The Lord Presented to the Lord
I was reading in Luke today, the first five chapters. I've noticed it before but took the time to ponder this Lukean perspective. Luke is emphatic in establishing up front the deity of Christ. This is clear from a combination of texts. In Luke 2:11 and Luke 1:43 he refers to Jesus as the Lord. Then in Luke 3:4, he says that John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord (i.e.-Jesus), citing Isaiah 40:3-5 as referring to Christ. A quick check back to Isaiah 40 shows that the Lord referred to there is clearly Yahweh-Adonai, the glorious God of the Old Testament. There is no doubt that Luke--under divine inspiration--is identifying Jesus as being one and the same as Yahweh. Thus he is revealing the divine identity and nature of the incarnate Savior-God.
This sets up some fascinating paradoxes in these first five chapters. If you have the time go back and read Isaiah 40:6-31; it'll set this up even better. If you don't then just consider these in wonder and worship:
1. The Lord of all mothers, has a mother (Luke 1:43)
2. The Lord of eternity is born (Luke 2:11)
3. The Lord is presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22)
4. The Lord announces the Lord's birth (Luke 2:15)
5. The power of the Lord is with the Lord (Luke 5:17)
6. The Lord only worships and serves the Lord (Luke 4:8)
That'll be good enough to stagger your heart for today. Be dazzled.
This sets up some fascinating paradoxes in these first five chapters. If you have the time go back and read Isaiah 40:6-31; it'll set this up even better. If you don't then just consider these in wonder and worship:
1. The Lord of all mothers, has a mother (Luke 1:43)
2. The Lord of eternity is born (Luke 2:11)
3. The Lord is presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22)
4. The Lord announces the Lord's birth (Luke 2:15)
5. The power of the Lord is with the Lord (Luke 5:17)
6. The Lord only worships and serves the Lord (Luke 4:8)
That'll be good enough to stagger your heart for today. Be dazzled.
Labels: Deity of Christ, Incarnation, the Person of Christ, Worship
4 Comments:
Tim, I can still hear the Martinian phrase in my minds ear..."the one who sustains the universe by the word of His power, is sustained at the breast of Mary". The One who is "wholly other" and independant of man, is dependant upon the human nurturing of a man and a woman.
Good thoughts.
JR
I can hear Pastor Martin saying it bro!
J.I. Packer is right in calling the incarnation the greatest of all miracles, which if one can believe, makes all others easy to accept!!
It beggars the mind and staggers the heart, to cite another Packerian phrase.
Tim
"The mother of Jesus was an obedient Christian."
--John Piper
Robin, How
Piperian of you.Good point.
JR
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