A QUOTE ATTRIBUTED TO MARK TWAIN GOES LIKE THIS… “WHEN I WAS A BOY OF 14, MY FATHER WAS SO IGNORANT I COULD HARDLY STAND TO HAVE THE OLD MAN AROUND. BUT WHEN I GOT TO BE 21, I WAS ASTONISHED AT HOW MUCH THE OLD MAN HAD LEARNED IN SEVEN YEARS.”

BUT, ISN’T IT INTERESTING THAT WE SEEM TO SPEAK ABOUT REMEMBERING WHAT OUR MOM’S SAID ABOUT THIS OR THAT AS WE GROW UP!

IN ONE OF OUR SMALL GROUPS STUDY, I THREW OUT A REMARK ABOUT THE TITLE OF THE OLD TV SHOW, “FATHER KNOWS BEST,” AND MY WIFE RESPONDED “BUT MOM’S ALWAYS RIGHT!”

T-SHIRTS DON THESE WORDS UPON THEM…
“MOM’S ALWAYS RIGHT” …ARTICLES AND BOOKS HAVE BEEN WRITTEN DEEMING THE INEVITABLE THAT AS WE GROW OLDER, IT BECOMES PAINFULLY CLEAR TO US

THAT, AS MUCH AS WE HATE TO ADMIT IT, MOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE! AND GUYS, WE HAVE TO ADMIT WE MARRIED UP, AND IN MY CASE, I MARRIED WAY UP.

FOR THE MOST PART, I BELIEVE MEN ARE PHYSICALLY STRONGER THAN WOMEN…BUT EMOTIONALLY, WELL, I BELIEVE OUR BETTER HALF HAS A BETTER HANDLE ON THE EMOTIONAL STUFF.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE LEARN BEFORE WE DO THE STUPID STUFF BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T AGREE AT FIRST, MOM TOLD US NOT TO DO IT. OTHER THINGS, MOM KNEW WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIND OUT ON OUR OWN.

SO, WHEN IT CAME TO HANDLING THE THINGS OF BRINGING GOD’S SON INTO THE WORLD, IT IS CLEAR TO ME WHY GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS.

WHEN I ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEIR FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES ARE MANY WILL SAY JOHN 3:16, OR THE 23RD PSALM, OR I GET MANY OTHER VERSES, WHICH ARE ALL GREAT. SOME OF MY FAVORITE VERSES ARE GALATIANS 4:16 AND DEUTERONOMY 29:29.
GALATIANS 4:16: “HAVE I THEREFORE BECOME YOUR ENEMY BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH?
DEUTERONOMY 29:29: “THE LORD OUR GOD HAS SECRETS KNOWN TO NO ONE. WE ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM, BUT WE AND OUR CHILDREN ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOREVER FOR ALL THAT HE HAS REVEALED TO US, SO THAT WE MAY OBEY ALL THE TERMS OF HIS INSTRUCTIONS.”

BUT MY OVERALL FAVORITE VERSE SAYS IT ALL…AS I LIKE TO SAY, IT COVERS THE BIBLE FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION. IT GIVES US THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN ONE VERSE. IT IS SET WHEN JESUS WAS ABOUT TO ACCOMPLISH HIS FIRST MIRACLE OF TURNING WATER
INTO WINE. JESUS’ MOTHER, MARY, IS SPEAKING TO THE SERVANTS. IT IS VERSE JOHN 2:5…MARY SAYS, “WHATEVER HE SAYS TO YOU, DO IT.” IF WE ALL HELD TO THIS MOM’S WORDS, WE WOULD ALL DO WHAT JESUS HAS TOLD US! SO, NOT JUST JESUS’ WORDS, NOT THE APOSTLE’S, NOT JUST ANYONE ELSE, BUT JESUS’ MOM GIVES US ALL THAT WE NEED TO KNOW AND DO IN ONE SENTENCE! ISN’T THAT JUST HOW MOM’S ARE…

NOW, LET US LOOK AT LUKE 1:26-38:
THIS IS FOLLOWING ELIZABETH’S CONCEPTION.
(V26) NOW IN THE SIXTH MONTH THE ANGEL GABRIEL WAS SENT FROM GOD TO A CITY OF GALILEE, NAMED NAZARETH, (V27) TO A VIRGIN BETROTHED TO A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS JOSEPH, OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. THE VIRGIN’S NAME WAS MARY. (V28) AND HAVING COME IN, THE ANGEL SAID TO HER, “REJOICE, HIGHLY FAVORED ONE, THE LORD IS WITH YOU; BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN!”

(V29) BUT WHEN SHE SAW HIM, SHE WAS TROUBLED AT HIS SAYING, AND CONSIDERED WHAT MANNER OF GREETING THIS WAS. (V30) THEN THE ANGEL SAID TO HER, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, MARY, FOR YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD. (V31) AND BEHOLD, YOU WILL CONCEIVE IN YOUR WOMB AND BRING FORTH A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS. (V32) HE WILL BE GREAT, AND WILL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE HIGHEST; AND THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID. (V33) AND HE WILL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER, AND OF HIS KINGDOM THERE WILL BE NO END.” (V34) THEN MARY SAID TO THE ANGEL, HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE I DO NOT KNOW A MAN? (V35) AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, “THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME UPON YOU, AND THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST WILL OVERSHADOW YOU; THEREFORE, ALSO, THAT THE HOLY ONE WHO IS TO BE BORN WILL BE CALLED THE SON OF GOD. (V36) NOW

INDEED, ELIZABETH YOUR RELATIVE HAS ALSO CONCEIVED A SON IN HER OLD AGE; AND THIS IS NOW THE SIXTH MONTH FOR HER WHO WAS CALLED BARREN. (V37) FOR WITH GOD NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE.” (V38) THEN MARY SAID, “BEHOLD THE MAIDSERVANT OF THE LORD! LET IT BE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” AND THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HER.

OTHER TRANSLATIONS HAVE IT AS I AM THE LORD’S SERVANT, MAY IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.

WE KNOW SCRIPTURE DEPICTS IMPORTANT WRITINGS AND EVENTS, YET AS SCRIPTURE STATES IN JOHN 21:25: “AND THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT JESUS DID, WHICH IF THEY WERE WRITTEN ONE BY ONE, I SUPPOSE THAT EVEN THE WORLD ITSELF COULD NOT CONTAIN THE BOOKS THAT WOULD BE WRITTEN.”

MARY WAS TOLD THAT JESUS WOULD BE CALLED THE SON OF THE MOST HIGH, THE MESSIAH.

SO, THIS MAKES ME WONDER WHAT MARY AND THE ANGEL GABRIEL MAY HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IS NOT WRITTEN. WE KNOW MARY ASKED GABRIEL THE QUESTION, HOW CAN THIS BE, SINCE SHE HAD NOT HAD RELATIONS WITH A MAN.

HERE IS A YOUNG GIRL OR WOMAN WHO IS BEING TOLD SHE WILL BEAR THE CHILD THAT THE PROPHET ISAIAH FORETOLD.

ISAIAH 9:6, “FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER. AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.”

BUT THEN IN ISAIAH 53:3-7:
(V3) HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN
(V4) HE HAS BORNE OUR GRIEFS AND OUR SORROWS; YET WE ESTEEMED (OR REGARDED) HIM STRICKEN (OR AFFLICTED).

(V5) HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS; HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES…BY HIS STRIPES (HIS WOUNDS) WE ARE HEALED
(V6) ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY; WE HAVE TURNED, EVERY ONE, TO HIS OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HAS LAID UPON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL
(V7) HE WAS OPPRESSED AND HE WAS AFFLICTED, YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH. HE WAS LED AS A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER.
MARY MAY HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE ANGEL GABRIEL, OR SHE MAY HAVE HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH’S PROPHECY THAT HER SON WOULD BE PUT TO DEATH FOR OUR SINS.
THINK ABOUT WHAT EMOTIONS MARY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED. SCRIPTURE DOES NOT TELL US, BUT IT HAD TO BE QUITE AN OVERWHELMING TIME.

SCRIPTURE DOES TELL US THAT MARY HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO JOSEPH, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER.
(MATTHEW 1:18)

NOT ONLY WOULD SHE BE APPROACHED BY AN ANGEL AND TOLD SHE WOULD BEAR THE CHILD OF JESUS, SHE WOULD BEAR THIS INCREDIBLE WEIGHT OF BEING LOOKED AT AS AN UNGODLY WOMAN AT A TIME IN HISTORY WHEN A WOMAN WAS NOT CONSIDERED MUCH.

MARY WAS YOUNG, POOR AND A FEMALE, WHICH TO THOSE IN HER DAY WOULD MAKE HER SEEM UNUSABLE BY GOD FOR SUCH A MAJOR TASK.

SO, WHEN YOU FEEL YOU DON’T HAVE THE ABILITY, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION OR OTHER MEANS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR GOD’S SERVICE, YOU NEED TO TRULY UNDERSTAND GOD CAN AND WILL USE YOU IF YOU TRUST HIM.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AND UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS CAME FOR ALL TO BE SAVED.
LUKE 2:8-20
(V8) “NOW THERE WERE IN THE SAME COUNTRY SHEPHERDS LIVING OUT IN THE FIELDS, KEEPING WATCH OVER THEIR FLOCK BY NIGHT. (V9) AND BEHOLD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STOOD BEFORE THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM, AND THEY WERE GREATLY AFRAID. (V10) THEN THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, “DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE TO ALL PEOPLE. (V11) FOR THERE IS BORN TO YOU THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD. (V12) AND THIS WILL BE THE SIGN TO YOU: YOU WILL FIND A BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHS, LYING IN A MANGER.” (V13) AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL A MULTITUDE OF THE HEAVENLY HOST PRAISING GOD AND SAYING:
(V14) “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN!”
(V15) SO, IT WAS, WHEN THE ANGELS HAD GONE AWAY FROM THEM INTO HEAVEN – THAT THE SHEPHERDS SAID TO ONE ANOTHER, “LET US NOW GO TO BETHLEHEM AND SEE THIS THING THAT HAS COME TO PASS, WHICH THE LORD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US.” (V16) AND THEY CAME WITH HASTE AND FOUND MARY AND JOSEPH, AND THE BABE LYING IN A MANGER. (V17) NOW WHEN THEY HAD SEEN HIM, THEY MADE WIDELY KNOWN THE SAYING WHICH WAS TOLD THEM CONCERNING THIS CHILD. (V18) AND ALL THOSE WHO HEARD IT MARVELED AT THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD THEM BY THE SHEPHERDS. (V19) BUT MARY KEPT ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.

LET US LOOK CLOSER AT LUKE 2:10-11
V. 10 – ALL PEOPLE
V.11 – SAVIOR – (MESSIAH)

SO, WE SEE, THE ANGEL GABRIEL WENT TO MARY, A YOUNG WOMAN, WHO DURING HER TIME, WAS CONSIDERED NOT MUCH AS WOMEN WEREN’T EVEN CONSIDERED A REPUTABLE WITNESS FOR IMPORTANT ISSUES.

THAN AN ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT TO THE SHEPHERDS, THE LOWEST, THE LEAST OF ALL CATEGORIES OF STATUS. SHEPHERDS WERE CONSIDERED UNTRUSTWORTHY, SPOKEN OF AS THIEVES AND LOW LIFES.
WHICH MAKES ME THINK OF THE VERSE IN THE SONG FROM CASTING CROWNS…
“CAUSE I’M JUST A NOBODY, TRYING TO TELL EVERYBODY, ALL ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO SAVED MY SOUL”

WE ARE THE LITTLEST, THE LEAST, AND THE LOW LIFES, OR AS GARTH BROOKS SINGS, I HAVE FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES…

GOD CHOOSE TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT EVEN THE LEAST, THE LITTLEST, THE LOWEST OF STATUS IS VALUABLE TO HIM.
JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US BY PARDONING US THAT WE MIGHT NOT DIE BY THE SENTENCE OF THE LAW.
JOHN 3:16 – THE MOST FAMOUS BIBLE VERSE – BUT YOU NEED TO READ IT THIS WAY TO YOURSELF.
…FOR GOD SO LOVED “ME” THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, SO AS “I” BELIEVE IN HIM “I” SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE…
THAT IS THE TRUE MEANING FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US! JESUS WAS BORN TO DIE SO THAT ALL PEOPLE MIGHT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.
THE CROSS IS THE GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED AND IT WAS DONE THROUGH ACTION, NOT WORDS.
THE GREATEST LOVE.
A LOVE THAT WAS EXPRESSED IN ACTION, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED OF EACH AND EVERYONE

OF US. AN ACTION OF REPENTING AND ACCEPTING HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
HERE IS ONE OF THE BEST DESCRIPTIONS I’VE READ ABOUT WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?
GOD’S LOVE IS AMAZING BECAUSE IT’S PROACTIVE. IT’S EXPRESSED BY ACTION. IT COST HIM A LOT, AND IT’S THE LOVE WE NEED. NOTHING LESS CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF HIS LOVE.
SO, WITHOUT GOD’S LOVE, AGAPE LOVE, THERE IS NO OTHER LOVE THAT CAN EXIST. LOVE THAT WAS FIRST EXPRESSED BY GOD TO US, AND NOW WILL YOU COME NEAR TO GOD AND RECEIVE HIS AMAZING LOVE?
IT REQUIRES AN RSVP!
1 PETER 1:18-19
KNOWING THAT YOU WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, LIKE SILVER OR GOLD, FROM YOUR AIMLESS CONDUCT RECEIVED BY TRADITION FROM YOUR FATHERS, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

OF CHRIST, AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT.
TITUS 3:4-6
“BUT WHEN THE KINDNESS AND THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOR TOWARD MAN APPEARED, NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, THROUGH THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND RENEWING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE POURED OUT ON US ABUNDANTLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR.”
THIS IS GOD’S GOOD NEWS AND IT IS FOR ALL PEOPLE!
WE SEE THAT THE ANGELS WENT TO THE SHEPHERDS…THE OUTCASTS…NORMALLY NOMADIC AND CONSIDERED LIARS AND LOWEST OF THE LOW CLASS.
SHEPHERDS HAD BAD REPUTATIONS…
THEY WERE LOOKED DOWN UPON, YET GOD CHOSE THEM TO HEAR THE MESSAGE.

GOD SHOWED THAT HE LOVED THEM AND THEY WERE WORTHY OF HEARING THE GOOD NEWS.
THIS SHOWED THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF WHOM JESUS CAME TO SAVE.
NOW, WE COME TO JESUS ON THE CROSS.
LUKE 23:32-34 (V32) THERE WERE ALSO TWO OTHERS, CRIMINALS, LED WITH HIM TO BE PUT TO DEATH. (V33) AND WHEN THEY HAD COME TO THE PLACE CALLED CALVARY, THERE THEY CRUCIFIED HIM, AND THE CRIMINALS, ONE ON THE RIGHT HAND AND THE OTHER ON THE LEFT. (V34) THEN JESUS SAID, “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO.” LUKE 23:39-43 (V39) THEN ONE OF THE CRIMINALS WHO WERE HANGED BLASPHEMED HIM, SAYING, “IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST, SAVE YOURSELF AND US.”

(V40) BUT THE OTHER, ANSWERING, REBUKED HIM, SAYING, “DO YOU NOT EVEN FEAR GOD, SEEING YOU ARE UNDER THE SAME CONDEMNATION? (V41) AND WE INDEED JUSTLY, FOR WE RECEIVE THE DUE REWARD OF OUR DEEDS; BUT THIS MAN HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG.” (V42) THEN HE SAID TO JESUS, “LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM.” (V43) AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, “ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.” HERE WE SEE AGAIN WHAT SOCIETY DEFINES AS THE LOWEST OF THE LOW…ILLEGITIMATE, LAWLESS, SHAMEFUL, WICKED, VILLAINOUS, BAD, EVIL, SINFUL. THESE ARE ALL WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL. AND YET JESUS IS GIVING US AN EXAMPLE THAT TRUE REPENTANCE IS NEVER TOO LATE. A TRUE REPENTANCE! LET US LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS MAN’S LAST ACTIONS. HE REBUKES THE OTHER CRIMINAL/THIEF FOR RAILING AGAINST CHRIST. HE ADMITS THAT HE DESERVES WHAT

HAS BEEN DONE TO HIMSELF. AND HE TRULY BELIEVED JESUS SUFFERED WRONGFULLY, AND THE CONFESSING CRIMINAL MADE CONFESSION BEFORE ALL WHILE GIVING HONOR TO CHRIST. THIS CRIMINAL BELIEVED IN A LIFE TO COME. HE ENTRUSTED TO JESUS HIS SALVATION…HE ASKED JESUS TO REMEMBER ME! ACKNOWLEDGING HE WAS LEAVING IT TO JESUS TO DECIDE HIS ETERNAL RESTING PLACE. THE CONFESSING CRIMINAL WAS HUMBLED IN TRUE REPENTANCE. IN EVEN IN JESUS’ OWN STRUGGLES AND AGONY, JESUS SHOWS US HIS GRACE TO REPENTANT SINNERS. THIS TRULY SHOWS US THAT BY CHRIST’S ACT OF GRACE THROUGH HIS DEATH, HE HAS OPENED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO ALL OBEDIENT BELIEVERS! CROWDER SINGS “IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU’RE RICH OR POOR, WHOEVER YOU ARE, THIS IS WHERE WE ALL FIND GRACE!”

I SUGGEST YOU TAKE TIME TO WATCH OR RE-WATCH “THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST” TO REGAIN WHAT EXACTLY CHRIST DID FOR US ON THE CROSS.
HE WAS LED TO SLAUGHTER LIKE A LAMB…WE ARE TO BEAR THE CROSS HE HAS APPOINTED US AND DO IT DAILY. WE ARE TO TAKE IT WITH CHEERFULNESS. WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO TRULY EMBRACE AND EXPERIENCE THE DEATH HE BORE, WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE MANNER OF LOVE THAT HE LOVED US! THIS SHOWS US GOD IS LOVE!
THE CROSS AND THE SHAME OF OUR SINS WERE PUT TOGETHER WHERE GOD BEING DISHONORED BY OUR SINS, GAVE HIS SON TO SATISFY WHAT WE TRULY ARE LIABLE FOR, BUT CHRIST SUBMITTED HIMSELF, SO THAT WE MAY WEAR THE CROWN OF GLORY. WE ARE TO WEEP FOR OUR OWN SINS, AND THE SINS OF OUR CHILDREN, WHICH CAUSED HIS DEATH. ADDITIONALLY, WE WEEP FOR FEAR OF MISERIES WE SHALL BRING UPON

OURSELVES IF WE SLIGHT HIS LOVE BY REJECTING HIS GRACE.
IF GOD DELIVERED HIS SON UP TO SUCH SUFFERING AS A SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS, WHAT WILL HE DO WITH SINNERS THAT REJECT HIM AND REFUSE TO STAND IN AWE OF HIS JUSTICE? WHAT WILL THE DAMNANATION OF SINNERS BE. HE DIED TO PURCHASE AND PROCURE FOR US THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN.
BE MINDFUL OF THE LAST WORDS CHRIST UTTERED ON THE CROSS, “IT IS FINISHED” (JOHN 19:30)
REDEMPTION AND SALVATION IS COMPLETED. WE CANNOT EARN GRACE, IT IS FREELY GIVEN BY REPENTANCE AND ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST OF EACH BELIEVER.
TO CHRIST WE OWE MERIT FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION, AND SPIRIT AND GRACE FOR OUR SANTIFICATION.
LUKE 24 SPEAKS TO THE RESURECTION.

LUKE 24:1-5, “ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, THEY, AND CERTAIN OTHER WOMEN WITH THEM, CAME TO THE TOMB BRINGING THE SPICES WHICH THEY HAD PREPARED. BUT THEY FOUND THE STONE ROLLED AWAY FROM THE TOMB. THEN THEY WENT IN AND DID NOT FIND THE BODY OF THE LORD JESUS. WHILE WONDERING ABOUT THIS, SUDDENLY TWO MEN IN CLOTHES THAT GLEAMED LIKE LIGHTNING STOOD BESIDE THEM. IN THEIR FRIGHT THE WOMEN BOWED DOWN WITH THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND, BUT THE MEN SAID TO THEM, “WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?”
TODAY, CHRISTIANS PERPLEX AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT CHRIST’S RESURRECTION INSTEAD OF COMFORTING AND ENCOURAGING THEMSELVES.
LOOK AT THE AFFECTION AND RESPECT THESE WOMEN SHOWED CHRIST BY BRINGING SPICES TO ORNATE THE BODY. TODAY OUR MISTAKES SPRING FROM

IGNORANACE OR FORGETFULNESS OF THE WORDS CHRIST SPOKE.
STILL TODAY, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS THE JOY TO BELIEVERS, AND TERROR, CONFUSION, AND UNBELIEF TO HIS ENEMIES. AS BELIEVERS, WE MUST UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNION WITH HIM IS SPIRITUAL BY FAITH IN HIS WORD.
WHEN PEOPLE MAKE THIS WORLD THEIR HOME, WE MUST REMEMBER OUR LORD AND SAVIOR IS NOT HERE, HE IS RISEN. WE MUST THEN LET OUR HEARTS RISE AND SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE.
JESUS GIVING THE GREAT COMMISSION – MARK 16:14-16,
“LATER HE APPEARED TO THE ELEVEN AS THEY SAT AT THE TABLE; AND HE RUBUKED THEIR UNBELIEF AND HARDNESS OF HEART, BECAUSE THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THOSE WHO HAD SEEN HIM AFTER HE HAD RISEN. AND HE SAID TO THEM, GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. HE WHO

BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE WILL BE CONDEMNED.”
MATTHEW HENRY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMMENTARY BOOKS. HERE HE IS BOLD IN STATING, “ONLY HE THAT IS A TRUE CHRISTIAN SHALL BE SAVED THROUGH CHRIST, AND THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT NOT, MAY JUSTLY BE UPBRAIDED WITH THEIR UNBELIEF.”
UPBRAIDED IS TO BE REPRIMANDED WITH SEVERITY.
SO, AGAIN
GOD’S GOOD NEWS IS FOR ALL PEOPLE:
FOR THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE THEY NEED JESUS.
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE TOO FAR GONE.
FOR THOSE TOLD YOU’RE NOT PART OF THE GROUP.
FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE UNWORTHY OF GOD’S GRACE.
FOR THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE GOD LOVES YOU!
“THE SAVIOR—YES, THE MESSIAH, THE LORD—HAS BEEN BORN TODAY IN BETHLEHEM, THE CITY OF DAVID”

– LUKE 2:11
YES, HE CAME FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOR US ALL!
THE CHOICE IS YOUR’S TODAY, YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO SERVE THOSE WHO FEEL THEY ARE OUTCASTS.
BECAUSE —LONG BEFORE WE WERE EVER BORN, GOD HAD IN MIND HIS PLAN TO RESCUE US FROM THE UGLINESS IN OUR LIVES.
HE MADE THE WAY TO FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS.
HE CAME TO EARTH AS A BABY TO KNOW OUR WEAKNESSES, OUR FRALITY, AND OUR FLESHY BATTLES WITH THE ENEMY AND OURSELVES.
HE LIVED AND FELT THE STRUGGLES WE ENDURE, AND HE SHOWED US THE WAY TO OVERCOME.
HE CAME AS THE LITTLEST OF WHAT EVERYONE THOUGHT OF AS A SAVIOR…THE KING OF KINGS.

BORN TO THE LEAST OF THESE, A YOUNG, POOR, GIRL CONSIDERED THE LEAST OF ALL WOMEN. SHE WASN’T A QUEEN; SHE WASN’T PART OF A WEALTHY FAMILY.
A LOW-CLASS FEMALE, WHICH TO THOSE IN HER DAY WOULD MAKE HER SEEM UNUSABLE FOR SUCH A MIRACLE.
THE SHEPHERDS WERE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW CLASS. THEY WERE DISTAINED, CONSIDERED OF LOW ESTEEM.
THE CRIMINAL REGARD BY SOCIETY AS THE LOWEST OF THE LOW.
WE ARE TO KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW ILLEGITIMATE OR SHAMEFUL WE BELIEVE OURSELVES TO BE, JESUS DIED FOR US, HE BELIEVES US WORTHY, BUT WE MUST BE REPENTENT AND OBEDIENT.
BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE COMMAND TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD INCLUDES US TO HUMBLE OURSELVES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ALL

SINNERS, AND WE ARE TO MINISTER TO THOSE SOCIETY CONSIDERS THE LOWEST OF ALL. THE CRIMINAL, THE ALCOHOLIC, THE DRUG ADDICT, THE PROSTITUTE, THE FALLEN, THE DISGRACED, THE BACKSLIDDEN. TRUTH BE TOLD, WE ARE ALL OF THEM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
SO, YOU HAVE THE CHOICE TO OVERCOME EVIL AND FIND A NEW LEVEL OF JOY YOU DIDN’T KNOW WAS POSSIBLE BY CHOOSING TO FOLLOW HIM. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION AND LEADING OTHERS TO HIM!
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE TO SERVE AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE INCLUDED IN THE LITTLEST, THE LEAST, AND THE LOWEST!
THE BETTER WE TAKE UP WITH PLAIN THINGS, AND THE LESS WE SEEK TO GRATIFY OUR PRIDE AND LUXURY, THE MORE WE WORK TO APPROACH INNOCENCE OF SERVING GOD’S WILL AND NOT OUR OWN.

GOD CHOOSES THE SIMPLE, THE NOBODIES TO SHOW HIS WILL TO THE ELITE SCHOLAR AND SOCIAL CLIMBER.
THERE ARE NO PEACOCKS IN HEAVEN…THE HIGHEST PLACE IN THE WORLD IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU!
THE WORLD’S NOBODIES ARE GOD’S SOMEBODIES.
GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM, INSTEAD HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THROUGH YOU.
LOOKING AT MARY, LOOKING AT THE SHEPHERDS, AND LOOKING AT THE CRIMINAL ON THE CROSS, IT SHOWS US THAT IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH OF A MAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN…IT JUST TAKES ALL THERE IS OF HIM.
YOU MUST BE ALL IN!
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO BE MADE WILLING!