Who are you, Jesus?

During this season of Advent, Christians take time to reflect, meditate on and celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is a time to rejoice over the fact that a baby in a manger, became the Saviour of humanity. It makes me think of a passage in Philippians 2:

(Jesus Christ) Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name...

I've always considered that passage as one that reminds me who I should strive to be as a Christian. In fact, verse 5 actually says, "have the same mindset as that of Jesus Christ." I'm supposed to be mindful of the position that Jesus took during his tenure here on earth. But, here's what I've always missed...

This passage describes Jesus' mindset. Not just how mine should be.

In my advent devotional (here: real.life/women), I was caught off guard with the idea that the Bible isn't about me. Sounds pretty obvious...ask any five year old and chances are they'll tell you it's about Jesus...duh. We refer to it as our instruction manual for life and in certain ways, it is. But the original manuscripts weren't written for that.

They were written to give a first-hand account to the life and story of Jesus.

The gospel writer and doctor Luke was an examiner. His account regarding the life of Christ is often described as factual, logical sequential. It's what I might equate to modern day "non-fiction." No hyperbole, no fluff...just what He observed about Jesus. In it, we read in Luke 2 about the foretelling of the birth in Bethlehem. But, as my advent story points out, it's not about the city of Bethlehem. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah talks about the Israelites. But it wasn't about them or victory over their enemies. That place and those people have significance in the Bible only because of... you guessed it, Jesus.

So many times, countless times really, I catch myself choosing a passage or book that I like during my quiet times. I read it because it makes me feel good. I read it because I'm familiar with it. I read it because it's simple. I thumb through the concordance in my study Bible and pick out verses based on whatever mood I'm in or trial I'm facing. And all of these are not inherently bad. But, it misses the mark.

I might feel good reading a certain passage, but only because Jesus makes it good.

Being familiar with Scripture is important, but reciting and memorizing them is moot if I miss the Who they're ultimately about.

It's good to simplify Scriptures and be able to recall them when we need to, but we should never equate that with simplifying Jesus.

Topical scriptures are helpful, but we shouldn't miss the content or purpose of a whole passage, epistle or book...about Jesus.

See, all of those things I do for me start with Jesus. With his story. With who He is. With what He's done and who He has called me to be. But, in my mind they started with me. My need. My want. My desire.

The Bible isn't about me. 

All of the things I want it to tell me about hope, love, loss, pain, suffering, grace, mercy and redemption begin and end with Jesus. Don't miss that, friends.

Jesus came to earth in the most unglorified way I think he could have...in a manger, born to a virgin and son of a carpenter, not of earthly royalty or position. Yet, He is  ascended to the highest place after counting and paying the cost for our lives on the cross.

Advent is a time to remember the birth of the Savior. I don't want to miss that. Not now, not ever. I don't ever want to reduce the Bible to another book. I don't want my relationship with Him reduced to a conditional place. I don't want my prayers to become requests to a magic lamp (although I do love Aladdin, btw.)

I don't ever want to miss the gift of communication with Jesus. The gift of rest in His arms when I'm worn. The gift of serving His kingdom. The gift of worship in His name and for His glory alone. The gift of community that He is at the center of every day. The gift of His story. The gift of His birth and yeah, even His death.

I share all of this with you because I don't want you to miss Jesus, either. When you read the Bible, re-read it until you see Jesus, not you. When you pray, listen until all you can hear is His voice. When you sing, let it be His song. When you gather, let it be in His name. When you love others, I pray that you (and I), love well.

Let Jesus be the first fruit of all you see. All you do and all you are.

xx