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The Peasant and the King

The Word was with God and the Word was God … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1:1, 14) Lord, I look at the Incarnation and marvel. Praise You!   The radical claim of the Christian faith is that God became a man. Christians call this the Incarnation, which means something like “in the flesh.” For a time on Earth, God had skin and bones as you and I do. Some people say that’s crazy, and I suppose, in one sense, they are correct. Reality often is crazy. But if Jesus is God, as He claimed, then…

How Dare He Say That!

I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  (Jn 14:6) I sat in an enclosed patio at an inn in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. Enormous picture windows surrounded me on three sides, and Lake Superior was right outside those windows. The morning sun was bright and dancing on the water. It was one of those peaceful times when you get away, and I was enjoying my time alone looking out over the endless blue of the water and the rocky jetty with spruce trees popping out of it. My Bible was…

The Weakness of Christ

… for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.” (Heb 4:15) Lord, we rejoice that you understand our plight, that you were one of us and one with us.  We glory in your weakness, for your weakness is power. Jesus was a man, and because He was a man He can represent you and me. That’s what we discussed last week. Consequently, we who follow Jesus derive much comfort from His humanity, “for…

The Man

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14) For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Tim 2:5) Lord, you became flesh to redeem flesh.  Praise Your Name. Jesus was a man. That doctrine is central to Christianity. The creed says He is “fully man.” The Scripture says “He became flesh” (Jn 1:14) and calls Him the “man, Christ Jesus” (I Tim 2:5).   This basic Christian belief about the ordinary humanity of Jesus is not unique. Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Taoists, Sikhs, you name it —…

King of Kings

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev 19:16) Therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Ph 2:9-11) But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” (Heb…