The Real Redeemer

TITLE: The Real Redeemer
DATE: December 24, 2019
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

TEXT: john 11: 25-27 – ESV - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Even as a grown Man, Jesus knew nothing of art...yet He has awakened the genius in the world's greatest artists and has inspired more works of art, hung in more famous galleries, than any other man.

He knew nothing of medicine...was never trained as a surgeon....yet He healed the sick of every type of disease, caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb to speak and even the dead to be brought back to life.

He never heard an oratorio or a grand opera...but His life has prompted the writing of the greatest hymns, songs of joy and oratorios that have ever been heard. The Hallelujahs sung to praise Him are beyond number.

He never owned any of this world's goods...but wealth has multiplied wherever He has become known.

His own nation rejected Him and crucified Him...but today the people of every nation on earth have praised and acknowledged Him. His priests despised and disowned Him, yet, hundreds of thousands of priests and pastors have given their all to follow Him. Every other man has had his faults ...but the judge who condemned Him to an ignominious death publicly declared at the time: "I find no fault in this man."

He was born in a manger and put to death as a malefactor...yet, after more than 1,900 years He lives in men's hearts with respect like no other man.

He was a Jew...but He is the only Personality this world has ever produced Who is universal and international. Only He has managed to rise above all national and geographical lines and yes, even racial prejudice.

Great teachers, religious leaders, political persons speak only for their day and to their generation...but His words, spoken in a remote colony of an ancient empire have rung  clearly for all times, conditions and to all peoples; and His truth has anticipated every change the world has ever known.

Conquerors come, rise and fall, live and die, but this man has lived through the centuries, and every year, increasing millions sing the triumph of His life and teachings.

Thousands of new laws are made and many old laws are revised each year, but the eternal truth He taught, like His unchanging character, is the same, 'Yesterday, today and forever."

His one recorded sermon, delivered in the open air, has become the supreme message of grace for all people for all ages.

He never headed a government, nor did He ever have any armed forces at His command. yet countless millions bow at every mention of His name and sing anthems of praise and thanksgiving for His life. He associated freely with publicans, prostitutes and sinners, and His personal appearance was neither striking nor unusual...yet the world would give millions of dollars for an actual picture of this humble carpenter's Son, Who devoted Himself to unselfish ministry for others.

Great men live and die and their influence becomes less and less as the years go by, until their names are forgotten - this is the way of humankind - but this one-of-a-kind Man continues to live and influence more lives in a larger way with every passing year.

THE PRAYER: Lord, the world loves to reinvent and redefine you. Help me see You with eyes of faith. In Your Name. Amen.