My Meditations for Christmas 2012

John 18:37

...to this end was I born...

Christ's Humanity

He presented pure humanity to God.

He brought manhood to heaven.

...for this cause came I into the world...

Christ's Deity

He presented perfect Deity to man.

He brought Godhood to earth.

The Conception in the Womb

...was I born...

* He Who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15) dwelt in space (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:31) and time (Matthew 2:2).

The Coming into the World

...came I into the world...

* Only Christ could come into the world (contrast with John 16:21 - everyone else was born into it) because He existed before the foundation of the world with the Father (John 16:28).

* The Father sent and Christ came willingly (contrast John 3:17 with John 3:19; 1 John 4:9 with Hebrews 10:5).

* The usage of the phrase "into the world" is mainly found in John's gospel and mainly describes Christ either coming or being sent into the world which is no surprise as John's emphasis is the Son of God who existed from the beginning (John 1:1-3).

The Characteristic of the Witness

...that I should bear witness unto the truth...

* Christ is the truth (John 14:6)

* Christ is full of truth (John 1:14)

* Christ manifests the truth (John 8:40,45 - words; Psalm 33:4 - works)

The Challenge for the Willing

Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

* Are you of the truth?

* Are you hearing His voice (John 10:27; Revelation 3:20 contrast with Song of Solomon 5:2-3)?

The Church in Ephesians

The Church as:
* The Body (Eph 1:23) - living relationship
* The Building (Eph 2:21) - lasting relationship
* The Bride (Eph 5:32) - loving relationship

- J.J. Stubbs

The Calling (Ephesians 4:1)

Ephesians 1:18 - His calling
Ephesians 4:4 - Hopeful calling
Philippians 3:14 - High calling
2 Timothy 1:9 - Holy calling
Hebrews 3:1 - Heavenly calling

Outline of Ephesians

Eph 1:1 - 3:21 (Doctrine)
In Christ - position
Eph 4:1 - 6:24 (Direction)
In the Lord - responsibility

Christian Wealth (Eph 1:1 - 3:21)
Christian Walk (Eph 4:1 - 5:33)
Christian Warfare (Eph 6:1-24)

Eph 1:1-23 - The Blessing (Devotedness)
Eph 2:1-22 - The Building (Holiness)
Eph 3:1-21 - The Bounty (Witness)
Eph 4:1-32 - The Body (Preparedness)
Eph 5:1-33 - The Bride (Thoughtfulness)
Eph 6:1-24 - The Battle (Faithfulness)
(the last one is borrowed from a source I cannot remember)

7 Walks in Ephesians

Eph 2:2 - Worldly Walk (Course of this world)
Eph 2:10 - Working Walk (Creation unto good works)
Eph 4:1 - Worthy Walk (Calling of the saints)
Eph 4:17 - Wayward Walk (Carelessness of their mind)
Eph 5:2 - Warm Walk (Compassion of the Christ)
Eph 5:8 - Well-lit Walk (Children of the light)
Eph 5:15 - Wise Walk (Carefulness of the wise)

Behold...(John 19)

John 19:5 - Behold the man!
cf. Zech 6:12
Loftiness of Christ
The Sinless Man

John 19:14 - Behold your King!
cf. Zech 9:9
Lowliness of Christ
The Sovereign Monarch

John 19:26,27 - Behold thy son! Behold thy mother!
Loveliness of Christ
The Sympathetic Master

Fate of the Faithful

Righteousness Reviled (Rev 13:15)
Righteousness Rewarded (Rev 19:8)
Righteousness Reigns (Rev 20:4)
Righteousness Resides (Rev 21:3)

Pictures of Christ from the Flock

The Lamb - His Suffering
Revelations 5:6 - a Lamb as it had been slain
Isaiah 53:7 - as a lamb to the slaughter

The Sheep - His Submission 
Isaiah 53:7 - as a sheep before her shearers

The Ram - His Strength
Genesis 22:13 - a ram caught in a thicket by his horns

Worship in Revelation 4

Rev 4:8-9
The four beasts did not stop their worship. They gave glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne.

Rev 4:10
The 24 elders did not stand there wilfully. They fell down before Him that sat on the throne.

Rev 4:10
The 24 elders did not savour their wreaths. They cast them before the throne.

Descriptions of Grace in Ephesians

The Glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6)
We see the Person of the Beloved.
We enjoy Acceptance.

The Riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)
We see the Price of His Blood.
We enjoy Forgiveness.

The Exceeding Riches of His grace (Ephesians 2:7)
We see the Pleasantness of His Behavior.
We enjoy Kindness.

Beneath Thy Cross

Am I a stone, and not a sheep,
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath thy cross,
To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss,
And yet not weep?

Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon--
I, only I.

Yet give not o'er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock. 

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894) 

Matthew - The King's Person

Matthew 1 - Birth of the King
The Son of David, The Son of Abraham (Matt 1:1)
Greatness: He is God (Matt 1:23)
Grace: He is God with us (Matt 1:23)

Matthew 2 - Bethlehem of Judaea
The Son out of Egypt (Matt 2:15)
Greatness: He is worshipped as one born King (Matt 2:2)
Grace: He subjects Himself to the care of earthly parents (Matt 2:14-15)

Matthew 3 - Baptism of repentance
The Son of the Father (Matt 3:17)
Greatness: He is the Lord for whom John prepared the way (Matt 3:3)
Grace: He subjects Himself to being baptised by John (Matt 3:15) 

Matthew 4 - Beginning of the ministry
The Son of God (Matt 4:3, 6)
Greatness: He is in control of everything He created (Matt 4:24)
Grace: He subjects Himself to being tempted by His creation (Matt 4:1)

Outline of Matthew

The King's Person (Matt 1:1 - 4:25)
The King's Principles (Matt 5:1 - 7:29)
The King's Power (Matt 8:1 - 12:50)
The King's Programme (Matt 13:1 - 23:39)
The King's Prophecies (Matt 24:1 - 25:46)
The King's Passion (Matt 26:1 - 28:20)

* This outline is borrowed but I can't remember its source.