The chosen people

[Shev]

     They were the chosen people. Outside the gate were the gentiles, the dogs, the filth. But this was a covenant people, the very people of God. Long ago in the mists of time, Moses had ascended the mountain and brought down the law to the people. The years had gone by, and through many dramatic events, the nation had persevered. Though they had desired kings and princes over themselves instead of God alone, though they had often turned away to the false gods of the very pagans they despised, they still resided in the holy land, surely protected by God and destined for all glory. And now, there was a sense of great anticipation, as their scriptures told them that surely the Messiah must come soon. And when He came, what glory awaited! For He would put down their enemies, exult them above all their fellow men, and bless them with choice places at His table. One could almost see Caiaphus, Annas and Gamaliel reclining around the head table with their prince, drinking the wine of gladness.
     Into the midst of this, a man appears. Not a man looked for, or coming from a place looked unto. A obscure man, a humble man, a strange man - certainly not a man fitting the profile of the Messiah. And yet, undoubtedly, a powerful man. Though they were blind to it, He was the embodiment of the new era that was dawning, a new economy in the ways of God. The ages were overlapping, and the paradigm was shifting. But in their blindness, they strove against the powers of the age to come, and made war against their very prince...

     They were the chosen people. Outside the gate were the unbelievers, the drug users, the worldly ones. But this was a covenant people, the very people of God. Long ago in the mists of time, Jesus had ascended to heaven and brought down the Spirit to the people. The years had gone by, and through many dramatic events, the church had persevered. Though they had desired popes and pastors over themselves instead of God alone, though they had often turned away to the false gods of the very pagans they despised, they still stood as a holy temple, surely protected by God and destined for all glory. And now, there was a sense of great anticipation, as their scriptures told them that surely the Christ must come soon. And when He came, what glory awaited! For He would put down their enemies, exult them above all their fellow men, and bless them with choice places at His table. One could almost see Billy Graham, Rick Warren and Joel Osteen reclining around the head table with their prince, drinking the wine of gladness.
     Into the midst of this, a corporate man appears. Not a people looked for, or coming from a place looked unto. An obscure people, a humble people, a strange people - certainly not people fitting the profile of the body of Christ. And yet, undoubtedly, a powerful people. Though they were blind to it, the corporate man, Head and body, was the embodiment of the new era that was dawning, a new economy in the ways of God. The ages were overlapping, and the paradigm was shifting. But in their blindness, they strove against the powers of the age to come, and made war against their very prince...

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Yep.....history will repeat itself. The first time the chosen people missed Him because He came as a suffering servant. The next time He appears will be as a corporate conquering king, and many will have missed Him again before they realize it happened. Such is the pride of man that goeth before a fall. Blessings....