161225 AM Not THE Manger, BUT THE Cross
| “Not
the Manger, But the Cross” “Nothing brings a smile as quickly as the picture of an innocent baby in the arms of its mother. Many are fascinated by the idea of such purity and real true love. There is often this type of focus about the idea of Jesus; who He was and what His coming represented for mankind. While it is true that Jesus came in the flesh starting out as an infant in a miraculous birth, the Savior himself teaches us to be driven by what He did as a man while here on earth. He shows us in His word that it is not the manger, but the cross.” “A. The Baby Became A Man” “1.) An important event that fulfilled promises (Luke 2:10-14; Gen 3:15)” “2.) But the “man” Jesus is not as alluring to the world as is the “baby” (John 15:18)” “a. At odds with worldly living (Matt. 7:21-23)” “b. Called his disciples to live differently (Matt.5:27-27, 44, 38-42)” “c. Did not conform to the way the world thought (Matt.20:27-28)” “d. Challenged the prominent and would-be wise (Matt.23:8-12)” “e. Demanded single-minded devotion (Matt.6 :24, 33)” “f. Came to be hated by the world (1 John 1:9-11; Isa. 53:3-5)” “B. He Became Exactly What we Needed” “1.) He Emptied Himself (Phil. 2:7-8; John 10:18; Heb. 2:14; John 1:14)” “2.) The perfect Savior (Heb.2:9-10)” “3.) The perfect High Priest (Heb.2:17-18)” “4.) The perfect Sacrifice (Heb. 10:5)” “5.) Not just any man, the perfect man (2 Cor.5:21; 1 Pet.1:19; 2:22)” “6.) He die\ it in the most humbling way (Matt.27:29-30, vs.26; John 19:23-24)” “C. He Became the Exalted of God” “1.) The name above all names (Phil.2:9-11; Rom.1:4)” “2.) Lord of all things in all realms (Matt.28:18; Eph.1:22-23; Col.2:10)” “3.) Salvation not just because He was born, but because of what He did (Heb.5:8-9; 1 Peter 3:18)” |