2008-05-06 - What Jesus Do You See?

"Dear Lord baby Jesus ..."
"Dear tiny infant Jesus ..."

"Dear Lord baby Jesus, lyin' there in your ghost manger, just lookin' at your
Baby Einstein developmental videos, learnin' 'bout shapes and colors..."

These are how Ricky Bobby begins a few "prayers" in a movie called Talladega Nights. In one scene his wife gets upset that he always prays to baby Jesus and he defends himself saying, "Well look, I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I'm sayin' grace. When you say grace, you can say it to grown up Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus, or whoever you want."

Close your eyes for a minute and think of Jesus. What image do you see?

It seems many people like the little baby Jesus. He is cute and innocent. And, when Christmas is gone, we can pack him neatly away in a box. Too many people want a boxed up baby Jesus that they can pull out for special occasions or when they really need something. Nevertheless, this is not who Jesus is; he grew up.

Then there is Savior Jesus on the cross. He is the one who will save us from any situation we manage to get ourselves into - or so we think. However, this is also not who Jesus is; he died on that cross, was buried, and rose from the grave.

Another image people often have of Jesus is the one I call bathrobe Jesus. This is Jesus in a bathrobe walking among the people, performing miracles, living a humble life. This was once Jesus but just like baby Jesus and crucified Jesus, it is not who Jesus is now.

One of the biggest failings of the church today is that it teaches all about baby Jesus, bathrobe Jesus, and crucified Jesus - all the past Jesuses - but it falls short on helping us to see who Jesus is right now.

Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Do you see Jesus on the right hand of God? What is he doing there? We only have to look to the Psalms for an answer.

Psalm 110 - A Psalm of David

1. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

Think about this. Jesus is not a cute cuddly baby that we can hold and tickle. We don't hold him and make him smile with our silly faces. Jesus won't fit in a box except for the holidays. He will not fit in your shirt pocket either to be called out when you need a little help. Nor will he hang on a cross around your neck looking for ways to save you from the problems you get yourself into. And he's not walking beside you in a bathrobe trying to be your best friend. He is on a throne in heaven as your king. He is there to be served because he alone is worthy. Worthy is the Lamb!

Revelation 5:11-14 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; ¹² Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. ¹³ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. ¹⁴ And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Do not hang out with him. Do not hold him. Do not leave him hanging on some old wood. Fall before your king. Bow to him today.

IHFHBOH
Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All scripture references from KJV unless otherwise noted

2013-06-07
2014-08-08