Look Beyond the Manger

Another Christmas has come and gone. Now another year is upon us. At Christmas we remembered the babe in the manger and marveled at His miraculous incarnation. Now look beyond the manger and discover the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed from Genesis through Revelation.

The Lord is Emmanuel, the eternal Word made flesh to dwell among us.

“Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”      John 1:14

Jesus was born of a virgin as foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in Luke 2:27-35. He’s also the seed of the woman as promised in Genesis 3:15. Numerous prophecies about the Lord Jesus have been given and fulfilled. The rest will be fulfilled in God’s appointed time.

Some of these passages are in the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. The first chapter even promises a special blessing to those who read it. Consider these verses:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:1-3

In verse 8 of the first chapter, the Lord says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

In verse 18 Jesus states, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

In chapter five of Revelation, the Lord is described as the Lion of Judah and the sacrificed Lamb, the only one worthy to open the book. When He takes the book, the elders fall down and worship Him.

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth…And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:9-10; 13

In Revelation chapter 19, the Lord comes to judge the earth. This chapter gives details of His judgement and calls the Lord Faithful and True, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

As we look beyond the manger to the majesty of the Lord, we must worship Him, for He is worthy.

 

Beyond the Manger

 

He’s the seed of a woman, the Savior of Man,

Born of a virgin in God’s perfect plan.

He created the world that He was born in,

He’s the Alpha, Omega, beginning and end.

He’s the Holy, Eternal, Creator “I Am,”

The Lion of Judah, the Sacrificed Lamb.

Lord of Lords, King of Kings, He is worthy, my friend,

Our redeemer, Messiah, let’s all worship Him!

 

The following song is by Chris Tomlin. Enjoy!

 

For an excellent Bible study on the book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, consider watching this series by Chuck Missler.

The Book of Revelation – Session 1 of 24 – A Remastered Commentary by Chuck Missler (youtube.com)