"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this." Isaiah 9;5-7
That night one star was shining really bright over the place where the special boy came into the world. Years passed by and the boy was growing up with wisdom and was filled with God's spirit. His whole life was spent among the Jews and he became great servant of God.
He traveled annually with his family to Jerusalem for the feasts, and while they visited synagogues he amazed people with his wisdom. He baffled the Temple leaders with his knowledge of the Scriptures at the age of 12.At the age of 30 he started his public ministry teaching people about God's Kingdom and doing the most amazing work people have ever witnessed.
In teaching s and conversations alike, he constantly cited Moses and the prophets. He was a doctor, he was a teacher. No matter what the illness, either paralyzed or blind, the one who asked - received healing. One day 10 sick men with leprosy came to him , they got healed but only one came back to say thanks to God for the recovery.
Even the non -thankful heart received grace. There was more than just a physical healing. The demon possessed people were having their spirit restored.
Evil spirits were trembling before him , they were being cast out crying "I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
People were getting healed spiritually, emotionally , being set free from all their guilt and condemnation. The restoration of souls was taking place. Despair and hopelessness was replaced with hope and peace and God's love. They were getting free from whatever bound them down in their past. The most amazing thing was that a dead person could be raised back to life. The power over life and dead was manifested. Lazarus was brought to life after 4 days laying dead in the grave, Jairus' 12 year -old daughter opened her eyes and got up after the hopeless family cried in despair over their dead girl.
Compassion, peace, hope, tears of joy were filling the air wherever that servant of God was invited.
Do we wish God's power to be present in our lives in such a way? The Israeli- born man brought to people something they all have longed for. It was called
'living water, bread of heaven, life to the full, clean heart and peace between them and God.'
One day, this Godly man stood up in a synagogue and read from the book of Isaiah 61;1;
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor"
And he began to say unto them, 'This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears."
In the 'Year of the Lord's favor' grace and peace from God is offered to those who listen and obey His word.
Instead of the 'dead religion' we can experience the living God.
Time passed by and one day that servant of God was betrayed and handed over to the Roman soldiers, ridiculed, bitten and killed.
The same man who just days ago demonstrated power over life and death, over every sickness, the same one who said to the storm; 'calm down' ( in front of his frightened friends) and the wind and waves obeyed him, and the storm was over! On the day while being in Roman's soldiers hands - he wasn't using his power, not even tried to free himself. You would wonder why would he allow himself to be killed? He died in your place, it was penalty for your sin he took on. He saved you from God's wrath. Wages of sin is death, and that death he took on voluntarily is so you can have your relationship with God restored. His name was Jesus. He is our Passover lamb, whose blood shed on the cross covers our sins and saves us from everlasting death.
Isaiah 53;5 says;
"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed."
v.11 "(...)my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities."
On the third day he was risen back to life, he conquered death as Isaiah prophesied;
Isaiah 53;10
"Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
v.11" After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life"
The One restored back to life
He said himself ;" I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
Revelation 1;18
If He is your Lord, you are saved from everlasting death as He offers you everlasting life.
Jesus said " I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he was dead, yet shall he live" John 11;25
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