The bible makes us understand that Jesus was there in the beginning when the world was created; and that all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
John 1: 1-3
Further in that scripture, the bible says that “He came to His own, and His own receive Him not”. The question one might want to ask is since He made all things; who then are His own? Who are not His own? (John 1: 11)
While God has the power to do anything and everything; the way He usually works is to start something small and use that smallness to make a huge impact.
Mt. 13: 31-33 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 33 Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three [a]measures of meal till it was all leavened.”
God could have created lots of men and women at once and fill the earth with them in the beginning, but He created just one man and one woman and then put in them the power to multiply and replenish the earth.
He also put them in the Garden of Eden; and from there, God expected them to fill the earth from that epicentre.
The same way God called Abraham out of all the idolatrous men on the earth and proposed to start a holy generation through him unto Himself. So that God can refer to Abraham’s descendants as a peculiar people to Himself, even though He created everybody.
Ex. 19: 3-6 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Dt. 14: 1-2 Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
It then means that while all earth and people that are in it belong to God; the direct descendants of Abraham through Isaac are His special possession, and it was from this genealogy that God had intended that the Messiah would be born.
Dt 18: 17-19 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
God gave several promises through His prophets about the incarnation, personality, ministry, and departure of the Messiah, who was to be called Jesus – Saviour; Immanuel – God with us; and Christ – the Anointed One; etc.
The Israelites were all aware of these promises of God and could relate to all the prophecies given by the prophets of old.
At about 7BC, according to historians, the Messiah was born in the flesh. Contrary to what one would have thought; the Jews did not welcome Him as the promised Messiah.
He was rejected locally and nationally.
Mt. 13: 53-58 53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Mk. 15: 1-15
Pilate begged, but no.
But why would the Jews reject the Messiah having been promised by God that He was to come?
The low entrance of Jesus into the world might have been a reason. The Jews must have been looking forward to a royal to be their king and Messiah.
This carpenter’s son. Nothing good has ever come out Nazareth.
The claim of Jesus that He was the Son of God must have been another reason. They felt He has equated Himself to God, which would be a blasphemy for a mortal to do. It was too bitter for the Jewish leaders to swallow.
Jesus asked the Jewish leaders who they taught the Messiah would be. A mere mortal, son of David they thought.
He, however, made them understand that the person must be greater than David to call Him Lord.
Mt. 22: 41-46 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Psalm 110:1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
For the leaders of the Jews to put a final closure to the claim of Jesus as being the promised Messiah, they killed Him and thought that would be it.
John 11: 45-53 45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for [a]us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
Somehow, by God’s providence, Jesus was eventually betrayed, arrested, crucified and on the third day, He resurrected according to the scriptures by the power of the Holy Ghost. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven, awaiting the notification of the Father for His second coming.
The concluding story on the lips of most Jewish people today is that Jesus Christ was an impostor who was killed, and His body stolen by His disciples to fake His resurrection
Mt. 28: 11-15 11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Jesus, however, showed Himself to several of His disciples after His resurrection and then ascended into heaven (Acts 1: 1-11).
To those who believed that Jesus had come in the flesh, died, and resurrected, to them God has given the power to become His children.
John 1: 12-13 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Today, as we commemorate Christmas all over the world, personally do you believe, and have you confessed that the Messiah has come in the flesh? That is the greatest celebration here on earth and in heaven.
If you are yet to believe and to confess such, I will like to lead you in a confessional prayer.
Also, if you have confessed the Lordship of Jesus before; but you are not living according to His teachings; you will also need to re-dedicate your life by saying these confessional prayers after me.
Father, I come before You; I ack that I am a sinner; I confess all my sin; I repent of them; I ask that You please forgive me; write my name in Your Book of Life; keep me saved until you come for me or Your Son comes again. Thank You for saving my soul in Jesus name.
Sermon delivered on December 25, 2020.