting.

God sent his Son into a world of trials and temptation in which difficulties are a part of being in the flesh. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit tempted Jesus to do evil, for God never tempts any one (James. 1:13). The devil was the direct agent through which the temptation came.

The Holy Spirit did lead Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted, but this is no more alarming than the fact that God sent Christ into the world to die. His redemptive mission involved a sacrificial death, and the road to Calvary was paved with suffering, testing, and temptation, through which Jesus was perfected, or qualified, to serve as high priest for humanity (Heb. 2:10).

From the temptations of the devil, we realize that he is a liar. Temptations are deceptive. Temptations cannot provide what they offer — choices without consequences. Temptations are tailored to our vulnerabilities. We must, like Christ, rely upon the word of God to teach us. We must dedicate ourselves, beforehand, to be completely obedient to the will of God, for He alone has our good in mind. And praise be to God, that Jesus never sinned — He never succumbed to temptation. For we do, and we desperately need his merit. His perfect sacrifice!

For our benefit, Jesus makes His first proclamation in front of the devil that He is God! He says to him after being told to throw Himself off the mountain (Luke 4:9). And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Luke 4:12) The battle was over, “Away with you Satan! “…he departed from Him until an opportune time” meaning, the devil will be back. (Luke 4:13)

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

From this tumultuous spiritual battle between forces, Jesus returns to Galilee and begins to teach in the synagogues of various towns and villages in the area. But curiously, He waits until John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod Antipas to begin preaching publicly. One speculation is, Jesus knew the ultimate outcome of John being in prison, and a horrible death by beheading awaited him. So, He chose this transition period to allow for His preaching and teaching of the people to be presented in full without conflicting with Johns preaching. He wanted all eyes upon Him. Jesus the Christ is now fully vested to set the heavenly plan of redemption into play.

The official message from the God-man to man of His ministry begins in His hometown, Nazareth. He reads out loud part of a well known Messianic prophecy of His work in Israel. That scripture is Isaiah 61:1-2.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God;”

Then he closes the scroll and simply tells the hearers and us today, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:21-22)

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15)

Reflection Moment

When John had finished his ministry, Jesus began His ministry. This is a critical and very short transition period of history when God intercedes and takes over again. Thus the last Old Testament prophet, John prepared the way for Jesus’ New Testament ministry (Luke 16:16). Jesus’ ministry was one of fulfillment. Part of John’s preparation was to preach that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. And, as soon as Jesus started His ministry after John was imprisoned, as we will see, He went about “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

As a testament of Johns work paving the way for the Christ, these seven words by him fulfills his joy before he was executed. He exalts Christ by saying, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). After having the attention of thousands of people coming to him to be baptized, what a fantastic attitude of service to God to be able to say, "not my will, but Gods will." This statement by John the Baptist was clearly motivated and understood by knowing the Lamb of God had arrived, and the reminder, "the Word of Gad came to John in the wilderness" early in the story prior to baptizing Jesus. John was to himself prepared having some knowledge to his end. We have no idea the specifics God shared with John one on one in the wilderness in this regard, but I think we can rest assured paradise awaited him. There is a great lesson for us from John in these words in that we too must get out of Gods way and let Him have His way with us towards our cross.

So, this proclamation of Jesus was not good news in that synagogue and the Jewish community for they fully expect the kingdom to be reestablished in Jerusalem. “What is this gospel speak He is saying to us? There is no mention of ‘gospel’ in the scriptures!” Jesus was saying that the kingdom of God was, at that time, coming. Certainly, this was good news in their midst though they recognized it not! Here is their reaction to Jesus proclamation.

"So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way." (Luke 4:28-30)

It should be good news to us because the kingdom of God is still here! You are living in the time of the kingdom of God right now. Yes, Jesus was Josephs son. He has just struck the first official blow to mankind that He is the long awaited Messiah! The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Everlasting to Everlasting. Now we begin to see and hear about God’s great love in that he thrust Himself upon mankind in spite of its sinful and disobedient nature upon this beautiful planet He Himself created for us. You could truly say, we have been visited by someone not of this world. Someone who being God, became a man and a carpenter. But now He is more than a carpenter, He is the Son of God – The Savior of mankind.

Next week we will speak to – The God-man Fellowships with His Creation.

Blessings

1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 6

Click #1 to begin this study

War of Words 1 of 4

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.

(Proverbs 10:19-20)


"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Matthew 12:35-37)

Gods Great Love Among Us - Part 2 of 6

Continuing in our exploration of Gods great love for us, we are now focusing on the Son of God’s infant earthly presence with Mary and Joseph, onto His teenage and young adult years.

(2) Gods only Son grows in wisdom and stature, the God-man.

click to play

Sometimes it’s easy to take for granted that the raising and providing for Jesus by His parents wasn’t extraordinary. Nothing could be further from the truth. Much of the Bible is about Jesus Christ, but only a small portion of the New Testament discusses Joseph, His step-father, and Mary, His mother. Yet the New Testament details about their lives help enhance our understanding of these two honored parents and their love and dedication to the future Savior of mankind. An incredible responsibility we will attempt to explore.

Please note that some of the content contained within the Reflection Moments depicted here is not recorded in the scriptures. They are merely human attempts to relate and ask some questions of certain aspects of the Son of God, which may help you see the Savior’s human side of His divine life on earth.

Short of a scene of the 12 year old Jesus with Joseph (Luke 2:42), there is no mention or clue how Jesus lived and interacted with His parents and or local playmates. Did Joseph teach the young Jesus any games kids enjoyed at that time? Or did he just watch and listen to Jesus conversations, His reciting of the Law of Moses with perfection. Maybe he just stood on the sidelines in awe and wonderment. Did Joseph and Mary worship the young Jesus and how did the boy take it? I like to think Joseph's love and dedication for his divine step-son taught Him to be a much better man, father and husband. And ultimately, a favored servant of God entrusted with His only Son.

Something I would like to point out. God in all of His workings for mankind from the beginning in the Genesis account, to the future last day in Revelation when the seven trumpets begin to sound (Rev 8:7), everything is known by God before, during and after. Some things He specifically has His hand in the details, others He allows to unfold within His providential influence. In short for our purposes, Joseph and Mary's entrance onto the scene of Gods plan was no accident. The parents of the Son of God on earth were chosen by God to fulfill His purposes (Luke 1:28). If you are a parent reading this, try and put yourself in either position as the God-boy's stepfather or mother if that is even possible. In some respects I don’t believe it was all that different from their contemporaries, but it was all very unique and special more than any other parent-child relationship on earth! Shall we peek into the emotions, fears, joys and wonderment's Joseph and Mary may have experienced as God wove His plan?

Nazareth to Bethlehem

Nazareth is the hometown of Mary and Joseph. In 5 B.C., just before the birth of Christ, the Romans require them to travel to Joseph's ancestral home of Bethlehem.(he and Mary was of the lineage of King David back to Abraham, fulfilling the prophesies that the Messiah would be a descendant of Abraham - Gen 12:3, Gal 3:16, and David 2 Sam 7:12-13). The couple travels the roughly 80 miles (about 129 kilometers) to the city, where Christ will be ultimately born in a manger outside of a nearby Inn that had no vacancy (Luke 2:1-20). His birth fulfills the prophecy found in Micah 5:2 and in many other places. On the eighth day after he is born he is circumcised according to the law of God (Luke 2:21).

Reflection Moment

“This isn’t the way I planned it God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable? This isn’t the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw? My wife giving birth with only the stars to hear her pain? This isn’t at all that I imagined. No, I imagined family. I imagined grandmothers. I imagined neighbors clustered outside the door and friends standing at my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of the infant. Slaps on the back. Loud Laughter. Jubilation. That’s how I thought it would be.

The midwife would hand me my child and all the people would applaud. Mary would rest and we would celebrate. All of Nazareth would celebrate. But now. Now look. Nazareth is five days journey away. And here we are in a … a sheep pasture. Who will celebrate with us? The sheep? The shepherds? The stars?  This doesn’t seem right. What kind of husband am I? I provide no midwife to aid my wife. No bed to rest her back. Her pillow is a blanket from my donkey. My house for her is a shed of hay and straw. The smell is bad, the animals are loud. Why, I even smell like a shepherd myself. Did I miss something? Did I, God? When you sent the angel and spoke of the Son being born – this isn’t what I pictured. I envisioned Jerusalem, the temple, the priests and the people gathered to watch. A pageant perhaps. A parade. A banquet at least. I mean, this is the Messiah! Or, if not born in Jerusalem, how about Nazareth? Wouldn’t Nazareth have been better? At least I have there my house and my business. Out here, what do I have? A weary mule, a stack of firewood, and a pot of warm water. This is not the way I wanted it to be! This is not the way I wanted my son.        M.L. 2004

Forty days after Jesus is born, fulfilling the purification requirement of Leviticus 12, Mary and family travel to Jerusalem's temple to present him before God. The trip is only 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) long. His parents make an offering to the temple of two turtledoves or two young pigeons. It is during their visit that a priest named Simeon prophesied about Jesus' mission in life and blessed his parents (Luke 2:22-35).

Before Mary and Joseph leave the temple to return home an elderly woman of 84 years named Anna, a widowed prophetess who lived in the house of God, blesses them as well (Luke 2:36-38).

Reflection Moment

And the Lords ministry begins to the surprise of Joseph and Mary and others (Luke 2:33). What you say? He's just an infant Simeon and Anna just blessed. Yes, they did and in front of witnesses in the synagogue, and as the bible says, "all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem." The word is out that the Christ is among man ministering by the mere fact of His holy infant physical presence - God Is Among Us!

Jesus is just over a month old embodied with all the attentions and daily needs an infant requires. “Did the sinless baby Jesus cry? What did Mary do when she saw the Son of God tear up when he was hungry? Did he ever get sick?" Life was tough for Mary and Joseph in the rough and unforgiving surroundings of their ancient life. They walked for miles everywhere day and night. Did she reach for a handy partially soiled cloth to dry His perfect tears, or was she overwhelmed she couldn’t produce a perfectly clean towel worthy of the Son of God’s care? How about the anxious and worried Joseph, did he freely embrace the baby to relieve his teenage wife as she melted and sunk into occasional periods of despair? But this is the Son of God, their earthly son for a while for which they may have worshiped and gave thanks for in ways you and I can only faintly know when we for the first time meet and worship Jesus through obeying the gospel.

Bethlehem to Egypt

It is in Bethlehem, more than a year after Jesus' birth, that the wise men (Magi) from the East arrive to worship the King of Kings with Mary in attendance (Matthew 2:11). And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: Gold (for kings), Frankincense (for priests), and Myrrh (for burial). The wise men proclaimed Jesus in worship with their gifts as King, Priest and Sacrifice. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod (Matthew 2:12), they departed for their own country another way. The wise men’s lives were changed upon meeting the Savior! Knowing the Christ child was really upon them as the prophets and psalms of old detailed in the scriptures, they must have realized, they couldn’t divulge Jesus location to Herod, and if they did return to Herod, they would be put to the sword for concealing the Saviors location. This demonstrates a love of the wise men for Jesus the infant God. Even more, the love Joseph and Mary had for their young King of Kings! After the wise men leave, an angel tells Joseph, in a dream, to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13). This is because Herod the Great issued a command that all male children two years old and younger, in and around Bethlehem, are to be put to death (Matthew 2:16). Herod's cruel actions fulfill a prophecy regarding the slaughter of innocent children.

“Thus says the LORD, "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping; Rachel (buried near Bethlehem, she was one of Jacob's wives) weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children because they are not" (Jeremiah 5:15)

Their journey from Bethlehem to what is Egyptian-controlled territory (outside the jurisdiction of Herod) was at least 65 kilometers (40 miles).

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:15-20)

Reflection Moment

This is the first glimpse in scripture we have of Mary to whom I believe realizes with stark clarity the need to keep the baby Jesus location protected. She kept these things in her heart. The normal verbal joy and celebration we have with our newborns could not be advertised for fear of Him being killed before he could embark on His ministry to redeem mankind. She must have been trembling every waking moment, praying to God for their protection and any number of issues only the divine Son’s birth mother would suffer. Could she keep him nourished before he cried for sustenance giving their location away in the middle of the night? When going about the daily chores keeping camp organized and stocked with supplies, would Joseph succumb to inquiry of the babies location by the soldiers that may have passed by in their search? How often did Joseph and Mary break camp to evade soldiers to protect the completely vulnerable Son of God? If you or I were in this situation, how would we go about making sure the future King of Kings would be protected from imminent danger at this moment of His life?

There are so many factors the Word doesn’t reveal, but were surely present in the daily life of our ancient and very special family. Hence the next loving intervention and protection by God when He stirs Joseph up in a dream. Not only for the Son of Gods family, but I believe for us as well. Can we ever imagine the God-boy being found by Herod’s swordsmen or a spy rendering the end of Jesus’ infant life? Our loving God is so wise and so true. His plans for us will not be altered praise God!

Egypt to Judea and Nazareth

After Herod dies, Joseph has a dream where an angel tells him it is safe to return to Israel. The family's trip to and from Egypt is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy (Hosea 11:1). They soon begin their travel back to Judea and Bethlehem. However, as they approach Judea, it is discovered that Herod Archelaus, the eldest surviving son of Herod the Great, is the new ruler of the area (Matthew 2:22). Like his father, Archelaus rules with tyranny and cruelty. John Gills' Exposition of the Bible states that one time he sent his entire army into Jerusalem's temple, at Passover, in order to kill 3,000 men suspected of sedition!

Matthew 2:19-23 - Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Mary and Joseph’s trip from Egyptian territory all the way north to Nazareth was a journey of at least 106 miles (170 kilometers)! Another example of amazing love and fortitude to protect the divine boy.

“Now when they had completed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the little child grew and became strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:39-40)

Jesus lives in Nazareth with his parents Mary and Joseph (which fulfills the prophecy stated in Matthew 2:23). After the death of his step-father sometime between Christ's 12th and 30th birthday, He continues to live in the city until He journeys to Capernaum to begin His public ministry.


Reflection Moment

We don’t know when Joseph died but we do know he was a carpenter during Jesus tender years. The Greek word is tekton, which was used of a versatile and skilled builder or craftsman who worked with various materials including wood and stone. Jesus, having learned the trade from Joseph, later used analogies based on His experiences at Joseph's side to explain man's relationship to God and His coming kingdom. The following scripture in the gospel of Mark is well into Jesus’ ministry after leaving home and being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus cousin. But it shows us that Jesus was in fact a carpenter like His step father Joseph. This gives us clues to Him learning a trade before He becomes an adult for the rabbi's taught that to raise a son without one, he would be as a robber! It also opens up many possibilities of the young Jesus life we can attribute if I may.

"Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3)

I have done carpentry work with wood growing up helping my dad build our house board by board as a young man. I have also framed a few houses for a short while until I realized it wasn’t for me. And I can clearly remember how difficult it was getting things done correctly so the finished product looked square and true. I have also done much hobby work rebuilding and finishing wood furniture. All the sanding dust breathed into my lungs, working my fingers raw to the bone including being smashed by a stray hammer head! And the fine and perfectionistic building of model gliders with very light balsa wood that truly challenges the best hobbyist’s to get it aerodynamically right. Wood is a challenge and intimate experience but it is also very gratifying to work with as it reminds me of Jesus in the wood shop.

Can you envision our Lord growing up with His step father in the wood shop making and repairing furniture for sale or for trade? Talking with peddlers as He shows them His perfect workmanship holding the very wood he created? Or kicking up and breathing the wood dust into His divine lungs that from His glory in heaven, breathed life into mankind? Joseph watching his son must have had moments of shear wonderment seeing Jesus smash His thumb or pierce the skin from a stray sliver of wood, drawing out from within Him, the sacred blood that in a few years would save mankind! Oh how wonderfully God works and loves us.

Luke 2:40-42 leaves us with the only account of the boy Jesus approaching His teenage years.

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. And His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast"

Then Mary and Joseph lost Him! Or should I say, Jesus lost them but not really. He was nowhere to be found, So, they traveled back to Jerusalem for three days and found Him in the synagogue with the teachers. Again, due to circumstances they must have initially been horrified and probably very upset once they found Him. In fact the bible says "Son, why have you done this to us?"

Then the first public proclamation Jesus Father is in heaven. We can understand this as we have the written bible to draw from. But Mary and Joseph and others were quite confused of Jesus reply. Joseph especially may have been  perplexed (Luke 2:49-50).

If you could ask Joseph and Mary questions about the Savior as their child, what would you ask?

1. What was it like watching him pray?

2. How did he respond when he saw other kids giggling during the service at the synagogue?

3. When he saw a rainbow, did he ever mention a flood?

4. Did you ever feel awkward teaching him how he created the world?

5. When he saw a lamb being led to the slaughter, did he act differently?

6. Did you ever ask Jesus after prayers if He heard your every word?

7. How did he act at funerals?

8. Did it occur to you that the God to whom you were praying was asleep under your own roof?

9. Did you ever try to count the stars with him….and succeed?

10. Did he ever come home with a black eye?

11. How did he act when he got his first haircut?

12. Did he have any friend by the name of Judas?

13. Did he do well in school?

14. Did you ever scold him?

15. Did he ever have to ask a question about Scripture?

16. What do you think he thought when he saw prostitutes selling themselves?

17. Did he ever get angry when someone was dishonest with him?

18. Did he ever ask you if the future Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament might be him?

19. Did he ever wake up afraid?

20. Who was his best friend?

21. When someone referred to Satan, how did he act?

22. Did you ever accidentally call him Father?

23. What did he and his cousin John talk about as kids?

24. Did his brothers and sisters understand what was happening?

25. Did you ever think, That’s God eating my soup?

We are left with no further information about the young Jesus beyond twelve years old except for this scripture:

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52).

We now have come to the point of Jesus life in scripture where He is in His early 30's a fully grown man that may beg the question, "When did Jesus know He is (was) God in the flesh?

The New Testament doesn't tell us specifically when but it does inform us according to John 1:1, Jesus, as the "word," was with God in the beginning and was God. It seems a pretty clear teaching of Scripture that Jesus was aware of His divinity proportional to His age and maturity. He articulated this understanding on multiple occasions. It's interesting under the Old Testament, the Jews recognized that children could not be held personally accountable to the law of Moses. They set the arbitrary age of twelve as the year when a child assumed adult status in religious matters. Jesus affirmed His mission, knowing that He was about His Father's business (Luke 2:41-50) at age twelve!

Reflection Moment

The final day of the solitary life of Jesus at home with His parents and siblings is now imminent. For 30 years they had lovingly and sacrificially served God much to His delight. And they may have been uncertain what it meant for their son to leave. Surely Jesus had recited and explained the prophet Isaiah when he said,

"He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand." (Isa 53:3-10)

And remember when the angel Gabriel informed Mary saying,

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)

I have to believe she never forgot this miraculous visit in conjunction with witnessing her son intently studying and reciting the scriptures with perfection and wisdom. And quite possibly though there is no proof, some intimate conversations between son, mother and step-father of Him connecting Himself with the painful Isaiah 53 prophecy! One has to wonder.

And Joseph, did he fully realize as to what it really meant, that his step son would be the One to "save His people from their sins" (Matt 1:21)?

We hope this presentation has enriched you in your studies and pursuit to honor God in your life to where you can say,

I am ready to give up my life in service to You today Father, in loving sacrifice like Mary and Joseph.

Next week we will speak to Jesus embarking on His ministry for His Father in heaven.

Blessings

Part, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

Gods Great Love For Us - Part 1 of 6

In the coming weeks leading up to April 3rd, the day Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified in the year 33 AD, we will be sharing Scripture verses and thoughts God says about His great love for us. We hope you follow along and are enriched during this time of reflection as we approach the anniversary day Jesus resurrected from the dead, April 5, 33.

(1) Gods only Son leaves heaven, is miraculously born a human being on earth.

Please note that some of the content contained within the Reflection Moments depicted here is not recorded in the scriptures. They are merely human attempts to relate and ask some questions of certain aspects of the Son of God, which may help you see the Savior’s human side of His divine life on earth.

click to play

Why are we here, where did we come from, and where are we going? God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit who is commonly referred to as, “The Godhead” said:

Genesis 1:26, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

The fact that God decided to create mankind is in and of itself an act of love coming from a Spirit of love helping us to appreciate our miraculous beginnings from His mind out of nothing. The incredible aspect of this love for us in the beginning is the key words “in Our image according to Our likeness.” I have as you may have often thought of Gods image as some form of a person in stature and shape like us. But I realized in the study and meditation on the scriptures, God reveals in His word that He Himself is Spirit, an ultimate eternal mind. Not a physical looking frame of a person for we read in John 4:24. “God is Spirit.” He is and was at the time of creating mankind, the Spirit of I AM. One might ask, "What does it mean we are in the image of God?" Well quite simply, We have been created with eternity within us with survival of the death of the body! How can one with this nature of God within them reject that he or she has not a soul in the body? This is mind boggling. We all have an immortal spirit residing inside us, a soul and a mind that gives us life and mind in His likeness because he made us. I must stress, not His equal. We have emotions, God has emotions. We have a conscience of the heart, God had a heart for us to be created. We have feelings, God feels and knows our pain. We can have eternal life if we choose Him. God is eternal. And we have personality and creativity. God has personality, a creative all knowing mind.

I'm getting ahead here but later, Jesus said in Luke 24:39, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Again, this proves we have a spirit and a soul inside us that originated from the Godhead.

When Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ in Matthew 16:16-17, Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” This shows us clearly that God is not a flesh and blood being.

And to reiterate, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:1-5)


Reflection Moment

The following scripture in the gospel writings of Luke is kind of a mirrored image back to our beginnings as human beings beginning with Adam and Eve in the garden when they were created without sin. Jesus miraculous conception by the Spirit of God and forming in the womb of Mary is the next great gift of God to us out of an amazing Love to redeem mankind back to Him. Oh His love for us was and is so great and without restraint! At this point of history after the great flood of Noah, the children of Israel and the rest of the human inhabitants of the earth, things weren’t getting any better. By year "0" sin and separation from God was of an immense divide that only God could remedy the situation outside of ourselves. Think of it as a mission of love by the Godhead to give up and empty Himself at just the right time for us. That is a love we cannot possibly understand or replicate in our lives. Honestly, would you willingly give up your place in heaven? Would you become something much less than yourself as a member of the Triune Godhead for imperfect sinners filthy as rags? I have to admit, I wouldn't.

Luke 1:26-37, “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus."

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Birth date of Jesus? - June 17, 2 BC

Some believe Jesus has not the essence of God, that He is a created being. It's this last phrase "only begotten" that causes problems. False teachers have latched onto this phrase to try to prove their false teaching that Jesus Christ isn't God; i.e., that Jesus isn't equal in essence to God as the Second Person of the Godhead. They see the word "begotten" and say that Jesus is a created being because only someone who had a beginning in time can be "begotten." What this fails to note is that "begotten" is an English translation of a Greek word. As such, we have to look at the original meaning of the Greek word, not transfer English meanings into the text.

The definition of “monogenes“ is "pertaining to being the only one of its kind or class, unique in kind." This is the meaning that is implied in John 3:16 (see also John 1:14, 18; 3:18; 1 John 4:9). John was primarily concerned with demonstrating that Jesus is the Son of God (John 20:31), and he uses monogenes to highlight Jesus as uniquely God's Son—sharing the same divine nature as God—as opposed to believers who are God's sons and daughters by adoption (Ephesians 1:5). Jesus is God’s “one and only” Son.

For an in depth lesson on Christ Jesus being God in the Flesh on Earth, click here.

Terms such as "Father" and "Son," that are descriptive of God and Jesus, are human terms that help us understand the relationship between the different Persons of the Godhead. If you can understand the relationship between a human father and a human son, then you can understand, in part, the relationship between the First and Second Persons of the Godhead. The analogy breaks down if you try to take it too far and teach, as some Christian cults, that Jesus was literally "begotten" as in “produced” or “created” by God the Father. The following powerful scripture from the mind of God completely obliterates this false teaching.

Colossians 1:15-20, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

God’s pure love for us is graphically demonstrated by the last 6 words – “through the blood of His cross.”

Reflection Moment

The bible says Jesus is a “stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Greeks” (1 Cor 1:23). The Jews for the last 4000 years intently expect a beautiful and powerful Messiah, a King that will establish his final kingdom on earth forever. This belief still exists today in full force among the orthodox Jews. So much so they are currently planning and designing a new Temple in Jerusalem to have ready for their Messiah to return to! Well ladies and gentlemen, they missed Him! They do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, they do not believe He was resurrected to life on the third day as the scriptures state. The Godhead in their perfect plan of redemption purposely created this stumbling block of blindness among us and Gods former chosen people, to redeem all mankind back to Him through the "narrow gate" for only a few will find it (Matthew 7:14). We all must now make a choice. There is no further revelation from God. The written Word of God, the bible is now complete and perfect for all and “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Rev 1:5, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood”

1 John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us.”

Translate this to mean, “Jesus willingly left heaven in all His power, splendor and glory to visit us and redeem us through His eventual perfect sacrifice for us. We often hear the phrase, “It’s all about Jesus.” This is true. If it were not for Jesus Christ work on our behalf, we would be doomed. Might you consider another truth in respect to "He first loved us?" It’s all about us that He was born by the Spirit into the womb of Mary, walked, taught and died for us during this short transitional period of time.
God Came Near Us...

God is Love (1 John 4:8) that by His perfect nature, He acted through this immense love for us. But have you ever asked the question, why? Why did he create us. Here is a scripture to ponder and meditate about that might give us a clue as to the essence, Why?

"Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43.7)

So, in conclusion in this writers opinion, from Gods perspective it is all about us. He loved us so much that His suffering for a little while among us on earth was worth the price He paid to fulfill Gods new plan of salvation. It is all about Jesus, but is equally all about us ladies and gentleman. God through Christ purely and completely loves you and I, save for obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ that seals us in the Spirit giving us hope of a home in heaven with this incredibly loving God, our Father. Have you heard and obeyed the one true Gospel?

Next week we will speak to, Mary’s love, Josephs fear for their God-boy.

Blessings

You might want to enjoy this terrific lesson by Wayne Jackson on - Why did God create us?

Why did God create us?

1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 6