Although we do not know the exact date of Jesus’ birth, this is the season that we celebrate his arrival upon the earth. The Almighty and Holy God came as a babe—not in a castle or mansion—but in a manger. He was born to a virgin girl (which is a story itself for another day). Even before his ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he showed us that we could walk with God on the earth as dominion takers and not relinquish authority to Satan as Adam, the first couple did. You see, even though he was God in the flesh, he did not even use his godly powers, he walked in dominion power as a man—a sinless second Adam!
Before he began his earthly ministry, Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John, the Baptist and then driven into the wilderness. Initially, John protested baptizing Jesus, but Jesus said, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:13) Jesus was providing the example of how to submit to and walk in God’s will as a mere mortal. In that moment, the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—was in one accord. Matthew 3:16 puts it this way:
As soon as Jesus (the Son) was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven (the Father God) said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
After baptism, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and testing, Jesus proceeded to devastate the kingdom of darkness. Satan, who had gotten the keys of life and death from Adam, tried to get Jesus to serve him with various temptations. With each test, Jesus answered with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and got the victory.
Jesus began his public ministry after his wilderness experience. Indeed the kingdom of God had come as stated in Matthew 4:17. He chose men as disciples, to walk with him. Matthew 4:23 and 24 states that:
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues , proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people….and people brought to him all who were afflicted with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.
Acts 10:38 puts it this way:
…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
During his ministry, he tore down the religious traditions of the Jewish leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Jewish leaders vehemently disagreed with the claim that Jesus was the Son of God. They discounted the accompanying miracles even on the Sabbath, which they felt usurped their authority. They even accused him of doing miracles in the name of the devil.
And some of the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘ Could this be the Son of David [the Messiah]? But when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’ (Matthew 12:23,24)
Jesus had little respect for the Jewish leaders’ religious traditions and his superior authority and undeniable miracles as the Son of God, born to redeem mankind, he paid the ultimate price— death on the cross.
So, Jesus provided the blueprint of how we can walk in kingdom destiny here on the earth. The blueprint starts with believing in him as Lord and Savior. He says in John 14:12:
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do , because I go to My Father.
It is my prayer that we, as believers, are victorious in our own lives by walking as Jesus did—but that we would also allow the Lord to use us as vessels to set the captives free in all situations. It is my prayer that we would not only do it during this blessed Christmas season, but also that we would do it every day of 2023.
Be blessed in Christ . And have a glorious Christmas and a prosperous New Year, my friends.
Scripture References:
Matthew 20:26-28 . . . whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
1 Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps. . .
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