One thing that really rang in my ears during our Christmas Eve service was the angel’s description of Christ to Joseph and Mary.

Actually, before I get to that point, let me rewind to the preface of these events. Picture this, the angel Gabriel - a warrior, and imposing figure (this is noted by the fact that his greeting are always begun with “Do not be afraid” or as the message puts it “foo, don’t wet your pants) shows up on the scene. He knows Christ [though no one else yet does]. He has served under King Jesus, so anything he says about Christ is a bit of a understatement given to a people who really have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. Needless to say he is not only the messenger of God, he also knows what he’s talking about first hand.

Luke 1: 32-33 [Gabriel speaking to Mary]

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Matthew 1: 20-21 [Gabriel speaking to Joseph]

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 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.”

And I know I’ve said this before, but this idea brought me back. I truly believe that how we view Christ effects how we’ll follow Him. Jesus was not meek and mild. He was and is the commander of an angelic army (remember the “Do not be afraid” guys - yeah he’s their leader). He is the Son of the Most High - the destined ruler of His People. He is also the savior King - sent to set the captives free.

Do I hear meek and mild? Hardly. So as we choose to call ourselves christians - followers of Christ, remember who it is we serve. Never forget we serve the King.

(sweet photo courtesy of youth Pastor Brian)

If any of you have about 45 min to burn… check out the message I gave at our church this Sunday.  

“Called to a Journey” Mp3

Check it out here

 or

I blogged a few days back about he gutter, well it’s partially influenced by the book I’m currently reading coincidentally titled “The Gutter” by Craig Gross.

The following exeprt got me thinking about how I see Jesus…

“I grew up in a Christian home and went to church my whole life, but that upbringing taught me about a Jesus who was with children and cute lambs. It was a Jesus who wore a long, spotless robe, gracefully walking around with a smile on his face, speaking of mysterious hope to the masses. This was the perception of Jesus I grew up with - a Jesus who stayed clean and vague and remote…”

For me this is the Jesus I was raised with. It was also a Jesus that didn’t beg me to follow him. It was one I knew, but didn’t feel compelled to be like. That changed for me. In my early twenties I began to see him more as the man he was, not the whitewashed icon from Sunday School. I began to see him a passionate man who was a force to be reckoned with. A man who scared the pants off the religious establishment. He was a dangerous man who knew me. He knew how I really retched still choose to love me. He still choose to die for me. I began to realize that is more was okay to be dangerous and godly -I was called to it.  I began to see Jesus as more of a William Wallace and less of a Mr. Rogers. Beginning to see Jesus for who he really was changed me. It gave me a savior to follow.

 So who is your Jesus? How do you see Him?