I love all the Scripture you provide here! It’s really hard to grasp the truth that Jesus had joy in the midst of His anguish. Joy for His glory being revealed and joy for us. What an amazing God we serve!
I still can’t wrap my head around it, Emily. I know what is written. I know what I wrote about it. And I still can’t bring my emotions in line with it. HOW did he have joy? I can’t comprehend. I’m glad I don’t have to understand fully.
Hey, Stephanie. I really like the side by side comparison of the OT passage in Psalm 22 with the narrative in the NT. I’ve been in a similar place with my own study. I’ve been drawn to the pictures of Jesus in the OT through prophecy, theophany, and allegory. It’s really interesting stuff.
I think this psalm is really clear that Jesus would suffer in ways we would never understand. We can only accept it or reject it. I’m so thankful for his willingness to follow the Father’s will and submit to the cross. What a huge sacrifice! And, without Bethlehem there would be no Calvary.
It’s interesting to hear that you are in the same place. I definitely need to be here. The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know and the more I hunger to find out truths. Reading Psalm 22 just slammed me. It is so explicit and clear. Very interesting. Thanks for reading & for your insight, Chip!
I heard something this morning… God wanted us in Heaven so bad that He sent us Jesus. He brought Heaven down to Earth!
That blew me away to hear it that way!
Have a Merry Christmas!
I love this. Christmas for me isn’t just some jolly holiday where we eagerly celebrate Chris’s birth. It’s that and more… there’s pain and anguish, there’s silence, there are layers and layers. These layers are all beautiful. We just need to unwrap them and understand they aren’t bad and it’s not wrong to think of these things. Thank you, Stephanie!
Yes! What a powerful layout of Jesus and the words of David in Scriptures. When I think about these prophecies foretold coupled with the lyrics of “Joy to the World,” I wonder why earth hasn’t totally or really received her King.
Perhaps, it’s because many were looking for a different Messiah…perhaps, so are we. We look for Jesus to be and do the things we want or set up in our minds and hearts as the actions of a real King and Savior.
So this Christmas and all year long, I pray my heart always fully receives her King. Jesus, reign supreme in me! Amen.
I love your response, Karen. What else can our attitude be after we have received the light other than to pray that others receive illumination? Thank you.
Stephanie, you continue to develop this Advent series in such a brilliant way. I am enjoying it. The path that God laid out: the setting, and process, and people involved. That just amazes me, not only because of the depth of planning and fulfillment of Scripture, but because it demonstrates Jesus’ perfect love. And how David’s Psalm mirrors Jesus’ ordeal. Simple awe-inspiring for the same reasons. Wonderful post, as expected. It moves me to appreciate our Savior even more.
Stephen, thank you for your words. That’s the best Christmas present I could get this year, to hear that what I shared helped someone appreciate Jesus more. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
The manger and the cross. They go hand in hand. He left the glory of heaven knowing his destiny was the cross. King David’s prophecy was accurate. This post is a great reminder of what we are celebrating next week. Merry Christmas!
This is beautiful, Stephanie. Thank you for recounting those Scriptures side by side that the Lord had written before he came to earth to die for us. These are powerful remembrances at Christmas, that God became a baby, was born, lived, died, and rose for our redemption, justification, and sanctification. I love this part:
“Jesus’ cry was a fulfillment of prophecy, which he himself had inspired. Even in his despair, he knew the joyous end before him. He had guided David’s hand in foretelling it. For the joy set before him, he endured the schism in perfect fellowship between Father and Son. He became cut off so we could be restored. He became despised and rejected so we could be loved and accepted. Through his agony, he brought joy to a dying world.”
Stephanie, I too appreciated how you compared the OT and NT passages. Your post is a powerful reminder that while we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, there is much that is connected and that follows that we must also focus on. Because otherwise we would be only focusing on a few chapters of God’s amazing story. And yes, Christ suffered terribly and this is hard to consider at Christmas whilst everyone is celebrating, but we must hold both. It is interesting how so many of us are thinking along these lines – focusing well beyond the birth story but to Christ’s amazing sacrifice and his eventual return! Thanks for the post. Have a blessed Christmas!
He never leaves us. What a blessing! Merry Christmas!
Such an incredibly blessing indeed. Thank you for reading, Melissa and a very Merry Christmas to you as well!
Such deep insights. And what a wonderful song as joy indeed came to the world.. Happy Christmas!
Thanks, Ava. And, yes, that’s one of my favorite Christmas songs. It never ceases to give me goosebumps!
I love how the New Testament is a continuation, completion, of the Old Testament. Merry Christmas! God bless!
Yes, Nancy. Seeing that truth is edifying. Thank you & Merry Christmas!
I love all the Scripture you provide here! It’s really hard to grasp the truth that Jesus had joy in the midst of His anguish. Joy for His glory being revealed and joy for us. What an amazing God we serve!
I still can’t wrap my head around it, Emily. I know what is written. I know what I wrote about it. And I still can’t bring my emotions in line with it. HOW did he have joy? I can’t comprehend. I’m glad I don’t have to understand fully.
Hey, Stephanie. I really like the side by side comparison of the OT passage in Psalm 22 with the narrative in the NT. I’ve been in a similar place with my own study. I’ve been drawn to the pictures of Jesus in the OT through prophecy, theophany, and allegory. It’s really interesting stuff.
I think this psalm is really clear that Jesus would suffer in ways we would never understand. We can only accept it or reject it. I’m so thankful for his willingness to follow the Father’s will and submit to the cross. What a huge sacrifice! And, without Bethlehem there would be no Calvary.
It’s interesting to hear that you are in the same place. I definitely need to be here. The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know and the more I hunger to find out truths. Reading Psalm 22 just slammed me. It is so explicit and clear. Very interesting. Thanks for reading & for your insight, Chip!
I heard something this morning… God wanted us in Heaven so bad that He sent us Jesus. He brought Heaven down to Earth!
That blew me away to hear it that way!
Have a Merry Christmas!
Beautiful thought. Thank you for sharing, Julie!
I love this. Christmas for me isn’t just some jolly holiday where we eagerly celebrate Chris’s birth. It’s that and more… there’s pain and anguish, there’s silence, there are layers and layers. These layers are all beautiful. We just need to unwrap them and understand they aren’t bad and it’s not wrong to think of these things. Thank you, Stephanie!
Thank you for those thoughts, Jessica. It is very much like layers and layers, isn’t it? I feel like we will be unwrapping for eternity.
Great insights into the advent season. I loved how you peeled back the layers of the story to help us get to the core, Jesus. Thanks
Thank you, Yvonne. And thank you for reading!
Yes! What a powerful layout of Jesus and the words of David in Scriptures. When I think about these prophecies foretold coupled with the lyrics of “Joy to the World,” I wonder why earth hasn’t totally or really received her King.
Perhaps, it’s because many were looking for a different Messiah…perhaps, so are we. We look for Jesus to be and do the things we want or set up in our minds and hearts as the actions of a real King and Savior.
So this Christmas and all year long, I pray my heart always fully receives her King. Jesus, reign supreme in me! Amen.
I love your response, Karen. What else can our attitude be after we have received the light other than to pray that others receive illumination? Thank you.
Stephanie, you continue to develop this Advent series in such a brilliant way. I am enjoying it. The path that God laid out: the setting, and process, and people involved. That just amazes me, not only because of the depth of planning and fulfillment of Scripture, but because it demonstrates Jesus’ perfect love. And how David’s Psalm mirrors Jesus’ ordeal. Simple awe-inspiring for the same reasons. Wonderful post, as expected. It moves me to appreciate our Savior even more.
Stephen, thank you for your words. That’s the best Christmas present I could get this year, to hear that what I shared helped someone appreciate Jesus more. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
The manger and the cross. They go hand in hand. He left the glory of heaven knowing his destiny was the cross. King David’s prophecy was accurate. This post is a great reminder of what we are celebrating next week. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for reading, Anneliese. Merry Christmas!
This is beautiful, Stephanie. Thank you for recounting those Scriptures side by side that the Lord had written before he came to earth to die for us. These are powerful remembrances at Christmas, that God became a baby, was born, lived, died, and rose for our redemption, justification, and sanctification. I love this part:
“Jesus’ cry was a fulfillment of prophecy, which he himself had inspired. Even in his despair, he knew the joyous end before him. He had guided David’s hand in foretelling it. For the joy set before him, he endured the schism in perfect fellowship between Father and Son. He became cut off so we could be restored. He became despised and rejected so we could be loved and accepted. Through his agony, he brought joy to a dying world.”
A beautiful tribute to the Savior!
Thank you, Melinda. Merry Christmas ♥
Stephanie, I too appreciated how you compared the OT and NT passages. Your post is a powerful reminder that while we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, there is much that is connected and that follows that we must also focus on. Because otherwise we would be only focusing on a few chapters of God’s amazing story. And yes, Christ suffered terribly and this is hard to consider at Christmas whilst everyone is celebrating, but we must hold both. It is interesting how so many of us are thinking along these lines – focusing well beyond the birth story but to Christ’s amazing sacrifice and his eventual return! Thanks for the post. Have a blessed Christmas!
I had the same thought, Anne. It’s very interesting how God has so many of us reflecting along the same lines. Thank you for reading. Merry Christmas!