There is a reason for the season
As William E. Channing put it...
The sages and heroes of history are receding from us, and history contracts the record of their deeds in a narrower and narrower page. But time has no power over the name and deeds and words of Jesus Christ.
It's true. There is no name under heaven which has come anywhere close to having the impact that Jesus' name has. Fables don't have that kind of power; only truth does.
This last week leading up to Christmas I have posted just a few of the more popular Old Testament prophecies that predicted events that would surround Christ's birth. Actually, the OT contains nearly 300 prophecies concerning Christ's first coming, from Genesis (written between 1200 and 2000 years before Christ) all the way down to Malachi. The French mathematician, George Heron, calculated the odds of one man fulfilling even 40 of these prophecies to be 1 in 10 to the power of 157 (that's a one with 157 zeroes behind it). Christ fulfilled them all. And I have not even hinted at the prophecies foretelling his death and resurrection (wait until this Easter). Taken together, the odds of one man fulfilling them by chance or even by human design are staggering beyond comprehension.
Combine this with the timeless and growing influence of Christ's message, the fact that his closest disciples, having been being burned, speared, sawed in two, stoned, and crucified, stayed true to their convictions that Jesus was God to their last dying breadths; this and the fact that the gospel demonstrates no less power to redeem broken lives today than it did 2000 years ago, and you begin to understand why Jesus, more than any other name, stirs up so much emotion. Fables don't have that kind of power, only truth does.
When Peter and some of the other Apostles, who had been preaching Christ in the Temple, were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, there was a great outcry among some of the leaders who wanted to put the the Apostles to death. But Gamaliel, called the "light of Israel" for his wisdom and piety cautioned them saying...
you men of Israel, be careful about what you do to these men. Because a while ago Theudas appeared boasting that he was somebody important. He was joined by a group of men, about four hundred. He was slain and all that followed him were dispersed and came to nought. After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the days of the taxing, and attracted many people to him. He also perished. And all those who followed him were dispersed. And now I tell you, refrain from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this activity is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest as a result you are found to be fighting against God! Acts 5:34-39.
Gamaliel knew that fables don't have lasting power, only truth does. And his words were heeded that day. In time, however, most of the Apostles were eventually put to death, but not their message. For as Gamaliel likely suspected, the message was not from men, but from God.
One Apostle who survived until exile on the Island of Patmos was John, one of Jesus' closest disciples. The opening words to his epistle are a fitting witness to this present Christmas season and all it means. For...
That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life (Christ) - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we tell you that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:1-4
It is my prayer that all who read this will feel Christ's love and experience the timeless joy that only He can give.
It's true. There is no name under heaven which has come anywhere close to having the impact that Jesus' name has. Fables don't have that kind of power; only truth does.
This last week leading up to Christmas I have posted just a few of the more popular Old Testament prophecies that predicted events that would surround Christ's birth. Actually, the OT contains nearly 300 prophecies concerning Christ's first coming, from Genesis (written between 1200 and 2000 years before Christ) all the way down to Malachi. The French mathematician, George Heron, calculated the odds of one man fulfilling even 40 of these prophecies to be 1 in 10 to the power of 157 (that's a one with 157 zeroes behind it). Christ fulfilled them all. And I have not even hinted at the prophecies foretelling his death and resurrection (wait until this Easter). Taken together, the odds of one man fulfilling them by chance or even by human design are staggering beyond comprehension.
Combine this with the timeless and growing influence of Christ's message, the fact that his closest disciples, having been being burned, speared, sawed in two, stoned, and crucified, stayed true to their convictions that Jesus was God to their last dying breadths; this and the fact that the gospel demonstrates no less power to redeem broken lives today than it did 2000 years ago, and you begin to understand why Jesus, more than any other name, stirs up so much emotion. Fables don't have that kind of power, only truth does.
When Peter and some of the other Apostles, who had been preaching Christ in the Temple, were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, there was a great outcry among some of the leaders who wanted to put the the Apostles to death. But Gamaliel, called the "light of Israel" for his wisdom and piety cautioned them saying...
you men of Israel, be careful about what you do to these men. Because a while ago Theudas appeared boasting that he was somebody important. He was joined by a group of men, about four hundred. He was slain and all that followed him were dispersed and came to nought. After this man, Judas of Galilee arose, in the days of the taxing, and attracted many people to him. He also perished. And all those who followed him were dispersed. And now I tell you, refrain from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this activity is of men, it will come to nothing. But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest as a result you are found to be fighting against God! Acts 5:34-39.
Gamaliel knew that fables don't have lasting power, only truth does. And his words were heeded that day. In time, however, most of the Apostles were eventually put to death, but not their message. For as Gamaliel likely suspected, the message was not from men, but from God.
One Apostle who survived until exile on the Island of Patmos was John, one of Jesus' closest disciples. The opening words to his epistle are a fitting witness to this present Christmas season and all it means. For...
It is my prayer that all who read this will feel Christ's love and experience the timeless joy that only He can give.
posted by Publius @ 1:18 AM
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