Anticipating His Advent #30

The only account Luke chose to go into detail about from Jesus' childhood was when He was twelve years old.  By that point he would have been old enough to develop relationships with peers and adults, and there would have been a number of witnesses from Galilee and Jerusalem Luke could interview about it.

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

We find recorded here the devotion of both Jesus and His parents to please God. Just as they had taken Him as an infant to the temple, they continued on to observe the Passover and train their son in the faith. Jesus was also devoted to obeying His Father, and as a part of that, He was devoted to obeying His earthly parents, in obedience to the fifth commandment. As we all know, keeping a balance in relationship responsibilities is never easy, especially if we believe there is a conflict between obeying God and obeying parents.  Jesus handles this masterfully, and respectfully of both, and Mary knows it. Luke has chosen the one extreme event which would reveal any sin on Jesus' part which could be witnessed to by numerous people, and found no sin. Jesus has a lot to teach us about how to handle interpersonal relationships.

Anticipating His Advent #29

In Luke 2, after Mary and Joseph had taken Jesus to be dedicated and presented themselves to be purified, Luke simply says this about the next twelve years:

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Something we can almost miss is the very first phrase: that Jesus was raised to obey God's commands. This is important, as Luke makes it perfectly clear that Jesus did exactly that: perfectly obeyed His Father - He did everything God had said. It also is relevant that Jesus grew up exactly where God had said He would in the Old Testament prophesies - in Galilee, small-town Israel, satisfied with the simple life God has for most of us. And He grew up strong and wise and blessed by God.  This of course parallels other statements to the effect that He increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (52) He matured in every way: physically, mentally and spiritually, without all the sins that mar our lives.  As we continue on through the Gospel of Luke, keep watching for how important Jesus felt obedience was. It is as important to us as it is to Him? 

Anticipating His Advent #28

Today we look at Luke's second example of someone who truly was watching and waiting and ready for Christ's Advent:

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Here is a woman who was more devoted than a priest. They only served at the temple for a week twice a year, but she lived there. At that time, even the high priest had his own home, but Anna was there all the time. There was no way she was going to miss meeting the Messiah.  She was in such close fellowship with Father God from fasting and praying that she knew when she saw Simeon with the family that this was the promised One. Such truth was something she could not keep to her self, and she too proclaimed it to other sincere seekers of the Savior.  What have we missed this Advent because we were too distracted and not devoted enough to be tuned into what God is doing? 

Anticipating His Advent #27

Most of those who first heard of Christ's advent to earth were surprised, caught off guard. But Luke presents us with examples of those who were not:

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Just a couple of quick thoughts here: Simeon never gave up watching and waiting. We live in an impatient world; let's not allow that to keep us from watching for Christ to come again. Secondly, Simeon was content: he did not have to see how it all played out. God had kept His promise and that was enough. Like patience, contentment is in short supply in our society. But the fact that Christ has come should be able to create within us a great contentment and joy sufficent to sustain us and keep us going and trusting in Him. 

Anticipating His Advent #26

We return in our study today to Luke 2. Jesus is now several weeks old.

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

When we look back to Leviticus we find that Jesus' parents were faithfully following the instructions God had given to the people of Israel centuries before.  Due to the birth process, the mother was considered ceremonially unclean, and was to bring a special sacrifice to the temple to acknowledge that. Also, since Jesus was a firstborn son, there was a special offering to be brought in memorial of the Passover when the death angel "passed over" the Israelites' homes and did not take their firstborn sons like he did to Egypt. The firstborn son, in a special way, belonged to God.  When we add to that Who Jesus was - He was doubly God's Son, who came to live out obedience to God perfectly; He had no sin from which He needed to be purified.  Over the next few days, we will see how that was confirmed. 

Anticipating His Advent #25

The last two days we have seen in Matthew's account the response of the Magi to Christ's coming was to do something - to worship Him.  Not everyone responded that way.

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
    she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Whenever we see God doing something glorious, we will also see the enemy fight back.  This is not the kind of story we want to think about on a day like today, but we must.  Whenever and however God is doing something to reach out and bring people back to Himself, Satan is doing something to drive them away from God.  This Christmas account is a powerful pro-life statement that we should never forget. So as we worship and celebrate and rejoice over Christ's birth, may we also weep over those hurt by His enemy. 

Anticipating Advent #24

Yesterday we saw in Matthew 2 that for these Magi, Anticipation meant more than mental consideration or conversation; it meant motion: doing something.  They came and they tracked down this newborn King.  When they met with the ignorance of Herod and the passivity of the supposed experts in Israel, they kept on persistently pursuing the King until they found Him. 

 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 

Their anticipation increased when they saw the star, and when they found Him, they did exactly what  they set out to do: worship Him.  As a demonstration of their worship, they laid before Him expensive gifts that were indeed worthy of a king.  This year, is your anticipation building? Are you preparing to worship Him? What are you going to offer Him of value? Return resources? Consistently spend time with Him? Regularly consult Him for wisdom?  How are you going to treat Him like your King?

Anticipating His Advent #23

Today we switch over to Matthew's account of the Incarnation, where we find a totally different viewpoint: 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

For those within Palestine, all the talk of a special Child to be born, who was said to be the Messiah, stirred up a lot of wondering and talk.  For these men, it meant action - taking a trip, bringing gifts, coming to worship Him. In a pagan world worshipping a king is common place, but this is far deeper. They were not there to appease this King or make some sort of political alliance; they were there simply to worship the One Who is worthy of worship.  As we ramp up our anticipation of Advent, may we do more doing, and less talking; may we plan and carry out sincere forms of worship toward the newborn King. 

Anticipating His Advent #22

 

As we read through the first two, long chapters of Luke, we are left with people wondering and asking two big questions: What will become of these two sons: John and Jesus? For John, the initial answer is that he was raised by Zechariah and Elizabeth and then went into the wilderness until beginning his ministry.  For Jesus, we get a little information about when He was eight days old and twelve years old, but no further details except that...

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

As Luke writes this account for Theophilus and other who will read it, he simply summarizes his eyewitness interviews by this: "Jesus grew up good: mentally, morally, physically, socially, and spiritually." The tabloids used to tell us that "inquiring minds want to know" all the nitty-gritty details. True history does not.  True history is not dependent on the tabloids or social media. This statement tells all there is to say: there is nothing bad to tell about Jesus. He is even more squeaky clean than Mary. The picture then is this: keep watching. Keep watching what Jesus does and listening to what Jesus says. Don't be like the wonderers who wandered away and stopped watching or listening. He's more than an once-a-year headline. 

Anticipating His Advent #21

As we continue to look at Luke's record of the incarnation of Christ, the place of special revelation from God is brought to the forefront.  We have seen appearances of angels telling Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds what God is doing. God had also promised Simeon by the Holy Spirit that He would see the Christ. He waited for years, faithfully serving God, anticipating His coming, and then one day it happened. When it did, he said:

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Just like with the shepherds, Simeon heard, then believed, and finally saw. The result once again is praise and proclamation of the Good News of salvation - that not only did He see the Messiah, the Messiah had come to Israel, and it did not stop there: this Savior was a light and salvation for all nations, all peoples. Simeon was able to say something most are not: "Lord, I'm satisfied; I'm ready to go. You told me; You showed me. Whenever you're ready you can take me home.  Can you say that today?

Anticipating His Advent #20

Christmas has everything to do with our search for peace and calm in our lives. The angel had announced 2to the shepherds "peace on earth", and we find it somewhat romantic and soothing to imagine Mary placing baby Jesus in the feeding trough. But looking back over what we have seen so far in Luke 2, it has been very noisy: the long trip to Bethlehem, the overcrowded inns, the cries of childbirth, and the noisy neighbors popping in and crying out in praise.  Finally, Mary gets that long-awaited quiet time:

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  

As much as we want and need peace, we often make things so busy and loud during advent, with plays and parades and pomp and parties that we don't take the time to ponder and appreciate the peace below the surface - exactly what Christ came to provide. This last week of Advent, do all you can to do like Mary - value every moment and memory, and meditate on what it all really means. Don't let all the commotion steal your joy - or your peace. 

Anticipating His Advent #19

We have been slowing walking through this core passage on the Incarnation of Christ found in Luke 2. We saw  yesterday that the shepherds had planned their response to the message of the angel and decided to go see for themselves:

16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 

Luke is very specific and detailed, as he often is, showing us that he has relied heavily upon eyewitnesses for his historical record.  Older translators were not always as detailed, making verse 16 sound like all three persons: Mary, Joseph and Jesus, were all lying in the manger together. Thus, when our family memorized this passage together years ago, our then youngest son would interrupt our recitation and ask in all seriousness: "All three of them?"  More importantly, notice the process: after they saw they child, they made knowing the saying, and all wondered. We have this repeated pattern in the incarnation account: Revelation, Evangelization, Preoccupation. God sent messengers, they told the good news to others, and those who heard it wondered, pondered, kept thinking about what God was saying and doing.  With so many things calling for our time and attention these busy days, may we be pre-occupied with Christ's coming. 

Anticipating His Advent #18

We are in Luke 2, in the middle of the Incarnation Story, where the shepherds have just received the message that the Savior of the World, the Christ of the Jews, the Lord Who keeps His covenant, has just arrived on planet earth, just on the other side of town. The angel chorus then provided a musical interlude to let it soak in.  We ended yesterday with the question: What are we going to do with that information? What did the shepherds do with that information?

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 

First, they talked to each other.  They did not keep their religious life to themselves? This is a group of guys here - not a ladies' book club - yet, they seriously talked about this. Do we? Secondly they came up with a plan: let's go! There was no fretting about the sheep, or wondering if it was worth the sandal sole; they said: "Let's go!" Why? They knew the Lord had revealed this message to them, and when He tells us something, it is not simply to increase our intelligence; He tells us things so we will act upon them. God reveals Himself, His plan, His intentions ti invoke a response from us? How are we responding this Advent? 

Anticipating His Advent #17

 

In Luke 2, the shepherds have just heard the most amazing announcement about the birth of this baby, the Savior of the World, the Christ promised to God's people, the Lord over all creation.  They needed some time to let it all sink in:

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

It's like the hymn after the sermon, the postlude after the service, the interlude after the verse: God's music to help them meditate on the profound message they had just heard, and prepare do do something with it.  This time of Advent is a time not only of reflection, but preparation: "What are we going to do with this information, and this great opportunity? What does receiving it look like? We are about to see what it meant for the shepherds, but what about us?  When we come away from seeing once again the majesty of the story, what shall we do?

Anticipating His Advent #16

We began Luke 2 with the lens zoomed out to picture the whole Roman Empire, with its leaders used of God to do something that would put Mary and Joseph in the precise position at the proper time for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. We then zoomed in to focus in on the family ad observe the humility of that moment. We now zoom out just a little to see what was going on within a few mile radius:

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Not only was God using this young woman of lowly means from a seemingly insignificant place; He now was entrusting this message of worldwide import to some lowly shepherds.  For centuries, civilized nations had viewed them as "less." But that's the way God works. The angel tells them three things about this baby: He is Savior, the Christ, and the Lord.  The first term, Savior, is a rare one used only one other time in the Gospels; it emphasizes His ability to save all peoples.  The second word means the Anointed one, the long-awaited King.  The term for Lord here is the one used for God in His covenant relationship with His people.  One sentence; three powerful statements about Who Jesus is. This is good, great news. 

Anticipating His Advent #15

Yesterday we began looking at Luke 2 by zooming out to see the big picture of how God used the Roman Emperor a few years earlier to help set the stage for what we see in verse 

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The spotlight has now refocused back onto Mary and Joseph and their journey to Bethlehem. Why are they there? Because of their ancestry: both are from the line of David.  God had appointed this place and this time for the birth of this Son.  This event was something Theophilus, the recipient of Luke's Gospel, had not heard about: a poor couple in an obscure city, hours away from the limelight of Jerusalem or Rome, having a baby in a barn or cave.  What kind of reception was this for the Son God had sent? This is the question we need to ask ourselves: "what kind of reception are we making ready for Christ to come?"

Anticipating His Advent #14

In Luke 1, we have had a few zoom in accounts, where the focus has been on a few people from a rather obscure country.  In chapther 2Luke now zooms out to get the big picture, viewing the whole Roman Empire.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 

This is history - confirmed by documents of the day - a registration commanded by the Emperor himself.  In other words, know it or not, he had a part to play in the story.  This world leader did something that made it possible.  More than that, the events going on here will have an effect on the world, not just a little nation scorned by most of her neighbors.  When it comes to seeing what God is doing, we cannot use just one lense; we need to zoom in and out, lest we miss the important details or the big picture.  During the rest of this Advent season, may we take time to do both. 

Anticipating His Advent #13

We've spent the last few days looking at this announcement by Gabriel to Mary, and his explanation on "how" this was all possible, which really was not a very detailed, scientific answer. But it was enough for Mary to find reassurance and confidence, as we read:

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

When we compare this response to many others in scripture who are called upon by God to do something, there really is quite a contrast. There is no doubting, arguing, or questioning like we find with Abraham, Moses or many of the prophets. There is this resolved response: I am the servant of the Lord. We might say Mary told Gabriel: "Tell the Lord I said yes." She believed that God could and would do what He said, and that what God chose to do, including for her, was good and best.  Gabriel then leaves because he has done his job in delivering the message and getting her response.  As we pointed out last Sunday, the way he put this announcement, he was saying that her conceiving of Jesus would then take place immediately. This is Mary's final answer: "yes."  If we take away anything from today's thoughts it would be this: When God shows you His will, and you know it is good and right, simply say "yes"; no turning back, no "Let me think about it some more;" just trust God to know and do what is best for you and all, and obey His will. 

Anticipating His Advent #12

We left off yesterday with Mary receiving from the angel Gabriel the message that she would bear a Son, and He would be the Son of the Most High God. Her response is understandable:

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Like anything we are anticipating: completing a degree or a project, waiting for a wedding day or promotion, recovery from surgery or a broken relationship - sometimes we wonder if and how it can be done.  When Mary asks "How", it is a sincere and respectful question: that's not the way babies are born. For her, and for God, any type of immorality would not fit.  Mary is not refusing to participate; she just wants to understand what her part is. There is also a sense of "Why" in this question. Why  would God chose her? She humbly and sincerely wonders why God would chose her of all women. When we really anticipate something great in our lives, we should think: "Why should something so wonderful happen to me?" This is not negative thinking, but truly standing in awe of God's grace, love, and mercy toward us. 

Anticipating His Advent #11

We began yesterday to look at Luke's account of Gabriel's message to Mary.  He overwhelms her with the news that she is going to be a part of something big - even eternal:

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Gabriel had already told her that she had found favor with God - that He had chosen to bless her. Now she is told that the blessing was coming in the form of a son.  When she is told what to name this Son - that is an indicator to her of His significance: Jesus - a name we have almost come to say and hear too lightly - a Savior, a Deliverer. He will be known not so much for being known as her son, but God's Son, heir to the throne of God.  His coming will not be just for a limit place for a limited time, but an all-extensive and all-enduring kingdom. Try to imagine Mary's mind when she hears her son will be the most significant and powerful Person ever born.  For her a lifetime of anticipation is about to begin which she knows will last into eternity.  As we anticipate Christ's coming, may it not just be for a couple more weeks, but into eternity. 

Anticipating His Advent #10

Having arrived here in Luke 1, we want to slow down a bit and take it all in, looking only at a verse or two a day, which hopefully help us build our anticipation of Christ's arrival. 

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 

We saw yesterday that Mary's visit by Gabriel was not something she expected, but one that she was prepared for. Nonetheless, she responded with confusion and some fear.  If we are sincere about our sin, there is something trembling about being in the presence of God's messenger. Just like with others who have had such encounters, Gabriel's first job is to calm her fears and let her know God is there to extend grace, not collect for all her failures. His message is not one of approval for who she is, but one of hope and encouragement for who she is to become.  We anticipate Advent not because we have been nice instead of naughty, but because God has something good in store for us despite, and even because of, our imperfections.  In order to receive that, Mary did have to have certain preconceptions about the goodness of God, His mercy, and His proneness to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things.  If you are not anticipating Advent this year, what do you really believe about God's character?

Anticipating His Advent #9

Most often, when we think about Christ's first advent, we turn to Luke's Gospel.  He had a special way of turning events of history into a compelling story:

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!

What does Anticipation look like?  It is not exactly the same as expectation, though there does have to be a certain amount of that mixed in. Anticipation carries with it the sense that God may show up at any time. This last phrase is important: the Lord is with you! In one sense, the Lord is with us all: He is everywhere and especially with His own people.  But at other times we can really sense His presence in a special way, like here.  Gabriel is saying more than: "This is your lucky day!" There is more than mere coincidence here. Mary was living with a sense of anticipation - that God may show up at any time in any place in any way. Will she be surprised? Yes. Will she believe? Yes. Because she lived life ready for God to show up. 

Anticipating His Advent #8

There are numerous prophecies in Isaiah linked to the coming Messiah, and what he shall be like, and what His coming will include. Today we consider Isaiah 11:

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and might,
    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Jesse, of course here is the father of King David, and the shoot, or branch represents one of his descendants. The emphasis here is on the Solomon side of Jesus' ancestry.  Through Isaiah, God piles up these characteristics that focus on His wisdom - six terms that stick out as belonging in Proverbs: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, the fear of the Lord - and actually a seventh: The Spirit of the Lord.  The picture here is that the Messiah, the Christ, will have all these things we need to live rightly in this world - that with Him comes in the flesh how we should live. He brings us life and how to live it. We might say that Christ's Advent brings us salvation, forgiveness and eternal life, but also so much more. He is the most practical gift God could have sent. 

Anticipating His Advent #7

One of the lesser-known prophesies of Christ's coming came from the lips of Balaam, the prophet who tried to not speak what God wanted said. His last recorded oracle is found in Numbers 24:

 17 I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
    and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 Edom shall be dispossessed;
    Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
    Israel is doing valiantly.
19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
    and destroy the survivors of cities!”

Balaam's speech was now so controlled by God he could not resist letting these things come out, and he saw the Star with a scepter in His hand Who would drive away all the enemies of God's people. This descendant of Jacob would one day have full dominion over all.  Throughout the Old Testament this theme of the scepter pops up through many of the prophets, and then, looking back, the writer of Hebrews says about the Son of God: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. God's Son Jesus Christ, fulfills what Balaam foresaw: rightfully holding in His hand the scepter of righteousness and justice. He deserves to rule and reign over His people, and indeed all nations. 

Anticipating His Advent #6

Jeremiah 31 is a mix of sorrow and joy. Though their present situation was sorrowful, as they were watching their country fall apart as they were being disciplined by God and entering into exile, God told them there was still joy and hope to be found . He told them to sing and call out to Him, and He would renew their joy. He then says in verse

15 Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted for her children,
    because they are no more.”

As some of you know that is the passage referred to when describing the killing of innocent baby boys by King Herod when he heard a new King had been born.  Even amidst the great joy and celebration over Christ's birth there was sorrow.  But in the next verse here, Jeremiah picks up the call to rejoicing.
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
    and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
    and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
    and your children shall come back to their own country.

Despite the present struggles and suffering, there is hope, because Christ has come and is coming again. In this fallen world there are things that discourage us, but do not let those things rob you of His infinite joy. 

Anticipating His Advent #5

 

Psalm 72 is attributed to the wise King Solomon:

Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the children of the needy,
    and crush the oppressor!

Solomon, of course, was a son of David, part of the line from which Messiah would come. As he looked ahead to how he wanted to serve as King, he also came what would become part of the promised rule and reign of the Messiah - a rule not only of peace, but of justice.  Here Justice is put in parallel form with righteousness: a right relationship between the King and His people, and the people among themselves. As we celebrate Advent - that Christ has come, and anticipate His second Advent - His coming again, it is an appropriate time for us to consider the cause of the poor, needy, and oppressed. I would encourage you to do something significant this Christmas for these people, as a "thank you" gift for God for sending you His Savior. 

Anticipating His Advent #4

 9 Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:9,10

That may seem like a strange passage to consider when commemorating Advent, the coming of Christ, but it really is appropriate when you think about Immanuel, God with us, about Whom we read yesterday. The people who were receptive to Christ's coming were those who were sincerely looking for His Kingdom to come; they were longing for God to come down and do something, so that His ways and will would prevail.  They believed in a connection between heaven and earth - that the Creator really did care about His people, provide their daily bread, and forgive their sins.  Where we really get into trouble is when we begin to believe there is and can be no connection: that God does not care, we're on our own, and either we do not think we can or need to be forgiven.  As we sincerely anticipate Advent, we are like the writer who penned: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, who pined: "There is no peace on earth', I said." We long for what Jesus taught to pray here: that Immanuel and His Kingdom will come and rule and reign on earth.

Anticipating His Advent #3

In Isaiah 7, King Ahaz and his people are living in dreadful fear. Their enemies were planning a seige against Jerusalem, and Ahaz felt hopeless and helpless. He was even afraid to ask God for a sign that they indeed would be spared this time from invasion. Here is Isaiah's response on behalf of the Lord:

 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Want it or not: here is God's sign: A Son, Immanuel, God with us. This became one of many prophecies that kept God's Old Testament people going, watching and waiting, anticipating the coming Messiah, even in the worst of times.  Anticipation of Christ's advent helps drive away fear - no matter how bad things may seem at the time.  This is not "the most wonderful time of the year because of snow or shopping or Snoopy decorating his doghouse.  It is a time of hope that rises above fear, of seeing the signs that God still has a plan, and that plan is Jesus Christ, who came as promised, and who will come again as promised. Whatever your fears or apprehensions this year, choose a celebration and anticipation of His coming. 

Anticipating His Advent #2

The Prophet Micah wrote at a time when things did not look too good for God's people. The city was under siege and the judgment of God was at hand. But God always had a message of hope:

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
    when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
    to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
    to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

God raises up new hope from the most unsuspecting places: small town people; those who do not have an obvious background in leading; those who seem vulnerable, like babies.  He uses shepherds more than He does warriors. This works perfectly in His plan because it is not about His servants; it's about the "majesty of the name of the Lord."  As we go through these next few weeks of anticipation and celebration, let's not get caught up with the big and the obvious; let us be more aware of the calm, the quiet, the humble means God uses to bring Himself glory and draw us closer to Him. 

Anticipating His Arrival #1

There is an air of anticipation all around this time of year. You can hear it, see it, smell it, and taste it almost  everywhere. People are wanting, waiting, watching for someone or something to happen.  Even in our family we are awaiting the birth of another grandson.  In the days of John there was a similar sense of anticipation:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In our looking forward with anticipation, there must also be a looking back to what has always been. There is only reason to look ahead because there is a past, and Someone Who was there, creating with a plan and design that makes sense, and makes looking ahead promising and hopeful.  The Word is that Someone. John waited for and witnessed His first coming, His first Advent, while we wait for and anticipate His coming again.  May we look to Him as the Light that will show us the way day by day, and not be distracted or discouraged by the darkness around us. He will show us the path to real life.