This year we have a reminder that the celebration of Christmas and the observance of Easter are linked in Jesus Christ-s declaration, -For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.-----Eight days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple where Simeon, an elderly man whom the Spirit had told that he would not die until his saw the Christ Child. He blessed Jesus and said to His mother, Mary, -Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against -yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also-, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.-----Nearly thirty years later Jesus was at the center of a growing conflict over truth about the Kingdom. Pilate, the representative of the Roman Empire in Jerusalem, was beginning to learn that he was on a collision course with truth about the kingdom in the Jewish nation. The leaders of the Jews, the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees led by Caiaphas recognized that Jesus had put the Jewish leadership on a high impact course with truth about the kingdom in the Roman Empire. Peter, the leader of the disciples of Jesus was on a crash course with truth about the kingdom in following his master.

This year we have a reminder that the celebration of Christmas and the observance of Easter are linked in Jesus Christ-s declaration, -For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.-----Eight days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple where Simeon, an elderly man whom the Spirit had told that he would not die until his saw the Christ Child. He blessed Jesus and said to His mother, Mary, -Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against -yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also-, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.-----Nearly thirty years later Jesus was at the center of a growing conflict over truth about the Kingdom. Pilate, the representative of the Roman Empire in Jerusalem, was beginning to learn that he was on a collision course with truth about the kingdom in the Jewish nation. The leaders of the Jews, the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees led by Caiaphas recognized that Jesus had put the Jewish leadership on a high impact course with truth about the kingdom in the Roman Empire. Peter, the leader of the disciples of Jesus was on a crash course with truth about the kingdom in following his master.

The search for Saddam Hussein in the second Iraqi War had similarities with the search for Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The search for Jesus Christ in the months prior to the Passover had been frustrating and humiliating for the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. When Judas offered to betray his master, the leaders of the Jews were careful to not loose the opportunity.----The Greek word for the captain means the commander of a 1,000 Roman soldiers including 10 centurions. Because trapping Jesus had been so difficult for so many months, the Jewish Leaders didn-t want to miss this opportunity. ----The Captain was with the representatives of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees as they were led by Judas Iscariot who was the informant. Six Centurions with their 600 soldiers would have been left at the palace in Jerusalem to guard Pilate the Governor from the Zealots. Four centurions with their soldiers surrounded the garden of Gethsemane and began moving toward the center trying to make sure that Jesus couldn-t escape.

The search for Saddam Hussein in the second Iraqi War had similarities with the search for Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. The search for Jesus Christ in the months prior to the Passover had been frustrating and humiliating for the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees. When Judas offered to betray his master, the leaders of the Jews were careful to not loose the opportunity.----The Greek word for the captain means the commander of a 1,000 Roman soldiers including 10 centurions. Because trapping Jesus had been so difficult for so many months, the Jewish Leaders didn-t want to miss this opportunity. ----The Captain was with the representatives of the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees as they were led by Judas Iscariot who was the informant. Six Centurions with their 600 soldiers would have been left at the palace in Jerusalem to guard Pilate the Governor from the Zealots. Four centurions with their soldiers surrounded the garden of Gethsemane and began moving toward the center trying to make sure that Jesus couldn-t escape.

Peter-s heart was struggling with his loyalty to his master and his close association with Christ-s enemies. Peter wanted to be considered one of Jesus- tormentors and not suspected to be one of His disciples.----Finding a seat among the scorners is a dreadful place to be. The hazard of good intentions is that the good intentions will find us a seat among the scorners. Peter had been walking with Jesus. Then he was standing with the wicked. Now he is sitting with the scorners.

Peter-s heart was struggling with his loyalty to his master and his close association with Christ-s enemies. Peter wanted to be considered one of Jesus- tormentors and not suspected to be one of His disciples.----Finding a seat among the scorners is a dreadful place to be. The hazard of good intentions is that the good intentions will find us a seat among the scorners. Peter had been walking with Jesus. Then he was standing with the wicked. Now he is sitting with the scorners.

-Joy to the World, the Lord has come,- is more than a Christmas Carol. It is more than an Easter Sunday Celebration. It is even more than the celebration of Ascension Sunday.----Psalm 47 is a Psalm most likely sung by the Sons of Korah in the celebration of King David fully restoring the Ark of the Covenant to the nation of Israel. King David restored the Ark of the Covenant to the center of godly and biblical worship in the tabernacle situated in Jerusalem.----Psalm 47 is a celebratory Psalm of the victory of God the Father over sin and Satan through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Lord Jesus Christ.----Psalm 47 is a declaration of Jesus Christ being the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Psalm 47 is a reminder that since Jesus Christ visited His disciples on the first day of the week several times after his resurrection. The first day of the week came to be called the Lord-s Day.----The Lord-s Day is the day to celebrate Christ-s becoming Man in -His Humiliation in Him making Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He further humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.-----The humiliation of Christ Jesus is the reason we gather for the observance of the Lord-s Supper this next week at 6-00 in the evening.----The Lord-s Day is also the day to celebrate His exaltation through His death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension. -Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.-

-Joy to the World, the Lord has come,- is more than a Christmas Carol. It is more than an Easter Sunday Celebration. It is even more than the celebration of Ascension Sunday.----Psalm 47 is a Psalm most likely sung by the Sons of Korah in the celebration of King David fully restoring the Ark of the Covenant to the nation of Israel. King David restored the Ark of the Covenant to the center of godly and biblical worship in the tabernacle situated in Jerusalem.----Psalm 47 is a celebratory Psalm of the victory of God the Father over sin and Satan through the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Lord Jesus Christ.----Psalm 47 is a declaration of Jesus Christ being the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Psalm 47 is a reminder that since Jesus Christ visited His disciples on the first day of the week several times after his resurrection. The first day of the week came to be called the Lord-s Day.----The Lord-s Day is the day to celebrate Christ-s becoming Man in -His Humiliation in Him making Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He further humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.-----The humiliation of Christ Jesus is the reason we gather for the observance of the Lord-s Supper this next week at 6-00 in the evening.----The Lord-s Day is also the day to celebrate His exaltation through His death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension. -Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.-

In John 18-1-11 we see the Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ sovereignly chose the place of completing his humiliation. He set, baited, and sprang a trap to complete his humiliation. His humiliation began when He left the Father-s glory and became human. When He found Himself being man a human, he humbled himself to become a servant and humbled himself to die the shameful and painful death on the cross.

In John 18-1-11 we see the Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ sovereignly chose the place of completing his humiliation. He set, baited, and sprang a trap to complete his humiliation. His humiliation began when He left the Father-s glory and became human. When He found Himself being man a human, he humbled himself to become a servant and humbled himself to die the shameful and painful death on the cross.