THE LOWLY CHRIST IS THE EVERLASTING GOD

I.  He Is the Lowly Christ
II. Many Exalt Themselves Over Him
III. Yet He Is Lord of All

( based on Hebrews 1:1-9)

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We are now on the eighth day of Christmas.  On that eighth day Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem, to the temple, and there he was circumcised.  In a way this is a reality check for us.

• The blood of Jesus was shed for the first time.
• It showed that He was born as one of us to live under the law so that He could redeem us who live under the law.
• It emphasizes the fact that He is true man, and that as such He came to suffer what we suffer and to die our death – the death of sinners.
• With the circumcision of Christ we are reminded that His State of Humiliation has begun.  With the giving of His NAME as Jesus He is declared to all to be our SAVIOR – with all that means.  To be our savior cost Him the cross and the wrath of God, and has given us the gift of life and salvation.

It’s all in the name!

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Lest there be any doubt that He now rules as true God and true man, lest there be any doubt that He has ruled from eternity, let us see how He as king of kings molded history to his needs.

The area in the middle between the rivers is the Plain of Shinar where Noah’s descendents began to build a powerful civilization, until God scattered them by confusing their languages and dispatching them to the four corners of the world. The world was divided this way so that rather than joining in rebellion against God, the nations would be weakened so that the promise of the Savior to come would be kept alive.  It would be kept alive in such a place and in such a way as to touch each of these other civilizations.

And so it continued for a long time, with city states with differing languages growing up.  It was in this situation that Abraham was called, and the promise given to him that in his descendent all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

It stated that way, with all these little nations rising and falling. But then things began to change, and quickly (in historical terms).  The Assyrian empire exploded, (around the name Assyria) about 640 years before Christ.  Soon it was replaced by the New Babylonian, (dotted line) which took over Judea in 606 B.C.

It was at that time, 550 years before it happened, that Daniel foretold the events that followed, particularly in his vision of the great statue in Daniel chapter two.

The New Babylonian was replaced by the Median or Medo-Persian Empire (the area marked by the dot-and-dash).  The Medo-Persian Empire was replaced by the Empire of Alexander the Great (long dashes) that covered nearly everything there but the boot of Italy.

Tradition has it that that when Alexander approached Jerusalem, he was met by the priests who told him he was expected, and showed him Daniel's prophecy, including the general extent of his conquests.  (Alexander spared Jerusalem.)

Finally by about 100 B.C. the last of the earthly empires of Daniel had taken root and held sway over the meeting-places of three continents.  This was the empire of iron, the Roman Empire, eventually extending from North Africa to Southern Russia, and from England to India.

When the time had fully come, and Jesus was born, He entered a world prepared for the gospel.  One common government, one common language of commerce, freedom of commercial shipping, one system of roads, a dependable system of law enforcement, even a decent post office.

On top of that, the philosophical atmosphere created opportunities for the gospel.  The nations were corrupt; faith in the old deities had been lost. It was not unusual for someone such as Paul to strike up a conversation dealing with matters religious.

So it was that as King of kings and Lord of lords, God saw to it that… when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law.

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What we believe has everything to do with how we live.  This is true also of Christmas.  If we believe the reality that God entered into our flesh through Mary to face sorrow, suffering, temptation and death to save us, then this is a most holy festival, and casts its light into all our lives all the months of the year.  If someone rejects the reality, then it is of no more consequence than any arbitrary tradition.  Unbelief treats this festival as of no greater importance than the turning of a calendar page at the end of the year.

Because the message of Christmas is true, it tells you the truth about your whole life.  Maybe you think your life is miserable.  The truth is, your life is so important that God Himself entered into such a life as yours to save you from the misery and pain.  Maybe things are great in your life today; perhaps you are experiencing the joys of life that God tells us are his witnesses He has set loose in the world.  The joys of this life are but a hint of their corresponding joy in heaven, where we will live in fellowship with the giver of every good and perfect gift.

We are told that those who received the letter to the Hebrews were on the edge of forsaking “The Way,” the path of faith in Christ.  To follow Christ had cost some their families, their livelihood, and even turned them into wanderers away from their homes.  This letter calls them and us to Christ, whatever the cost.  For to lose all and have Christ is better by far than to lose Christ and have even the whole world.

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During Advent we have many opportunities for worship. 

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