December 18th, 2023
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
The Only Way to See Him
In his book, The Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado writes,
"A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.
The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, - - but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees. So… {out there in Bethlehem, the night when Jesus was born} while the theologians were sleeping, and the elite were dreaming, and the successful were snoring, the meek shepherds were kneeling. They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus." -copied
There is too much pride in religion. John’s gospel comments in the first chapter that Jesus, the light, came to his own, but his own did not understand. Why didn’t these religious people understand or embrace the Messiah when they came face to face with him? Why did they reject him, in spite of witnessing his multitude of miracles from healing the sick, making the blind to see, to causing the lame to walk and even raising the dead back to life? These pious leaders had studied the Scriptures about the coming messiah all their lives. They knew what to look for, yet rejected the precise fulfillment of the prophecies they had read. The reason was PRIDE. They were looking for someone who was prideful like them. They were seeking a Messiah who would allow them to mold him into their own image. And they were looking for a Messiah who would fit into their “Good ole Boys religion club.
Jesus came as a meek and lowly servant. He sought out people who needed his touch. He was God in flesh, expressing love in phenomenal ways. When the Angels appeared to the Shepherds to announce the coming of the Lord, they did so in vibrant expressions of praise and worship. Those who came to the baby’s side, came in humble, lowly worship. It wasn’t too surprising that the shepherds who came from the humblest of occupations in their culture would bow down at his side. However, the magi came from royal stock, but when they arrived and presented their gifts to Jesus, they too bowed down and worshiped him.
If you want to see the Lord this Christmas or any other time you will see him best on your knees too. He is the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. He alone, is worthy of our praise.
No family gathering; no Christmas present of any price or great thought; no Christmas party or musical concert can compare to your simple, humble worship of the One who came in a stable and died on a brutal cross, but rose from the grave in triumph. As it has been said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
This Sunday is the 4th and final Sunday of Advent. I will be sharing a Christmas message based on the appearance of the angels to the Shepherds and their response to the great announcement in Luke 2:8-20 titled And Now, He-e-er’s Jesus. I look forward to worshipping Him with you that morning and in the evening at our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service. Let us see him together the only way we can truly see him…on our knees.
Bowing with you,
Jon
The Only Way to See Him
In his book, The Applause of Heaven, Max Lucado writes,
"A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by sliver lamps. You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.
The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, - - but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees. So… {out there in Bethlehem, the night when Jesus was born} while the theologians were sleeping, and the elite were dreaming, and the successful were snoring, the meek shepherds were kneeling. They were kneeling before the One only the meek will see. They were kneeling in front of Jesus." -copied
There is too much pride in religion. John’s gospel comments in the first chapter that Jesus, the light, came to his own, but his own did not understand. Why didn’t these religious people understand or embrace the Messiah when they came face to face with him? Why did they reject him, in spite of witnessing his multitude of miracles from healing the sick, making the blind to see, to causing the lame to walk and even raising the dead back to life? These pious leaders had studied the Scriptures about the coming messiah all their lives. They knew what to look for, yet rejected the precise fulfillment of the prophecies they had read. The reason was PRIDE. They were looking for someone who was prideful like them. They were seeking a Messiah who would allow them to mold him into their own image. And they were looking for a Messiah who would fit into their “Good ole Boys religion club.
Jesus came as a meek and lowly servant. He sought out people who needed his touch. He was God in flesh, expressing love in phenomenal ways. When the Angels appeared to the Shepherds to announce the coming of the Lord, they did so in vibrant expressions of praise and worship. Those who came to the baby’s side, came in humble, lowly worship. It wasn’t too surprising that the shepherds who came from the humblest of occupations in their culture would bow down at his side. However, the magi came from royal stock, but when they arrived and presented their gifts to Jesus, they too bowed down and worshiped him.
If you want to see the Lord this Christmas or any other time you will see him best on your knees too. He is the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. He alone, is worthy of our praise.
No family gathering; no Christmas present of any price or great thought; no Christmas party or musical concert can compare to your simple, humble worship of the One who came in a stable and died on a brutal cross, but rose from the grave in triumph. As it has been said, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
This Sunday is the 4th and final Sunday of Advent. I will be sharing a Christmas message based on the appearance of the angels to the Shepherds and their response to the great announcement in Luke 2:8-20 titled And Now, He-e-er’s Jesus. I look forward to worshipping Him with you that morning and in the evening at our Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service. Let us see him together the only way we can truly see him…on our knees.
Bowing with you,
Jon
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