Here’s a question: What was Jesus doing for most of His approximately 33 years here on earth?
The answer is apparently nothing particularly spectacular.
True the last three years contained a ministry that changed the course of history and still has people talking 2000 years later, but for most of His time here Jesus seems to have lived in quiet obscurity. Doing ordinary stuff like a trade, household chores, probably a little bit of social recreation.
Let’s try and remember that today, when we feel our lives are less than spectacular, if we’re tempted to wonder are we of any significance at all. When things are frustrating or frankly boring, when people are causing us stress.
The Son of God did stuff like this. He thinks it worthwhile. More, He considers us of value.
Where it gets into the realms of the awesome is when the New Testament claims He deliberately shared our humanity so that we could somehow share in things divine.
The famous Christmas reading from John 1 states, ‘The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.’ ‘To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.’
Or consider these amazing words from 2 Peter 1v4: ‘He has given His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…’
He dwelt on earth that we might dwell in heaven. He was tainted with our sin that we might be clothed in His righteousness. He was tempted by the evil one that we might overcome evil with good. He was weighed down by our guilt and anguish that we might be more than conquerors in the power of His Spirit. He felt pain and rejection that we might know the joy of being loved by God.
He shared our stuff that we might share His.
Ordinary things, made wonderful in grace, by our beautiful Lord and Master.
Praise His name!
The answer is apparently nothing particularly spectacular.
True the last three years contained a ministry that changed the course of history and still has people talking 2000 years later, but for most of His time here Jesus seems to have lived in quiet obscurity. Doing ordinary stuff like a trade, household chores, probably a little bit of social recreation.
Let’s try and remember that today, when we feel our lives are less than spectacular, if we’re tempted to wonder are we of any significance at all. When things are frustrating or frankly boring, when people are causing us stress.
The Son of God did stuff like this. He thinks it worthwhile. More, He considers us of value.
Where it gets into the realms of the awesome is when the New Testament claims He deliberately shared our humanity so that we could somehow share in things divine.
The famous Christmas reading from John 1 states, ‘The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.’ ‘To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.’
Or consider these amazing words from 2 Peter 1v4: ‘He has given His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…’
He dwelt on earth that we might dwell in heaven. He was tainted with our sin that we might be clothed in His righteousness. He was tempted by the evil one that we might overcome evil with good. He was weighed down by our guilt and anguish that we might be more than conquerors in the power of His Spirit. He felt pain and rejection that we might know the joy of being loved by God.
He shared our stuff that we might share His.
Ordinary things, made wonderful in grace, by our beautiful Lord and Master.
Praise His name!
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