advent week 2 - jesus christ, savior and king
One of my favorite traditions of the season is dressing up - for my husband's company Christmas party, for worship - it's fun to pick out a special holiday outfit to wear, usually with something that shines.Tim Tebow, former NFL player now philanthropist, knows the importance of an opportunity to shine. Out of his love for Jesus, Tim created 'Night to Shine', when churches show Jesus' love to communities with special needs. Tim tells of guests' vehicles arriving with signage that reads, 'Royalty on Board.' How true! These young people are decked out like kings and queens and celebrated as such.
These special guests enjoy royal treatment for an evening, but the Bible says all who believe in Jesus Christ are a royal priesthood. We are sons and daughters of the King. The liturgical Christian church year ends with Christ the King Sunday. On this special Sunday, Christians emphasize Jesus' kingship and remember His promise to return in glory.
But did the world recognize Jesus as Savior and King when He first arrived? Jews had been waiting for the Christ, (John 1:41) an anointed One who would deliver and rule God's people. An angel told Joseph to call Mary's baby Jesus (meaning Yahweh is salvation). (Matthew 1:21) The gentile Magi believed this baby was born a King. They followed a star which indicated the birth of the King of the Jews. King Herod, learning of their search and verifying a prophecy about the Christ, sought to annihilate this new King by murdering baby and toddler boys in Bethlehem. And on Palm Sunday, the crowd shouting "Hosannah, Lord save us' sought an earthly king to rule and relieve oppression. Little did they know that King Jesus would soon suffer a crown of thorns rather than wear a shiny earthly crown.
Through God's Word, we are blessed to know that Jesus Christ is who He said He was, the only Son of God, given in love, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Dressing for the holiday can remind us that believers in Jesus are called to shine in this dark world. We are made in the image of God, clothed in Jesus' righteousness, and adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings.
How can you reflect God's image and shine Jesus' love to others this Advent season?
by Shawn Maassel
St. Leonard, MD
Shawn began taking Body & Soul® classes as a student in 1990 after her first child was born. Years later, after a move and transition to full-time church work, she became a Body & Soul® Instructor in order to bring the ministry and classes to her new church. She has been leading classes since 2003 in Huntingtown, Maryland, and enjoys being part of the Body & Soul® Spiritual Impact Team. Shawn and her husband have three grown children and two grandsons across the country.
Body & Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.
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