Jesus, in the fullness of time and fulfilling biblical prophecies, was born in Bethlehem and Judea.
Eternal word became flesh and dwelt among men. He lived among us, full of grace and truth. He put on human skin, put on the sandals of humility, walked on our land, ate our bread, drank our water.
He felt pain, cried our tears, carried our sins on his body on the Cross, and was resurrected in Glory for our justification.
When Jesus was born, Palestine was under the rule of Rome with the persecution of Herod the Great. Joseph and Mary fled with the baby Jesus to Egypt, staying there until the death of the wicked king. They returned from Egypt and settled in Nazareth, the city where they had previously lived. There Jesus grew up as the son of a carpenter. At the age of 30 he began his ministry.
Having been baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist, thus identifying himself with the sinners he came to save.
There in the Jordan, as Jesus prayed, the heavens opened and the Father spoke, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. At that same moment, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove.
Equipping him with power to begin his ministry from the Jordan, Jesus was led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights.
During which time he was tempted by the devil three times. The devil attacked Jesus to overthrow him, but the son defeated him in the desert, always using the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. The Devil overthrew the first Adam in paradise but was defeated by the second Adam in the desert.
From the desert, Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, went to Galilee, arriving in Nazareth, where he lived most of his earthly life. He entered the synagogue, and took the scroll of the Book of Isaiah and read, The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach to heal and to deliver.
Jesus called twelve men whom he named Apostles, investing most of his time to train and disciple them. He traveled through Galilee, Samaria and Judea. Preached in cities, villages, and fields, preached in synagogues and the temple, preached outdoors on the beach and also in homes.
Preach to crowds and also to small groups. Jesus went everywhere doing good and freeing all those oppressed by the Devil.
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, gave sight to the blind, straightened the paralyzed, made the lame walk, gave hearing to the deaf, cleansed the lepers, freed the possessed, and raised the dead. It was the supreme revelation of God to men, given the name EImmanuel, God with us.
He is God himself, manifested in the flesh. Jesus came with a defined mission for all those to whom the Father gave him. He was born to Die.
He died so that we could live. The Apostle Paul was emphatic when he said that he died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.
His death was not an accident, nor was his resurrection a surprise. The devil used several devices to keep him away from the cross but Jesus marched towards it as a king walks towards the crown on the cross. Jesus crushed the serpent’s head and triumphed over principalities and powers.
Exposing them to contempt on the cross, Jesus completed the work of redemption on the cross. He freed us, death could not stop him.
On the third day, Jesus rose again from the dead for our justification. Before ascending to heaven, he instructed his disciples to remain in Jerusalem, awaiting the Father’s. Promise of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Marco (Warrior) Benavides