October 1, 2012 … Yes, He’s THE One!

Chronological Bible Reading Plan - Day 275

Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Matthew, Chapter 1 To study these chapters, go to this link - 
============
Passage of the Day: Reference of Today’s Chronological Bible Study: Luke, Chapter 2 To study these chapters, go to this link - 
 ============

Highlight Passage: Matthew 1: 1: 18-19; 24-25 : [NLT] … {Presenting an apologetic account of Jesus, the Messiah, primarily writing to reveal Messiah to his Jewish contemporaries, Matthew begins with a genealogical chart of Jesus,, going back to Abraham and fulfilling the line of Messianic succession prophesied by the Old Testament.} … 1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus, the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:}.{Matthew clearly identifies Jesus as, THE Messiah, and then the genealogic charting follows.} …  
{Next Matthew introduces his readers to Joseph and an account of Joseph’s dilemma with his betrothed, Mary, getting pregnant from another – God’s Spirit – and then how a vision encounter with an angel gave Joseph the truth, motivating him to remain married to Marry and be the earthly father of Jesus, … Immanuel, … “God with us.”} 18 Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, being a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace her publicly. … 
24 When Joseph woke up [from an angelic vision encounter], he did what the angel of the Lord commanded. He brought Mary home to be his wife, 25 but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.  
============  
Highlight Passage: Luke 2: 1-4; 13-15;  : [NLT] … {Luke goes on with his historical account of the beginnings of the life of The Messiah, telling the story of the common-place of Jesus’ birth, yet describing the heavenly celebration and glory which accompanied this, the greatest event, short of Jesus’ later death/resurrection, which had even occurred in human history.} … 1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. … 
{Then follows the detailed account in Luke 2: 8-15 for the Jews of the birth of Jesus, taking place in Bethlehem, exactly where God through several of the OT Prophets had predicted He would, but the scene was in no way like the Jewish people would have envisioned personally. Hence Matthew intersperses the detailed account of the shepherds being the eyewitnesses and the scene of the birth in a manger with the glory of Messiah with all of the majesty of that moment, … the Angels being in attendance and worshipping this little Babe, Who was THE ONE, God’s very Son, Whom God had sent to save mankind from their sin.} … 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” …  
[Then follows the scene in The Temple when Jesus was circumcised and presented for dedication by His parents as prescribed by God’s Law. And two wise ones in the Temple recognized Who Jesus was – The Messiah. And they worshipped God for Whom they had encountered.} … 39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom beyond his years, and God placed his special favor upon him. …  
{Then we have a break in the timeline of Jesus’ life where Luke picks up the story of Jesus as a 12 year old boy with His parents bringing Jesus to worship at The Temple for Passover, as they did annually, traveling up from Nazareth to Jerusalem. And this scene so personally, but wondrously projects how this boy was so much more than just a normal Jewish boy. He was God’s Spirit--led prodigy, and the Jewish scholars in the Temple marveled at His ability to relate with them about God’s truth from The Book of the Law.} … 46 Three days later they finally discovered him. He was in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, discussing deep questions with them. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. … 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them; and his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 So Jesus grew both in height and in wisdom, and he was loved by God and by all who knew him. 

My Journal for Today: Okay, now were trekking through the Gospel accounts of the life and times of Jesus, with the Gospel writers, today Matthew and Luke, presenting the life of Jesus in their own way to varying readers and seeker groups. Matthew was writing for Jews; and Luke addressed his writings to Greeks or Gentiles. John, as I indicated in my journal yesterday, was focusing on those who had come to a belief in Christ so that they could more ardently hold on to their faith. But all were writing with their own perspective about the mission, the ministry, and the life of MESSIAH, … the One Jesus never backed down from claiming to be.

My friends who might be reading along with me – or those who might just read my journal entries, I do hope you’ll re-read these two chapters today (because most readers here will have read the Gospel accounts of Jesus recorded by Matthew 1 or Luke 2. Just going back and reading the Christmas story will lift your heart; and having done so this morning, I can just imagine [as this great song recounts – go to this link ] what the angels who attended Jesus’ birth came back to heaven to report what they had experienced; and then what a scene in heaven that must have been when all the angels celebrated with their fellow angels that they had seen their LORD being born as a man.

As the song sings, “I can only imagine.” 

My Prayer Today: … Lord, You are THE ONE; … and of You I can only imagine Your glory. But PRAISE You, Father, for sending Your Son so that I can one day see and be with You in glory. I can only imagine! Amen