12-16-10
I just realized I didn’t finish Day 11, here on Day 16 of the advent season. Lots of the important details are getting pushed to the side for the necessary dealings of my intensely crisis driven life. I’m trying (but not usually succeeding) to lean on the Lord to figure out what takes priority as the day progresses. Yesterday involved a trip to Chicago and then one up to Wisconsin. Today’s quiet moment is turning again to God and writing down what He’s asking me to before heading off to the next medical event. Yet that involves listening, stopping long enough in the craziness of life to listen and lean on Him. I’m yours, Lord.
Day 11 Why the Name Jesus?
Jesus in Greek means the same thing as Joshua in the Hebrew language – “God Saves.” Matthew 1 holds the answer to this: “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘ Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. “ Read Philippians 2:9-11.
Day 12 Why Born of a Virgin?
The Holy Bible is filled with all types of miraculous births but only one of those a virgin birth. So why does one who already exists choose to enter this world through a human mother and an unmarried, virgin mother for that matter? We know the how in Luke 1:34-35 but what about the whys of it? David Jeremiah clears this up: “The Holy Spirit was the love knot that brought our Savior’s two natures together-deity and humanity-united forever in one person. The Holy Spirit produced the Holy One within the secret place of Mary’s womb. Jesus would enter it pure and perfect, from the sinless realm of eternity…God’s eternal plan was for Jesus to come to die-to give his life as a sacrifice for all those sins… Only someone perfect would be able to offer his life as a sacrifice…” (P. 67-68) The miraculous conception and the miraculous resurrection, with a perfect human life lived in-between – another miracle of obedience and love. He entered into Mary’s life and changed it completely. He wants to enter into our hearts and do the same. Please read Isaiah 7:14 and Col. 1:15-20.
Day 13 Why Come as a Baby, Jesus?
In David Jeremiah’s Why the Nativity book, the inspiration for this advent attempt on my part, he asks this question: “How could we follow his footsteps as a man if we hadn’t seen him crawl as a child?” (P. 75) With Christ equally divine (virgin birth) and human (born into this world), we meet him in Bethlehem as the one who bridges the gap between earth and heaven. It is His full commitment to God and us that gets Him through all the temptations this life holds and helps us get through them too. Hebrews 2:14-18 should be read next.
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