For He shall save His people from their sins

The power of the Highest, God, overshadowed Mary so that she conceived in her womb and brought forth a son. She called His name JESUS, as the angel Gabriel told her to. (Luke 1:26-35).

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." - Luke 1:32-33 KJV

The angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream. 

"Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:20-21 KJV

"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:22-23 KJV

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." - Titus 2:11-14 KJV

Peter preached how we can apply the blood of Jesus to our life to purify us and remit our sins. The Holy Ghost then becomes our promise for us to receive to sanctify us and make us holy. (Romans 15:16, 1Corinthians 6:9-11).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

The Servant Candle (Shamash) Part 2

The Feast of Dedication, The Festival of Lights, Also Called Hanukkah Part 2

The holiday is celebrated on the first night by lighting a light in the menorah (candlestick). For eight nights, every night there is an increase of one more light lit. On the eighth night, all eight lights are lit. 

The candle that lights the lights is called the servant candle (shamash). It is to sit a bit higher or lower than the rest of the candles. 

This servant candle appears to me to be a metaphor for Jesus. He is our Master and Lord, yet He was a servant.

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." - John 13:14 

The servant candle is not extinguished after it does its job of lighting the other candles. Its light is available to light a candle in case a candle blows out.

Jesus is available to ‘relight our light,’ refilling us with His Spirit if we stumble and repent. 

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." - Ephesians 5:14 

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." - Romans 13:12 

"Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:" - Ezekiel 37:4-5 

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry." - Luke 15:20-24 

Festival of Lights

There are two Jewish holidays, not a part of the law, from before the time of Christ. 

One of these holidays is Purim. (Esther 9:28). The second one is the Festival of Lights, also known as Hanukkah ("Dedication"), or the Feast of Dedication. 

These two holidays appear to be metaphors of Christ and His Kingdom.

The Bible records Jesus being in the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the feast of dedication (Hanukkah).

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch." - John 10:22-23 KJV

The feast of the dedication, also known as Hanukkah, began Thursday eve December 7 and ends December 15.  (Eight nights).

It celebrates the miracle of the only remaining cruse of pure oil lasting eight nights instead of the usual one night when the Greek armies desecrated and defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This was on the Jewish month Kislev 25, about 160 BC. On the civil calendar, Kislev 25 generally coincides with the month of December.

The feast of dedication also celebrates the victory of a greatly outnumbered army of Jews over the Greek army that occupied Israel and were trying to force a godless lifestyle on the Jews.

One cruse of oil was only enough to last one night in the golden candlesticks in the Holy Place. It would take eight days to procure new pure oil. Miraculously, the one cruse kept the light burning in the Holy Place for eight days.

To be continued…

Bethlehem

Bethlehem

The Bible records that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of theity of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered." - Luke 2:4-5 KJV

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem fulfills the prophecy of Christ being born in Bethlehem.

"Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" - John 7:42 KJV

The scripture that says Christ comes out of the town of Bethlehem is found in Micah.

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." - Micah 5:2 KJV

As Micah prophesied of Christ, “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." - Micah 5:2.  EVERLASTING

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." - John 8:58 EVERLASTING

Jesus also said, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he [I AM], ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:24 

Who is I AM? God 

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 KJV

"Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he [I AM], and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." - John 8:28 KJV

Jesus told His disciples, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” John 14:9. (See also: Isaiah 48:12, Isaiah 43:10).

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6 KJV (Jesus).

Church!! Shepherds

Church!! 

Shepherds

"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." - Psalm 100:3

Just as the Lord is our shepherd, God speaks through spiritual shepherds – pastors and teachers - directing them to lead and guide His people. Spiritual shepherds feed us by preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Jesus told Apostle Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 

When the LORD, the chief Shepherd, made himself a human body to dwell among His people, the announcement of His birth came first to shepherds.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord... ." - Luke 2:8-12

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." - Luke 2:13-14 

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." - Luke 2:15-16 

The shepherds saw Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, realizing that God had come to save His people from their sins.

"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." - Luke 2:17 

The shepherds did what spiritual shepherds do today – they told everyone everywhere about the salvation found in Jesus!

The Manger

The word “manger” is mentioned three times in Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2:7, 12, 16). In Luke 2:12 it says it is a sign!

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." - Luke 2:12

According to Thayer’s Lexicon, the word "manger" is compared to “crib.” "Crib" is found in Isaiah 1:3. 

"Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." - Isaiah 1:2-3 

God gave Isaiah a vision of His coming. While the ox and donkey recognize their master, Israel would not recognize their God that cared for them. The manger was a sign.

"He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” - John 1:12

Rebellion brings spiritual blindness. Israel would not recognize their God had come to bring them salvation.

God came in the form of man so that He could shed sinless blood for our redemption. He came to pay the price that only He could pay – sinless blood.

When we receive Jesus, believing that He is God - Creator and Savior – we are able to be born again of water and of the Spirit.  (John 8:24 – I AM). By the blood of Jesus applied by His name in water baptism, our sins are forgiven. (Matthew 26:28, Luke 24:47, In Jerusalem Acts 2:38, Acts 10:43). By the power of His Holy Ghost, we are able to get and keep victory over sin. (Acts 1:8).

"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: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:13 

How do we receive Jesus into our life?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

A Child is Born

Isaiah 9:6 - "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

This child is JESUS.

Matthew 1:18 - "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

Matthew 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

Kingdom, like government, includes the meaning of “rule, dominion.’ “Laid on Him as for a load for Him to bear” (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon)

John 3:5 - "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Mark 1:15 - "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon: …wonderful counsellor (of Messianic king);

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: comforter: 1. "one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant; an advocate": (against the accuser).

John 14:18  - "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." 

John 14:26 - "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." 

Colossians 2:9-10 - "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." [Godhead = deity] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"

John 14:7-11 - "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him….Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?...the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

Colossians 1:20 - "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."