God With Us, God Like Us?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>God With Us, God Like Us?</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id422.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Arrival of Hope"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"God With Us, God Like Us?"  Luke 2:21-52</B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, December 28, 2003am</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I>"It's the most wonderful time of the year . . ." But it is sad and difficult for many people, including those in the military and their families back home. It is especially challenging for those who have recently lost loved ones. It's hard for those who are estranged from their families; or if not estranged, at least immersed in family conflicts and problems. It's hard for those who are poor and wish they could have spent more on gifts for the kids. It's hard on those who are rich who wish their money and wealth could also buy happiness in addition to everything else it has bought. Christmas is hard on those who get stressed out because of the time pressures and family expectations that come with Christmas. The holidays brought a heightened terror alert and long lines and tense moods at the airports. It is impossible to forget that we live in a post-9/11 world. And for many people, the rest of the year isn't any easier.</div> <div>      When we consider the challenges and difficulties of life, what difference does Christmas make for the rest of the year?</div> <div>      The basis for the answer to that question is this: Not only was Jesus "Immanuel - God with us," but he was also "God <I>like</I> us." God not only came to earth, he fully became one of us. And as one of us, he understands our difficulties and challenges and temptations and trials.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Jesus fully identified with the human race by becoming human himself (Luke 2:21-52).</B></div> <div> Two temple experiences. In both places, his uniqueness is affirmed, but so is his humanness.</div> <div> A. Luke 2:21-40 - Jesus as a baby in the Temple.</div> <div> <I>Uniqueness as God</I>- Simeon and Anna.</div> <div> <I>Humanness</I>- a baby being dedicated to God (God  in the flesh being dedicated to God!).  A statement of his growth (vs. 40). He was a baby like so many others, except that he was also God!</div> <bR> <div> B. Luke 2:41-52 - Jesus as a young boy in the Temple.</div> <div> <I>Uniqueness as God</I>- His wisdom in dialogging about the Teaching of the word of God. Response to his parents about "his Father." He was a child like so many others, but he was also God!</div> <div> <I>Humanness</I>- His parents were searching for him, worriedly. He obeyed his parents. Another statement of his growth (vs. 52).</div> <bR> <div>      Jesus could be mistaken for a "mere man." He did not look like an angel - no brightness, no wings, no halo. There was nothing <I>physically, visibly</I> special about him that would tip you off that he was God in the flesh, God in a bod. In John 10:30-33 we read of a conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders: Jesus said, "`I and the Father are one.' Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, `I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' `We are not stoning you for any of these,' replied the Jews, `but for blasphemy, because you, <B>a mere man</B>, claim to be God.'"</div> <div>      Early church conflicts dealt with the question of whether or not God actually became human - there were those who viewed the material world, including the human body, as inherently evil. How could God become "material," therefore evil? </div> <div>      He felt pain - physical and emotional. He was tempted to sin (though he could not, he was still tempted). He got hungry, thirsty and tired. He could not be everywhere at once. He was betrayed and abandoned by friends. He was not loved and accepted by everyone.</div> <div>      More amazing than the fact that <I>God</I> came to earth is the fact that God <I>became and remains human</I>.</div> <bR> <div>      What difference does "God with us, God like us" make for the difficulties in our lives? "Young Jessica always had trouble falling asleep. But tonight was especially tough. The precocious preschooler had formed an alliance with the various evening routines known as teeth brushing, bedtime stories, and prayers since each took its turn battling the dreaded lights-out foe. Every night the very same combat raged. This particular evening saw each routine successfully extend the limits of its assigned time restraints. Jessica's mother eventually descended the stairs, exhausted, patiently logging two more stories and three more choruses than the average night. Yet she intuitively sensed her evening wasn't finished. Sitting down to complete the day's paper, the faint and quick-paced sound of five-year-old footsteps were heard on the hardwood floor above her. Then-silence at the top of the stairs. "Go back to bed, Jessica!" came the prerecorded command from the living room chair, without the paper being lowered. "But, Mom, I scared of the dark!" the requisite response from the well-rehearsed dialogue continued. "Jesus is with you, Jessica! You don't need to be afraid!" came the firm, formulaic reply. More silence. Normally that last rejoinder was enough to checkmate the young opponent. But tonight, the simple reassurance of the Son's presence took a bit longer to sink in. The pitter-patter sound slowly made its way back across the floor. Random squeaks from the mattress and box spring would cause most inexperienced ears to think the child's fearful struggle had ended-at least for this evening. Not quite. More quick-paced footsteps. More silence at the top of the stairs. "Mom, can you send Dad up? I need someone with <I>skin</I> on them."" [Ron Habermas, "Just the same as us," Rev. May/June 2003, p. 88.] Jesus took on human flesh  so he could be with us and help us in our times of need.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Because Jesus identified with the human race, he can be trusted with humanity's greatest problems.</B></div> <div> <U>A. Believe in him for salvation.</U></div> <div>      The Bible presents sin and separation from God as humanity's greatest problem (in a world filled with lots of problems). Romans 5:15 says, "And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this <U>one man, Adam</U>, brought death to many through his sin. But this <U>other man, Jesus Christ</U>, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift." (NLT).</div> <div>      Only one of "us" could die and pay the penalty on behalf of all of "us," and that One had to be perfect, otherwise he would be dying for his own sin as we deserve. Sin came into the human race through "one of us," and only one of us could deal with it.</div> <div>      You are not the Savior - your own or anyone else's. You are not God. God came to save us, because we are incapable of saving ourselves. Luke 2:34 suggests that different people would react differently to him - some would believe, others would reject him. How will you respond?</div> <bR> <div> <U>B. Depend on him in for the challenges of life.</U></div> <div>      When you share a challenge or burden with someone, sometimes they will say, "just get over it, it is no big deal." That is probably evidence that they really don't understand the problem you are describing. Jesus understands human needs and problems. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  He understands your needs and experiences, and he invites you to go to him for help. </div> <bR> <div> <U>C. Depend on him to work through you.</U></div> <div>      The church is called "the body of Christ." You are "Jesus with skin" in helping accomplish the purpose of the church - to reach more people for Jesus and help them grow up as followers of Jesus. You are "Jesus with skin" for people who do not yet know Jesus. You are "Jesus with skin" for brothers and sisters in Christ who need you to serve them and encourage them in their difficult times. </div> <bR> <div> <I>     </I> If we want to depend on Christ in these areas, which must pray. Prayer expresses dependence on him. Even Jesus often got away and prayed.  Luke 5:15-16 says,"... the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." He (God in the flesh) lived in dependence on the Father throughout his life! If Jesus had to pray and express dependence on the Father, so should you. "Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb 4:16).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2003, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>