“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Matthew 17:5
The Christmas season has begun and within a few short weeks, millions will be wishing one another a “Merry Christmas”. Manger scenes and strings of lights have already started to appear on houses and town greens. And these upcoming weeks will be spent in preparation and anticipation of gift-giving, family get-togethers, and special meals.
Even many unbelievers in the world seem to have no problem celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. They’ll go to Christmas Eve services and even sing Christmas carols. Apparently, Jesus as a baby is acceptable to many.
But there came a time in the public ministry of Jesus Christ that He went up on a high mountain and was transfigured before His disciples such that, “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light” (Matthew 17:2). Then the voice of God the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
And for many, this is the problem, listening to what Christ says.
As a baby only, Jesus is inoffensive, even sentimental at times. But when Jesus grew up and began to speak, many would not listen. Some found His words too hard. Others just ignored Him, while others were aroused to hate Him. Isn’t it the same today? What other explanation can there be to the fact that of the millions who hear Jesus Christ through the preaching of the gospel, the greater numbers of them do not respond and become His disciples.
Jesus Himself gave the reason for this rejection when He said, “The world… hates Me, because I testify of it that its works are evil” (John 7:7). There’s the rub! The minds and hearts of fallen men do not want to hear, that in God’s eyes, their works and deeds are evil. This brings rejection and even hatred. Why? Pride!
Oh indeed, many men will tolerate moralizing essays, which pass for sermons, that tell them how to behave. They’ll even accept these teachings as the very teachings of Jesus Christ Himself. But they’re accepted because moral instruction, when only presented by itself, implies they are capable of accomplishing it, thus appealing to their vanity.
But just giving moral instruction is not the gospel! John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But I can’t fully understand John 3:16 until I first understand and believe that I’m a ruined sinner. Otherwise I would only conclude that God sent His Son to be an example on how to live and make myself presentable to God. I might also conclude that God sending His Son to die was a strange way of showing love.
But if I hear Jesus when He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31), and if I examine my own deeds and intentions in the light of that standard, then I see that my every thought, word and deed is stained with the corruptions of a selfish heart. As such, I come to see that I have not, cannot, and never will please God, and am morally ruined and subject to God’s judgment.
Now I can see the great love of God in sending His Son to save a helpless sinner. I deserve to be damned for my sin and rebellion, but God, who is rich in mercy, gave His Son to die in my place. That’s love, unconditional and unbounded! And that merciful reprieve from God is mine by faith alone. Now I can really mean it when I sing in celebration of Christ’s birth,
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Are you listening to Christ? May God give you ears to hear this advent season, and all year round!
The Christmas season has begun and within a few short weeks, millions will be wishing one another a “Merry Christmas”. Manger scenes and strings of lights have already started to appear on houses and town greens. And these upcoming weeks will be spent in preparation and anticipation of gift-giving, family get-togethers, and special meals.
Even many unbelievers in the world seem to have no problem celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. They’ll go to Christmas Eve services and even sing Christmas carols. Apparently, Jesus as a baby is acceptable to many.
But there came a time in the public ministry of Jesus Christ that He went up on a high mountain and was transfigured before His disciples such that, “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light” (Matthew 17:2). Then the voice of God the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
And for many, this is the problem, listening to what Christ says.
As a baby only, Jesus is inoffensive, even sentimental at times. But when Jesus grew up and began to speak, many would not listen. Some found His words too hard. Others just ignored Him, while others were aroused to hate Him. Isn’t it the same today? What other explanation can there be to the fact that of the millions who hear Jesus Christ through the preaching of the gospel, the greater numbers of them do not respond and become His disciples.
Jesus Himself gave the reason for this rejection when He said, “The world… hates Me, because I testify of it that its works are evil” (John 7:7). There’s the rub! The minds and hearts of fallen men do not want to hear, that in God’s eyes, their works and deeds are evil. This brings rejection and even hatred. Why? Pride!
Oh indeed, many men will tolerate moralizing essays, which pass for sermons, that tell them how to behave. They’ll even accept these teachings as the very teachings of Jesus Christ Himself. But they’re accepted because moral instruction, when only presented by itself, implies they are capable of accomplishing it, thus appealing to their vanity.
But just giving moral instruction is not the gospel! John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But I can’t fully understand John 3:16 until I first understand and believe that I’m a ruined sinner. Otherwise I would only conclude that God sent His Son to be an example on how to live and make myself presentable to God. I might also conclude that God sending His Son to die was a strange way of showing love.
But if I hear Jesus when He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31), and if I examine my own deeds and intentions in the light of that standard, then I see that my every thought, word and deed is stained with the corruptions of a selfish heart. As such, I come to see that I have not, cannot, and never will please God, and am morally ruined and subject to God’s judgment.
Now I can see the great love of God in sending His Son to save a helpless sinner. I deserve to be damned for my sin and rebellion, but God, who is rich in mercy, gave His Son to die in my place. That’s love, unconditional and unbounded! And that merciful reprieve from God is mine by faith alone. Now I can really mean it when I sing in celebration of Christ’s birth,
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Are you listening to Christ? May God give you ears to hear this advent season, and all year round!