"I AM ENTHRALLED BY THE LUMINOUS FIGURE OF THE NAZARENE" | Randy Roberts - Anthem

About this sermon

Part 4 of 4 - Embedded in the account of Joseph accepting the role of stepfather to Jesus is a statement of the purpose of Jesus' life. In a dream, the angel tells Joseph what will happen to Mary: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21, NIV). With these words, the angel joins together the incarnation and the crucifixion. The Babe of Bethlehem and the Christ of Calvary. The cradle and the cross. "... give birth..." The cradle. "... save his people..." The cross. He will be born. The cradle. He will die. The cross. He will be born in an entirely unique way. The cradle. He will die for an entirely unique purpose. The cross. His birth was, no doubt, an enigma to Joseph. The cradle. His death will, without question, be an enigma to Mary. The cross. His birth was-very distinctively—for the purpose of his death. The cradle. His death was—very distinctively— for the provision of our life. The cross. The true Christmas story beings in a cradle. And the true Christmas tree is a cross. - Let's connect! www.anthemlomalinda.org/ www.instagram.com/anthemlomalinda/ www.facebook.com/anthemxlluc/ Text "Anthem" to 55498.