He saves anyway...

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalm 118:21-24 ESV)
Rejection: that's the word to describe the majority response to the Messiah. He came and received a cold reception.  But the LORD had a plan, that through it all He could still accomplish our salvation.  That is what makes this day a day for rejoicing.  His plan of salvation is amazing, mind-boggling, wonderful.  As the Psalmist David begins and concludes this psalm: "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for HE is good; His steadfast love endures forever."

He's not he only one...

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.
(Luke 2:7 ESV)
Often in Christmas pageants throughout the years, the Innkeeper as gotten a bad rap - seen as a rough, uncaring scrooge.  But when we take the bigger picture into focus, the lack of room at the inn was representative of an overall rejection of the Messiah by his hometown, his own people, and mankind in general. "His own received Him not," in John's words.  He was the "stone that was rejected" in David's words.  Though the Messiah is EVERYTHING WE NEED: True King, Totally Holy Priest, Righteous Judge, and Prophet of all Truth, by and large he was snubbed, at best, and hostily treated unjustly by most.  It's a wonder He was allowed to live at all. (and in a day of abortion on demand and heat-seeking missles, HE probably would have been attacked sooner. So, don't pick on the poor inkeeper.  His door has a mirror on it. He's not the only one.

Unseasoned Greetings...

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
(Psalm 2:1-3 ESV)
The LORD sends His Messiah to the earth. How will He be received? Not Well. Just like the prophets sent before him, only worse. Just like the tennants dealt with the son of the Landowner.  John puts it well in his introduction to the Incarnation: "His own received Him not." That is a nice way to say "Rejection." But this is not merely a mild, passive ignoring. It goes further. It is a hostile opposition to holiness and rightful rule, a shaking of one's fist at God.  There is this thread, actually a thick rope, throughout history of mankind doing this.  Today is no exception.  Receive or reject.  Trust or tantrum.  Love or hate.  Of all times of year, this season says: "What will you do with the Lord's Messiah?"

Finishing His Job...

The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
over the wide earth.
He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.
(Psalm 110:5-7 ESV)
The first two verses of this Psalm of David speak of the Messiah as being a King and a Priest, established by God to do what needs to be done with mankind.  In this last verse, He is a powerful judge - not just of individuals, but of nations and their leaders.  He will not relent until his job is complete.  Like a warrior in pursuit of His enemies, He will simply stop on the way and scoop up some water before continuing on His quest.  Thus, the LORD is not slack in coming again in judgement. He will do so, completing His assignment over His creation. He will "lift up His head" to see the world that belongs to Him under His complete rule, those from every tribe, tongue and nation.  As with His being King and Priest, He is full qualified to be the Judge.

No more Mr. Nice Guy???

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
(Psalm 2 ESV)
This Promised Messiah, the King on the throne, the Son of God, is many things... including Judge.  He has every branch of Government in the Kingdom covered. He speaks God's will; He rules to enforce it; He represents God to His people, and His people to God; and He is the ultimate judge of leaders, nations, and people.  Mankind will not tolerate such total power, because we know what we are like with a little power: it goes to our head and we abuse it.   But here is the difference: He is great and good. He really does care about what is best for us. He is worthy and qualified to do it all.  The bottom line is this: we either submit to His rule and judgement, or we give it over to someone much less qualified and righteous. Then we lose. Instead, "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."

Singing the old Psalm...

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
(Hebrews 10:5-7 ESV)
As the writer of this letter was prone to do, he quotes from a Psalm of David, which looked forward to the coming of the Messiah.  David, the man after God's own heart, understood His heart.  He does not want rituals or sacrifices, but a life of wanting to please Him.  The Christ lived that life. He came to give the Father both: the life that pleases Him, and the death to pay for our sins.  After saying more about this priestly work of Christ, he implores us to come to God through Him, and to find a confident relationship with Him, where we want to obey Him, we want to please Him, and it is our joy to do so.  Christ is the one we long for in the old psalm, Psalm 40.

The First is Foremost...

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
(Hebrews 7:4-10 ESV)
Christ is the priest after the order of Melchizedek.  Melchizedek is the first mentioned priest in scripture.  So what?  In a sense, that makes his order higher than that of the levitical priesthood.  But could there be One even greater? One before Melchizedek?  How about the Creator who has come?  In the same way that the Christ is a greater King than David, having come from his line, yet at the same time pre-existing him, Christ is also a greater priest than Melchizedek. He is the ultimate priest, Who is truly able to bring us into relationship with God.  We need The Priest of Priests, Jesus Christ.