December 19, 2023 - The Amazing... Obvious... Number 1 Choice!

Obviously, if you have followed this blog for any length of time, you know I tend to fall back to the basketball world for what I draw from… this week will be no exception to the rule…

Even though we are young in the NBA season, there is already great talk of the bottom-feeder teams tanking to get a better shot at the next number 1 pick in the draft lottery… why? Because there is great expectation of the savior of a franchise… Victor Wembanyama… 7’4” tall… 18 yr old… incredibly skilled… the most talked about prospect since LeBron James finished high school. This kid, barring injury, os a game-changer and the only logical number 1 pick for whoever gets that right…

This kid seems to be destined for greatness and we will see the fans lined up in droves to welcome him to whatever franchise drafts him… they may even be waving palm branches!

I mention palm branches because of the great expectations Israel had for the “Coming King.” The palm leaves that were waved and laid on the ground for Jesus’ entrance entrance into Jerusalem at the end of His earthly life were signifying the expectation of victory or triumph. What they ignored was the humble way Jesus came to earth… through a simple teen age girl… with the only fanfare being that of the angels sharing “good tidings of great joy” that would be the “Savior”! (Luke 2:10-11) An announcement, not of extreme size or strength or power… not made to the movers and shakers of society… but one of a “babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes” (vs 12) that was introduced to lowly shepherds… a “Savior” that would eventually ride into Jerusalem, not on a stallion signifying victory and triumph, but on a donkey signifying peace… (which was the promise made to the shepherds… “on earth peace, good will toward men!” (vs 14)

This CHRISTmas season let’s remember lines from a song I have shared on here in the past… “Isn’t it amazing, the way He came… no crown, no throne, no big parade… there were no fanfares played, no jubilant display, isn’t it amazing how He came?”

One of the verses in the song says this: “Can’t believe that I would be the reason why He came… can’t believe He left His royal throne… He became a pauper, so that I could be a king… He denied Himself to make my heart His home!”

I love celebrating the number 1, and only viable, pick of God to be the Savior of the world… Happy Birthday Jesus!!!