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I hope you find encouragement in your faith in Jesus, and maybe even learn something new along the way 🙂
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Throughout the month of December, we spend much time and have many activities in celebration of the birth of Jesus. As we celebrate the birth, we should also spend time contemplating the life that Jesus came to the earth to live.
The prophecies of Isaiah explain the life the Messiah would live. These are the foundational proofs of the reality that Jesus is the Messiah. As we look at the life of Christ from the scriptures, there is one thing we should remember… the life that Jesus lived is the life we can experience ourselves. So, today we are going to consider how we can live a Jesus lifestyle.
According to Isaiah, and proved through the birth records of Jesus, at His birth Jesus became…
1. Part of the Family—1
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The promise given to Abraham back in Genesis 12, that he would become a great nation, that all nations would be blessed through him, began its true fulfillment at the birth of Jesus. The promise that was established with Abraham was passed on through his lineage to Jesse, the father of King David. From King David, the genealogy from both sides of his family lead to the birth of Jesus.
In Luke 2.4 we read, “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.” This was part of the proof that Jesus came from the lineage of David. The only reason Joseph, and Mary, went to Bethlehem to register was the fact that they were part of that family line.
The apostle John, when writing about the end times, wrote, “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” – Revelation 5.5. Again, this prophecy points to the person of Jesus as part of the promised family lineage.
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Just as Jesus is part of the family, we get to be part of that family as well. The writer of Hebrews, as well as other authors of the scriptural record, wrote in Hebrews 10.19, “Therefore, brothers and sisters…” We are no longer just individuals treading on this earth, we are family.
After His resurrection, Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20.17-18). Again, we are not alone. We are family. Brothers and sisters with Christ and sons and daughters of God.
When Jesus came, He was also…
2. Filled with the Spirit—2-3a
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
Hundreds of years before it took place, Isaiah spoke this truth with complete accuracy. In Luke 3.22, after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, we read, “and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
The Spirit came upon Jesus in visible form. This was to point to the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, which happened just as Isaiah had said.
Another truth about the Spirit resting on Jesus that we should consider, this same Spirit can now rest upon us. Through faith in Jesus, confessing that He is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved. In this salvation, we receive the same Spirit that rested upon Jesus.
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the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
This Spirit that Jesus lived by gave Him the wisdom and understanding He needed in all situations. The wisdom and understanding was not limited to His adult years, it is something He always possessed.
In Luke 2.41-52 we read the story of Jesus and His family going to the temple. When the family left for home, Jesus stayed back at the temple. Once His family realized He was missing, they went back to find Him.
Verses 46-47 tell us, “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
At twelve years old, Jesus was amazing those who heard Him speak. They were amazed because they were hearing the Spirit within Him speaking through Him. Later on, but early on in His ministry, we read the following words from Matthew 13.54,
“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked.”
Once again, this truth about the Spirit’s work in Jesus’ life is the same way the Spirit can work in our own lives. It is the Spirit that gives the wisdom and understanding we need, when we need it. This was not something only acceptable to Jesus. To those who believe in Him can have access to the Spirit’s work within them.
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the Spirit of counsel and of might,
Along with wisdom and understanding, the Spirit also brings counsel and might. With the Spirit, when Jesus would give direction, it was best to follow what He said.
In John 21.6, after a long day of fishing with no catches to show for it, the disciples came in for the night. When they came close to shore, Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” There was some hesitation at first, but when they complied, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
That story spoke to the type of counsel Jesus gives. This next story, from Mark 4.35-41, speaks to His might.
Once again, the disciples, and Jesus, were on the lake after a long day. While out on the water, a storm arose that terrified these seasoned sailors. We read in Mark 4.38-39 what happened next, “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
Jesus had the counsel and might to do the things He accomplished on this earth. Once again, though, we also that this same Spirit within us. Like Jesus, we are given the ability to give wise counsel and do mighty works of God because of that Spirit.
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the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
More than knowledge in general, Jesus had the knowledge and fear of the Lord. He told His followers on different occasions about His connection to the Father. In John 10.30 He says, “I and he Father are one.” Then, in John 14.7 He states, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
It is this knowledge and fear that the Spirit within us can bring. We, too, can gain a knowledge of the Lord that surpasses human understanding. This can happen as the Spirit of God is given more control of our lives.
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and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
What we see in these few verses is a powerful picture of not just what Jesus experienced, but also what we can experience with His Spirit within us. In our relationship with Christ, the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon us. It will give us wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and the knowledge and fear of the Lord.
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Because of the Spirit within Him, Jesus had…
3. Knowledge of the Facts—3b-5
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
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One attribute Jesus had was the ability to know what was going on at all times. If people were thinking things, or sharing things with their friends, Jesus knew the topic of discussion. He could, and often would, address the issue before a word was actually spoken.
One example would be the story of the lame man in Luke 5 that was lowered from the roof and placed right in front of Jesus. In this encounter, Jesus makes a claim that causes the religious leaders and others to begin grumbling among themselves.
In response, we read in Luke 5.22-23, “Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? Jesus knew the facts and could respond accordingly.
Another example is the story of the woman at the well in John 4. In this interaction, Jesus is able to tell the woman truths about her life that no one else would know. Through this knowledge, He was able to impact the life that was before Him.
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As followers of Christ, we can also receive this knowledge of the facts. It is in the Spirit that we find wisdom and discernment to make the right choices. By the Spirit of God, we can look beyond what we see and hear, and get to the root of the issue that is being faced.
Because of whom He was and who resided within Him, Jesus is able to offer…
4. A Life of Freedom—6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
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Isaiah is speaking about a peace that is yet to come. At the end of time, all contentions will cease. There will be complete peace and complete freedom. This freedom will allow us all to live life together as one, no longer split apart by the ways of men.
In the here and now, and into eternity, we can experience the freedom from sin. All sins, our past, present, and future sins, have been forgiven. We have the freedom to live in peace, complete peace, before God and man because of Christ.
Through the work of Jesus in His birth to His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus also offers…
5. A Life of Fullness—10-16
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.
He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.
Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies will be destroyed; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim.
They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east.
They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.
The Lord will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River.
He will break it up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals.
There will be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from Egypt.
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At the end of time, there is going to be a time of reclaiming, redeeming, and restoring. God is going to bring all people back together to live as one under His headship. He is going to bring unity to among the people. Our whole spiritual family will come together.
The prophet Ezekiel spoke to this in Ezekiel 37.22 when he wrote, “I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.”
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We can look at this verse in a few ways…
- The promised land had divided into two kingdoms, the northern and southern kingdoms. There was the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. So, God could be saying that these two kingdoms will now live as one.
- Another way to look at it is in view of the people groups at that time. There were the Jews and the non-Jews. The Jews and the Gentiles. Because of Christ, these two groups now have the freedom to live as one under the headship of Jesus.
- Then there is what Paul refers to as “the church.” He still defines the two people groups, the Jews and Greeks (Gentiles). However, now there is a third race known as the Church. This is a place where the two “kingdoms” are now joined together as one through the work of Jesus Christ.
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Based on these words from Isaiah, and in light of the work that Jesus performed, we can now live a Jesus lifestyle through the Spirit we receive as followers of Jesus. Because of this Spirit, we know that…
Jesus was born into the family of promise.
In Christ, we are now part of that same family.
Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God.
In Christ, we, too, are filled with that same Spirit.
Jesus knew the facts in every situation because of the Spirit.
We, also, can be led to the truth by that same Spirit.
Jesus lived a life in full freedom with God.
In Christ, we can also experience complete freedom from sin.
Jesus came to give us a life of fullness, together, with Him.
That fullness happens as we come together in service to the Lord.
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