We all need to draw closer to Jesus. Anyone disagree? God gave his prophet Isaiah remarkable revelations for us. The section immediately preceding our study speaks of God's people as His servant and we may study that. But let's start with Jesus. Over the next weeks I hope you will join me in looking at 15 verses, Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 53:12. Let's have a closer look now at this morning's segment, Isaiah 52:13-15.

Hear these verses:

The first of the Ten Commandments is, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). We are designed. We are worshipping creatures. It is built into us; fish swim, birds fly, people worship.

In the beginning God created "each according to its kind." The human kind is a worshipping kind.

This is who we are: air-breathing, spiritual creatures designed to be holy, designed to be godlike.

Some may not understand the communion service. What is it about? Perhaps you have curious friends but you're not quite sure how to explain what we are doing?

Lend yourself to a simple, three part explanation. Here come the three headings:

1. The Life of Jesus (His humanity)
2. The Death of Jesus
3. The Life of Jesus (His divinity)

Today our series exploring key pieces of Adventism continues. We use the acronym "HAYSTACKS": "H" stands for "Hope," and our historic focus on Scripture and prophecy. "A" is for "Advent," Jesus is returning. Second Coming occurs very soon! "Y" stands for "Youthful Eternity." In the earth made new, those who accept Jesus and His unselfish principle of life, will receive new bodies, experiencing a perpetual youthfulness. The first "S" is for "Sabbath." God prepared His rest in the beginning, not merely to help us slow down for 24 hours, but that we might experience focused communion with Him on His holy day. "T" is for "Temperance," living the abundant life, refusing to be enslaved in sensation or anesthetized by food.

It has been impossible at any letter to leave Jesus out. Adventists are VERY interested in Jesus. We look to His soon return, but we're also deeply curious about Him. How did He live? How did He overcome? How can He be our pattern? How can we live a life that pleases Him?

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says,

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."

Likely, all of us recognize these words. The 20th verse of Revelation three is part of Jesus' appeal to His end-time church. Now, our focus today is not particularly on that or the other six messages to the churches. But we will look at Jesus appeal here.

Christianity is about Jesus. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is sent on a mission by Jesus. The book of Hebrews tells much of Him and the mission He has assigned to those who believe. Our study today centers on Hebrews 2:5-9 NASB:

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying,

"WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET."

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

To begin to grasp how far Jesus descends to save us, we want to understand origins better. Today then, a review of verses 5-8 and the divine design for humans. Then, a concluding look at verse nine and its description of the work of Jesus.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:5, 10, 14).

You may or may not have noticed, but there is a terrific lack of hope on every side. We look out into our world and we want to be hopeful for a better future. We are thinking of our kids, grandkids, and probably ourselves, too.