1.14- The cross as a shadow in the background.

 1.14-

The cross as a shadow in the background.

We like the Christmas season. Here is a new baby. Landing on earth in humble circumstances. Overcoming all odds and gaining improvements in life.

Then a single boy or girl has visions of someday finding a soul mate or life mate. The church building is a place where they might be wedding showers and then a wedding.

The couple prays for a child. There is a baby shower held there in the building. The Christmas story is true. We can find someone who loves us and wants to have a family with us. Life is good.

Then death comes and judgement.

But there is a shadow. There is a cross. When baby Jesus grew up He became a teacher. The first chapter of one of His biography in John said, “The Lamb of God”. What does that mean?

Lambs are sacrificed for sins. Lambs are slaughtered. The shadow of the cross is there in the entire three years of Jesus ministry. Jesus said I’m going to Jerusalem. There the leaders of my religion will reject, insult and kill me. That is where Jesus knew He was headed.

To His followers He said that you cannot be my disciple unless you take up your cross and follow.

That cross.

We think we can face it and we can’t. Peter thought he could and he couldn’t.

The church building in own farm community is standing strong and in the next little community I noticed a congregation that their building had rotted and fallen down.

What is the difference between these two congregations? I don’t know. I know the congregation I grew up in is constantly reminding the people that the gospel is not accepted as good way to live from the worldly point of view.

We stand with Jesus’ way regardless of the world’s point of view.

Jesus was born of a virgin.

He lived a perfect life.

He died on the cross as a substitute, lamb of God, for the sins of all of us who are sinners.

He was resurrected from the grave. His early followers were killed.

He is the way, the truth and the life.

This is the message of Jesus. The worldly point off view will not accept this for is it is a narrow road.

The shadow of the cross is there even in Bethlehem.

Can you see the cross in this picture? Are you willing to pick up the cross and deny yourself and follow Jesus?

This is the message of the church Jesus is building.

John 1.

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders[c] in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[f]

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus

35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]).