Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from the Lewis Family and all of us here at Kingdom School and Ministry! We wish you joy, peace, and love this Christmas as you gather with family and friends.
My friend Charles Carrin has written a moving message I would love to share with you. It demonstrates how all of biblical history leads to the birth of Jesus, the Promised Son. I think you will be blessed as you take some time to read and reflect on this powerful message.
Blessings to you!
BETHLEHEM'S PROMISED SON
A Special Christmas Message by Charles Carrin
Click here to find out more about Charles Carrin
More than seventeen hundred years before the birth of Christ, Jacob's beloved wife, Rachael, gave birth to her second son and died. To her, he was her "Son of Sorrow," and she named him that in her final moments. "Not so!"-- the father of the baby corrected her. "He shall be called `Son of my Right Hand." In that dual naming of Rachael's son, we have one of the clearest and earliest prophesies of Christ. The Hebrew name of Rachael's son, Benoni, not only described her son's sad plight but also prophetically identified Jesus as the "Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Isaiah 53:3. But Benoni's other name, and the one by which we remember Him, Benjamin, is the one which marks them both--not in humiliation-- but in glory: "Son of the Father's right hand."
It was not accidental that Rachael gave birth to her son at Bethlehem. It had to be that way prophetically, since Mary also gave birth to her Son in Bethlehem. Rachael's name in Hebrew meant "Mother Sheep"---that is, the one who gives birth to the lamb. Like the Virgin Mary, her counterpart who gave birth to the true Lamb of God, both births were accompanied by joy that was soon overshadowed by grief. In the first birth, the tragedy was the death of Rachael; in the second birth, grief came with the horrific death of Rachael's own descendants--- the Hebrew babies who were born at the time of Jesus' birth. The Scripture tells us that when Herod saw that he was mocked of the wise men, he "sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem." According to Matthew's account, the weeping of Bethlehem's mothers was the fulfillment of Rachael's earlier tears:
"In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachael weeping for her children, and would not be comforted..." Matt. 2:18
In the years that followed Rachael's death, Jacob carefully guarded his son. While the other children were allowed freedom to travel about, Benjamin was kept close to home and to the heart of his father. For this reason, when the famine came and the older sons went into Egypt to buy grain, Benjamin was not permitted to go. Jacob diligently kept his promise to the boy's mother. This son remained close to his "right hand." And, as we read in the Genesis account, when the demand was placed upon Jacob that no more food could be purchased unless Benjamin went with them, it was only in great agony of soul that he consented for young Benjamin to go. At that point, none of them realized that Rachael's prophetic name, Son of Sorrow, was soon to fall upon this innocent young man with intense grief.
Over the protests of his father, Benjamin accompanied the others into Egypt. Here the silver cup was secretly slipped into his sack of grain, and in spite of his innocence, the burden of false accusation fell convincingly upon him. We have to read the New Testament to hear the words of Benoni's cry when his sack is emptied and the cup is found. It is the words of Gethsemane. The night is that infamous one of betrayal. Benoni cried, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."
Seventeen hundred years separated the first Benoni from the Second, but the mission for each was the same, and the price to be paid was the one of sacrifice. The single purpose uniting both was that a lost family would be reunited with its Elder Brother. With Benjamin, it was the restoration of an earthly household. With the Second, the promised Messiah, it was the restoration of a fallen race to the Heart of our Heavenly Father God and the glories of His Heavenly Throne. In both cases, the sons of Rachael and Mary fulfilled their work well. Bethlehem wept that the world might rejoice.
Benjamin returned to his father, riding in glory. The cup of grief was forgotten. The anguish of the trial was past. He had served both prophetic names well: He had been loyal to his father's right hand and had obediently taken the cup of his mother's sorrow. Justly, he earned the tributes which were given him upon his triumphant arrival at the family home.
Again, we must turn to the New Testament to find the description and fulfillment of that prophetic and holy scene. It is the one of the Messiah's restoration to His Father's right hand that is recorded in Revelation 5:9.
"And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof: for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. ...Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!"
The message contained in these Biblical narratives is that we can now partake of the glorious New Life that Jesus purchased for us! We have been delivered "out of the dominion and control of darkness and have been translated into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love." We are now sons and NOT slaves, and we are seated with Christ in heavenly places/realms/spheres. That means we are in Him, and He is in us! In a Great Exchange, Jesus suffered, died and took away all the evil that was due to us, and He gave us New Life and His Holy Spirit, so that we could participate in all the good that was due to Him! He provided for us to be able to actually experience living in God's Heavenly Kingdom---thriving in the presence of His unconditional Love, Joy Peace, Provision, Healing, and authority over sickness and evil through Him! May we receive the amazing Revelation of the true power of Jesus' Death and Resurrection, and may it transform our lives!
May we deeply experience His Love for us this Christmas in a way that surpasses anything we've ever known; may we appropriate all that Jesus died to obtain for us, and may we become vessels of His transforming Love to other people! Merry Christmas!
"WHATEVER ELSE BE LOST AMONG THE YEARS
LET US KEEP CHRISTMAS.
ITS' MEANING NEVER ENDS;
WHATEVER DOUBTS ASSAIL US
OR WHAT FEARS,
LET US HOLD CLOSE THIS DAY
--- REMEMBERING FRIENDS."
Much love and Blessing!
Charles Carrin
Cecile Carrin McGuire
Genesis 35:16-20, 44:11-16
Isaiah 53:4-5
Matthew 2:16-18, 26:3
Romans 14:17
Ephesians 2:6 3:18
Colossians 1:13
