Matthew 2 tells the story of the Wisemen who followed a special star in search of One who they believed was born to be a King. They traveled for months from their country in search of this special King. Y’all, I get antsy if I am in the car for more than six hours! I cannot imagine a road trip for months!
Look at a part of their story from Matthew’s Gospel: Matthew 2:10 says,10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Seeing Jesus prompted the worship of the Wisemen. They knew they were worshiping a King!
Luke’s Gospel tells how angels appeared to lowly shepherds and told them about the birth of a Christ Child. They declared He was the Savior of the world. Luke 2:15 and following says, 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Seeing Jesus prompted the shepherds to tell others about Him! They knew they had seen the Savior.
To see Jesus, to experience Him, is like peeling the layers of an onion. Every time you take a layer off, there is another one. Only with Jesus, trying to see Him in fullness, trying to understand His dimensions and scope, it’s almost impossible to comprehend fully who He is.
Bible scholars have found approximately 200 different names for Jesus! How many nicknames do you have? I guarantee it isn’t 200! Each name represents His character, His power, or some personal way He helps us. When you truly SEE Jesus, you find the One who has everything you need to enjoy life and everything you need for eternal life. To the Wisemen, He was a King. To the shepherds, He was a Savior. Who is Jesus to you? Have you seen the Lord?
The prophet Isaiah said this about Jesus: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
When you begin life with Jesus, you come to One who is multi-dimensional, all-knowing, all-powerful, One who is everywhere-present, who can do anything about everything you face. Let Him be all that He longs to be in your life this Christmas!
Jesus revealed Himself in many ways and by many names because one name could never fully incapsulate or describe who He really is. He inspired the worship of kings who bowed before Him. He elicited the praise of shepherds who couldn’t stop talking about Him. Who is He to you? Who do you need Him to be today? Call on Him. Call on the name of Jesus because when you call on Jesus you are calling on the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Oh, He is enduringly strong and entirely sincere.
He is eternally steadfast, and He is the sinner’s Savior.
He is the captive’s ransom, and He is the breath of life.
He is unparalleled, and He is unprecedented.
He is undisputed and He is undefiled.
He is unsurpassed and He is unshakable.
He is the lofty idea in philosophy, the highest personality in psychology, the supreme subject in literature, and He is the unavoidable problem in higher criticism.
Jesus is the fundamental doctrine of theology.
No means of measure can define His limitless love.
He forgives and He forgets. He creates and He cleanses.
He restores and He rebuilds. He heals and He helps.
He reconciles and He redeems. He comforts and He carries.
He lifts and He loves.
He is the God of the second chance, the fat chance, the slim chance, and the no chance.
He discharges debtors. He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble, and He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate, and He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent, and He beautifies the meek.
He is the Key to knowledge, and He is the fountain of life.
He is the wellspring of joy, and He is the storehouse of wisdom
He is the doorway of deliverance, the pathway to peace, the roadway of righteousness, the gateway to glory, and He is the highway to happiness.
He supplies strength to the weary. He saves the hopeless, and He shields the helpless.
He gives fulfillment to our emptiness and brings light to our darkness.
He gives comfort in our loneliness, and a future to the Hopeless.
He guards the Young, seeks the stray, finds the lost and guides the faithful.
He defends the weak. He comforts the oppressed, and He welcomes the prodigal
He heals the sick, cleanses the dirty, and mends the broken.
He is indestructible, indescribable, invincible, irresistible, and irrefutable.
I can’t get Him out of my mind, and I can’t get Him out of my heart. I can’t out-live Him, and I can’t live without Him.
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him but they found they couldn’t stop Him.
Satan tried to tempt Him but found he couldn’t trip Him.
Pilot examined Him on trial but found he couldn’t fault Him.
The Romans crucified Him but found they couldn’t take His life.
Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.
He had no predecessor, and He will have no successor.
He is the Lion and He is the Lamb.
He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!
Do you see what I see this Christmas? Have you seen and experienced Jesus in all of His glory? The message of Christmas is a “Come and see” message. What you find will surpass any earthly experience and will point you to the God who has come to personally walk through life and into eternity with you.
