Jesus our sacrifice

Jesus came as a simple man
And agreed to die...
As a ransom for this human race
Earth has become a lesson book
A test case in this universe...
Jesus is one with God
He is the image of God...
The image of His majesty...
The outshining of His glory...
He who lived in illimitable space
Stepped out of eternity...
Adapted to a human body...
To be bound by this limitation
Forever...
It is amazing to think that the creator
Of this universe...
Allowed himself to be stuck...
With this human body forever...
Even the angels marvel at His gift...

The universe is immense
It continues on and on forever...
Even travelling at the speed of light
86,000 miles per second...
it would take us over 5 hours 31 minutes
Just to get to Pluto...

The power of its creator...
Must truly surpass human understanding...
Though man may strive to go beyond space...

How big is God?

Big enough to guide the mighty universe...
Yet small enough to live within my heart...

He is God almighty...
Yet He is involved in our puny lives...

Our God is a lot closer to us than we think...
Nature is the immediate presence of God...
Jesus Christ, for all eternity
Is bound to one place for one time

His concern...
His passion for a planet in rebellion
Shows the universe...
Jesus steps down from glory and adoration
To be a servant of the most vile
And ungrateful of them all...

He might have retained the adoration 
Of the heavens
But He stepped down...
To bring light to the sinners of the earth...

We would be destroyed by His light
Divinity veiled in humanity...
Invisible glories shrouded in human form...

Emmanuel...
Wonderful counsellor...
Mighty God...
Everlasting Father...
Prince of Peace...

How much did Mary understand?
As she watched those shepherds... 
Bowed down to their faces in adoration...

Could this be He who shares the throne of the universe...

For God so loved the world 
That He gave His only begotten son...
That whosoever believes in Him
Should not perish but have
Everlasting life...
John 3:16

God with us...
Getting down to our level...
Is an insult to His divinity!
Why did He do that?
The condescension of His goodness
To stoop so low for us...
That offer...of His life...
Continues to baffle the whole universe...
This gift demands a response from us all...

Give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ...
Make sure that you contemplate His gift...

Could it be in vain, for nothing?
If I am not redeemed when He comes again...

It is bigger than us all...

Jesus came to the earth to die...

Deeper down...where soul and spirit meet...
What would Jesus have me do?

Make Him first in your lives...
Make sure that the sacrifice...
Has not been in vain...

Help us respond with the love and service
That you deserve Lord...
Amen

Notes from a sermon
By Pastor Will Grobler
S.D.A. 
Sabbath 28 December 2013