The Value We put on Jesus.

This is an edited version of a post by Ray Comfort, yesterday on his "Atheist Central" blog. I have included my comment, following Ray's remarks. To see the post in it's entirety, click on the link provided above.

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From the Gospel of Luke, chapter two.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:16-19)

Ray Comfort's commentary (edited):

So, what’s all the fuss? This is just a baby in a cow’s feeding trough. Babies are born everyday in poverty. It’s no big deal. True, it’s not a big deal to those who have no understanding. ... [They] give no value to this babe in a manger. They mock that which is precious.

However, those who understand who this was, give it unspeakable value. This babe was God in human form--God "manifest in the flesh" for the express purpose of suffering for the sins of the world, so that the door of death could be closed for humanity and the door of immortally swung open wide. Think of it--if this was the promised Messiah, if Jesus of Nazareth was God in human form, if He did take our punishment, if He can give everlasting life to all who repent and trust in Him--what better news could you hope to ever hear! ...

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My comment:

_By itself, this scene with the new-born baby in Bethlehem does not seem all that special.

But, illuminated from one side by the third chapter of Genesis (Key verse: 15), and from the other side by the twelfth chapter of Revelation (key verse: 5), we see the beginning of a thirty-three year period of time that is the key-stone in the structure of redemptive history.

God came to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and lived a perfect life as a genuine human being, body and soul.

He suffered and died on the cross for sinners.

He was buried, rose from the grave on the third day having overcome death for us.

Forty days later, He ascended to the "right hand of the Father" in heaven from where He now rules His kingdom (the church), and from where he will come again to judge the world.

This is that little baby in a dusty little village, who now holds in his hands the eternal destiny of each one of us.

Craig B