Easter Service Countdown- Day 1, "The Nature of Christ"

Day 1 - I would like for the next 23 days before our Easter Service to give a short Word to prepare people's hearts for the next season at Metro Praise and to help all grow closer to Jesus.

Today's Word: "The Nature of Christ"

Most people do not fully understand that Jesus existed in heaven before coming in the flesh 2,000 years ago. He was known as the "Logos" or the "Word" in John 1:1 and as the "Son of Man" in Daniel 7. Thus, Jesus was God in the flesh, Emmanuel- God with us. Jesus was not 50% man and 50% God but rather He was 100% man and 100% God. Jesus, was unique because though He was God, He lived as man and was tempted in all ways like man, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

The Bible also shows that Jesus walked and talked with man in the Old Testament. We call these visitations, "Christophanies." Some of the most known visitations are found in Genesis 18 with Abraham and with the three young men in the fire in Daniel 3. Plus, when studying the lives of the prophets Isaiah and Zechariah it becomes obvious that the one they are seeing is Jesus, God the Son (Isaiah 6 & Zechariah 3).

Therefore, when Jesus was crucified it was God the Eternal Son-the Word-the Son of Man-the Fullness of God in human form-and God in very nature... dying for the world in human flesh. I pray that you will be reminded of this great act on the cross when you consider your daily problems and pressures. God Himself became your sacrifice and salvation. God is forever with you and He will finish that what He has started in you.

I pray these words from the ole' preacher Athanasius (350 AD) will encourage you,

"The body of the Word, then, being a real human body, in spite of its having been uniquely formed from a virgin, was of itself mortal and, like other bodies, liable to death. But the indwelling of the Word loosed it from this natural liability, so that corruption could not touch it. Thus is happened that two opposite marvels took place at once: the death of all was consummated in the Lord's body; yet, because the Word was in it, death and corruption were in the same act utterly abolished."

Reading: John 1:1-18, Colossians 2:9-12, & Philippians 2:6-11.

Metro Praise Easter Service will be April 24th at 9am & 11am at 4323 W. Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL. 60641