Reflect on who Jesus is. (Jack Wells)

 Matthew 1:18

Guest Blogger - Jack Wells

Scripture Matthew 1:18: This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 

I have thought a lot about this passage, especially as we look at it in the context of our current sermon series.  It is also interesting to consider in the context of the Resurrection that we have recently celebrated (and continue to celebrate every Sunday). 

Traditionally we look at the nativity and the events leading up to it as Luke describes it. We usually focus on it during the winter months, not in the spring.  Springtime is for the “Easter” celebration of renewal of life and the fulfillment of the promise of the resurrection. Clearly the Resurrection is the most significant event in all of history. The promise of a savior, the defeat of sin and death, and the restoration of the relationship between man and God is fulfilled. The single most significant event in all of history: He is Risen!  

So, I wonder why we don’t celebrate the Resurrection as much as we celebrate the Nativity??  The Christmas season usually begins sometime after Labor Day from a secular point of view.  And if you work in retail it starts after the 4th of July!! Why don’t we have a similar lead-up to the Resurrection season?  There are many reasons, not the least of which is the commercialization of the season. But I think one of the main reasons is that the Resurrection forces us to honestly look at what we believe about Jesus, and who we believe He is.  At Christmas, in the depth of winter, the birth of the baby is a time for hope in the darkness. And we approach it with great anticipation of the promise of a Savior.  Holy week is different. After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, there is an arrest, trial, conviction, and ultimately crucifixion. In the days before the resurrection most of the disciples either fled in fear or denied knowing Him. They thought all was lost after the Master they had followed and loved was put to death. But then on the third day as Luke describes, the women went to the tomb only to find it empty. The angels then asked them one of the most profound questions in all of scripture: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

So, in contrast to the Nativity, with the promise of a savior, the Resurrection makes us ask ourselves “What do I believe about Jesus?” The resurrection forces us to take a serious look at the person of Christ and how we see Him.

Do we see him as the living God? Do we see him as Savior?  Do we see Him as conceived by the Holy spirit and born of the virgin Mary, as we confess?  Do we believe that He was crucified, died, and was buried, and on the third day He rose again, as we confess? Or do we see Him as a distant figure in the pages of an ancient book? Do we look to Him for life, or do we seek life elsewhere, even among that which leads to death? 

As we continue to look in depth at who Jesus really is, my prayer is that we will find Him and see Him as He is, the Risen Lord and, as the scripture says, the “author and finisher of our faith.”  I pray that we will grow deeper in our trust and love for Him, and that we will see Him as Lord of our lives, the fulfillment of the promise of salvation.