[The angel prophesied about Jesus]
“He will be great, and will be called
the Son of the Highest.”
Luke 1:32
Adult Devotion
What does the angel proclaim about Jesus' future? The angel says, "He will be great."
"Great"! I looked it up. What does it mean? It means "he will be [considerably above average]."
Wow! That's impressive, isn't it?
I think the angel was trying to convey that Jesus was going to be something a little bigger than just average-plus-a-little.
"Considerably above average" were the first two definitions in my online Oxford Dictionary. But I think definition three begins to hit closer to the angel's intent. According to definition three, Jesus is "most important" or -- and I like this one -- "most worthy."
Great, in this sense, means biggest and best. It means not just holy, but holiest. Worthy and worthiest. Great, in this sense, means magnificent, majestic, and preeminent.
When Jesus walked the earth, he was fully human ... and he was much more. He is also fully God.
What does "great" mean? Hebrews 4:15 puts it this way: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin."
What does that mean? Well, I may try greatly each day to refrain from sin ... but I sin and fall short ... daily. But Jesus is great - most holy and most worthy - because he succeeded in weathering temptation and avoiding sin throughout his entire life!
Jesus loved the unlovable. He embraced the untouchables - like the lepers. He ate with tax collectors and sinners. And he forgave even those who nailed him to a cross. He was not just above average; he was great!
He calmed the seas. He healed the sick. He walked on water. Jesus was not just above average; he was God!
In Christ's Love,
a guy who is grate
(Yes, I just spelled that
precisely like I intended.
Jesus is great.
I occasionally grate
... on people's nerves)
Children's Message
What does the angel proclaim about Jesus' future? The angel says, "He will be great."
What does "great" mean?
I looked it up in the dictionary. It means that Jesus is "the most worthy," "the most important."
"Great" means "the biggest" and "the best," and Jesus was certainly the most powerful to have ever walked the earth.
"Great" means that Jesus was not just holy, but that he was holiest. He was worthy and is the worthiest.
Great, in this sense, means that Jesus is magnificent and majestic. He is the King.
When Jesus came to earth, he was fully human ... but he is so much more. He is also fully God.
What does "great" mean? Hebrews 4:15 puts it this way: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin."
What does that mean? Well, you and I may try greatly each day to refrain from sin ... but we still sin and fall short ... daily. Jesus, however, is great because he succeeded in weathering temptation and avoiding sin throughout his entire life. Wow!
Jesus is great because he truly loved the unlovable, embraced the untouchables (like the lepers), ate with tax collectors and sinners, and forgave even the very people who nailed him to a cross. Jesus calmed the seas, healed the sick, and walked on water. He was not just above average; Jesus was and is great! Jesus was and is God!
Discussion Questions:
1. What does "great" mean to you?
2. What is the greatest thing you've ever seen on earth?
3. In what ways is the angel's prophecy fulfilled and Jesus is greater than anything on earth?
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