Category: Christmas Fun

The Native: The Native Rex

John 19:19-20
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm was written over the cross. We know it as Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews, and we know that it means so much more than a monarch of a single people. What fascinated me, was the use of the word Rex, an especially Roman word.

Before there were emperors in Rome, there were kings, known by the title Rex. Yes it’s Latin for king, but it’s a title specifically identified with Rome. To me, it reflects the very poignant fact that, before Rome was, before God walked in flesh, He spoke worlds into existence, and He continues long after Rome is just a memory.

The I Am, who said He would walk in flesh to die for me, also said He would get back up in three days, and He did just that. We rejoice at the cross, not that He suffered, but that even in His grief, He was in control. Only Christ could turn a place of heartache and agony, into a command center.

For if you read the words from the cross, the soldiers react when He speaks, the people are astonished at the events of the weather, because of His death. Nature itself shakes in grief, because her King, Her Rex Eternal, had paid a miraculous price for man’s salvation, and it was finished, but He wasn’t!

Just as the cross recognized who was on it in its title, written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. We know Him as the King of Kings, and The Lord of Lords, Savior to every race, nation, and culture. We rejoice today, because we also know something the Romans learned over 2,000 years ago. They saw Kingship in His eyes.

The Champion ripped asunder the transgressions of mankind, the thing that separated God from His creation, and eliminated every barrier to eternity. The last one being death itself, for even it bowed it’s knee to the King Of Eternity, The Lord Jesus!

The Native: The Star Seed

Genesis 26:4
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Numbers 24:17
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Scientists tell us, a star’s life begins with a gravitational collapse. Since nature reflects the spiritual, what collapse could occur if Christ were to be The Star. Simple, the collapse of all that opposed His will. The goal of Heaven, was our redemption.

When Christ entered the womb of Mary, the gravity surrounding the fall of man began it’s collapse. From the time flesh merged with The Spirit Of God, sin itself, was very much afraid.

In this Scripture, God combines two prophetic objects, seed and star. We know Eve was given a promise, that one day, her seed would rescue humanity. Later, Israel would hear how a Star would rise out of Jacob.

Physically, the two items seem so far apart. One is terrestrial, and the other celestial. Yet, in the mind of God, The Creator Himself, they were uniquely linked. Comparing the two, you can see the similarities.

Much like stars fill the night sky, seeds cover the field of the farmer. The harvest is made up of the stars of the field. The astronomer is fascinated by constellations. Clusters made up, of the seeds of the sky.

2 Peter 1:19
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Ephesians 2:6
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Why would God use these two, opposites to reflect The Messiah? Because, He would be both star and seed. Light and life in human cloth. Is it any wonder The Christ was heralded, not only by angels, but by the Christmas Star?

It was a physical manifestation of a Spiritual Truth. The Star of Jacob, born in our hearts, transforms us from dying Earth, to the sons of God. We, who were destined to return to dust, now are called to the cosmic realms of Heaven!

Hebrews 1:2-3
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

A natural star is a luminous sphere of plasma, held together by it’s own gravity. Our Savior, God wrapped in flesh, holds all things by The Word of His Power! This means He is sufficient, both to purchase our salvation, and to empower us from Earth to Glory.

A star shines releasing energy from the inside out. It has it’s own light, which begins internally, and is revealed externally. Does this sound familiar?

Christ our star, is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all. The One who transfigured on the mountain, who’s Light was in and of itself, is The One who lights our path. Too many times, we worry and fret over the shadow of problems.

Yet, His Light is the seed of our victory. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. When we bathe it, in The Light Of His Love.

John 11:25
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

The mass of a star determines it’s fate. If we relied on our own self, we would not be able to hold up under the weight. He, has never known a burden too heavy, or a situation that was impossible for Him to overcome.

No wonder He told the world, I lay my life down, but I will take it up again. He, is before all things, and by Him all things consist. He who lives, and lives for ever more.

If we attempt to be self sufficient, the weight of our problems could crush us. That is why our Senior Pastor, Pastor Denny Livingston reminded us the other night. Lean not on your own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Jesus told us, in the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Too many times, we fear the future. I’m as guilty as the next person, but it’s a needless fear in the vicinity of Jesus.

He will never fail nor disappoint us. Our hopes will never be dwarfed by circumstances. There is no black hole for the Christian, only a bright and glorious future. The Hope that is in us, is more than the problem that surrounds us.

Circumstances might distract our view, but like the wisemen, when we seek Him, we will always find Him. That is what He births in us, not only Eternal Life, but an Eternal Hope.

It goes beyond victory over sin and death alone, but over doubt and despair, in this present life. To know Christ, is to know the Highest energy in the universe. The One who will never cease, never burn out, never waiver, or weaken.

He can’t, because He is Christ. Caesar was silenced, Washington retired from life itself. Name the famous man, and you will see an end, but not Christ. Jesus is incomparable, unbeatable, and ever outpacing our expectations.

He is all that is precious, all that is powerful, and all of our peace. Is it any wonder, Eve hoped to see The Seed of Heaven born? Or the heart of the prophet skipped a beat when He saw the promise of The Star rise out of a people in the wilderness?

Let Him shine in your life today. Whatever you face, no matter how dark, or difficult, He wants to birth something in you. You are more than the pain before you, or the fear that whispers in your ear.

You are a child of God, the seed of The Star. Now, spiritually, we sit with Him in Heavenly places. One day soon, He will return to Earth, to spend eternity with us, never to be parted! It is in this knowledge, that we are planted, and that we will grow into eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:6
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.