Prayer & Preparation for December 1st, 2024

Hey church,

"Man's maker was made man, that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that the Truth might be accused of false witness, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die."

 Augustine

"He condescends to assume my flesh and blood, my body and soul. He does not become an angel or another magnificent creature; He becomes man. This is a token of God's mercy to wretched human beings; the human heart cannot grasp or understand, let alone express it."

 Martin Luther

"The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation.... Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this.... The fitness, and therefore credibility, of particular miracles depends on their relation to the Grand Miracle...."

 C.S. Lewis

And for our communion service I hope to lead us in considering how to connect "Christmas and the Cross." Here are a few more thoughts from guys way more godly and intelligent than I am:
"If Jesus were in all things only a man, he would be at an infinite distance from God just as we are. In the same way, if Jesus were in all things only God, he would be at an infinite distance from us. As the Mediator, however, he bridges the gap between the infinite God and finite man."

 Mark Jones

"He had both the nature which had been offended, and that nature which was offended: a nature to please God and a nature to pleasure us: a nature whereby he experimentally knew the excellency of God which was injured, and understood the glory due to him, and consequently the greatness of the offense which was to be measured by the dignity of his person: and a nature whereby he might be sensible of the miseries contracted by, and endure the calamities due to the offender, that he might both have compassion on him and make due satisfaction for him. He had two distinct natures capable of the affections and sentiments of the two persons he was to accord; he was a just judge of the rights of the one and the demerit of the other."

 Stephen Charnock

"Are you affrighted? Then come to him, lying in the lap of the fairest and sweetest maid. You will see how great is the divine goodness which seeks above all else that you should not despair. Trust him! Trust him! Here is the Child in whom is salvation. To me there is no greater consolation given to mankind than this, that Christ became man, a child, a babe, playing in the lap and at the breasts of his most gracious mother. Who is there whom this sight would not comfort? Now is overcome the power of sin, death, hell, conscience, and guilt, if you come to judge this gurgling Babe and believe that he is come, not to judge you, but to save."

 Martin Luther

"The manger and the cross are never far apart."

 Martin Luther

"Jesus took the first step toward us. 'Here he comes, leaping across the mountains' (Song of Solomon 2:8). Jesus came to us at his incarnation; he leapt down from heaven. He came to our home here on earth to woo and win his bride. It was love that propelled him. It was his desire for his bride that led him to the cross."

 Tim Chester in Enjoying Jesus

Jeff Tague