Friday, November 28, 2014

backdrop


Once depicted as “Fairytale Queen”, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the Commonwealth realms, completed her 60 years of reign in February 2012.  She is called the diamond queen.  One of her crowns- The Miniature Crown worn by Queen Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee portrait in 1897 holds 1,187 diamonds.  The Diamond Coronation Necklace and Earrings,  was originally created for Queen Victoria and later worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II at their coronations.  Her diamonds are displayed with a dark background.

Like the Queens’s diamonds, often diamonds are displayed with a dark backdrop because the dark background allows the brilliance of the diamonds to shine even brighter in contrast.  I found the same truth ,as I read Philippians 2:5-8.

In that passage we are instructed to have the same attitude as  JESUS, who being in the form of GOD put aside recognition of HIS position of equality with GOD, HIS Sovereign rights as Creator of heaven & earth, HIS unlimited wealth  & privileges in order to take on the form of man & be born  in the fashion of man, (according to the eternal plan.) Then HE chose to humble HIMSELF even further in obedience unto death for HE  died on the cross carrying the sins man for the purpose of reconciling us to GOD.

The whole emphasis of this passage is not that JESUS was equal with GOD… although that is true.  But that truth is merely the back drop to emphasize the amazing humility of JESUS.  Just like the black velvet in the jeweler’s case that shows off the diamonds and the gold.  JESUS CHRIST’s  equality with GOD is the backdrop that show HIS humility. 

In this passage, Christ’s great object was to identify HIMSELF with humanity; not to appear to men as divine but as human and therefore able to understand   (Hebrews 4:14,15); help us in times of need (Hebrews 4:16); to die for our sins (Luke 24:7) & to eventually be the judge of all ( John 5:27)

HIS identifying with mankind was 1st place in HIS life.   Perhaps, that is why JESUS CHRIST favorite name for HIMSELF was the Son of man. HE called HIMSELF the Son of man 82 times, yet only referring to HIMSELF 32 times as the Son (in reference to GOD)   22 of those are  in the book of John and 10 of the 22 are in John  chapter 5 as HE explains HIS relationship with GOD the FATHER and declares that HE does only what HE sees the FATHER doing ---setting an example for us to follow.

Today JESUS CHRIST is still putting us 1st.  Hebrews 7:25 says HE can save us to the uttermost for HE ever lives to intercede for us.  (that is not—defending me as much as , “FATHER, Sharon could use more patience how should we handle this?”

So my point?  JESUS CHRIST humbled HIMSELF to identify with you and me in order to help us and reconcile us to GOD when we were yet sinners who could not save ourselves.  Are you, am I, willing to humble ourselves and reach out to those in need, to tell them of JESUS CHRIST in hopes of reconciling them to GOD?   For HE loves them, just like HE loves us.

Hugs
Sharon

No comments:

Post a Comment