12-31-19 Today in the Word

Who is this Jesus?
EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS!
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 | Philippians 2:5–11

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” is one of the great hymns of the Christian faith. It says a lot that evangelist Billy Graham chose it as one of six songs to be sung at his funeral, and as only one of two hymns to be sung by the congregation on that occasion. As one verse proclaims: “Let every kindred, every tribe, on this terrestrial ball, to Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all!”
This month, we’ve answered the life-changing question, “Who is this Jesus?” One day, every person will answer with this confident statement: “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (v. 11). Today’s reading, most of which may be an early Christian hymn, walks us through the basic points of Christology.
The first three verses describe Jesus’ first Advent, namely, His Incarnation and the mission of redemption (vv. 6–8). Despite being God, He stepped down to become human, then down again to be a servant, then down again to dying a convict’s death. These deliberate steps of humility were also steps of obedience to His Father and of love for us. Jesus is the perfect example of valuing or esteeming others above ourselves (v. 3). In this and other ways, we’re to “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (v. 5).
The second three verses describe Jesus’ second Advent, in other words His Second Coming and (again) mission of redemption (vv. 9–11). The previous steps lead down and now they step up: God the Father “exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Jesus will take His place as King and rule over all. Throughout the material and spiritual realms, every knee will bow and every tongue confess these truths!
APPLY THE WORD
“Who is this Jesus?” Are you ready with the answer? He’s the One we follow, the One we imitate, the One who is transforming us from the inside out. Take time to review and pray over this month’s study on Jesus, including the notes you began on December 1. Let’s rejoice in these truths about Christ as we begin the new year!
PRAY WITH US
On this last day of the year, we want to thank you for your financial support of Today in the Word in 2019. We thank God for a year full of His grace, love, and mercy to us. We hope that you will join us as we begin 2020. Happy New Year!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

9-16-23 Santa Staleness

Santa Staleness :: By Edwin Tan Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles My one and only trip to Israel had more than a profound effect on my present-day psyche. It might have been three decades ago, but there is more than a lingering aftertaste. It happened smack in the last fortnight of the year. Surprisingly absent were the familiar sights and sounds of the Christmas most people are accustomed to. Hardly any Christmas decorations in downtown Tel Aviv, if not any of the shopping thoroughfares across the Holy Land. Hanukah was a breath of fresh air – not anything resembling a Christmas carol most people grew up with did surface. The Christmas Eve service in a small Protestant church not far away from Jerusalem’s Old City was awesome; songs that truly celebrated the virgin birth of our Lord, which though seemingly unheard of, were a welcome inspiration to many a soul. There was even one sung in Arabic! So it began, my overt disdain for the secular Christmas t...
Read more

9-25-23 The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas

The Farm Chronicles: One Christmas :: By Bill Wilson Published on: December 24, 2022 by RR10 Category:Bill Wilson, General Articles There are a lot of terrible things going on right now in the world. But we are at the time of the year when we, as Christians, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We can choose to be impacted by the world around us in its dimly lit arena, or we can choose to let our light so shine. I choose the latter. I want to tell you a little about the Christmas that I had growing up on our family farm in Ohio. I was blessed to be born into a horse and cattle farm that has been in our family for some 200 years. And Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, was a wonderful time for our family. December 24 was my Dad’s birthday. And my Dad was well-loved by his neighbors and friends, so we had a lot going on Christmas Eve. I remember one special Christmas Eve. I must have been about four years old. The night was falling, and the wind and snow were whipping across the barny...
Read more

9-15-23 Miracles 2

Miracles 2 :: By Jim Towers Published on: December 21, 2022 by RR10 Category:General Articles This story is a continuation of the exciting things God continues doing in my life. I was supposed to have died a while back, and sometimes I feel as though I may do so soon. But since I’m ready to meet my maker, I have no fear of death. In fact, my evangelistic zeal has only increased, especially as I see the fast approaching of the “Tribulation period” mentioned in the book of Revelation. Insofar as my acting career is concerned, I just finished filming a soliloquy featuring Melchior, one of the three Magi who followed the star to Christ lying in the manger, and am preparing to portray a Jewish Priest on stage. Like I said, God is working overtime in my life, and I will be appearing on stage singing Broadway show tunes sometime in March, so I have a lot of rehearsing to do. In the meantime, I will be signing Christmas carols acapella at a park here in Naples. Since it is a spontaneous th...
Read more