John 10:10 reads, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Jesus is the good shepherd that watches over his flock to protect them from the evil one and his workers. Satan’s primary focus is to destroy, to steal, and to use disease and death for his purpose.
Ephesians 2:1-3 reads, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Paul is praying in these verses that the church and all of mankind realize that God has given them life and more then they can comprehend. Before the conversion of the Church of Ephesians these people were following the philosophies, values, and life styles of all those who followed Satan. There were no spiritual laws that provided direction and consequently they lived with no concept of evil and good.
Hebrews 2: 14-15 reads, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus took on the body of a man and settled the issue of sin with His death and resurrection. He became flesh and blood and therefore died, but with His death came deliverance from sin. Therefore the fear of death is gone for the believer, since they have been set free of Satan and bondage of a spiritual death.
Acts 10:38 reads, How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with the power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.
Peter’s preaching presents a clear message of the Bible and how he lived a sacrificial life. Jesus was the anointed messenger that worked in the healing and the exorcism of demons.
We need to ask the question how can we be trusted if we can’t manage a life that consists of a wealth of blessings. We have been given these small fragile bodies that may be extinguished at any time. How are we using this time and these bodies to glorify God?
Jesus revealed his compassion for man as he shed tears at the grave of Lazarus and sweated blood in Gethsemane. It was God’s ultimate sacrifice that broke Satan’s hold and provided a way for salvation. We are baptized into the death of Jesus and given the gift of salvation.
Jesus and His mission
John 3:16-18 reads, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God’s first priority was to send us his son to pay for our sins and to release us from the law. However, to receive this salvation man needs to believe that God did make this sacrifice for us so that we may have eternal life.
Romans 8: 3-4 reads, For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
We need to remember that all healings of these bodies are completed by God, not merely that his providence provided medical assistance, but that the fact that our very tissues are healed by God’s energy flowing from the first moment of life and his creation.
We were created in his likeness and a faint image of the Divine Incarnation. God indwells into our spirit and our senses, thoughts and emotions. We will also grow in appreciation of all he has done for us not only in all the daily blessings, but in our families, friends, and all the natural state of being that exists on this earth.
The incarnation of God becoming man is beyond our comprehension. It is this miracle that all other miracles point to and allow us some sight into his glory. He allowed his eternal spirit to be combined with a human that he created from dust and breathed into him the breath of life.
Genesis 2:7 reads, And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
At this time man received the life breath of God and became a soul. Man is therefore a creature of two worlds both earth and heaven. Two miracles occurred at this time, the formation of a body from dust and the life that was created by the divine breath of God. This being was given free will and the ability to reason, feel, discern, and to communicate and develop their own character.
These miracles were acts of love within the reality that exist here on earth and in God’s eternal universe. God is by definition love and has a plan and will provide for those of faith on this small planet. This love was revealed in the death of His son and will exist as love for all of eternity. God existed before the human race and will exist even after the earth becomes nothing.
The Birth of Jesus into Poverty
Jesus the son of God was born not as a king with pomp and circumstances but in poverty and as an outcast of men. He was born in a manger for cattle and was wrapped in swaddling clothes (rags). Jesus would live in poverty for his entire life and would never be rich in material goods. God provided Jesus with his daily needs for shelter, food and clothing. Jesus told his disciples in Luke 9:58, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. We need to remember that Gods’ riches are not material riches.
Jesus was born in the small village of Bethlehem and not in Jerusalem. The wise men first traveled to Jerusalem thinking a king that would restore the kingdom of David would certainly be born in Jerusalem where the temple was located. He came into the world in love and in willing obedience to God. He was born of flesh, like any other man so that he may bore the sin of the flesh and died on the cross.
Jesus was born as an outcast and would remain an outcast his entire life. His life was in danger soon after his birth in the small village of Bethlehem. King Herod after hearing of the prophecy of a new king and the birth sent out soldiers to kill the baby Jesus. Even today people reject Jesus and consider him to be a threat and an outcast.
Jesus was born of Mary a virgin and was God in flesh. Due to the fact that Jesus was the first born he was to be consecrated to God and was to be devoted to the service of God in the temple. However, Jesus was the first born of God and Mary and would be devoted to being the Savior of the world.
God could have allowed Jesus to be born in a mansion with great wealth and many servants befitting a king. Why would God allow his only begotten son not only be born in a shed for cattle but in poverty as well and in danger of being slain by Herod?
The birth of Jesus and the status of his birth are directly related to the requirements needed to fulfill God promises to mankind. God’s example to us is the life of Jesus. A man who’s only purpose in life was to fulfill God’s plan that would provide eternal life for his chosen people that believe him and obey his commandments.
Luke 16:19-24 reads, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of scores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angel into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also