From a Cradle to a Cross to a Crown
.The Season is Epiphany, and right from the start
I thank You My Saviour, from deep down in my heart.
You were sent here to earth as a newborn child
on a cold winter's night; You were so tender and mild.
.
The cattle were lowing; a star brightly shone
in skies o'er the field on the night You were born.
The wisemen had heard of the forthcoming birth
that would offer salvation to each soul upon earth.
.
So the wisemen, they followed that bright star that night
and soon came upon a most wonderous sight.
There lay in a manger, so precious and sweet,
the Christ of salvation.....they knelt at Your feet.
.
Now the shepherds, they heard the angel’s sing
Of the birth in Bethlehem....of a newborn King!
So they rushed to the manger with hearts full of joy
and fell to their knees to worship the Boy.
.
Your Father was sobbing, His heart broken in two,
for He knew of forthcoming great suffering for You.
He knew of Your crown that would be of sharp thorns
and He knew that Your flesh would be bleeding and torn.
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Today, we get down to business. The angels, shepherds, wise men and mangers have been put back in their boxes waiting silently and patiently until next year to be brought out and dusted off as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child and yet another crazy Christmas spending extravaganza unfolds. Following the Christmas Celebration, the very next day we remember St. Stephen who was martyred for his faith. A few days later we remember the innocent children slaughtered by the jealously insane King Herod. The true story of Christmas is of how people, even Jesus’ own people, would not accept his message.
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Today, we begin the journey that will take us from the cradle to the cross. It will take us from Christmas to the celebration of Easter. That journey begins with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Shortly thereafter John would be arrested and later beheaded to satisfy the anger and bitterness of one who did not like it when John told her what she was doing was wrong and needed to repent. That’s the story of Christmas - warm and fuzzy - until God gets too close.
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M. MATTHEW 3:1-11 JOHN PREACHES REPENTANCE.
T. MATTHEW 3:12-17 JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS AT THE JORDAN.
W. MATTHEW 4:1-17 JESUS IS TEMPTED WHILE IN THE DESERT
T. MATTHEW 11:1-19 JOHN THE BAPTIST HAS SOME DOUBTS.
F. MATTHEW 14:1-11 JOHN THE BAPTIST IS BEHEADED.
Today, we get down to business. The angels, shepherds, wise men and mangers have been put back in their boxes waiting silently and patiently until next year to be brought out and dusted off as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child and yet another crazy Christmas spending extravaganza unfolds. Following the Christmas Celebration, the very next day we remember St. Stephen who was martyred for his faith. A few days later we remember the innocent children slaughtered by the jealously insane King Herod. The true story of Christmas is of how people, even Jesus’ own people, would not accept his message.
..
Today, we begin the journey that will take us from the cradle to the cross. It will take us from Christmas to the celebration of Easter. That journey begins with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Shortly thereafter John would be arrested and later beheaded to satisfy the anger and bitterness of one who did not like it when John told her what she was doing was wrong and needed to repent. That’s the story of Christmas - warm and fuzzy - until God gets too close.
..
M. MATTHEW 3:1-11 JOHN PREACHES REPENTANCE.
T. MATTHEW 3:12-17 JOHN BAPTIZES JESUS AT THE JORDAN.
W. MATTHEW 4:1-17 JESUS IS TEMPTED WHILE IN THE DESERT
T. MATTHEW 11:1-19 JOHN THE BAPTIST HAS SOME DOUBTS.
F. MATTHEW 14:1-11 JOHN THE BAPTIST IS BEHEADED.