Jesus Christ is everything for everybody!

Published 8:06 pm Friday, January 4, 2008

By Staff
In the days surrounding the birth of Christ, manifestations were given to several people. Others made assumptions about Jesus based on what they had heard and their circumstances.
To Mary the angel announced, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" (Luke 1:32-33).
To Joseph the angel said, "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins … they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:21, 23).
To the shepherds the angels said, "There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord . . . Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"(Luke 2:11, 14).
To the wise men from the East, Jesus was announced to be, "He who has been born King of the Jews?"(Matthew 2:2).
To King Herod Jesus was a rival (Matthew 2:3), and he sought to kill Him (Matthew 2:16).
When Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord, a man named Simeon was there. Simeon was a righteous and devout man, and the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:25-26). When Simeon saw the child Jesus, he took Him in his arms and said, "My eyes have seen Your salvation … and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:30, 32).
At the Temple there was also an old woman named Anna who was a prophetess. She spent all her time at the Temple fasting and praying. When she saw Jesus, she knew Him to be the One who would bring redemption to Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).
Jesus is all these and more. He is the promised Messiah for Israel. He brings personal salvation, and also will one day sit on David's throne in Jerusalem and will rule bringing peace and justice.
The Advent is the expectation of the coming of Christ. There are two comings. The first was the Incarnation-Jesus Christ the Son of God taking the form of a man and living as the God man. Jesus has done that. In the first coming, Jesus has fulfilled the role of Savior. His death on the cross and the shedding of His blood satisfied the righteous judgment of Almighty God and purchased salvation for all who will believe.
After Jesus was resurrected from the dead by the power of God, He ascended back to His Father in Heaven. Ten days later the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell and empower believers. Thus, we have the complete fulfillment of the promise made to Joseph, the husband of Mary that, "He shall be called Emmanuel, which means God with us."
The wise men from the East worshipped Him as the King of the Jews. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the sovereign ruler of the universe. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).
Jesus Christ is coming again . . . soon. This time He will not come in obscurity. He will come as King. He will take the throne of King David, He will restore Jerusalem, and He will establish a kingdom that will have no end.
Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Simeon, and Anna all had a message in their hearts about Jesus Christ. Some of what they longed for has happened. The rest is yet to come. When Jesus is revealed from Heaven, the glory of God will shine on earth like never before.
Jesus Christ is everything for everybody. Be sure now you know Him as Savior. The next time He is seen visibly, He will be the most powerful King ever imagined!