Jesus: The Stickiest Story Ever Told 02

come join the conversation about @sticky jesus here: @stickyjesus read along.  this week we’re reading in chpt 2 – Jesus: The Stickiest Story Ever Told 02

 

which is good timing as today for me it is Christmas Eve.

Jesus is the reason for the season – and every day, hour, minute and moment of my life.

Christmas is where we celebrate and focus on His birth – remembering with wonder and worship that Christ, the Lord, humbled Himself and was born, in humble circumstances the King of Glory entered time and humanity.

Jesus split time – before His birth BC, after His birth AD.

He is the greatest man in history.  even TIME say that.

Jesus was a carpenter, used to working with his hands, lifting heavy beams of wood, using his whole body to craft yokes for oxen and furniture for homes. When Jesus walked this earth, He didn’tt fit the expectations of the religious community, or even his own disciples. He didn’t demand an ornate tower to preach from, He was born in the dust, His friends were the most controversial fringe elements of society – tax collector’s, prostitutes, lepers… Jesus touched those that were classed as outcasts and untouchables. Equally he called to those that were community leaders, soldiers, the wealthy. Jesus didn’t look at the exterior, he looked at the heart and gave everyone the opportunity to follow Him.

Jesus stood up for real truth, the truth that God was real and loved them and desired to be in relationship with them. He preached real love, real commitment to holy living and real commitment and relationship with God. He talked about eternity and the way to heaven, life and death, choices. This went against the grain of the religious leaders who had made ?church? into a series of do this and dont do thats.

In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg–or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

Jesus Christ made a claim that was breathtaking in it’s audacity. Where did He come from? Was He really God in the flesh? Why was the establishment of His day so frightened by His message that He had to die? Who is Jesus to you? Your life on this earth and for all of eternity is affected by your answer to this question.

Jesus said he was the one and only way to God, both for eternity and for this life too. Will you believe what he said?

Christmas is the beginning of the unfolding of the greatest revelation of love we can every know.

 

“Love compelled God to send His holy Son – The Holy One – to establish relationship with us, the unholy.”

“the world is wired 24/7 for connection, but you’ve secured the most coveted connection – Jesus Christ.”

 

 

this chapter of @stickyjesus encourages us to be aware that we are representatives of this awesome jesus and that our mission is to replicate ourselves and our lives to reveal Him.

what we say – reflects.

what we do – reflects.

we are designed to be connected to Him and also to others.

family members. friends.  workmates.  children’s friends.  children’s friends parents.  checkout chicks at the supermarket.  our doctor.  the postman.

there are people in our lives all around us that God has placed there.

 

we not just saved, we are sent.  we are not just rescued, we are recruited. 

we are filled with Holy Spirit to fulfil His mission here on earth – that we would be living breathing demonstrations of the reality of God.

 

God doesnt NEED you to share your faith.  there’s no cape required. he’s almighty.  he can touch any heart at any moment, anywhere, in any way he chooses.  the glory and the gift of this holy equation is that he has called you.  he’s called you out of your stunted, insular self and into a limitless and vast relationship with him.  he will do a holy work in you and others each time you recount that story.  now thats a transformational mission worth logging on for.