Note: (CL) = Controling Lesson (OT) = Old Testament (OTA) = Old Testament Alternative (NT) = New Testament (NTA) = New Testament Alternative (G) = Gospel (GA) = Gospel Alternative (Ps) = Psalm; one of these will follow all lessons for the week.

Note: Please be sure to look at previous posts because some of the week may have already been posted.


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Christmas Day

Mark 12:28-37 (CL)
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. 
35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, 
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, 
“Sit at my right hand, 
until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 
37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. 

Hear, O Israel unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.  This Son of David is also David's Lord.  He is the one who will put your enemies under his feet.  This Son of David and Son of God will vanquish the many enemies trying to destroy us.

Which is the greatest Commandment in all of Scripture?  Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind.  The Second is like the first because it is all about Love.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

But what does all this have to do with Christmas?  The Nativity of our Lord is concerning itself with one of the most sacred Doctrines of all, The Incarnation.  Jesus Christ is the Word made Flesh.  Jesus Christ is not only the Son of David, but also the LORD God dwelling in flesh.  He is not just clothed or incased in flesh but is a flesh and blood Son of David.

This is why Christ even asks the questions among the most learned among all of Israel.  He asks them How can these things make sense together.  The Answer is found in Jesus Christ himself.  He is the Son of David according to his flesh, and He is David's Lord according to his Divine Nature.  But these can not be separated from one another any more than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can be separated from one another.

It is truly a Godly thing to twist our mind around all these things.  Merry Christmas.

Deuteronomy 6:1-12 (Isaiah 7:10-14)
Romans 10:5-21 (Hebrews 1:1-12)
(Luke 2:1-14)
Psalm 31:14-24





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