BEHOLD! The Word

Nothing says it better than the Word of God.

The beginning:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God SAID, “Let there be light"; and there was light.

Then God SAID, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
Then God SAID, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
Then God SAID, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.”
Then God SAID, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so.
Then God SAID, “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.” (‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬)

And God SAID it was all good. God the WORD, which word He spoke and it was accomplished. And He brought forth His Son Jesus, the one and the same WORD. I can't think of the One without going back to the beginning. Jesus, Alpha AND Omega, Beginning AND End because the WORD spoke the Word. Jesus, the light of the world which was rejected then and still is. What a great time to receive Him.

The truth, good news and the promise:

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. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, AND THE WORLD DID NOT KNOW HIM.
[Then] 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. (‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1-4,10,14‬)
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬)

And the light shines in the darkness, AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT COMPREHEND IT. But as many as RECEIVED Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who BELIEVE in His name: who were born, NOT of blood, NOR of the will of the flesh, NOR of the will of man, BUT OF GOD. ...“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"(‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭5,12-13,29‬)

More good news and conclusion (end):

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (‭2Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬)

Behold, [some day soon] He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. (‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬)
"Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭11,20‬)

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” ...And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." (‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭5-6‬)
“Behold, I am coming quickly!... “...behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." (‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭7,12‬)

We are about to celebrate the Word who became flesh just for us, for our sins. Do not forget who this season is truly about. Santa can't save, government can't save, good works and all our giving can't save, money can't save. But the Word who is Jesus can. Behold! The best gift is the gift of eternal life in and through Jesus Christ.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬)

It Is Finished

Revelation 5:12 - ... “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 

A Youtube video for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gx6_rGLz20&sns=em

As I listened to the mini sermon I thought about our lives. I thought about death. I was reminded that all things must come to an end. But what end will we have? 

I was reminded how our personal Sunday's coming. As Jesus was resurrected from the dead so will those who are alive in Christ. This is our end. Life everlasting. If we have Jesus. The name above all names. The glorified Christ.

Jesus suffered tragically. Sometimes in our own lives we suffer. We suffer before we have a relationship with Christ and we can suffer even after. So why receive Christ if the suffering doesn't end? We are given hope...if we know Jesus. All that we have in the world does not compare to what He gives us. 

We know that some day all suffering will cease because we have made a commitment for Christ. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Passed away...death...the end. When we receive Christ our old man and old things have passed away. Our eternal life is secure...in Christ.

He died for our sins. He died to give us this hope. He remained silent...the most amazing thing...despite all the false words spoken against Him. He remained silent when His disciples and followers scattered. He remained silent as they beat Him. He remained silent. Who does that?? Only One was able. 

Jesus spoke words that tell us all He had willingly gone through for all of us was done. "It is finished." He became the final sacrifice for mankind. He died for us. Tragically. The sacrificial Lamb of God. The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world...if we choose to follow Him. "It is finished" can be our words too. 

All praise is given Him. 

Revelation 5:13 - And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 

It's Not About the Bunny...

Revelation 5:6,8,9 - Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb...And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

…but it is about the Lamb, the Lamb that was slain. This Lamb had a name. His name is Jesus.

I saw something come across my Facebook page which said: It's Not About the Bunny.

There is an even greater "but" to go along with this.  But God...raised Jesus on the third day and He lives forever more, that mere man might know Him. No man could keep this Man down. The sins of all people past, present and future were nailed to the cross from which Jesus hung. There was no ooey-gooey chocolate or pastel-colored marshmallow bunny hanging there, no eggs to color and hunt for, no Easter baskets, only the most dreadful sight of an innocent Man who humbled Himself and gladly died for our sins.

Jesus is no longer on the cross or in the tomb but He has risen and He is alive and seeking those who will follow Him even today. He is risen and through His power He makes Himself known to mankind, waiting for yet another person to receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

Even in the Old Testament we hear of reports of raising on the third day. Jonah was in the belly of a large fish for three days and then spewed out to take a reluctant prophetic word of repentance to the rebellious people of Ninevah: Salvation comes from the Lord; Hosea spoke of the people of Israel, God's people, who should return to the LORD that He might heal them: After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His presence. And everyone knows the story of Lazarus whom Jesus Himself raised from the dead on the third day. All these are pictures of Jesus being raised, that rebellious people might repent so He could bring salvation and spiritual healing to all people and remove the nasty sin-covered grave cloths from our bodies…so we might live in His presence.

He was the Lamb that was slain for each one of us. He bore all our sins. It was His passion to do this. He died willingly for each of us, as sinful as we are. Those who have received Him are no longer seen by the Father as unrighteous, unholy sinners but as righteous and holy through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus' blood that was shed as the slain Lamb has covered our sins and weaknesses, healed our spiritual bodies and has given us a resurrected life as well.

Hallelujah to the Lamb. Only He is worthy of all our praises. One day every knee will bow and tongue confess Jesus as Lord.

Revelation 5:13 - Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"