The Coming King of Hope

Matthew 1:7-11 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 
As Matthew continues with his selective genealogy, he takes us from the summit of King Solomon down the slope though very imperfect kings to "Jechoniah and his brothers," which brought them to rock bottom - the Exile into Babylon.  What could keep these people looking forward with any sense of hope?  The Coming King.  What can keep us looking forward through the ups and downs of life and our own failures?  The Coming King of Hope.  May this Advent restore in us the Hope that only Christ can bring.

The Coming King of Faith

 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
 And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, (Matthew 1:1-6 ESV)
Jesus Christ is different. As Matthew points out for us here, His human heritage is important.  He is in the line of the father of faith, Abraham.  But equally important to Matthew and to us is that He is in the line of David.  David was by no means perfect, as is alluded to her by Matthew's note that David had Solomon through Bathsheba.  But like David, Jesus Christ was God's chosen and anointed one - a King. When we are "waiting" for Christmas, it is not just the anticipation of a baby to be born, but the arrival of the King to whom we owe our allegiance and our trust.

Are we ready to be wowed???

 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 bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:14-18 ESV)
During our cultural celebration of Christmas, there will be many things that seek to "wow" us - to catch our eyes and our hearts and make us think "this is a great Christmas!" - The lights, the movies, the gadgets on sale. But there is only One Who truly wows. John tells us to look at Him: the Eternal Word who has come down in as much of Hi,s glory as we can stand; the One above all others, Who humbled Himself to become a man; the One in Whom we have the grace of God revealed which should really take our breath away.  Let nothing us wow us like Him.

Christmas Certainty...

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4 ESV)
Luke was a thorough investigator and historian.  He knew the importance of facts, even during a highly emotional time like Christmas.  It is so easy for us to just ride the tide of feelings this time of year.  Those emotions are fine, unless they have no factual foundation.   That foundation is the incarnation of Christ - that He has come and carried out God's plan for our salvation.  That is something to "feel good" about for sure - something worth making a be celebration about.  But let's make sure we celebrate with our hearts and heads too-knowing we are celebrating the truth.

Advent: a time of opportunity...

 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13 ESV)
As John continues to give us the Big Picture of Christmas, as not just a day, but a full-fledged world-changing event in human history, he now focuses on the "splash" Jesus Christ made upon entry.  He was not well-received - most people viewed Him as an unwanted alien, rather than a long-lost Lord. BUT many saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime, and of eternity. To receive Him gives us everything we could never have otherwise - a new birth, new life, and a restored relationship with the Father.  Besides being an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, and experience the joy of giving to others, may this Advent season be a time of spiritual opportunity that enhances our relationship with our Creator.

True Light

 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
(John 1:6-9 ESV)
As John helps us see the "bigger picture" of Christmas, he helps us see The Light.  He was there at creation, and has been shining forever - out there. But He was coming.  For many, celebrating Christmas involves many lights - all over the tree, all over the house - everywhere we look.  This may well lead to us missing The Light - the one who made light in the first place.  Instead, this Christmas, let's make sure The Light, Jesus Christ, God the Son, has first place.

The Prelude to Advent

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5 ESV)
Many people are way ahead in preparing to celebrate Christmas this year.  They began a long time ago, and some, I have heard, have every present bought, wrapped and stowed away.  But Someone began the real preparations for the real story far before that.
If we were to ask "When did the Christmas Story begin?" our minds would immediately flash to appearances of angels and the parts different people played in "the story."  But in these verses John flashes us back farther, to when this world began, and beyond, to the story of the One who made it - The Word, the Son, the Light of the World.  Let's prepare our hearts by first of all looking back to see Him shining as the star of the story.