The Nativity Story
I saw The Nativity Story last night with some people from our Sunday Night Community. I wanted to share a few brief thoughts on it with you in case you were considering going. I honestly enjoyed the movie. It caused me to worship. I drove home with a very full, overflowing heart. I was in awe of my Savior. The movie, for me, brought to life the story of Jesus. Now that I have had a day to kind of process my thoughts, here are some of the ways I was impacted: 1. Mary was young. -- It is one thing to know in your mind that Mary was 15 or 16 years old when she delivered Jesus, but it blows you away to see her youth on the screen. 2. Joseph did a very noble thing in marrying Mary. -- The movie does a wonderful job displaying the accusations, judgments, etc. that were most likely passed on Joseph & Mary as a result of her carrying the baby Jesus. 3. Herod believed but didn't display proper faith. -- Herod believed the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah but refused to submit to them. Herod truly believed that God desired to deliver His people with a Messiah. But instead of giving his heart to God, he decided to oppose him. 4. Mary & Joseph were just normal people. -- The faith they displayed in truly believing the word of God was amazing. I know an angel (the only part of the movie I could have done without -- the angels didn't really capture what I think angels would look like) appeared to Mary & Joseph, but it was still amazing that they obeyed. God had virtually been silent for 400 years and suddenly He speaks again in visions and dreams to certain people. They had to have second guessed what they thought they saw and heard. Despite the ridicule, questions, and accusations of others, Mary and Joseph's actions displayed great faith. You could also sense the humbleness and shock of Joseph & Mary in the movie for being the chosen parents of the Messiah. They couldn't believe God would choose them! Mary even says in the movie to Elizabeth, "Why would God choose me? I am nothing." 5. The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem was brutal. -- The film does an excellent job giving us a visual picture of this. 6. The wise men from the east traveled a long way. -- It most likely took them months to get to where Jesus was. They displayed great faith in making the journey. 7. The firstborn of creation became a baby. -- My Sunday night group has been studying Colossians for a few months. We just finished studying these verses: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him..." When I saw Jesus the baby in the film, I became undone. Why would Jesus become a baby? Why would the firstborn become born? My heart filled with love, admiration, and joy. So those are my thoughts. If others out there have seen it, I would like to hear your response as well. Feel free to leave a comment.
posted by Jamie @ 4:06:00 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
hey jamie,
i just read the part about studying colossians and was wondering if you had any notes you could email me about your study. I recently wrote an exigetical paper on Col. 1:9-14 and would be interested in getting any material you have studied to add to my collection over this passage.
Jason.Corby@bbc.edu
Always in every prayer of mine,
interesting to note that in the colossian church paul had never visited yet still prayed fervantley because of his love for them and the cause of Christ. After thinking about this situation and the situation that consumed is in right now i realized that God was leading me in a specific direction, and that is continual prayer for you all. I can relate to Paul because i am not present with you however have a burden for your cause and ultimately the cause of Christ. In giving an application to the text i specifically mentioned that one of mine would be the direct and specific prayer for you as a ministry that is relatively new but growing, facing trials and temptations, but also demonstrating great love and faith. The corolation to me was amazing. i wanted to encourage you by writing these things to you all. While you are aware of my support as a family member I wanted to enlighten you about my participation with you in prayer, as it is my only connection. At times i am discouraged by the distance but now realize that prayer is what God is calling me to do for consumed. Though i struggled through the lack of involvement i have had i recently have been struck with the behind the scenes aspect that i can have that supports everything you guys do. I pray that you are filled with the knowledge of God, so that you can realize the will of God for your ministry. I also pray that because of the knowledge and the commitment you have that you can walk worthy of the Lord, to please him bearing evidence of relationship. Continuing to pray that you are strengthed for the journey of faith, because it will be long and hard, but well worth it all. I pray that this process of gaining knowledge and direction, seeing fruit will strengthen you even more. And i have a common bond with you knowing that through the Son i have recieved forgivness of sin and i am qualified through Him to be welcomed into His kingdom. I write these things not because i here bad reports at all, i write these things so that you may be encouraged and press on for the calling of God.Please update me with requests and praises so that from afar i to can glory in what God is doing through you.
Fear will keep you from serving God, Faith will keep you from serving man
Living for Him where He takes me,
Jason
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