Evangelist Manuel Scott, Jr.

By Evangelist Manuel Scott, Jr.

Scripture: John 3:16-17; Matthew 1:23; Luke 2:7

Years ago, an amazing television program entitled ‘That's Incredible!' presented a curious array of individuals performing spectacular feats.

On that program, you could see individuals jumping over speeding cars, or catching arrows in flight with their bare hands. You could see individuals setting up hundreds of dominos on the floor of swimming pools. Yes, this program was aptly named, ‘That's Incredible!'

However, when we turn our ‘mental' channels from the television screen to the Holy Scriptures, we discover that not only are certain TV shows incredible, but also the biblical account of the Christmas story is absolutely incredible.

Think about it: A young virgin named Mary becoming pregnant by the Holy Ghost. That's incredible! The Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, being born in a manger. That's incredible! The incarnation of the immutable. That's incredible!

Now, for God to give us His only begotten Son is incredible, considering what we, as human beings, have given God. Humankind has given God problems. We've given God excuses and lies. In short, we've given God one giant-sized heartbreak. A preacher once said, "While you can break God's heart, you cannot break His love." That's incredible!

John 3:16 says it well: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Secondly, for Jesus to actually come down from heaven to be with us in a world such as this, that's incredible! Matthew 1:23 said of Jesus, "...And they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

This is incredible because Jesus knew what this evil world does to prophets of God. Jesus knew what this world had done to Joseph. Jesus knew what this world had done to Job and to Jeremiah. Yet, Jesus came down to be with us anyhow. That's incredible!

It's incredible that Jesus would leave heaven to come down to be with us, because Jesus also knew what this world was full of. Quite frankly, had I been Jesus, I don't think I would have left heaven to come down to be in a world like this!

A world full of murder and crime. A world full of hatred. A world full of depression and suicide. A world full of unemployment. A world full of war and disease. A world full of lunatics, schizophrenics, and psychopaths. Although Jesus knew what this world was full of, He, nevertheless, came all the way down to be with us. That's incredible!

Finally, when I look at the biblical account of the Christmas story, it boggles my mind that people today still refuse to let Jesus in.

Luke 2:7 clearly tell us that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there was ‘no room' for Him in the inn. In other words, people in those days did not see the urgent significance of letting Jesus in. And here we are today, some 2000 years later, and people still refuse to let Jesus in.

It's incredible that we refuse to let Jesus into our lives, since we allow everything else to come into our lives. We let smoke into our lungs. We let alcohol into our bloodstream. We let junk food into our stomachs. We let pollution into our air and water. Why can't we let Jesus come into our hearts?

As you reflect on the biblical account of the Christmas story, when God became flesh in the form of the baby Jesus, you just have to say, ‘That's Incredible!'

Evangelist Manuel Scott, Jr., will preach Christmas morning at 7 a.m., at Praises of Zion Baptist Church, 8222 South San Pedro Street in Los Angeles where Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick is pastor. As a full-time evangelist, he has conducted over 1000 revivals nationwide and is the author of ‘The Quotable Manuel Scott, Sr.: Words From A Gospel Genius.'

Last update: 12-21-2011 20:50

Published in : Religion, Religion

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