Jesus is as Diverse as They Come

Everyone’s talking about celebrating diversity these days.  And I’m all for it.  But, like we said last week, I want to learn to talk more about Jesus. And Jesus is the epitome of diversity–all packed into one Savior.  Last week, I started this new series and began to provide a Cliffs Notes for one of Jonathan Edwards’ sermons on the Diverse Excellencies of Christ.  Here’s Part Two.  If you didn’t read Part I, you really should.  Click on this link to do so.  And…read on here to find how diverse Jesus is, even from birth!

The mere existence of Christ is a complete shock. God became man. That’s crazy stuff. Never before and never again will there be such a conjunction of more diversity.

• He who was unlimited decided to limit himself
• He who was the Creator became a creature
• He who was all powerful used his power to limit his power

Even the circumstances of His birth begin to point to the crazy union of both humble and glorious qualities found only in Jesus.

The Lamb

Jesus’ lamb-like qualities appear in the very poor and low circumstances that surrounded his birth.  Think about it.

• Jesus placed Himself inside the womb of a very poor young girl. (We know she was poor because she offered the sacrifice only allowed for poor Jews for purification-two pigeons or turtle doves instead of a lamb).
• Jesus was born in a stable because no one thought his mom was worthy of a room in the inn. Though she was certainly in more need of a room that night (I’m sure the rooms weren’t full of about to pop pregnant women ready to deliver babes any minute), no one thought of her as more important than other guests that evening (though she was about to deliver the Son of God).
• Jesus had no doctor, midwife, or nurse giving him attention or monitoring his entrance into the world.  He was not weighed or measured or photographed.  He was placed in a manger where animals come to eat and he was wrapped in worn out cloths.
• Jesus was laid as a helpless baby (and yes, I’m sure He cried–silly ‘Away in a Manger’ song).  He was subject to the cold, the animals (and all their lovely deposits!), and Herod who was hunting him down like a mad man.

The Lion

But, just as Jesus appeared as such as helpless nobody that was vulnerable to the hostile world, baby Jesus also appeared like a Lion.

• Though He was conceived in a poor girl’s womb, He was put there by the Holy Ghost. Can you imagine?  There was holiness in his conception and birth-as strange as it may seem.  Can you believe what the angel told Mary?  ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and the Holy One born to you will be the Son of God.’  Luke 1: 35
• Even as he was born in an unnamed stable where no one welcomed his mother, ANGELS filled the sky on the night of his birth and sang to strangers about all that He would accomplish. Seriously—angels filled the sky!  And told strange shepherds to go find this amazing baby and WORSHIP HIM.  Side note–can you imagine being in the hospital (we won’t even try to imagine being in a barn at this point)…being in the hospital and a group of cowboys from Colorado arrive to tell you that an angel told them to come and worship your baby. Okay, end of side note.
• Though Jesus was born so helpless, the most powerful ruler of his time feared baby Jesus more than any other enemy. He was daily plotting to find this Messiah and have him killed.  In fact, he’d soon slaughter all the Jewish boys in the area out of fear of what this little baby LION could do.
• Though Herod the ruler could not find Jesus to save his life (literally), there was a star that pointed wise men to travel a very long way to come and meet and worship Jesus.  They brought him gifts fit only for a king even though he was a very poor child in an obscure town.

And this is just the beginning of it all. These are just the first few moments or years of Jesus’ life. He’s just getting started and already He is worthy of our worship and allegiance. Who else comes in such low poverty and anonymity and at the same time changes the stars’ alignment, strikes fear in the heart of powerful kings, and moves wise men to travel tough terrain to worship him?

So…what are you waiting for?  Let’s go talk about Jesus.  There’s no one else like Him.

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