“The Glory of the Manger”
Glory Series
AV First
12/25/22
Pastor Ed Carlson
Who is this baby lying in the manger? Could He really be who everyone says He is? What if He is?
John 1:1-5, 9-14 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
He claimed to be sent from God, the Son of God, and even One with God.
Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
He is the Anointed King that God has sent who has a sovereign and holy right to reign over us.
C.S. Lewis
“Jesus did not leave us the option of just respecting Him as a good, noble teacher. His own claims leave no room for that position, even though it is very popular. We really only have three options concerning what to make of these astonishing claims of Jesus. Either He was who He claimed to be, the Lord of all. Or, He made these claims knowing they were false and therefore He was a liar. Or third, He made these claims because He believed them to be true but in reality they were not, which makes Him deceived or a lunatic. When it comes to the astonishing claims made by Jesus, there are only three conclusions that we can choose from. He is the Lord, a liar, or a lunatic. He cannot be just a nice man with a beard.”
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What if this Jesus really is who He claims to be? If He is, then you and I have a decision to make. It is a matter of eternal significance for each one of us.
3. A
Matthew 16:13-16 (ESV)
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
How you respond to the claims of Jesus has eternal significance and is the most important decision you will ever make.