Bowl Season
It's that time of year again. The time where college crazies get to eat food and watch football almost everyday! Of course, I would never do such a thing. Tonight was just an exception. That's right. Tonight I sat in front of the television for about 4 straight hours! Some of you will say "Yuck! What a slob!" or "I can't believe Amy's dating him" or "What could possibly be that important?"
First off, I'm not too much of a slob. Secondly, I can't believe she's dating me either. Third, THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS WERE BUSY BEATING BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY IN THE LAS VEGAS BOWL; THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT!
Sorry to come off all defensive, but I'm still a little jumpy since the Bears seemed to be headed to a certain meltdown in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, they held on and won, 35-28.
*This is my abrupt, unceremonious shift in thought*
So at this time, I imagine that Joseph and Mary were getting close to the tribal allotment of Judah. Perhaps they hadn't reached Benjamin yet, but I doubt that they could have made more than 15-18 miles in a day, considering that Mary was very, very pregnant. Was Joseph worried? Did he pray that Mary could hold out until they reached Bethlehem? I always wondered why Joseph and Mary were so late in getting to Bethlehem. Maybe Joseph had to finish up a construction project before they left. Maybe it was just extra slow going, because of Mary's pregnancy. It's weird to think of (and I say this in all reverence) Jesus as a fetus, kicking and punching Mary as he neared the time of his birth. He had an umbilical cord keeping him alive just like I did. He had to learn to crawl, walk, run just like me. He did everything like I did. Except for that one most important thing.
He never sinned.
Think that one over, and then think about his parents and brothers and sisters. Humanly speaking, I don't think Jesus' brothers enjoyed growing up with a perfect boy. He NEVER, EVER did ANYthing wrong!
"Mom, it was Jesus, I saw him do it!"
"No it wasn't Jude. Jesus never does anything wrong, dear."
Yeah, I don't think I'd enjoy that. I've never had an older brother to resent, pester or annoy, but I can't imagine the frustration of living with the perfect human.
But even though I can't imagine that, I am so thankful that I know what else this perfect boy did later on as a grown man. He stumbled down an uneven road, blood dripping down the bridge of his nose, whole chunks of skin gone from his back, and a huge beam of wood on his back. The destination of his agonizing walk? Calvary, Golgotha, Death. His humiliation resulted in the most painful death imaginable. He was mocked openly, as if his execution were a sporting event and he a pitiful participant. This seeming defeat was revealed to be the event of all of world history three days later when some women visited his tomb only to find it empty. Christ's resurrection sealed Satan's fate and conquered death for all time. Now I, though undeserving and destined to an eternity without God in the lake of fire known as Hell, can live a liberated life. Liberated from sin and guilt, and filled with a joy fueled by God's past, present and future grace that assures me of an eternity communing with him in his heaven. All this because I placed my faith in the death of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead according to the Word of God. Perfection's sacrifice satisfied a holy God's wrath and enabled sinners like me to partake in a new life through Christ to God. I have the hope of heaven and the promise of a joy-filled life here on earth. Do you?
First off, I'm not too much of a slob. Secondly, I can't believe she's dating me either. Third, THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS WERE BUSY BEATING BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY IN THE LAS VEGAS BOWL; THAT'S WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT!
Sorry to come off all defensive, but I'm still a little jumpy since the Bears seemed to be headed to a certain meltdown in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, they held on and won, 35-28.
So at this time, I imagine that Joseph and Mary were getting close to the tribal allotment of Judah. Perhaps they hadn't reached Benjamin yet, but I doubt that they could have made more than 15-18 miles in a day, considering that Mary was very, very pregnant. Was Joseph worried? Did he pray that Mary could hold out until they reached Bethlehem? I always wondered why Joseph and Mary were so late in getting to Bethlehem. Maybe Joseph had to finish up a construction project before they left. Maybe it was just extra slow going, because of Mary's pregnancy. It's weird to think of (and I say this in all reverence) Jesus as a fetus, kicking and punching Mary as he neared the time of his birth. He had an umbilical cord keeping him alive just like I did. He had to learn to crawl, walk, run just like me. He did everything like I did. Except for that one most important thing.
He never sinned.
Think that one over, and then think about his parents and brothers and sisters. Humanly speaking, I don't think Jesus' brothers enjoyed growing up with a perfect boy. He NEVER, EVER did ANYthing wrong!
"Mom, it was Jesus, I saw him do it!"
"No it wasn't Jude. Jesus never does anything wrong, dear."
Yeah, I don't think I'd enjoy that. I've never had an older brother to resent, pester or annoy, but I can't imagine the frustration of living with the perfect human.
But even though I can't imagine that, I am so thankful that I know what else this perfect boy did later on as a grown man. He stumbled down an uneven road, blood dripping down the bridge of his nose, whole chunks of skin gone from his back, and a huge beam of wood on his back. The destination of his agonizing walk? Calvary, Golgotha, Death. His humiliation resulted in the most painful death imaginable. He was mocked openly, as if his execution were a sporting event and he a pitiful participant. This seeming defeat was revealed to be the event of all of world history three days later when some women visited his tomb only to find it empty. Christ's resurrection sealed Satan's fate and conquered death for all time. Now I, though undeserving and destined to an eternity without God in the lake of fire known as Hell, can live a liberated life. Liberated from sin and guilt, and filled with a joy fueled by God's past, present and future grace that assures me of an eternity communing with him in his heaven. All this because I placed my faith in the death of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead according to the Word of God. Perfection's sacrifice satisfied a holy God's wrath and enabled sinners like me to partake in a new life through Christ to God. I have the hope of heaven and the promise of a joy-filled life here on earth. Do you?
posted by Happy at
21:34
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