les

AS the eldest son Jesus was according to the custom the one responsible for the welfare and support of his widowed mother,His other siblings at this point did not yet believe in Him so he gave John who was a faithful disciple and one who trully loved Him the task of taking care of his mother and looking after her needs. Jesus great selfless love always did things for the benefit of others even in His final agony He took time to settle the well being and future of His mother . love motivated all He did . in the end everything in the law was also fulfilled he did all it required. He lived a perfect life and died in perfect obedience to His Fathers will. by showing us by His example Jesus made it clear that the command to Honor your father and your mother was to be taken seriously and we always should care and make provision for our parents especially when they are older and cannot take care of themselves . today, it is sad that many remove the old and infirm from their homes turning over their care to institutions in the guise of providing better care for them but neglect them by withdrawing and depriving them of the family's love and comforting presence when they need it the most. Jesus tenderness and love made sure His mother would be comforted ,cared for and taken in as a loved and important member of John's family.

the christian who is persecuted for his faith is a partaker in the same kind of suffering Jesus endured suffering for doing what is right Jesus promised that those who wanted to lead a righteous life would suffer but the greatest glory will go to those who suffer most for Christ. this future reward is what allows us to bear with what is painful and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus and have His approval when the christians suffer the Spirit of God rests upon them and is able to lift them to strength and endurance beyond the physical dimension.for those who give up everything to live for God and bring Him glory they will inherit all that God has prepared for them they have chosen Him over the world and its treasures so they will be rewarded as God chooses they will have Him, His treasures in His kingdom and all' that contains' are for them

the christian who is persecuted for his faith is a partaker in the same kind of suffering Jesus endured suffering for doing what is right Jesus promised that those who wanted to lead a righteous life would suffer but the greatest glory will go to those who suffer most for Christ. this future reward is what allows us to bear with what is painful and rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer for Jesus and have His approval when the christians suffer the Spirit of God rests upon them and is able to lift them to strength and endurance beyond the physical dimension.for those who give up everything to live for God and bring Him glory they will inherit all that God has prepared for them they have chosen Him over the world and its treasures so they will be rewarded as God chooses they will have Him, His treasures in His kingdom and all' that contains' are for them

God is Holy and pure nothing corrupted or impure can stand before Him without being destroyed .sin separates us from God and completely warps our ability to percieve Him and grasp His will and revelation for us.the pure heart required to see God is not in our ability or within our grasp to attain.Christ alone can cleanse us from all unrighteousness so it is Him that makes us pure .it is His nature we receive when we receive Him by faith as Lord and savior so a true believer is positionally perfect in Gods sight because it is Christ righteousness God sees .jesus being God can present us perfect before God ,holy and pure

the world operates on compromise to get what we want. true righteousness seeks for truth and follows it no matter what the cost so to stand fast on what is right will instantly put you at odds with the worlds ways since whats right for me at this moment , what will be most useful to get me where i want to be is quite the thing to do in that circle.the righteousness Jesus is talking about here is the righteousness of God made available to us through Christ it is alien to our nature but the promise for those who truly desire it ; as a hunger and thirst needs satisfying ,God will fill them with it

Jesus taught to be greatest you need to be servant of all; the world can not accept this as it teaches power, position, independence, success meassured in wealth,all to be first at any cost . to bear all trials and offenses with patience and humility can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit transforming our hearts to Christs likeness for He modeled perfect meekness and humility though He was God and could have so easily have pulled rank on everyone .He lived turn the other cheek and love others as yourself,and love God and honor Him above all. there was nothing weak in Jesus sacrifice he purposefully set out to do what He came to do. when we choose to operate on the same level as our Lord it is not weakness but Gods power working in us and through us

unless we see how empty of true meaning are our lives and how distant we are from God ,and how horribly short we come up to His standard which is perfection unless we understand our pain only Jesus can heal and only He can sattisfy us and only in Him are we complete and secure.unless the spirit of God reveals our true state we are completely unaware of our situation and unable to turn away from our current ways and turn to Christ for restoration and forgiveness . as christians we should mourn 'sins' effects in the world ;injustice, cruelty, , greed all maner of corruption and every offense against God.

the beatitudes consist of a character trait of the kingdom citizens and the promised blessing God will endow the good news jesus proclaimed was for the poor .......those who saw their need and turned to Him for freedom and a new life provided only by God to those who understood their utterly bankrupt state (spiritually speaking)so Jesus spoke in paradox to show even more dramatically how different Gods ways were from the accepted norms of that day where outward compliance was more accepted without any inward conviction and renewal Jesus desired a heart conviction and a mind and life transformation these were those to whom the kingdom would be revealed and who could partake of His promised blessings the fruit of the spirit all correlate to the character traits the kingdom citizens would manifest

that God sent Jesus for all men even gentiles and the good news of the gospel is to be preached to all nations because He gives the authority.most of the Jews rejected this great gift but the gentiles represented by the magi would receive him and receive the promises of God through Jesus. we should be fulfilling the great commission and bringing the gospels message to all who will listen they too may choose to receive the Lord as savior and master of their lives.we who have received Him should be living a life of love and obedience evident to all and so honoring our savior

the prophecy in micah 5:2-4 stated Jesus's divinity and pointed to His mellinnial kingdom.the magi understood the importance of this KING so they sought Him out and came with the most precious gifts they had (their treasures) if we give what is most precious it means we withold nothing, they totally sought to honor HIM. Jesus gave everything to save us we owe Him everything we have our talents our resources our time here on earth ,our very lives in fact!!!! by creating us and in ransoming us He is our rightful owner so it is due Him . the love He showed we can't even begin to appreciate while we live on this earth but it is extravagant, perfect and demands reciprocation.

though they were men of great rank and wealth the magi knew through the prophecies who this baby was and when they found him after a long search they bowed before him. they humbly acknowledged the lords superior worth and standing. they worshiped Him because they knew His divine lineage and presented their gifts considered precious and fit for a king. in all these things they humbly submitted themselves to Him giving Him the honor due Him .they were so sure of His kingship they saw beyond the outward signs and were able to appreciate His essence we also should be awed by Jesus and humbly submit to His kingship over our lives having an attitude of reverence before Him . He deserves worship ,honor and praise for who He is and what He has done for us .undeserving as we are He withheld nothing from us if we see our utter need for Him and His greatness and exccelent worth we also will fall before Him and worship . not to be able to do this means we fail to grasp the magnitude of HIS PERSON and shows HOW WICKED OUR HEARTS ARE that we despise and dishonor our creator and savior

the star of bethlehem was a sign that would announce the messiahs birth this was a sign from God to those who knew prophecy and were waiting and watching for this sign signaling the birth of the greatest king.the magi who could have come from babylon were the jews had been in captivity once and where daniel held a possition of honor heading the court magicians and soothsayers ,may also have learned some of the prophecies concerning the future of israel including the promised messiahs birth some of the prophecies are revealed in numbers 24:17 ;isaiah 9:2; micah5:2 so the magi regarded this sign of enough importance to search for the great king and honor him with presents fit for royalty and worship him ! they prostrated themselves before a 2 year old boy on a dirt floor!!!! men of their stature would do this only if they knew without a doubt this was the ancient of days born to be king of the jews . it is interesting to note that it was foreigners who understood the significance of the Lords birth and were a witness to this event but His own people were mostly clueless to this promised coming of their deliverer.

all these responses are present in my life at different points and depending on the situation one or another may be more evident joy is especially appreciated by others when circumstances are difficult and i am at peace and joyfull.i think great joy is a fruit of our new life in Christ.praise also is continually expresed in giving God the honor due Him because of who He is and all He does constantly am aware how much we have recieved from the Lord and praise and thanksgiving flow from my heart and mouth...i think we dont appreciate our Lord enogh for what He has accomplished for all men especially those who believe his message and recieve him. am always amazed at HIS great love and patience with us inspite of our faillings i am curious to see Him in all His glory and to learn more from His word for my knowledge of Him equips me to witness more effectively and increases my love for Him .you cant give what you dont have and to be filled by HIS Spirit causes an overflow to others . all these wonderfull benefits and promises of God i recieved though faith in JESUS that came by Gods grace aloneit amazes me constantly how much we are loved and thoughtful meditation comes while i study and when i pray and thats when i see were He wants me to surrender more and what He wants me to do with the time He has allowed me to have.sweet is the time we spend quiet before Him and waiting for His instruction . the only time i feel distant or cold is when i have sinned or become busy and dont consider Him as much. confession and repentance always reconnects me

the titles given to Jesus by the angels where SAVIOR ; CHRIST ;and THE LORD SAVIOR-soter deliverer;preserver is used of God CHRIST-christos;anointed or messiah ...the one who by His Holy Spirit and power indwells believers and molds their character in conformity to his likeness the title without the article stresses His character and His relationship with believers LORD -kurios having power or authority ;master owner one to whom service is due on any ground ;one who posseses supreme authority. these titles therfore are a testimony to Jesus diety

the birth of Jesus was announced in blazing glory by the heavenly hosts: the witnesses to this event were the shepherds and the announcement proclaimed the birth of a savior that was born to them . the shepherds were the lowest class of people during this time having a very bad reputation but God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things to make known His purpose to seek and save the lost to save us from our sins. the shepherds checked to see if the angels message was true and once they confirmed it was so they spread the good news Jesus being born in the most poor accomodations fit only for animals should make us consider that when He came it was with no royal privelages which would have been His right befitting His real status but as a servant and a sacrificial lamb to save us trom our sins when God proposes to do something He holds noyhing back. the gift of himself is a gift that witholds nothing He chose to humble himself to attain for us salvation

the long journey was difficult even if not pregnant crude paths ,hills ,uncomfortable transportation ,add to that physicall difficulties of the last month of pregnancy back pain ,needing to urinate frequently, swollen feet .... to name a few ! also no family to help her during the delivery no comforts of home not knowing what would happen and how it would feel like to birth the child all these things must not have helped mary be relaxed and expectant of her adventure into motherhood. pleasure is not an indication we are in Gods will look at job, and the apostles they left everything eventually even giving up their very lives for following Jesus .although we may be required to give up a good job or health or possesions for the greater glory of knowing God in a manner made possible if he alone is our security and treasure He allows a peace that defies any human understanding to take hold of our heart and joy is present in any circumstance that we may face. He also provides the strength to overcome or to bear the trials. the Lord called me to ministry and before doing so he impressed this message: one day while i was in prayer He asked me to look outside my room and i did ,there i could see the city and further off the mountains and sea .He asked me to look inside my room and i saw the things i had surrounded myself with my "treasures" i was puzzled but said yes i did and asked Him why he made me check these things out. He then said to me all these things will be destroyed they will not last be carefull what you work for. Since then He has shown me He can prosper me if He so desires it for me but He can also cancel anything that pulls my heart away from Him. the question He always puts in front of me is do i prefer the things and benefits over having Him as what is of most excelent value . He wins every time because He holds my heart and loves me so. in 2timothy 2:10-12 paul puts it plainly and Jesus Himself said to his disciples "in this world you will have trouble but take heart I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD"john 16:33 ; 1 peter4:4; 19 ; 1peter 5:8-9

when luke named the rulers at the time of the census he places the birth of jesus on a historical reference point making sure all future generations would know when he was born giving irrefutable evidence that jesus did exist in history .during the time the gospel was written for sure this event was also fresh upon the minds of those who would read his chronicle of events of the birth and life of jesus

joseph in taking mary as his wife proved he believed what the angel said about who it was she was carrying and he wanted to please God more than man by accepting the role set for him . i see him as compasionate ,just and obedient.after the reality of the situation was explained by the angel he accepted mary never judging her again. and in naming the child Jesus joseph accepted Jesus as his own son. becoming the legal father according to their law so effectively transfering his lineage which was of david to his legally adopted son Jesus. so the prophecy about the messsiah being of Davids line was fulfilled

the sign would be that a virgin would be with child she would have a son and He would be called immanuel which means God with us this was foretold in isaiah 7: 14 in matthew 1:22 the angel who told joseph all this was to take place to fulfill what was said through the prophet Jesus was to be His name ( the Lord saves )the manner of His conception and His divine origin trully made Jesus Christ immanuel God with us once He was born through mary who was a virgin