2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
We come to the day known as Epiphany, the revealing of Christ to the nations. Epiphany is an older holiday than Christmas Day. When “a light goes on,” we say someone has had an epiphany. New light is shed on something that was previously not seen or recognized. Throughout the Old Testament, it was clear that God would bless his people as they exercised obedience to the law. He had made a covenant with his people. He also said that through Abraham all the families of the earth would be blessed. From time-to-time non-Jews, had a role in the unfolding of God’s plan (E.g. Rahab). But clearly the thinking of the Jews was that God was a God for the Jews. The Gentiles were outside the fold. To be accepted, Gentiles had to submit to Jewish law and practice. This was an issue of discussion in some of the epistles in the New Testament (Acts, Romans, Galatians, Hebrews).
So the visit and worship of the Gentile magi was an epiphany to the Jewish people and everyone else. Non-Jews kneeling and paying tribute to the Messiah, the King of the Jews was revolutionary. The reality set in. Jesus had come as King and Savior for all peoples and nations. The promise to Abraham 2,000 years earlier that all nations would be blessed through his descendants was now a reality. If you read the additional Scriptures listed above, you will see how this visit of the magi was prophesied hundreds of years earlier. God provided a GPS star to guide the magi.
People have surmised there were three wise men based on the three gifts, but as you read, the Scriptures do not specify how many there were or how soon after the birth they arrived. Jesus is referred to in Matthew as a child rather than a baby. It seems most unlikely for a number of reasons that the visit was on the night of Jesus’ birth. Matthew also calls the place of the visitation a house rather than a manger. The fact that Herod’s order was for two years old and younger would seem to mean that there was some delay between the birth and the visit.
Christianity is the most inclusive faith in the world. Jesus Christ came for every human being, every tribe, every nation, all peoples, all culture. Jesus is the Light of the world, the epiphany for all who would believe. In him is no darkness at all.
Music: “We Three Kings of Orient Are” Kings College
Almighty and everlasting God, the Brightness of faithful souls, fill the world with Thy glory, we pray Thee, and show Thyself, by the radiance of Thy light, to all the nations of the world, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —Gregorian Sacramentary, A.D. 590
Postscript:
Thank you all for being a part of these past thirty-five days. I trust that the Scriptures have encouraged you in your walk with the Lord as we looked into the Old and New Testaments. But most importantly, I trust you have drawn closer to our great God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and that he has spoken through his words and communed with you day by day. My heart’s desire is that you have established a pattern of opening the Scriptures every day and searched the mind and heart of God that you might grow ever deeper in your love and obedience to our Lord and King. Hopefully Avent to Ashes will be out before long. I’ll keep you informed.
32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 72; Joshua 1:1-9
Some thoughts
As we have entered a new year while still celebrating the twelve days of Christmas, the last couple of days our Scripture passages have directed our attention to living out our faith. The first part of the chapter looked closely at Moses’ exercise of faith, and then touched on Rahab, a less noble person. Today we have a short and interesting list of people who were also commended for their faith. If you know their stories, you are surprised to see some of their names. Samson was pretty much an impatient playboy. Gideon was a chicken. Jephthah made a rash, foolish promise, which resulted in his daughter’s death. Barak was a wimp. What a class of champions of faith! There is hope for us.
[One of the beauties of the Scriptures is that the writers didn’t sugarcoat anything. Such writing speaks of the authenticity of the people and of faith. Christianity is very believable unlike myths in Hinduism for example where elephants hold the world on their backs while standing on the back of a turtle.]
The writer of Hebrews then moves on to the description of courageous saints who died horrible deaths for their faith. Their love for God and hope for heaven was greater than longing for this world. What is straightforward is that anyone, regardless of status or circumstance, can exercise faith in God. Each of those named earned a good reputation for exhibiting faith. What is abundantly clear is that having faith does not guarantee earthly blessing. Things may not turn out well in this life. The ending is not the point of faith.
Faith does not come in amounts; it is not the determiner of the outcome. Faith cannot be in faith but in another. If it were, then the amount of faith shown would be the determining factor. In other words, the person exhibiting faith would be in a controlling position to affect the result. The controller and mover in faith, however, is not a human being. It is God. And we want it that way. Our faith is in the One who knows the beginning from the end and, a most important thing to always keep in mind, as the writer reminds us, God had something better in mind for us.
Another note, “perfection,” as it is used in Hebrews, does not mean flawless but rather maturity, completion, or reaching a desired goal. Based on all he has written in the previous chapter (the Bible was not broken into chapters), the author says THEREFORE, since all these people are great witnesses to faith, hang in there and keep going with your eyes fixed on Jesus who is the ultimate demonstration of faith and the point the author is driving at.
This translation uses the word champion in referring to Christ’s mission on earth (v.2). Another translation (NIV) uses a more descriptive word, pioneer. Jesus was the pioneer and perfector of our faith. The image is that of a ship in dire fatal trouble and the “pioneer” is the one who takes a rope and jumps overboard and swims to shore to establish a way for those on the ship to follow to make shore safely. Jesus has paved the way to salvation. The truth that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God guarantees our inheritance in heaven. That is why our faith is in Christ alone.
O Lord, Length of days does not profit me except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory. Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour, that I may not be one moment apart from thee, but may rely on thy Spirit to supply every thought, speak every word, direct every step, prosper every work, build up every mote of faith, and give me a desire to show forth thy praise, testify thy love, advance thy kingdom. May thy fear be my awe, thy triumphs my joy. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. —The Valley of Vision, p.112
PS. The “Twelve Days of Christmas” ends today. This evening is known as “the Twelfth Night.”
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.
31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 72; Exodus 3:1-5
Some thoughts
Have you noticed something interesting here? Moses thought it “better to suffer for Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt.” This was 1400 years before Christ! Did Moses know about Christ (from the Greek Christe meaning the anointed one—Messiah)? Let’s take a step back and walk our way through this passage. The Jewish people held Moses in the highest regard as the first prophet. After all, he was the one who spoke to God on their behalf. He was the one to whom God gave the Law on Mount Sinai. He was the one who led the greatest event in the Old Testament, the Exodus. God’s hand was clearly on Moses . . . from the very beginning. His parents were godly people who heard the voice of Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God revealed to them that Moses was an unusual child. Their conviction was so strong, they defied the law of the land—which was to kill all Jewish baby boys. (Remind you of king Herod?)
Moses learned of the Lord from his parent’s faith and his true identity in spite of being raised in a pagan society. Then we come to this verse about “suffering for the sake of Christ.” At this time in history, Egypt was a world power in military might and wealth. Moses, the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, chose to leave that world of fame and power to identify and suffer with his own people. Rather than look to this world, Moses kept his eyes on the one who is invisible, his God, believing in the ultimate redemption of the promised Messiah.
Moses was an Old Testament Christ figure. The parallels were everywhere. Pushing forward by faith keeping his eyes on the invisible God is the point the author of Hebrews is driving at. The people to whom he is addressing were sorting through their own faith in the midst of rising persecution. He is seeking to encourage them through these examples. He takes the most esteemed person, Moses, followed by one of the more infamous persons, Rahab the Gentile prostitute, and ancestor of Jesus. The Scriptures always remind us of her former profession (James 2:25, Matthew lists her in Jesus’ genealogy). Why bring that up again? It is to remind us that anyone at any station in life can be redeemed through God’s grace. And that a troubled past does not short circuit a fruitful and significant future. God is never done with his children. By way of faith in God, the past does not define the future.
Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give me an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give me an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow on me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. —Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 72; Genesis 28:10-22
Some thoughts
Sometimes when we exercise faith, we believe it will come in our lifetime. That’s natural. The core of faith, though, is in the abstract if you will. Think about it. I have faith that someday, I will have a child. When I am holding that child in my arms, I cannot say, “I have faith that someday I will have a child.” It makes no sense; the child is in my arms. I am not exercising faith. Faith always involves not having the thing for which you have faith. That perspective comes out in the first verse of today’s reading. The people mentioned in the earlier part of this chapter, Abel, Enoch, Noah, as well as Abraham, and Sarah were exercising faith beyond their immediate moment. Though promised a whole nation and millions of descendants, when Abraham and Sarah died, they had exactly one son, hardly a nation. One kid, that was it! Yet they believed and took God at his word.
When Abraham offered Isaac as a blood sacrifice on the altar in Genesis 22, don’t you wonder what he was thinking? Honestly, was Abraham going to slit Isaac’s throat as a sacrifice because God told him to? Really? Two thousand years later, the writer of Hebrews, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us exactly what Abraham was thinking at that life and death moment in verse nineteen. If he went through with what God had told him to do, namely kill Isaac as a sacrifice, he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, because Isaac was a promised child, promised to Abraham and Sarah by God. Abraham had absolute faith in God keeping his word. Abraham acted in faith doing what God told him to do. In theory Abraham did sacrifice Isaac, it’s just that God intervened in the process. What is also apparent is that the faith exercised by Abraham carried on to his son, Isaac, his grandson, Jacob, and his great grandson, Joseph. The story of God’s promise of the land of Israel being given to Abraham’s family carried on because Joseph requested his bones be carried back to Israel when living in Egypt. Some 600 years after Abraham, the bones of Joseph were carried back and eventually buried in Israel following the great exodus.
What is hoped for, does not always happen in our lifetime. The issue is faith in a faithful God who has never not kept his word. Trust him each day with your own life for this coming year.
Music: “He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child” Roger Wagner Chorale
Prayer:
O faithful Lord, grant us, I pray Thee, faithful hearts devoted to Thee, and to the service of all men for Thy sake. Fill us with pure love of Thee, keep us steadfast in this love, give us faith that worketh by love, and preserve us faithful unto death. Amen.
11 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying— “he disappeared, because God took him.”For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 20; Genesis 12:1-7
Some thoughts
The passage you have just read, I would guess you’ve read many times. I know I have. We’ve probably heard a dozen sermons on it. Yesterday we focused in a bit on “faith” and then today this passage comes up in the lectionary. [By the way, for the most part this year we’ve been following the Revised Common Lectionary Year B for those of you who care.] I had the thought, what more is there to say here, and I asked the Lord for help. I read it again and lo and behold some thoughts emerged, things I had never seen before.
One of the principles I fall back on in studying Scripture, is this simple question. “Why are those words there in that specific place? What’s the connection to the words around them?” The first verse helps with the definition of faith. Faith is a certainty of something when we cannot see it, or when it has yet to happen. Faith is a complete confidence; in another way we’d say, “You can bank on it.” We believe there is zero chance it won’t come to pass. The writer then gives a short example. He hearkens back to people in the past who had faith in something that had not yet happened. From the perspective of the writer and the reader of this epistle, they both knew how things had turned out. And so the writer said these people were exhibit A of what faith is.
I would expect him to then move right into the list of examples of Old Testament saints, but he doesn’t. Why? That was my question and the thought that captured my interest. Why this verse? Why these words? Why here? Before listing people of faith, he goes to the foundation of faith. In the opening chapter of Hebrews, he reminds us of the various ways God has spoken to people through the ages but that now he has spoken through Christ, the one through whom he created the universe. Why say that? He is using Christ creating the universe as the ultimate example of faith. It was created from nothing that can be seen. The reference harkens back to Genesis 1:1. There was a moment when the universe was unseen, when it did not exist. Now it does. You can see it. In Christ creating the universe, we can see both the before and the after of faith from the vantage point of the reader.
I think the author is also underscoring the centrality of Christ in the exercise of faith. He then moves on to the example of Abel. What struck me in this verse is the use of the present tense, “he still speaks.” Faith is ever living; there is nothing static about it. It is not a “one and done” operation. The end of the sixth verse is an assuring promise from God that dare not be overlooked. “Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Our God is perfectly faithful. “The faithful love of the Lord never ends; his mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lam 3:22-23). Faith in what Jesus has done brings everlasting life.
Music: “Mary’s Boy Child” Andy Williams (!) Back when you could understand the words, when there was a melody, and a beautiful voice to listen to! The “old” people will remember him! For those of you who never heard of him, you have been introduced. People weren’t in such a hurry in those days. Andy passed away in 2012 at the age of 84 in Branson, Missouri.
Prayer:
Teach me, O God, not to torture myself, not to make a martyr out of myself through stifling reflection, but rather teach me to breathe deeply in faith.
31 “But when the Son of Mancomes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
As we have mentioned previously, we miss the entire point of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, if we think of it as a one-day event. B.C. and A.D. should remind us of the significance. The nativity of Jesus was a day, in a way, that set earth’s time clock in motion. What do we mean? Jesus’ arrival on earth put God’s redeeming and restoration plan in action. What had been faith before (looking forward to the coming of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament), now had action, in other words, now had works—the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Then with the Ascension of Christ, the earthly works of Jesus were completed. So, we move back into the faith portion of earthly time, that is, we await the return of Christ at the end of the age, the action phase to come.
Near the end of Jesus’ earthly presence, he told the people very clearly what that action would be at the end of time. The passage you just read occurred two days before he went to the cross. It is an urgent message to be heeded. Our culture and our world are leery of a final judgment, but it is coming in Jesus’ own words. We always look for an exception, for extenuating circumstances, a second or third chance, or any kind of a delay. (E.g., a tax extension, late payment plans, interest free for one year, no money down for three years, LOA, unusual circumstances, an extenuating situation, etc.!) We have a hard time with a final, FINAL anything.
In this pericope, there is no ambiguity regarding finality. Jesus, the King of kings, is returning and there will be judgment by the perfect, righteous, just Judge. There is no hint of “do-overs!” It is equally clear that faith and works are connected. True faith, a gift resulting from God’s grace, results in action on our part. Jesus gives abundant examples of works resulting from faith. Faith in Christ results in the continuing transformation of our heart, which reveals itself in response to others out of love for Christ. We live in the “faith” time in which our “works” have eternal significance at the Day of Judgment. One day in time God became a child and entered the presence of the people he created. One day yet to come, those people who have become the children of God, who have repented of their sin and put their trust in Jesus alone, will enter eternally into the very presence of God and the earth alarm clock will ring and we’ll wake up to a new heaven and earth.
Music: “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” Robert Shaw Chorale
O Lord, Thou knowest my great unfitness for service, my present deadness, my inability to do anything for thy glory, my distressing coldness of heart. Help me to be diffident watchful, tender, lest I offend my blessed friend in thought and behavior; I confide in thee and lean upon thee and need thee at all times to assist and lead me. O that all my distresses and apprehensions might prove but Christ’s school to make me fit for greater service by teaching me the great lesson of humility. —The Valley of Vision, p.99
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord— “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
From my perspective, this passage is one of the most poignant and touching in Scripture. Simeon had served the Lord a throughout his life. The Holy Spirit was upon him and he was “righteous and devout.” What finer thing could be said about anyone? The fact that he was looking for the Messiah tells us much about his knowledge of the Scriptures and the leaning of his heart. In this case, the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die [allowed to die] until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. It doesn’t necessarily mean he was an old man, though one might conclude such. Put yourself in Simeon’s place. Would the Messiah be a mature man, a boy, or perhaps even an infant? God’s hand was on Simeon and led him to the Temple on a particular day.
That day was exactly forty days after Jesus had been born. And according to Jewish law, it was the day for the rite of purification and presenting the child at the Temple to redeem the firstborn. At every point along the way, Mary and Joseph were devout Jews following every aspect of the law. Jesus was raised within the law, which would be congruent with his fulfilling the law. Can you imagine Simeon’s joy as he began to realize the identity of the nearly six-week-old baby boy in the arms this young couple? The words he uttered surprised Jesus’ parents. They were prophetic words regarding their newborn. He would be the glory of Israel revealing God to all nations and at the same time cause many to reject God’s plan of redeeming and restoring creation. He will cause people to confront the truth of their own hearts in relation to God. Apparently, their son has come to offer salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike, in fact, to all nations!
Will people bow to God and repent of their sin and seek forgiveness or stand in defiance of the Lordship of Christ in their lives? In a similar way, we are all in Simeon’s position. I’ll frame the question this way, (v.25) Are we righteous and devout and eagerly waiting for Jesus to return and rescue this fallen world? Yes, we can die in peace when we have seen God’s salvation in our own lives, a salvation freely offered to all who would come.
Music: “Lord, Now Let Your Servant Depart in Peace,” Robert Shaw Festival Singers
—in Russian. The solo you hear is the setting of Simeon’s response v.29-32. Even if you don’t understand Russian, you’ll be able to follow the text! Do NOT miss this. It is the most exquisite, beautiful recording in this whole Advent study. Be very quiet and listen to the low basses all the way to the end! Find a quiet place and close your eyes as you listen. Let your heart sing with the soloist.
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. Jesus is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Amen.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 20; Isaiah 26:1-9
Some thoughts
In the preceding verses, Paul is writing about the difficulties he has been dealing with in preaching the gospel. He’s been hunted, perplexed, troubled, and at times, in despair. He has faced eminent death on more than one occasion. But he continues in his ministry so that God will receive more and more glory. Troubles apparently can be instrumental in producing glory to God! To us mortals, that seems odd.
What strikes me in the above discussion is that the very same thing could have been said about Jesus’ life as a baby in Mary and Joseph’s escape to Egypt. The same thing could be said in their return to Israel. Herod’s crazy son was ruling so they headed to Nazareth in the north, where it was farther from Jerusalem and a safer place to live and raise their son. On many occasions, the religious and political leaders sought to bring grief and trouble to the adult Jesus, yet he remained faithful, determined to bring glory to his Father. He saw the eternal always.
Paul lived with the same perspective, understanding the eternal nature of this life. I go back to it again, Jesus’ arrival in the manger was God’s arrival from an eternal, unseen world. It was not simply the miraculous birth of a baby to be celebrated one day of the year. Jesus opened the door to eternity, to heaven, to an entirely different and unseen—for the moment—world. Though our bodies are living, they are also in the process of dying, our spirits, however, can be continually renewed by the Holy Spirit day by day . . . forever. That part of us doesn’t age but it can mature. The source of that renewal comes from another eternal world. In the mix of the present and the timeless are “troubles!” As we view them from the “other world” perspective, we realize they won’t last long. From the eternal view, our life on this earth is a very, very short though eternally significant time. The earthly troubles we endure have the unusual attribute of being able to produce an eternal glory for God that far outlasts this time-bound life. Today make an effort to fix your gaze on things that cannot be seen, they will last forever.
May Jesus Christ, the king of glory, help us to make the right use of all the myrrh that God sends, and to offer to him the true incense of our hearts, for his name’s sake. Amen. —Johann Tauler 1300-1361 A.D.
41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
With Christmas celebrations a few days in the past, most people are still in that wonderful holiday mood with New Year’s Eve just around the corner and all the parties and football bowl games underway, we’ve moved on from Advent and Christmas. It’s over for another year. Time to take down the lights and tree and put things back into storage. If that was all there was to Christmas, how very, very sad. Perchance our world has missed yet again an opportunity to grasp the reality of the Nativity and Christmastide. What I have described is in truth, the world of many of the people all around us. Christmas is a holiday, a time for parties and a little break from the routine of work. Perhaps it’s a chance to get out of town for a few days or get together with family.
In the passage you just read, Jesus was in the midst of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and he wept over Jerusalem. Why? In the people’s enthusiastic over-the-top celebrating, they completely missed the significance and meaning of celebration. Hours later the Jewish people rejected him as their Messiah. This was the moment of final rejection. That moment had arrived. Jesus would go to the cross. The nation had issued its verdict on the Son of God. Rejection. With great sadness, Jesus foretells the utter and complete destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Romans.
Perhaps you are thinking, “What a downer and what does this have to do with Christmas?” People then did not recognize Jesus for who he was in his day. They presumed to know what God the Messiah should be like and how he should act. Jesus did not fit that mold, hence he could not be the Messiah. I fear today in a post-Christian culture, things are worse in a sense. Jesus, if he was a real person, was a good moral teacher who died a long time ago. This business of Jesus being God, Savior, and Redeemer who died in my place for my sin isn’t even on people’s radar. For much of our culture, the birth of Christ is a minimal part of Christmas, if at all. Pray for our world. Pray for the people around you. May you be a light in a dark world this day. Look for places to shine the light of God’s love. It may even be during half time of a football game.
Music: “Angels from the Realms of Glory” Sissel and Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior of this world, we pray for the reconciliation of all those people who have no knowledge or interest in reconciliation with you. You love them as much as you love me, for you so loved the world that you gave yourself to redeem us. Break the hard hearts; woo the sinner; heal the broken-hearted; bring health to the diseased soul; restore the wanderer. Father, bring back to the fold those who have drifted from the truth chasing empty vapors of their own making. In their longing to find themselves, may they find you and thus themselves as you designed them to be. And good Lord, may we not only weep for the lost and floundering, but for the proud and sure-footed, helping them realize they are on sifting sand, not the Solid Rock. Holy Spirit, continue pouring your life into our trusting soul. We pray this in the name of the babe of Bethlehem, even Jesus, our Lord. Amen. —Dan Sharp
2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance.17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.20 “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”
21 So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother.22 But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23 So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 148; Isaiah 49:13-23; Matthew 18:1-14
Some thoughts
The account you just read is one of the darkest moments in Scripture, the result of a sick, evil, and twisted soul. December 28th in some traditions is known as the Feast of the Holy Innocents, commemorating King Herod’s ordering the killing of all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under. It comes as no surprise that the devil would try to thwart God’s plan of bringing redemption and restoration to human beings and the whole created order. His first attempt in the Garden of Eden was successful with the fall of Eve and Adam. God’s Son was a different story.
A bit of background on King Herod may be helpful. An Edomite, he was a descendant of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. The Edomites but fell into pagan fertility worship. The Edomites were often at war with Israel. Herod was hated by the Jews as a traitor in that he sought favor with Rome by controlling the Jewish nation, while remaining loyal to Rome. He was a complicated, insecure man. He was clearly paranoid, killing one of his wives, two of his sons, and two sons-in-law among others whom he saw as threats. It was said his brother escaped being “killed by dying on his own!”
This Herod the Great learned that a king of the Jews was to be born in Bethlehem and he sought to solve the problem of a would-be challenger to his throne. He ordered the murder of the infant boys in Bethlehem two years old and under. What he had not realized was that he was dealing with God as a baby. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus evidently stayed in Bethlehem for a period of time after the birth. You read one night God visited Joseph in a dream and told them to leave for Egypt. They left that very night. What has always impressed me was that Joseph did not wait around. God spoke, he acted immediately.
You know the rest of the story. (It is puzzling to me that we easily condemn Herod as a crazy evil man in ordering the killing of the babies, yet there are millions of abortions in our day and many in our culture don’t bat an eye. Our courts and individuals defend the right of one human to take the life of another waiting to be born.)
Jesus was born into a stressful, uncertain world. Evil abounded. The devil tried again and again to abort God’s plan to bring life and healing to a fallen world whether it was at his temptation in the wilderness, Peter’s interference wishing Jesus to avoid the cross (“Get behind me Satan.”), Judas’ betrayal, or the Garden of Gethsemane. The great irony is that the devil tried to kill Jesus at his birth via King Herod and throughout his lifetime on earth. The devil’s wish came true, Jesus did die, not because he was killed, but because he chose to give his life as a ransom for many. And then for the devil, the worst possible thing happened, Jesus rose from the dead conquering death, sin, and his evil for all eternity! Eternal life is offered to all, via the atoning death of the Son of God man. Glory to God!
O God who art from eternity unto eternity, and art not at one time in one place because all times and places are in Thee, I would now seek to understand my destiny as a child of Thine. Here I stand, weak and mortal, amid the immensities of nature. But blessed be Thou, O Lord God, that Thou hast made me in Thine own likeness and hast breathed into me the breath of Thine own life. Within this poor body Thou hast set a spirit that is akin to Thine own Spirit. Within this corruptible Thou hast planted incorruption and within this mortal immortality. So from this little room and this short hour I can lift up my mind beyond all time and space to Thee, the uncreated One, until the light of Thy countenance illumines all my life. Almighty God, who didst raise from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ and didst set Him at Thy right hand in glory everlasting, I thank Thee for this hope of immortality with which through many ages Thou hast cheered and enlightened the souls of Thy saints, and which Thou didst most surely seal through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen —John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer, p.65
5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses— 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree.9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.
11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
The debate as to Jesus’ identity continued during the years following his death, resurrection, and ascension even to this day. Put simply, was Jesus God or not. Despite the massive amount of evidence that he was indeed the Son of God, many of the Jewish leaders simply could not or would not accept that God, the Messiah, had come in human flesh.
One of the heresies confronting John and the early believers was put forth by a man named Cerinthus. In a nutshell, he taught that Jesus was a normal human being born to Mary and Joseph. He was wiser and more righteous than other men. He further taught that “the Christ” descended on him at his baptism and left before his crucifixion. There are additional apostasies, but you get the idea.
In this passage written most likely in the 90’s A.D., the old disciple writes convincingly in addressing some of the heresies. First, he defines who are true Christians and how they are to love God by obeying his word. How do you love God? Obey the Scriptures. He then takes on the fallacies directly by arguing evidence. He introduces two actions in proving Jesus as God’s Son, in his words, “by water and blood”—water at his baptism, and his shed blood on the cross. Water and blood have a speaking voice. Then, he adds the witness of the Holy Spirit. What is John driving at?
All Jews knew one must have at least two witnesses to confirm a truth (Deut.19:15). In this case, you have three witnesses, all of whom agree (v.8). Let’s take a step back and look at each one. At Jesus’ baptism, do you remember what happened? As Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God descended like a dove from heaven and a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” The Holy Spirit descending and the voice of God gave affirmation at the baptism of Jesus calling Jesus his Son. Hence, both the water and the Spirit gave evidence as to Jesus being the Son of God. What then is the significance of the blood? How does it testify to the identity of Jesus? Again, think through what happened at Jesus’ crucifixion. At his death, when he was speared, out came water and blood, but what else happened? The curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom, from heaven to earth. Who tore the curtain? None other than God the Father, testifying that the sacrifice of the blood of his Son was accepted, completed.
Through the Spirit, the water, and the blood, God testified regarding his Son. Did you also notice God the Father’s affirmation in each instance? To reject God’s testimony about his own Son, is to call God a liar as John puts it. And then John draws the bottom line for his readers and for us regarding the future, “He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” What John has done for us is to give us a very down-to-earth way to describe the theology of the Incarnation. The birth of Jesus has truly mind-boggling ramifications!
Almighty God, we invoke Thee, the Fountain of Everlasting Light; and entreat Thee to send forth Thy truth into our hearts, and to pour upon us the glory of Thy brightness, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Sarum Breviary, 1085 A.D.
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
8 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evilspirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 148
Some thoughts
Several years ago we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. One of the things our family did was to watch the movie, Luther, with Joseph Fiennes and Peter Ustinov. (By the way, I would highly recommend it if you haven’t seen that version.) One of the most powerful lines in the film is when Luther responds to his spiritual mentor who has asked him to back off because what he was doing was splitting the Roman church. In Luther’s words, “Did you not think there would be a heavy cost?”
On this first day after Christmas, the Early Church marked it with what is known as the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. If we take seriously and grasp the significance of God’s coming to earth to bring restoration to a fallen world at the most extreme cost of his Son, why should we think there would be no earthly cost to us to stand against evil? The irony is that while the gift of salvation is free, that free gift can bring with it persecution, imprisonment, ostracizing, ridicule, or death. In fact, Jesus told his disciples there would be persecution (Jn.15:20-21). What does this have to do with Christmas? Martyrdom reminds us of the greater significance of the birth of Jesus. His birth changed the universe and all humanity. It was not a one-day event. It restructured all of time. It disturbed and challenged human being’s self-rule.
A few more words about the Feast of St. Stephen. This day is also known as Boxing Day in the British Empire. The idea being it was a day to collect alms for the poor among us in honor of Stephen’s martyrdom. As the story goes . . . in the 10th century Good King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia, risked his life on this day to feed a peasant who was gathering wood on this particular freezing cold night the day after Christmas. The idea carried on with the giving Christmas boxes to the poor and needy, or in our day, small gifts to tradesmen who service us throughout the year (Letter carriers, lawn care people, hairdressers, etc.)
Music: “Good King Wenceslas” Traditional Choir with text
Father of Jesus, cause me to be a mirror of thy grace, to show others the joy of thy service. May my lips be well-tuned cymbals sounding thy praise. Let a halo of heavenly-mindedness sparkle around me and a lamp of kindness sunbeam my path. Teach me the happy art of attending to things temporal with a mind intent on things eternal. Send me forth to have compassion on the ignorant and miserable. Help me to walk as Jesus walked, my only Savior and perfect model, his mind my inward guest, his meekness my covering garb. Let my happy place be amongst the poor in spirit, my delight in the gentle ranks of the meek. Let me always esteem others better than myself and find in true humility an heirdom to two worlds.
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
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, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things, which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Additional Scriptures: Matthew 1:18-24; Isaiah 9:6-7
Some thoughts
And so we read the story of the birth of Christ again this year. I used the King James Version because that is probably the most memorized version. If you haven’t memorized it, let me encourage you to do so. I want to make a few comments about the context of the passage without destroying your image of what happened. The story has been so romanticized through the years. Mary and Joseph’s ancestors on both sides of their family were of the lineage of King David (c.1000 BC). That means their ancestry had been traced back a thousand years even without Ancestry.com! How do we know? Their genealogy is in the Bible (Matthew 1 Joseph’s and Luke 3 Mary’s). That is important because Jesus was to be born from the line of King David and the tribe of Judah. In passing, it is interesting that a previous king in Joseph’s line had acted toward God in such an egregious manner that God brought judgment on his line declaring that no king would ever come from his line confirming that Joseph could not possibly be the father of Jesus.
It is quite possible that Mary and Joseph had relatives living in Bethlehem since that was the birthplace and home of King David. Most likely Mary and Joseph had made the roughly 90-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem several weeks prior to her delivery. Times were slower back then. Often whole groups of people would travel together for community and for safety. It would have been natural for Mary and Joseph to stay with their extended family. Bethlehem was undoubtedly flooded with people from all over returning to their families of origin.
The use of the word “inn” is an unfortunate translation of the text. “Lodging space” would have been more accurate. There was a Greek word for “inn” and Luke did not use that word here, though he did use it in the story of the good Samaritan. Homes in this era often had living spaces on a second story for the family with space for a few animals on the ground floor. Since the lodging space in the home was apparently full of other family, Mary and Joseph moved to the space where the animals were kept, a humbling way for the King of the Universe, the one he created, to enter this world.
I realize these are not particularly inspiring words for a Christmas day! There is a point. With this rather mundane description of the setting pictured in your mind, I’d like you to imagine yourself in the story that night. Tonight, go outside in the dark by yourself, hopefully away from lights if possible. Look up into the sky and visualize thousands upon thousands of angels singing “glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth (and here is that phrase again) to those with whom God is pleased.” Remember the words at the Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary? Let the message soak in. The working of God appears in very ordinary mundane settings for those who see it.
Music: “Messiah” Voces8 This video recording is outstanding! Do not miss it!
George Herbert (1593-1633) A Christmas Poem
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be?
My God, no hymne for Thee?
My soul’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts and words and deeds:
The pasture is Thy Word; the streams Thy grace,
Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers
Out-sing the daylight houres;
Then we will chide the Sunne for letting Night
Take up his place and right:
We sing one common Lord; wherefore he should
Himself the candle hold.
I will go searching till I finde a sunne
Shall stay till we have done;
A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly
As frost-nipt sunnes look sadly:
Then we will sing, and shine all our own day,
And one another pay:
His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine,
Till e’en His beams sing, and my music shine.
Prayer:
Almighty God, we give Thee thanks for the mighty yearning of the human heart for the coming of a Savior, and the constant promise of Thy Word that he was to come. In our own souls we repeat the humble sighs and panting aspiration of ancient men and ages, and own that our souls are in darkness and infirmity without faith in him who comes to bring God to man and man to God. We bless Thee for the tribute that we can pay to him from our very sense of need and dependence, that our own hearts can so answer from their wilderness, the cry, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” In us the rough places are to be made smooth, the crooked straight, the mountains of pride brought low, and the valleys of despondency lifted up. O God, prepare Thou the way in us now, and may we welcome anew Thy Holy Child. Hosanna! Blessed be he who cometh in the name of the Lord. Amen.
—Samuel Osgood, 1862 Prayers Ancient and Modern, p.360
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Additional Scriptures: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Luke 1:46b-55; Romans 16:25-27
Some thoughts
After some 400 years of silence from God in terms of revelations from the prophets, there was a little stirring in one instance . . . and not from a prophet. The news was that an old priestly couple became pregnant, after barrenness their entire lives! Something mysterious had happened in the Temple because the old priest Zechariah couldn’t talk. There was a game of charades when he came out of the Temple (1:22) and they knew that something unusual had happened.
Elizabeth went out of social circulation for several months. About this same time the angel Gabriel made another unique visit to the young girl, Mary, as described in your reading. Indeed, God was on the move after those years of silence. You know the story well. Put yourself in Mary’s place. Something strange is going on with your old relative Elizabeth. You are glad for her, but this whole thing is a little odd to say the least. Now an angel just shows up when you are by yourself, minding your own business. You are engaged (abiding by the covenant of marriage in this culture) to Joseph.
The Bible says that Mary was “confused and disturbed.” My guess is that that is an understatement. Despite what we might think, the appearance of an angel was very, very rare. Confusion and uncertainty would be a normal response. Then there is the comforting phrase, “you have found favor with God.” Can you imagine how humbling that would be? God finds favor with me? What do you think that meant?
God, the Father, said something similar at Jesus’ baptism. “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” It would seem that finding favor has to do with an obedient heart to the will of God. After telling Mary she had favor in God’s eyes, Gabriel went right ahead with the details of his message. You are going to give birth to the Son of the Most High God. I’m surprised she didn’t pass out or pinch herself to make sure she was conscious and not dreaming. I think we have a little clue as to Mary’s maturity because she didn’t doubt Gabriel’s words for a moment and asked a very logical question. “How’s this going to happen? I haven’t slept with anyone.” Again, the angel didn’t mince words. The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you and you will conceive and perfectly holy baby boy. This child will be born without sin. He will be the Son of God, not the son of Joseph. Since you are dealing with God, nothing is impossible. I’m inclined to think that maybe Mary didn’t know about Elizabeth’s pregnancy based on Gabriel’s comments in verse thirty-six. That may have been said to give Mary a little more confidence. At any rate, Mary’s response gives further insight into why she was favored by God. Unlike Zechariah’s reluctance to believe Gabriel when learning of his son John, Mary simply said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you said about me come true.” She had complete faith and trust in God. If an angel came to you with a message from God, what would he have to say about God’s view of you? Mary is a model. An obedient heart to the will of God seems to be the central point.
Lord God, our Father in heaven, on this night of nights, when a baby’s cry pierced the universe, a Father’s heart was touched as reclamation and restoration moved to planet Earth. We have but a faint inkling of the magnitude of your grace and love. Our words of gratitude seem so thin. Singing them helps a little bit. The condescension involved is more than we can imagine. The Son of God humbled himself and took the form of a human being born in the flesh like billions of other humans. I am dumbfounded, though profoundly grateful, that you had to learn to crawl, walk, and talk just like we do. As we remember your arrival this night. We thank you by endeavoring to be obedient and walk in the path you have prepared for us. Receive our worship through Jesus Christ our Lord, who became a child that we might become the children of God. Amen.
13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
Luke 1:26-31
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
Some thoughts:
This pericope from Isaiah is perhaps one of the best-known prophetic texts in the Old Testament. The context is this: Israel was fearful of an attack from Damascus, the capital of Syria (some things never change.) Through Isaiah, God sent a message to the king of Judah with the encouraging words that the kings he feared would be deserted and that God would be with Judah both in presence and protection. Once again, while this prophecy had immediate meaning for Israel’s history (Hezekiah was a godly king born about this time), it also spoke prophetically of the birth of the Messiah.
Note also the mention of the royal family of David in both passages. As we have said so many times, note the significance of every phrase. Then there is the phrase “God sent the angel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee.” It was prophesied that the Messiah would be a Nazarene. The childhood home of Jesus was also declared long before his birth. What is interesting here is that on several occasions, women who were barren were visited by an angel to announce they would become pregnant and bear a son, a divine intervention on their behalf: an angel appeared to Sarah (Isaac), an angel spoke to Manoah’s wife (Samson), and the angel Gabriel to Zachariah via Elizabeth (John the Baptist), Hannah –though not via an angel, but prophesied by Eli (Samuel), and Gabriel to Mary (Jesus). Every single one of those five boys played a significant role in God’s greater story of redemption culminating in Jesus’ birth. All are mentioned as heroes of the faith in Hebrews chapter eleven. Their mothers were great women who put their trust in God in improbable situations and God honored their faith in a most powerful way. Though you may not be visited by an angel today, (there’s always a chance), may you exhibit the same trust in God as these women as your life unfolds. When the message came, they trusted the word, though none were pregnant at the moment they were told. Nothing was different. They simply believed God’s word then things changed.
Music: “Mary Did You Know?” Mark Lowry and Voctave
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the Author and Giver of all life, we realize you visited these ordinary women in a very unique way in granting them the gift of becoming mothers to some very unique boys. They trusted you against all odds. For we realize Lord, that with you there is no such thing as “odds.” You are sovereign in the lives of your children. You clearly leave nothing to “chance” because it doesn’t exist in your world. Forgive us when we lack faith in you and in your sovereign will. Sometimes you bless barren women with children and sometimes you bless them in remaining barren. In either circumstance, what you ask of us is faith in you and your wisdom. Lord Jesus, we give you our trust this day. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Some thoughts:
In the opening of his book John defines the Word, in Greek logos, as the human being Jesus. In Greek thought, logos was the rational principle guiding the universe and making life coherent. It was a reason, a theory connecting word with structure. Moreover in Jewish thought, logos was the word of the Lord, an expression of God’s wisdom and creative power. At the time of John’s writing, the Christian perspective was that logos was viewed as coming from God and having his personality (John’s perspective).
The logos is God. The word was God (John 1:1). This idea of the logos, as described by John, was revolutionary of the greatest order. In Greek thought the sphere of God, the spiritual, mythical world was separated from the mundane world of humanity, which they called ‘flesh’ (sarx). John wrote that Christ became sarx! In other words, logos became human! Do you see how utterly astonishing this was for the Greeks and the Jews? Jesus was and is 100% divine and 100% human. It is beyond comprehension that the Creator would do this and outside of anything human beings could conceive of. Notice John begins where his audience understands (logos and sarx) and moves from the known bridging to the unknown making the connection between the two. Often when sharing the gospel, we may have a tendency to begin from our territory rather than where the people’s understanding lies and help them bridge the gap to the gospel.
The word used for dwelt (or in this translation “made his home among us”) is tabernacled. The Old Testament Tabernacle in the desert was a type of Christ which is why such great detail was given to Moses in its construction. The coming of Emmanuel (“God with us”) meant, among other things, God was very serious about communicating with us in ways we could understand. In that sense, there is no mystery. This Logos has revealed God to us in the clearest way possible. He humbled himself to become one of us. It is still astounding.
Music: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” Caitlin
Let all mortal flesh keep silence and with fear and trembling stand
Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descended, our full homage to demand.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be aware of your dwelling place in me this day. May I never become inoculated to the wonder of your Incarnation. In the Savior’s name, Jesus, Amen. -Dan Sharp
40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”
46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”
50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked.
52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!”
In this portion of Scripture, Jesus is interacting with the people and the religious leaders. It’s important to know the context and something of the Jewish festivals to gain a fuller understanding of the undertones of the interaction. This whole setting is during one of three major Jewish Feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles, occurring in the early fall. It is one of the pilgrimage festivals so there will be Jewish people from near and far countries. It is important to understand that a “Festival or Feast” is a type, a rehearsal for a later greater celebration in which the Messiah will lead to the ultimate consummation of the celebration, a Feast yet to occur! In each of the chapters of his gospel, John makes a single point identifying Jesus as Messiah and God’s Son. Each chapter reveals another aspect of Jesus’ authority.
Now let’s look to the festival itself. During this seven-day celebration, water was taken in pitchers from the Pool of Siloam and carried in a joyous procession to the Temple each day. Prayers were said asking God to send rain in the winter season to ensure a good harvest. The eighth day was the “Great Celebration” and culmination of the whole feast. Gold and silver pitchers were used. Water was poured over the altar as the Levites sang joyously. It is at this point with hundreds of people from everywhere crowding around the altar that Jesus stood and shouted these words, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will from his heart.’”
Normally rabbis were seated when they taught. There are several places in the Old Testament that make the same declaration. Remember, the Jews knew their Scripture and recognized the implications of what Jesus had just said. How do we know? Their next words were quoting Moses’ reference to the coming of a [super] Prophet in the book of Deuteronomy (chapter 18). Other people said he was the Messiah. They knew Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth and assumed he was born there. They also knew the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. I’m kind of curious why no one asked him, “Jesus, where were you born?” They also missed the connection that the Messiah would be a Nazarene (one from the town of Nazareth (Judges 13:5, Isaiah 9:1-2, and Matthew 2:23). The people were divided as to the identity of Jesus—like today. The Temple guards though, were taken with Jesus’ comments. Jesus was the living water (Woman at the well. John 4). But in this case, he was speaking of the future pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (fifty days after his resurrection).
As often happens weak leaders will ridicule crowds that don’t agree and then speak confidently in crowds who embrace their own viewpoints. But the leaders read the situation exactly wrong. Nicodemus, who had a one-on-one encounter with Jesus earlier (John 3), spoke wisely as his advice was to simply listen to what Jesus had to say. The next we hear of Nicodemus was that he was one of the two men who put Jesus in the tomb after the crucifixion. He apparently came to faith. One of the things that strikes me most in this passage is the phrase, “We never heard anyone speak like this!” The message of the gospel is unlike any cultural narration going on today. It was revolutionary then and it is revolutionary today. Look for a chance to share the “good news” today. The people around us are thirsty for the authentic life-giving water.
Music: “In the Bleak Midwinter” Robert Shaw Chorale (You may want to let this just run as more beautiful carols follow!)
Eternal Light, before whom all darkness is light, and in comparison with whom, every other light is but darkness, may it please Thee to send forth Thy light and Thy truth, that they may lead us. Purify, we pray Thee, our souls from all impure imaginations, that Thy most beautiful and holy image may be again renewed within us. Till this most blessed day break, and shadows fly away, let Thy Spirit be continually with us, and my we feel the powerful effects of Thy Divine grace constantly directing and supporting our steps; that all our endeavors, throughout the whole remaining in part of our lives, may serve to promote the honor of Thy blessed Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
–Robert Leighton 1611-1684, Prayers Ancient and Modern
5 For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:
“You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.”
God also said,
“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
6 And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,
“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”
7 Regarding the angels, he says,
“He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.”
8 But to the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. 9 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”
10 He also says to the Son,
“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. 12 You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”
13 And God never said to any of the angels,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”
14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 89:1-4; 19-26; 2 Samuel 6:12-19
Some thoughts
Once again, the richness of this passage is too much! The unidentified author of Hebrews wrote to the Jewish community who had become believers and were trying to understand their Jewish faith in relation to Jesus. The writer begins with establishing the preeminence and superiority of Jesus over every being, those seen and unseen starting with the angels. In the Jewish mind, angels were the most exalted beings for their role in God’s revelations to his people throughout the Old Testament, though they were not worshiped. In verse five the writer contrasts Jesus’ position with the Father to that of the angels. Jesus is his Son; the angels are not.
It is important to note that Jesus did not become the Son at the exaltation for he was involved at the creation. The Son has always existed, though not always in human flesh—until the Incarnate birth. Virtually every verse in this Hebrews passage is a direct quote from some portion of the Old Testament. The author is putting together his argument on helping the Jews understand the position of Jesus in relation to the First Testament, by showing how Jesus is actually present in these Old Testament passages, that is, the pericopes are talking about the Son. The fact that Moses said, “Let all of God’s angels worship him” carried great weight with the Jewish community for Moses was the greatest of the Old Testament characters (Deut 32:43). He was the one who talked with God directly and received the Law. In addition, the Father asked his Son to sit at his right hand, a position reserved for the Son of God alone.
In the rest of the book, the writer goes on to show Jesus as superior to Moses (Prophets), superior to the priesthood, and his ministry superior to the old covenant. In every way, Jesus is the preeminent Prophet, Priest, and King. As we have said before, do not be shortsighted in thinking Christmas is simply about the birth of a special baby born in Bethlehem. Hebrews gives us a bigger picture. The nativity is not a birthday party for Jesus. The Son of God has no birthday since he has always existed. Please put the manger in context and try to grasp the impossible. The Creator of all that is seen and unseen, all that has existed or ever will exist, One who has never not existed and will never die, has condescended [that word is so inadequate] as the Son of God, to take on human flesh and be born in a manger into a sinful world to bring a costly redemption to that world out of love for people, many of whom reject his love. But because of this incomprehensible expression of love, he makes it possible for the whole created order to be redeemed and live in fellowship with God forever. No, it’s not about a birthday party. It’s about doing away with birthdays forever as his children live in God’s presence throughout eternity as a result of the superiority of the Savior.
Music: “O Magnum Mysterium” Los Angeles Master Chorale
Thou Great I AM, fill my mind with elevation and grandeur at the thought of a Being with whom one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, a mighty God who, amidst the lapse of worlds, and the revolutions of empires, feels no variableness, but is glorious in immortality. May I rejoice that, while men die, the Lord lives; that, while all creatures are broken reeds, empty cisterns, fading flowers, withering grass, he is the rock of ages, the fountain of living waters. Turn my heart from vanity, from dissatisfactions, from uncertainties of the present state to an eternal interest in Christ. Let me remember that life is short and unforeseen and is only an opportunity for usefulness; give me a holy avarice to redeem the time, to awake at every call to charity and piety, so that I may feed the hungry, clothe the naked, instruct the ignorant, reclaim the vicious, forgive the offender, diffuse the gospel, show neighborly love to all. Let me live a life of self-distrust, dependence on thyself, mortification, crucifixion, prayer.
1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
Additional Scriptures: II Samuel 6:1-11; Psalm 89:1-4; 19-26
Some thoughts
There is so much packed into these four verses, we’ll have to make only a few observations. [These four verses are actually one sentence in Greek.] The whole pericope is an expansion of the third and fourth words, “God spoke.” Unlike any other deity, our God speaks to humans. Buddha is silent. Mohammed is silent. Allah is silent. Remember how Genesis begins? In the God created . . . and God said. God sustains everything simply by the power of his word, then and now. God is a living uncreated spiritual Being in the person of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God. He is not an idea, a force, a higher power, or a concept. He speaks creatively as we are reminded in the third verse of the Bible. In the Old Testament he spoke through dreams, visions, mighty acts, stories, commands, angelic appearances, a donkey, and even appearances of God himself (theophany). The prophets were his messengers speaking the words of God to the people.
The writer of Hebrews then brings things current in stating “and now in these final days,” referring more to the time of the writing of Hebrews, God has spoken to us through his Son. Can you think of a better way to communicate with people except to become one of them? What would be the best way to communicate with a dog? Become a dog yourself. God condescended from the glories of heaven as the Son took on human flesh. We then learn a little more about the Son and consequently about the character of God. Put simply, the universe was created through the Son.
The late Stephen Hawking commented the universe created itself and could not have been created by a god because there was no time for a god to exist because there was no time before the Big Bang. There is a fatal flaw in his conclusions. The God of the Bible exists outside of time altogether. An eternal God, the God who was, and is, and is to come, is not bound by chronos, measured time. Here we read he works in time while remaining outside of it.
Two words are used in this section that are used nowhere else in the New Testament. The words are “radiates” and “expresses.” The former includes the idea of an intense brightness, reminding us of the Transfiguration account. It is the brightness of God’s own glory, the manifestation of his presence. The source of this radiant brightness is in Jesus himself. His glory expresses God’s glory, as they are one in the same, the very character of God, further affirmation of the deity of Christ. There is so much more here, but we need to stop. A simple point is, in the birth of the divine baby in Bethlehem, God spoke to all people and to all of creation, “I have come to make all things new.” How we long for the next advent of the Savior when we will experience the fulfillment of God’s plan of restoration of the whole created order. That will be a Word and a brilliance, no one will miss.
Music: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” Home Free and Texas Hill
Prayer:
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. —The Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:14-19)
9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.”
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
12 Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”
The context for what you just read is helpful in gaining insight into the Scripture. Jesus, Peter, and the brothers James and John had been together on the Mount of Transfiguration. The three disciples had just encountered a most amazing sight. They were present in a meeting between Jesus, Moses-who had died 1400 years earlier, and Elijah-who had died 700 years earlier, and Jesus who had never died! Moses was the receiver of the Law. Elijah was the representative of the prophets. The Scriptures tell us they “meeting” and discussion concerned Jesus’ “exodus.” Moses was very familiar with an “exodus” and Elijah’s “exodus” was in a chariot of fire!
A cloud came down and enveloped all six of them. To make matters even more wondrous, God the Father in heaven spoke audibly and addressed the disciples. Talk about a life changing experience! The cloud lifted and Moses and Elijah were no longer there, only Jesus. What was being said by this action? Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law of Moses. He was the quintessential Prophet, superseding Elijah, the greatest Old Testament prophet. The ministry of Moses and Elijah was finished, hence the visual and the auditory affirmation of the superiority of Jesus from God the Father.
This is the backdrop for the passage you just read. It seems a little strange to us, but Jesus told the three disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until he had risen from the dead. Why? Something to think about, if the disciples had broadcast what they had seen and heard, the natural conclusion may have been something like this. He is greater than the Law and the Prophets. The Messiah, as a political and military leader, is here to lead an overthrow of the Romans. I don’t know that that is the case, but in having them wait to talk about this encounter until after the resurrection would make it very clear that the overthrow of the occupiers was not his goal or purpose. His “war” was on sin and rebellious hearts in the work of establishing his Kingdom.
The disciples go on to ask another question about the necessity of Elijah preceding the Son of Man, the name Jesus used for himself. John the Baptist was a “type” of Elijah, both of whom suffered in their missions. They were forerunners of Jesus’ suffering. Jesus reminded them that Elijah had already come and many rejected his message proclaiming the coming of the Lord. One of the things I’m frequently aware of as I read Scripture in describing the blindness of people regarding the working of the Lord, is that I am “those people.” All too often there is a dullness in my spirit that does not see God at work in the world in which I live. Jesus came quietly to Bethlehem, and he comes quietly today. You can talk about him now. “He is risen!”
Music: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” Royal Albert Hall, London 5,000 singers
Prayer:
O God, Thou injured, neglected, provoked benefactor, when I think upon thy greatness and thy goodness, I am ashamed of my insensibility, I blush to lift up my face, for I have foolishly erred. Shall I go on neglecting thee, when every one of thy rational creatures should love thee, and take every care to please thee? I confess that thou hast not been in all my thoughts, that the knowledge of thyself as the end of my being has been strangely overlooked, that I have never seriously considered my heart-need. But although my mind is perplexed and divided, my nature perverse, yet my secret dispositions still desire thee. Let me not delay to come to thee; break the fatal enchantment that binds my evil affections and bring me to a happy mind that rests in thee, for thou hast made me and canst not forget me. Let thy Spirit teach me the vital lessons of Christ, for I am slow to learn; and hear thou my broken cries.
17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. 18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. 19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ 23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
24 “Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.25 You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”
4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 125; 2 Kings 2:9-22
Some thoughts
Have you ever been in a situation where you wondered about something, analyzed it, studied it, got other’s opinions, and were dead wrong in your conclusion? I know the answer is yes. We simply didn’t have enough information, or we had a pre-determined conclusion of the way we wanted the situation to come out. Such has certainly happened to me. In Peter’s sermon to the Jews in this passage, he reminded them of the message of the prophets regarding the Messiah, whom they had killed. He made a strong plea for the people to repent of their sin and receive the Messiah. The message resonated with the people and 3,000 came to faith in a day.
Now he speaks to another crowd. In case these people had forgotten, Peter tied the powerful and familiar passage in Deuteronomy in which Moses, the greatest man of the Old Testament in the Jew’s eyes, clearly identified the Prophet, which God will raise up from the Jewish people. The admonition was to pay careful attention to this Prophet from God and hearken to his every word for he was the Messiah. Peter again drew on their knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures in that he reminded them of the second prophet, Samuel, and his message as well as the covenant God made with Abraham that by extension included them. As to be expected the religious leaders opposed Peter’s message that through Jesus there was resurrection of the dead. The truth went against the grain of the Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection or in Jesus as the Messiah.
Once again, this situation is not unlike the world in which we live. Any number of people all around us reject Jesus’ atoning death for their sins. They hear some second-hand information about Jesus and form an opinion, a comfortable undemanding position, something they can live with and not have to change. You may have seen the yard sign with the phrase “science is real” and I’m thinking, “but the Creator of science isn’t?” The owner of the yard sign has put their trust in science and rejected God as is apparent from the rest of the information on their sign. However, we have since discovered some things about science in fact are not true. But this person stands by their sign being unwilling to change. By dismissing the whole idea of Jesus as the Son of God and his atoning sacrifice on their behalf, the unbeliever finds it easy to go on living their life in continued separation from God. The sad thing is this was a friend who has since passed away. The birth of Jesus upsets the apple cart, then and now. Ultimately it involves yielding my will to the Savior and bending the knee to the King of kings.
O God, who art faithful and just to forgive us our sins, mercifully grant unto us that we may be delivered from the bondage of our sins and may one day rejoice in perfect liberty in our very Fatherland, which is in heaven. Amen. Roman Breviary
18 Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” 2 So Elijah went to appear before Ahab.
Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria. 3 So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. 4 Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “We must check every spring and valley in the land to see if we can find enough grass to save at least some of my horses and mules.” 6 So they divided the land between them. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?” he asked.
8 “Yes, it is,” Elijah replied. “Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 “Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab? 10 For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim. 11 And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ 12 But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life. 13 Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.”’ Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me.”
15 But Elijah said, “I swear by the Lord Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day.”
16 So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah. 17 When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
18 “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
I wouldn’t be surprised as you read the above passage you were wondering “what does this have to do with Advent?” At first, I wondered the very same thing. We are aware that an “Elijah” type was to be the forerunner to the Messiah. Elijah was representative of all the Old Testament prophets. (At the Transfiguration he represented the prophets and Moses represented the Law.) Like all the prophets, he was involved in challenging the leaders of the nation in their rejection of God’s rule. All three of today’s passages allude to battles between good and evil. The common thread in each of these pericopes is that God protects his people.
In this passage, Elijah, whose name means “my God (El) is Yahweh (jah),” confronts King Ahab with his rebellion against God. Like today, the truth of God often disrupts the plans of self-focused people. In this case, was Ahab not only absorbed with his Baal worship, but he was also evil through and through. John the Baptist confronted Herod Antipas with the same message: what you are doing is wrong. Repent of your ways.
Likewise, the birth of Jesus brought a threat to Herod the Great, the father of Herod Antipas. The status quo was challenged by the Truth. Like Elijah’s message to Ahab, the power and truth of the gospel means people cannot go on living their lives as they decide or wish. They do answer to one greater than themselves. But the old self will not go down without a struggle. We are foolish if we think we don’t have that battle. The devil’s prime strategy is to persuade us, we are not even in a battle. Advent and the eventual coming of the Savior are about a radical re-ordering of life and society. John’s message did so in the time of Christ and is in that process today. The message of the prophet is to change your ways and follow the way of the Lord. To do that, one must let go of self-rule. That is the same challenge through the ages from the time of Ahab to this morning, December 16!
Prayer: (A prayer regarding the challenge of submitting.)
O Changeless God, under the conviction of thy Spirit I learn that: the more I do, the worse I am; the more I know, the less I know; the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am; the more I love, the more there is to love. O wretched man that I am! O Lord, I have a wild heart, and cannot stand before thee; I am like a bird before a man. How little I love thy truth and ways! I neglect prayer, by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly, by knowing thou hast saved my soul. Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be an evangelical hypocrite, who sins more safely because grace abounds, who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood cleanseth them, who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell, for he is saved, who loves evangelical preaching, churches, Christians, but lives unholy.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom, with no spiritual understanding, no desire for the Lord’s Day, ever learning but never reaching the truth, always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition, with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution. My heart is without affection, and full of leaks. My memory has no retention, so I forget easily the lessons learned, and thy truths seep away. Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace.
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Additional Scriptures: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:4b-55
Some thoughts
We saw early on that the Season of Advent was about watching, waiting, and paying attention as we await the Lord’s return. Through parables and stories, Jesus told the people to prepare for his return. In this pericope, we see the care to detail as God’s plan unfolds. It says simply “God sent a man.” He names the man. He gives the man specific instructions about what he is to do. He is to point to the Light. In addition, God used Old Testament prophets to foretell of this person. So when John the Baptist arrived on the scene and began fulfilling his God-given task, the Jewish leaders had questions. “Who are you?” was their question. It was a question much deeper in scope than simply a name as is borne out in John’s responses.
The Pharisees and priests were looking for the Messiah. They were watching, waiting, and paying attention to the Scriptures. Much of what they saw in John fulfilled what they read in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Scriptures. So, John’s first response was simply, “I am not the Messiah.” The next question concerned Elijah. There was some thought among the leadership that since Elijah had not actually died but went to heaven in a chariot of fire, that he would come back to earth to announce the coming of the Messiah. So again, to this question, John answered, “No.”
Then the first question was asked in another way. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” In Deuteronomy 18:15, the first prophet, Moses, spoke of another Prophet who would rise up from among the Jews to speak the very words of God. This Prophet was understood to be the Messiah. How do we know this? In Acts 3:22-23 Peter quotes Moses in the passage from Deuteronomy and proclaims Jesus to be the Prophet to which Moses referred. The priests were spot on with their question about the Prophet Moses wrote about and dead wrong in their conclusion that Jesus was not that Prophet.
Back to our passage. To the Prophet question from the priests and Levites, John again answered, “No.” John only wanted to be known as the voice pointing to the Lord’s coming. Authority was important to the Jewish leadership and so their next question to John was about the authority to baptize. Despite their watching, waiting, and paying attention, the leadership was still missing it. In John’s words, “right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.” They had in their minds an image of what the Prophet, the Messiah should be and do. Jesus did not fit that image. Eventually, some of the leaders did discover the Christ, the Messiah (Nicodemus). I’m wondering if we also sometimes fail to recognize God’s working among us. [We do.] We may be surrounded by people who do not recognize the Savior. You and I are the present-day John the Baptists. John pointed people to Jesus. Can you point someone in that direction today? Look for the opportunity.
Music: “Angels We Have Heard on High” Home Free
Prayer:
Thanks be to thee, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which thou hast won for us, for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. And may ours be a voice crying in the wilderness, “This is the way. Walk ye in it.” Richard of Chichester 1197-1253, altered.
Scripture: Habakkuk 3:13-19 (This is a portion of a prayer that Habakkuk sang.)
13 You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones. You crushed the heads of the wicked and stripped their bones from head to toe. 14 With his own weapons, you destroyed the chief of those who rushed out like a whirlwind, thinking Israel would be easy prey. 15 You trampled the sea with your horses, and the mighty waters piled high.
16 I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. 17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
(For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 126; Matthew 21:28-32
Some thoughts
There is uniqueness about this passage of Scripture in that specific directions are given that it is to be accompanied by stringed instruments. Clearly, not all music was sung unaccompanied. Now to reflect on the text itself . . .. With the wave of crises over the last several months—Maria, Irma, Harvey, wildfires in California, a mass killing, NFL troubles, North Korea, [This definitely dates when I wrote this—2017.] We have traded those difficult events and circumstances for a new set of troubles in 2024—Ukrainian/Russian war, immigration problems, Middle East conflicts with Israel, street violence, new hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. The rest of the world continues to have its own significant troubles. Evil is clearly very present in this world. There is an element of uncertainty in our society. Our day is not so different from the days of Habakkuk. In chapter two he writes, (v.18) “What good is an idol carved by man . . . how foolish to trust in your own creation.” Our world is filled with carved idols. One of the idols is “I have my own truth, you have yours” so who are you to criticize my truth. In the words of Groucho Marx, “I have my own principles. If you don’t like them, I have others.” That would be our world.
Habakkuk sheds perfect light on how to read the situation. The importance of knowing history is again borne out here. He remembers and recites God’s actions from the past. God, you rescued your chosen people in referring to the destruction of Egypt’s army as it chased down the Israelites as they fled through the Red Sea. (v.13-15). The whole prayer, which is chapter three, reiterates the power and workings of God in protecting and providing for his people. In the close of the chapter, Habakkuk reaffirms his trust in God. Note the verbs in his response. “I trembled, my lips quivered, my legs gave way, I shook.” Then his trust in God rises to the surface with the words, I will wait quietly. Notice then how he describes wait quietly. There are three “even though’s.” The outward situation remains unsettling, (like today). Yet he says “I will rejoice. I will be joyful in God. The Lord is my strength!” The Lord makes him as sure footed as a deer running up a mountain. As a follower of Christ, do not sing the tune of doom and gloom. The Lord is your strength today and enables you to run up the mountain . . . accompanied by stringed instruments no less! Habakkuk most likely had seen these goats himself.
God, my God, give me heart to thank Thee; lift up my heart above myself, to Thee and Thine eternal throne; let it not linger here among the toils and turmoil’s of this lower world; let it not be oppressed by any earth-born clouds of care or anxiety or fear or suspicion; but bind it wholly to Thee and to Thy love; give me eyes to see Thy love in all things, and Thy grace in all around me; make me to thank Thee for Thy love and Thy grace to all and in all; give me wings of love that I may soar up to Thee, and cling to Thee, and adore Thee, and praise Thee more and more, until I be fitted to enter into the joys of Thine everlasting love, everlastingly to love Thee and Thy grace, whereby Thou didst make me such as Thou couldest love, such as could love Thee, O God my God. Amen. E. B. Pusey 1800-1882
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 3:2-6
Some thoughts
The conversation today is about pressing on. If I’m honest, I admit there are times when I’m too tired to press on. I just want to rest. This “pressing on” is not about those times. Here, we are talking about following Christ relentlessly. It’s about looking to the future and progressing. I once had a professor say that “excellence is not a state of being, it’s a process of excelling. Am I improving?” In this pericope, Paul freely admits he has not arrived, because frankly, we never do in this life. Our pressing on is part of a bigger working of God.
Habakkuk writes of the powerful moving of God in the world concluding God is the ETERNAL ONE (v.6) You see, the pressing on of each of us is a small part of the biggest pressing on that God is doing. Our God is always pressing on. Maybe instead of saying pressing on, we could say vibrantly living, dynamically moving. How do you think he created the Universe? Not by sitting back.
Psalm 126 picks up the same theme in another way. The people plant in tears and reap in joy. They weep going only to return singing for joy. We plant in faith looking to the future for the harvest to come. As a young boy on the farm, and now as an “older boy” from the farm, I remember firsthand the joy of my dad and grandpa during the harvesting of the corn, wheat, and soybeans. The Lord was faithful in harvest again this year. From time to time, I’d hear them whistling! We knew well the long months between planting in mid-April and harvesting the end of September. Like farmers, we live with anticipation of what is to come. Press on in godliness, holy living, and dynamic whistling! The King is coming for the final harvest!
Music: “Come, Ye Thankful People Come” Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
O Lord my God, be not Thou far from me; my God, have regard to help me; for there have risen up against me sundry thoughts, and great fears afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through unhurt? How shall I break them to pieces? This is my hope, my one only consolation, to flee unto Thee in every tribulation, to trust in Thee, to call upon Thee from my inmost heart, and to wait patiently for Thy consolation. Amen.
2 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.
2 Then the Lord said to me,
“Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. 5 Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.
The season of Advent is about waiting with anticipation of Jesus’ return and the fulfillment of God’s ultimate restoration of all creation. In the previous chapter of Habakkuk, the bad guys were getting away with murdering people who were better than they were. This injustice grated on Habakkuk. In his frustration, he asked eleven questions of the Lord! In a nutshell, the bad guys are getting away with murder. When are you going to do something about it? Ever felt that way?
He was trying to reconcile how a holy and just God would punish Judah with people that were more pagan than his rebellious chosen people. That was chapter one. In chapter two, Habakkuk responds to God with great wisdom. He decides to wait to see what the Lord will say. Wise idea and good advice. Unlike Job’s questioning of the Lord, where the Lord doesn’t answer but asks Job more questions, here, the Lord responds.
Before we deal with the Lord’s response, I’d like us to reflect on Habakkuk’s questions. We are not in a situation greatly different from his. People to stand for Christ are mocked by those in our culture who have made themselves the arbiters of truth and have established their own moral code of conduct. As flawed as Christians are, they have been made righteous by the blood Christ. In our day, the double standard towards believers is common. In a godless society, perverted justice is the rule and is always hungry for more. Each twisted step is never enough. So when the Lord responded to Habakkuk’s questions, we have an opportunity to find the mind of the God. The Lord made is answer very plain. Verse three of chapter two is the theological description of Yogi Berra’s “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over!” The Lord’s justice will most surely come and when it does, it will be definitive. The proud ones always trust in themselves and their bent perspective. Eventually the sin will catch up and pay a heavy wage. We have plenty of current examples. The righteous, those made righteous by God, live by faithfulness to God. Their eyes remain on the Father, not in complaining about the crooked people around them. The Lord sees the evildoers. Evil is insatiable for power, for control, for self, for dominance. One of the themes of Advent, is about waiting in faithfulness and not fretting about the people who seemingly “get away with it.” Put simply in God’s words, “They won’t.” Wait with your eyes fixed on our coming Savior.
Music: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” Instrumental
O God, give us patience when the wicked hurt us. O how impatient and angry we are when we think ourselves unjustly slandered, reviled, and hurt! Christ suffers strokes upon his cheek, the innocent for the guilty; yet we may not abide one rough word for his sake. O Lord, grant us virtue and patience, power and strength, that we may take all adversity with good will, and with a gentle mind overcome it. And if necessity and your honor require us to speak, grant that we may do so with meekness and patience, that the truth and your glory may be defended, and our patience and steadfast continuance perceived. In Jesus’ name. Amen. –Miles Coverdale 1488-1568 (Reformer and translator of the Bible into English in his day)
5 When Herod was king of Judea, there was a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He was a member of the priestly order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 27; Malachi 2:10-3:1
Some thoughts
This pericope is the very familiar account of the angel Gabriel telling the old priest Zechariah that he will be the father of John, the forerunner of the Messiah. What happens is truly a miracle but, to me, there is something even more wonderful about our God that unfolds in this event. Some background will help frame what happens a little more clearly. First of all, as you know, not anyone could become a priest. You didn’t audition for the job. You had to be born into the right family, the family of Levi. (That is one of the reasons genealogies are so important in the Bible and why such great care was taken in recording them.) All the way back in I Chronicles 24:10 we find that Abijah was one of the twenty-four descendants of the two remaining sons of the high priest, Aaron. (Nadab and Abihu offered unholy fire and died.) Abijah’s was the eighth of the twenty-four lots. Aaron was God’s chosen priest and established the protocol for priestly duties. Aaron and Moses were of the tribe of Levi but not all Levites were priests, just those who descended from Aaron. Why is this significant? God chose to work through the priestly line to bring the prophet who would announce the coming of the Messiah king. As it turns out both father and mother were from the priestly line of Aaron. In other words, John the Baptist was purebred priest!
There were many priests in each of the twenty-four orders. Lots were drawn to determine which man would serve in the Temple. The privilege to serve may come only once in a priest’s lifetime and so was a great honor. Though they had prayed for children, Zechariah and Elizabeth were childless. When his name was drawn for this honor, my guess is many of his friends were waiting outside for him to finish his duties. When he delayed in coming out, they figured something was amiss. What had happened? Somehow Zechariah communicated the appearance of an angelic visitor. An angel in the Temple was unsettling to say the least, but the message was even more startling. Zechariah and Elizabeth were to become parents of the forerunner of the Messiah! The Scripture also tells us that the baby (not a blob of cells) was filled with the Holy Spirit while still in utero.
Our wonderful God worked through an ordinary occurrence, rolling the dice to select a person for a specific task (!), and accomplished his will in a most remarkable, miraculous way. Yet all the details were in perfect order. A prophet who was from the priestly line announced the coming of King Jesus, the One who was the Prophet proclaiming the kingdom of God is among you, and the ultimate Priest who continually intercedes on behalf of his children, and the return of the coming King. Look today for God’s hand in the ordinary things of your life. They may become extra ordinary. God is in the details, even in the roll of the dice. [This pericope is not to be read as an affirmation of gambling!!]
Music: “Comfort Ye & Every Valley Shall Be Exalted” from Messiah Nicholas Sharratt
Almighty Lord our God, direct our steps into the way of peace, and strengthen our hearts to obey Thy commands; may the Dayspring visit us from on high, and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; that they may adore Thee for Thy mercy, follow thee for Thy truth, desire Thee for thy sweetness, who art the blessed Lord God of Israel. Amen.
2 But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel. 3 All who remain in Zion will be a holy people— those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. 4 The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment. 5 Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. 6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 27; Acts 11:1-18
Some thoughts
Throughout the Old Testament it seems that a good deal of the time Israel was in trouble both with their neighbors and with God. During those times, God gave them prophets to point the way of faith. When the above passage came from Isaiah’s mouth, Israel was in rebellion toward God. Isaiah warned Israel to change her ways and predicted Israel would be carried off into exile. In this passage, he talks about the remnant who would return after the exile. You have undoubtedly noted in v.5 his reference to “the cloud during the day and the smoke and flaming fire at night,” a clear reference to God’s leading the Israelites in the desert in the time of the forty years of wandering in the desert. Quite often events in the Bible foreshadow later occurrences. An incident is a partial picture, often of a later greater event. When we speak of the unity of Scripture, this is a small part of what we mean. The whole story of the Bible is connected as God unfolds his master plan.
Moving back to verse two we read “In that day, the branch of the Lord . . .” To what day and to what branch are we referring? In one case we are talking about the actual return from exile and the branch being the restored Israelite remnant (a shadow). On a more ultimate level, we are foretelling the day of the Lord when all of creation will be restored. The “branch” in this case also refers to the Messiah, the Branch of the Lord. In the eleventh chapter, Isaiah writes (v.1) “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot−yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” Here again, we apply what we have so often heard, “the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.” On a still larger picture yet, do you see we are the people in exile living in a corrupt fallen world as were the Israelites. We too await the final coming of the Messiah to establish in eternal Kingdom. It will be a beautiful and glorious day. The Advent season is about looking forward to that day. Stay under his cloud today. He is our shelter from the heat of conflict and unpredictable storms of the day as we wait for his return.
You are holy, Lord, the only God. And your deeds are wonderful. You are strong, you are great. You are the most High, you are almighty. You, holy Father, are King of heaven and earth. You are Three and One, Lord God, all good. You are our protector; you are our guardian and defender. You are courage, you are our haven and our hope. You are our faith, our great consolation. You are our eternal life, great and wonderful Lord. God almighty, merciful Savior. –St Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226 A.D.
7 But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. 8 Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. 9 In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. 10 Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord’s majesty. 11 O Lord, they pay no attention to your upraised fist. Show them your eagerness to defend your people. Then they will be ashamed. Let your fire consume your enemies.
12 Lord, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from you. 13 O Lord our God, others have ruled us, but you alone are the one we worship. 14 Those we served before are dead and gone. Their departed spirits will never return! You attacked them and destroyed them, and they are long forgotten. 15 O Lord, you have made our nation great; yes, you have made us great. You have extended our borders, and we give you the glory!
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 27; Acts 2:37-42
Some thoughts
There are so many powerful themes in these words from Isaiah. He was preaching to a persecuted people. His words were to encourage repentance and righteous living. He paints a picture of a smooth path for the righteous. We may read this and conclude something is wrong. The righteous do not have a smooth path. They are under great stress from their enemies. So, what is going on? The trouble is, we quickly look at a situation from our human perspective and draw our conclusions not only about the circumstances, but also about God. We assume we see all that is. If we had all knowledge, that would be true. Since we are not omniscient, we must acknowledge the One who has all knowledge. We want to put v.7 in human time; God puts it in eternal time. I’ll go with the eternal, it lasts a lot longer!
In the meantime, v.8 gives us guidance for the “human time.” Put simply, live in obedience that God may be glorified. Did you notice that in v.9 there is no time we are not to be seeking God? The latter part of that verse clues us in on God’s timing for dealing with the wicked. It also tells us of the character of our Lord. He is kind and patient with those who rebel. In Hebrews we read “God is a consuming fire.” Here in Isaiah, we read of God’s fiery judgment of the wicked. Isaiah then turns our attention back to the obedient faithful in acknowledging God as the sole provider and the one who is worshiped. In the end, time runs out and judgment comes for those who have rebelled, ignored, or defied God. Those made righteous by the grace of God enjoy his eternal favor. You see, we are the ones Isaiah is speaking to! Don’t fret over the evildoers. Earthly time will run out. Judgment follows. In the meantime, stay on God’s path; it gets smoother. God said so.
Music: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (in German) Ensemble Amarcod
O Lord, this is all my desire−to walk along the path of life that Thou hast appointed me, even as Jesus my Lord would walk along it, in steadfastness of faith, in meekness of spirit, in lowliness of heart, in gentleness of love. And because outward events have so much power in scattering my thoughts and disturbing the inward peace in which alone the voice of Thy spirit is heard, do Thou gracious Lord, calm and settle my soul that by subduing power which alone can bring all thoughts and desires of the heart into captivity to Thyself. All I have is Thine; do Thou with all as seems best to Thy divine will; for I know not what is best. Let not the cares or duties of this life press on me too heavily; but lighten my burden, that I may follow Thy way in quietness, filled with thankfulness for Thy mercy, and rendering acceptable service unto Thee. Amen.
1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. 3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
Mark opens his book announcing the “Good News,” in Greek, evangelion, from which we get “evangelical” among other words. It is frequently translated gospel. From the very beginning of his writing, Mark identifies Jesus as Messiah, the anointed one in Hebrew. In the earlier Testament, prophets, priests, and kings were all anointed with oil indicating God’s presence, blessing, and authority with that person. That is why people were to take the words of the prophet seriously. God was literally speaking through the prophet’s mouth. Israel had been looking and waiting for a descendant of King David, the Messiah, the anointed one. This pericope is not so much about John the Baptist as it is about Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. Mark builds the case for Jesus’ identity by quoting two of the most prominent Old Testament prophecies in Malachi and Isaiah. The early church referred to itself as “the Way,” perhaps in reference to this Isaiah quote.
John generated great interest from the public. There had been no prophet of God for nearly 400 years and now the prophet John, like Elijah of old, appeared out of the desert with a call to all for repentance and confession of sin. His baptism was an outward sign that the people had repented and turned to God for forgiveness. Huge crowds came out to see and hear John’s message. The Scriptures tell us that all of Jerusalem and all of Judea, roughly 2700 square miles, (Mediterranean to Dead Sea to Sea of Galilee) came out to see this prophet from the desert.
As you know, the early weeks Advent focus on the ministry of John the Baptizer and his message of repentance in preparation for the coming kingdom of Jesus. We likewise await this advent of Christ some 2,000 years later. We are this day closer to that glorious event than was John. The core of his message was repent, certainly an apropos message for all of us today. With a heart of repentance we await the coming, the advent of our Savior. Do we live with an expectation of the imminent return of the Lord? What difference will such thinking make in our life?
Music: “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Fernando Ortega
I wonder Lord, if I had lived in the time of John the Baptist, if would have travelled out into the desert to hear him? My life is so filled with distractions now. I have trouble staying focused when I pray. I don’t seem to be able to do the necessary things. I wind up wasting time and doing trivial things. To be truthful, I sort of avoid being alone with you at times. It’s kind of embarrassing to be transparent. Maybe part of me thinks you’re tired and disappointed with such a fickle follower. Father, take me in your arms and let me hear John’s voice again. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen. –Dan Sharp
27 Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him.28 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?”
29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!”
31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Yesterday we wrote about how Jesus was Prophet, Priest, and King. One of the things prophets did was to proclaim the truth. Often that got them in hot water. In this case, this conversation took place during Holy Week. A little context will help us grasp the significance of this interaction with the religious leaders. Previously Jesus had cleansed the Temple of moneychangers. He had healed a blind man. He had forgiven people of their sins. The religious leaders came from three groups of people, the teachers (scribes), priests, and elders. They were the religious authorities. It is important to note this authority to interpret the Scriptures was given to very few persons. Such a status did not occur until the person was at least thirty years of age. Only the most brilliant ever attained this position. Typically, these persons had memorized the entire Old Testament. Jesus was perceived as such a person. Therefore, the religious leaders came at Jesus again and again demanding proof of his authority, particularly since it countered their interpretations.
This passage is another example of the conflict. In discussions among rabbis the normal pattern was to answer a question with another question. [That was the pattern here as well.] The question of the rabbi who responded to the initial question needed to demonstrate, not only an answer, but also a grasp of the implications of the first question. You see how insightful Jesus’ question was. He forced the religious leaders to confront the choice between a prophet speaking God’s truth from heaven (John) or simply view John as an ordinary man speaking human ideas. Public opinion was in favor of the former, John speaking God’s truth.
The leaders were unwilling to believe John because it would destroy their position and they would have to acknowledge Jesus was the Messiah. They were also unwilling to go against public opinion, which would expose them as religious bigots. So, they refused to answer Jesus’ question. Jesus followed with a parable in which he further exposed their hypocrisy. Do you look at these religious leaders as hard-hearted people protecting their position by refusing to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ? How often does the authority of Jesus in your life cause you conflict? (Just following the rabbi’s pattern!) If the Lord always agrees with you, you are in trouble!
O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life, except to spend them for Thee, with Thee, and in Thee. Thou alone knowest what is good for me; do, therefore, what seemeth Thee best. Give to me, or take from me; conform my will to Thine; and grant that, with humble and perfect submission, and in holy confidence, I may receive the orders of Thine eternal Providence; and may equally adore all that comes to me from Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,
“Look, I have put my words in your mouth! 10 Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
The passage you have just read must remind you of several other passages of Scripture that pick up several of these same themes. Throughout the Bible, God spoke and led his people by prophets like Isaiah, priests like Moses, and kings like David all of which God chose. There is a larger truth in this passage than the immediate situation. Prophets received direct messages from the Lord. As God speaks to Jeremiah he says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” It was King David who wrote those words in Psalm 139 some 300 plus years earlier. God knew them before they were born, and he knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb! In Jeremiah’s case God had a specific mission for him to speak to the nations on God’s behalf. The same can be said for Isaiah (Is.49:1). One didn’t decide to be a prophet, God called them from before birth to the task! Some were willing; some were not (Jonah!). Jeremiah’s response was very similar to that of Moses at the burning bush. Moses, when called to speak on behalf of the Lord, made the same claim to the Lord. “I can’t speak for you.” Whereupon God ordained that Moses’ brother Aaron be his spokesman. God gave his word to Moses, who then passed it on to Aaron, who spoke to the people. Isaiah, who likewise reflected reluctance to be God’s mouthpiece to the people. Moses was afraid. Jeremiah was afraid. Isaiah was afraid. In each case God’s promise was that he would be with them. “Emmanuel,” God with us. Like Isaiah, God reached out and touched Jeremiah’s lips putting his words in the mouth of his prophet. When called by God, the response of each was the same. “Here I am” were the words of Isaiah, Jeremiah in contrast to Moses’ words “Who am I to go?”
Finally, the passage closes with the call to the prophets to confront nations and kingdoms with the evil and idolatry residing among the peoples. The word from God was to repent and be healed. At this point you are probably wondering what all of this has to do with Advent! Throughout Scripture there were three distinctive leadership roles in which God interacted with his people: the Prophet, Priest, and King as we’ve just seen. They were never combined. In fact, King Saul was removed as king because he assumed the role of priest. This passage in Jeremiah is a “shadow” of One who will be Prophet, Priest, and King, even Jesus the Messiah. Except the role of this Savior was determined before time and for all eternity. The Prophet speaks to you in his Word. The Priest intercedes on your behalf as you read this. And the King has yet to come to rule his people (you and me) and set up his eternal Kingdom. For that we wait!
Music: “Ideo Gloria” St. Malachay’s Choir, Scotland
Prayer: Jesus’ high Priestly prayer from John 17:1-5
Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds. 2 In just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. 3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”
4 “O Israel and Judah, what should I do with you?” asks the Lord. “For your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like dew in the sunlight. 5 I sent my prophets to cut you to pieces— to slaughter you with my words, with judgments as inescapable as light. 6 I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; I Thessalonians 1:2-10
Some thoughts
Do you ever wonder what the heart of God is like? We know many of the characteristics of God. He is holy, just, righteous, loving, all knowing, and so forth. But what is his heart like? Is he emotionally and personally connected to people, to you? These words of Hosea are most intriguing. You just read that God has “torn us to pieces, now he will heal us.” In a short time he will restore us (why?), so we can live in his presence (v.2). We have a clue here as to God’s heart toward you and me. He wants us to live in his presence . . . on his terms.
From our point of view, it means repentance. His presence is holy. We are not. I’m not sure we always realize this truth. I fear holiness isn’t that big of an issue for us. But something has to be done. God’s “tearing” is a way of waking us up to realize our need for repentance and the significance of holiness from God’s perspective.
Hosea writes of the importance of pressing on to “know him.” How do you and I press on? We absorb his words. We read elsewhere that the “word of the Lord is sharper than any two-edged sword.” God’s word brings us truth, his truth which inevitably exposes our need for repentance. Hosea is very blunt here. God’s prophets came to “slaughter you with my words!” God wants their undivided love, not simply obeying the sacrificial law. God is after their heart, not their religious actions. The actions follow, but are not a substitute for the heart, fully abandoned to loving the Father. Where is God tearing you? He’s after your undivided heart.
Music: “What Child Is This” Jerry Palmer, Don and Wendy Francisco (instrumental)
Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father, give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee, I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray. Pray Thyself in me. Amen —Francois de la Mothe Fenelon, 1651-1715
Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. 3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. 4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. 5 And he will be the source of peace.
Additional Scriptures: Psalm 79, Luke 21:34-38
Some thoughts
This passage from Micah is one of the most familiar prophetic passages in the Old Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures begin with verse two. Israel was under a vicious attack from the Assyrians to the north. Though crushed in defeat, God preserved a remnant of his people Israel. Being struck in the face with a rod was a sign of further contempt (v.1). The nation was being purified. The prophet proclaims that a future ruler will come from the tiny village of Bethlehem. Ephrathah was the ancient name of Bethlehem (Ruth 4:11). It was also the birthplace of King David. The phrase “one whose origins are from the distant past” suggests this is an unusual king, suggesting a divine-human ruler, the Ancient of Days.
Often in prophetic literature there is a more immediate fulfillment, a kind of “shadow” of the future. Then there is the final fulfillment, which completes the prophecy. Often, we are living between the two, awaiting the completion of the proclamation. Zerubbabel, a descendant of King David, did rule Israel when they returned from the Assyrian captivity, but no peace followed. A greater king was needed. This king would be the source of peace. The only king who ever brings peace is King Jesus! The Prince of Peace came to earth in the fulfillment of Micah’s words, and he brought another prophetic message from heaven itself. You can read his words in the above passage from Luke’s gospel. His words? “Don’t let your hearts be dulled by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware.” Jesus is where you will find your peace today as well as in eternity.
Music: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Sara McLachlan
Poem of George Herbert: This is the latter part of a poem entitled “Peace.” Note: Bethlehem means “house of bread.” It was Jesus who said, “I am the bread of life.”
6 “In that coming day,” says the Lord, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief. 7 Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” 8 As for you, Jerusalem, the citadel of God’s people, your royal might and power will come back to you again. The kingship will be restored to my precious Jerusalem.
9 But why are you now screaming in terror? Have you no king to lead you? Have your wise people all died? Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth. 10 Writhe and groan like a woman in labor, you people of Jerusalem, for now you must leave this city to live in the open country. You will soon be sent in exile to distant Babylon. But the Lord will rescue you there; he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.
11 Now many nations have gathered against you. “Let her be desecrated,” they say. “Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.” 12 But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts or understand his plan. These nations don’t know that he is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor. 13 “Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!” says the Lord. “For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves, so you can trample many nations to pieces. You will present their stolen riches to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”
As mentioned a couple of days ago, one of the central themes of Advent is the return of the Lord and the establishing of his eternal Kingdom. To most of us, that almost sounds like the plot of a novel, something mildly interesting, but not something with which we have a very strong connection. Some insight into the context of this passage may help bring us from casually reading about something that happened a few thousand years ago to grasping a better understanding of the ways of our God. It can help move us to better “understand his plan (v.12).”
Jerusalem is the unique city in the entire world. It was common in the ancient Near East that when a city was defeated, it was either entirely destroyed or in some cases assimilated. If demolished its identity was entirely lost. Not so with Jerusalem. Though destroyed at times, it survived as the most important city in the world. (Some of the stones put in place by Solomon at the building of the Temple around 1,000 BC are still in the same place!) God spoke through his servants and prophets not through nations.
In this passage, Micah is prophesying that the Israelites will be sent into exile and suffer in Babylon because they have ungodly leadership and are being disciplined by God. When they have humbled themselves before God and repented of their ways, God has promised to restore them and to restore his city, Jerusalem. Micah foretells that many nations will rise up against Jerusalem only to be defeated and disciplined by God. Sometimes we may think of all of this as an interesting story. The Bible says not a word about the city of New York, London, Rio, or Tokyo. It does say a great deal about Jerusalem. Since we “don’t know the Lord’s thoughts or understand his plan,” it behooves us to pay attention to what he says about his city. He has a plan for his people and for his city. He is not done with Jerusalem. Read the Revelation passage above to see what lies ahead. It’s not a novel!
Music: “The Holy City” the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Oh my Creator, are you leading every man of us to greater godliness? Or is this only a metaphysical idea for which there is no evidence? Is man only a constant repetition of himself? You know that through all these twenty horrible years I have been supported by the belief that I was working with you who were bring every one of us…to perfection. O Lord, even now I am trying to snatch the management of your world from your hands. Too little have I looked for something higher and better than my own work—the work of supreme Wisdom, which uses us whether we know it or not. Lord, help me to know your thoughts and understand your plan. In Jesus’ name. Amen. –adapted from Florence Nightingale
O God, pagan nations have conquered your land, your special possession. They have defiled your holy Temple and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. 2 They have left the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of heaven. The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals. 3 Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem; no one is left to bury the dead. 4 We are mocked by our neighbors, an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
5 O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you— on kingdoms that do not call upon your name. 7 For they have devoured your people Israel, making the land a desolate wilderness. 8 Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. 10 Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants. 11 Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.
12 O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at you. 13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.
Have you ever been happy when bad guys got what they deserved? And likewise, I’ve been frustrated when they “got away with it!” This psalm addresses the nations, cultures, and people who reject the rule of Christ. God’s plan is that people would submit to the rule of Christ in their lives even now. Whether it’s the people or the actual land, Israel has been and still is a place of unrest and turmoil.
There is another “land” that is under current attack by those who despise Christianity. Make no mistake; Christianity is rejected by some in this world as bigoted, narrow, and intolerant. This psalm describes our world accurately. Christianity is mocked, scorned, and derided (v.4). We are, as a secular culture, in need of repentance (v.8,9). Asaph pleads with the Lord to pay back the mockers and cynics seven times. Seven reflects perfection, completeness. So the writer asks God to pay his adversaries back “in full.” (v.12)
Within all of us, there is a sense of justice, a jealousy and longing that God would be honored. The unrepentant arrogant will receive justice. The repentant sinner will receive forgiveness and mercy. Living a life of repentance, obedience, and humility brings glory to God. He will take care of those who reject him, if not in this life, when he returns to reign in power and set up his kingdom. Every knee will bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords. Our God is merciful and just. The cross is the proof that God’s justice extends to all, even to himself in that his own Son embraced our sin and stepped in and took our punishment to the point of death.
Music: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Casting Crowns
Prayer: (Based on a prayer of a Chinese woman who had just learned to read.)
Gracious Lord, we live in a world estranged from you. Their eyes and minds are fixed on their phones and other devices. Often the people around us give scarce attention to you or to your Scriptures. Put simply, reading the Bible is not part of their life. They are in certain danger of judgment. In the words of this Chinese woman:
“We are going home to many who cannot read. So, Lord, make us to be Bibles so that those who cannot read the Book, can read it in us.” Lord Jesus, we are the only “Holy Book” many people will read today. May my life reflect Jesus. Amen. –Dan Sharp
Fall is just around the corner as the summer vacations come to an end (except for retirees!), school begins, and we enter into all the fall activities unless you live in the southern hemisphere in which case spring is coming in a couple of weeks. In a few more months we’ll be in the season of Advent. You are saying don’t rush me!
While you may not be thinking of Advent and the Christmas, I have been. Normally, I’d be writing like crazy at this point. But things will be a little different for you this year as you have been a subscriber to the sharpdevotionals.com. The daily emails will not be available this year but do not worry, we have something better in response to several of your suggestions.
I’ve been writing since last spring working on the first of four devotional books that will eventually cover the entire Christian year. The first one, Advent to Ashes, volume 1, is completed and at the publishers currently in the layout process having completed all the editing. We are aiming for a mid-November release. I am about a third of the way through Volume 2, Ashes to Pentecost.Advent to Ashes covers the first Sunday in Advent to the day before Ash Wednesday, March 9th.
Since both Advent and Easter have varying start dates depending on the year, I’ve taken that into account and written accordingly. The earliest date for Advent is November 27th and the latest date for Easter is April 25th meaning the latest possible date for Ash Wednesday is March 10th. With that in mind, I’ve written daily devotionals in Advent to Ashes from November 27th through March 9th. There is an index in the back of the book for every year between 2025 and 2075 telling you when Advent starts and when Easter occurs, so you’ll always know when to begin. This year Advent begins December 1st and Ash Wednesday is on March 5th. Put simply, no matter the year, there will always be a devotional for the day with some you will not read depending on the year. The format is the same with Scripture, commentary, music via printed QR code in the book, and a concluding prayer. All of the content material is either new or major rewrites. I will certainly let you know when the book releases. The book will be available on Amazon. There will be an E-book version available on Amazon, Apple iTunes, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play.
Thank you all for your faithfulness in reading the Scriptures. My heart’s desire is that these books will help you continue hearing God speak through his word daily as a part of your life and journey with the Lord. I would be grateful for your passing the word along.
The joyous celebration of Easter Sunday yesterday marked the end of this year’s Lenten devotionals, though Lent actually ends on Maundy Thursday. Since you are used to receiving emails from me, I thought I’d add one more day and bring you all up to date on the book project I’m working on.
A few weeks ago I signed a contract with Covenant Publishing who reviewed the manuscript which is currently in the hands of their editors having been accepted by their editorial board. I continue to edit the manuscript as well. We are aiming to have the book available in time for this coming Advent in 2024. Pray to that end, it could be close as 8-10 months is the usual time it takes for a release date.
A word about the book itself. This is actually the first of four volumes I’m planning on writing. The goal is to write a devotional for each day of the entire year.This volume will cover every day between the first Sunday in Advent to Ash Wednesday. Volume II Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, Volume III Pentecost to Rosh Hashanah, and Volume IV Rosh Hashanah to Advent. The books will be in both paperback and e-book editions.
Since Advent and Easter are not set dates (like Christmas), I have figured out how to make it all work no matter when those seasons begin. I have the starting dates for Advent and Easter every year between now and 2075! As a result, there will be more than 400 daily entries in the four volumes! You will never be without a daily devotional.
The format will be very similar to the devotionals you receive, but in addition there will be a QR code for each day along with the URL link for the music entries. There is new material and much rewriting, re-working, and updating of some previous entries. There is also some new music. The book will include topical, scriptural, and music indices in addition to the Advent and Easter calendars from 2025-2075.
Well that gives you an update of where we are in this process and we’ll be in touch along the way. I’ll appreciate your passing the word along. Thanks so much.
28 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Some thoughts:
These are Jesus’ words to you and to me as he returned to heaven. “As you are going [the sense of “go”] make disciples of all the nations [and people around you], baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Until I return.]
Music: “Messiah” Voces8
Prayer:
Lord God of all that was, is, and will ever be, the moment we have longed for has come: the night of our desires is here. What greater occupation could there be than for us to proclaim the power of your Resurrection! This was the night when you shattered the gates of hell and mortally destroyed the devil, and then you took up the victory banner of heaven. This was the night when you set us among the stars. When your mother Mary gave birth to you, she was overwhelmed with joy at your beauty. Now we are overwhelmed with joy at your power. The blood which flowed from your side has washed away our sins forever. Your body rising from the tomb has promised us eternal life. Eternal are the blessings which in your love you have poured upon us.
To you Lord Jesus Christ we give our deepest praise, love, and gratitude. These things we pray through Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit, reign one God for now and forever. Amen.
—from Guideposts Prayers for Easter, p.66, adapted Daniel Sharp
Thank you all for this journey through the Lenten season concluding with the Resurrection, but remember, there is so much more. It didn’t all end there. Forty days later Jesus ascended to his Father in heaven in a glorified physical body where he sits at his Father’s right hand interceding on our behalf. At a time known only to the Father, Jesus will return to bring to final completion and restoration of the entire created order. He will establish his Kingdom and he will reign forever and ever . . . and we’ll be there!
The daily devotional book: Advent through Ashes continues to make great progress. We’ll keep you informed. At this point it looks like it will be in 4 volumes and cover each day of the year and be flexible enough to adjust whenever the various seasons start!
This is a day of holy quietness and reflection. Change what you would normally do on a Saturday. Skip shopping and running errands. Stay home. Like at creation, God worked the six days of creation and said his work was finished. On the seventh day he rested and blessed the day calling it a holy Sabbath. The work of Jesus on earth likewise was completed on the sixth day of the week as he uttered, “It is finished” and then he rested in the tomb throughout that Sabbath day. It was a quiet day and I am sure an unbearably sad and mournful day for the disciples and followers of Jesus. From their standpoint, the ministry of the past three years was a total failure, plus their leader was dead.
Though he was in the tomb, God in Christ was accomplishing the culmination of his time on earth, gaining the victory over sin, death, and evil forever. Satan was crushed, destroyed forever. The below passages of Scripture and similar passages telling God’s Redemption Story are read on Holy Saturday evening in what is called an Easter Vigil service. It was (and is) a special service awaiting the morning of the Resurrection. It began with these readings, baptisms, communion, and culminating in a resurrection service. Read, listen, and reflect today on the Savior’s great love and sacrifice for you and his whole creation. The Brahms Requiem is the music for today and follows the Scripture readings.
God Creates: Genesis 1:1-2
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
The Man and Woman Sin: Genesis 3
3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”
13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. 15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 Then he said to the woman,
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
17 And to the man he said,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
Paradise Lost: God’s Judgment
20 Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
God Provides Deliverance for His People: Exodus 14:10-31
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
Escape through the Red Sea
15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”
19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.
21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Exodus 15:20-21
20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. 21 And Miriam sang this song:
“Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.”
Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation: Isaiah 55:1-11
55 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. 4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. 5 You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
The Resurrection: Luke 24:1-12
24 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.
Sin’s Power Is Broken: Romans 6:1-11
6 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
The Brahms requiem is unique in that he chose to use texts that point to the resurrection rather than the usual requiem mass texts.
Music: “Brahms German Requiem” UCLA and Angeles Chorale (in English)
Prayer:
You are the Great God-he who is in heaven.
You are the creator of life; you make the regions above.
Scripture: Psalm 22 1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? 2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. 5 They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.
6 But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! 7 Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, 8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”
9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. 10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. 12 My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in! 13 Like lions they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey. 14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. 15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead. 16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have piercedmy hands and feet. 17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. 18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.
19 O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid! 20 Save me from the sword; spare my precious life from these dogs. 21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.
22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. 23 Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! 24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help.
25 I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you. 26 The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. 27 The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. 28 For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.
29 Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. 30 Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.
Some thoughts:
In what is a strikingly descriptive psalm, David describes his own predicament. Yet as he laments his own people’s rejection of him as king, he paints a perfect picture of the rejection of his prophesied descendent, the Messiah. This Old Testament account of Israel casting off David as king is a foretelling of what Israel would do 1,000 years later with the King of kings. Jesus’ plaintive plea opening this psalm expresses his humanity so clearly. We do not know that he did not quote more of the psalm. So much of this psalm describes in specific detail Jesus’ experience as he hung on the cross. The Son of God called out to God the Father for relief, and none came, yet the Son continued in faith and total commitment through horrible physical, mental, and spiritual torture. He willingly bore the weight of the sin of the entire world for all time!
Note David appeals to God’s past action in helping Israel (v.2-5). He does not doubt God’s character even when God is silent. I don’t know if the religious leaders and elders knew it, but they also ironically quoted this psalm. Verse eight of Psalm 22 is remarkably like Matthew 27:41-43.
The latter part of the psalm shifts focus beginning in verse twenty-two. In times of great stress, remembering and recounting God’s past faithfulness and history of providing occurs over and over throughout the Scriptures. Here David writes of a day yet to come and of future generations, including us, who will hear of the greatness of the Lord and bow before him. The complete fulfillment of these words has yet to happen. Make no mistake. The magnitude of this day when Jesus took all sin upon himself, the weight of all sin ever committed since the beginning of creation, changed eternity for all who would put their trust in him. Stop and think. The weight of all sin that ever existed being placed on one person is incomprehensible. Only the Son of God could bear that burden and he did so willingly. What God had in mind until humans hopelessly destroyed it, was now again made possible, namely the restoration of what God’s desire was from the beginning . . . perfect communion with his creation, the original state of Eden. The price of sin was paid in full. There is no other hope. Hallelujah! The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane made possible a return to the Garden of Eden. Full communion with God is again possible. The impossible debt is cancelled forever!
Music: “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs” from Messiah or listen to Part II of Messiah
“He Trusted in God” Voces8 and Academy of Ancient Music
Because of Good Friday, the following prayer is possible. All glory to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou wast poor and in misery, a captive and forsaken as I am. Thou knowest all man’s distress; Thou abidest with me when all others have deserted me; Thou doest not forget me, but seekest me. Thou willest that I should know thee and turn to thee. Lord, I hear thy call and follow thee; do thou help me. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945
From the Good Fridayliturgy, Orthodox
Today he who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.
He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.
He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.
He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon his face.
The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails.
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
Some thoughts:
These are words we hear every time we observe the Lord’s Supper. Paul takes care to pass along the very words he received from Jesus. Have ever given thought as to why Paul included “on the night he was betrayed”? Jesus clearly knew what Judas was going to do as recorded in John’s gospel. Knowing this fact and seeing how the Lord went ahead without pausing on his mission makes his actions all more commanding yet. “This is my body, which is given for you [you too Judas].” The juxtaposition of the two phrases is so powerful and a beautiful picture of the depth of Christ’s love for his disciples and us—for we have likewise betrayed our Savior.
Then there is the sentence “Do this to remember me.” We may be inclined to read it and go on, but there is something worth noting in the word “remember.” At its Greek root is the word anamnesis from which we get amnesia. Anamnesis in this case means a recalling of a past action, which brings it into the present moment. The worshiper experiences the present action of Christ in the receiving of the bread and cup.
“The anamnesis is not a simple intellectual function; it is an action. It has an incomparably wider spectrum, which includes the element of thought and makes it an existential, personal event. As members of the eucharistic community we recall again to consciousness the economy of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection of Christ, his ascension, and Pentecost. We live them. We share in them. We do this not through our own human abilities but through the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the uncreated energy of God which accomplishes the sacraments.” (Anastasios, “Together on the Way:2.2 Anamnesis” Dec.4, 1998, WCC)
The past action has entered the present. The power and action of Christ at the Maundy Thursday Upper Room is brought into the present. The effect is current and one into which we have entered. This “remember” is very different from remembering something that happened last week for example. The New Covenant which Jesus instituted on that night is current in its impact and life on this night. Notice also how the past, the Lord’s death, is brought into the present and the future (“until he comes again”) is also brought into the present. There is also a word for that concept, prolepsis, but that is for another time. Never underestimate the power of the Lord’s Supper on the “night he was betrayed.” This is a most holy wondrous night.
Music: “Ubi Caritas” Paul Mealor
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, who on that treacherous night, did display unending, unconditional love and proclaimed the fulfillment of a New Covenant of grace, we can find no words to express our love and gratitude for the difference your action makes in our lives today so many years later. We are nourished by the bread and the cup, your life-giving body. We live into that holy night rejoicing in the power unleashed by the Holy Spirit. This day we reflect on your love which culminated in your death on the cross to bring redemption to the whole world and all of creation. Receive this our prayer through Christ our Lord, who reigns with you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. —Daniel Sharp
21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”
22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.
Some thoughts:
This pericope is filled with so much richness. Put yourself among the disciples. The hand selected twelve are having a meal with rabbi Jesus with whom they have been traveling and living together the past three years. They are sharing what turns out to be their last meal together, though the disciples don’t know it at this point. In Middle Eastern custom, the host will in some cases, dip bread in a bowl and give it to the honored guest. At any rate, dipping food in a common bowl is a sign of close friendship. The concept even carries over to today. The disciples would not have thought anything unusual for Jesus to do this and then give the sop to Judas. Jesus told them that one of them would betray him, yet they wondered what he meant.
Betrayal is based on deep trust. The betrayer must have gained complete trust in the one who is to be betrayed, which is probably why the betrayal by Judas didn’t compute with the rest of the disciples, though Jesus certainly knew what Judas was about to do. Remember, John wrote this gospel after everything had happened with Judas.
Second, recall at Jesus’ temptation, the devil left for a more “opportune” time. Here was an opportune time. Satan entered the body of Judas, a singularly rare occurrence in all of Scripture where this truth is stated so bluntly. Judas was truly possessed by the devil. Jesus, knowing fully what Judas was about to do, told him to get on with it quickly. What must Judas have thought knowing the one who had just washed his feet also knew of his mission of betrayal? The devil is relentless in his attempts to cause sin to abound in people’s lives believers and non-believers alike as evidenced throughout the world today.
There is a third interesting observation. You’ll recall in the plagues of Egypt at the time of the Exodus. The ninth plague was the one of darkness which fell over the whole land. The final plague resulted in the death of all the firstborn throughout the land except where the blood of the lamb had been applied over the doorposts at the homes of the Israelites. Following receiving the sop from Jesus, Judas went “out into the night,” out into darkness. As in the Exodus, what followed Judas’ going out into the darkness was the death of the Firstborn of all creation (Col 1:18), the Lamb of God, whose spattered blood on the doorposts of people’s hearts covered their sins for all time as they were spared an eternal death. Those not covered by the blood of the Lamb, suffer that same fate as the Esyptians. Then at the death of the Lamb, like in Egypt fourteen hundred years earlier, darkness again fell over the land as God brought about judgment and laid claim to all the firstborn who had been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The final atonement was made, death was destroyed, defeated, annihilated forever! Once again, the devil failed in his attempt to thwart the plan of God to redeem and restore his fallen creation. As John had earlier written, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” . . . ever.
Music: “Agnus Dei” Samuel Barber, Vlaams Radiokoor (Flemish Radio Choir)
“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”
“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”
“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.”
Prayer: O God my Father, let Thy Holy Spirit rule in my heart. As I pray, let not any room within me be closed to keep Thee out. O Light that never fades, so let me open to Thee the windows of my heart, that all my life may be filled by the radiance of Thy presence. Let no corner of my being be unillumined by the light of Thy countenance. Let there be nothing within me to darken the brightness of the day. Let the Spirit of Him whose life was the light of men rule within my heart till eventide. Let me not be holding some undertaking on which I dare not ask Thy blessing. O Holy Spirit of God, let me not return to evil thoughts and worldly ways, but let that mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen. —John Baillie, from A Diary of Private Prayer and unknown source, adapted Daniel Sharp
20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”
Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.
30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
Some thoughts:
Some insight into Jewish festivals will help us understand the significance of this passage. Passover, as you know, was one of three pilgrimage festivals which required every male to come to Jerusalem for its celebration, though women were included. Passover lasted one day and was immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven always represents sin in the Bible. On the day of Unleavened Bread, our sinless Savior was buried. The Feast of First Fruits immediately followed on the first day of the week (Sunday) following the Sabbath and marked the beginning of the seven weeks of seven leading up to Pentecost. A green shock of barley was waved before the Lord on that day since this was the very beginning of the harvest season, which culminated seven weeks later at Pentecost. The dependency on the Lord God for a fruitful harvest was central in the celebration.
So, when Jesus referred to a kernel being buried in the soil and dying in effect and then producing a stock of barley which produces many kernels, he was in effect proclaiming what he was the “kernel to be buried” and what the result will be, “a plentiful harvest of new lives.” Jesus went on to say that anyone who loves being above ground (loves this world) rather than dying to themselves and being “planted,” will lose everything eternally. That is why baptism by immersion is a symbol of being “buried in Christ.” Apart from John who died of old age, all the rest of the disciples died as martyrs.
Jesus then asked the very real question, “Should I pray that the Father would save me from this ordeal?” Notice the phrase, “when I am lifted up from the earth.” God the Father then raised his Son from being “planted” in the tomb and in that resurrection, Jesus leads forth all of those who have died in Christ. The prince of this world, Satan, is eternally, permanently defeated. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:20 that “Jesus was the first fruits of them that slept. Jesus was the first one to lead a great harvest of God’s people who will be resurrected from the dead at the end of the age. God’s redemption works through these great festivals and brings the certainty of the resurrection through the defeat of sin, death, and evil. Every phrase that Jesus speaks has ultimate implications for you and for me.
Music: “Since by Man Came Death” Academy of St. Martin in the Field
“Goin’ Home” Sissel
Prayer: O God, quicken to life every power within me, that I may lay hold on eternal things. Open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritual perception; enable me to taste Thee and know that Thou art good. Make heaven more real to me than any earthly thing has ever been. Amen. —A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.59
42 “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or raise his voice in public. 3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. 4 He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”
5 God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, 6 “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. 7 You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.
8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. 9 Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”
Some thoughts:
As we enter this most significant week in the history of the universe since the dawn of creation, we look at the remarkable words of Isaiah the prophet written 700 years before Christ. He describes the Messiah’s ministry in fine detail. In Judaic interpretation there is much vigorous debate as to the identity of the servant. Suggestions range from Cyrus, Isaiah, Messiah, and the most common interpretation being the nation of Israel as a whole. Christianity interprets the servant as Jesus, the Messiah based on Jesus’ own interpretation of the passage since he said the prophecy refer to himself! Let’s walk our way through the passage.
While the Bible never uses the word “trinity,” it nevertheless teaches one God consisting of three persons. The first verse is a classic First Testament example. The “I” and “my” in the opening sentence refer to God the Father. The “he” in the second sentence refers to Jesus and the Spirit in the third sentence refers to the Holy Spirit. Three persons one God. As a reminder, note the text is LORD, that is YHWH, one God. So, here is an Old Testament example of referring to the trinitarian God.
God speaks through Isaiah concerning his servant, Jesus. God’s plan of redemption first appears in the Garden of Eden. Bear in mind the divine Word, the Logos, is with the Father in heaven as Isaiah writes this. The Father is affirming the Son. He promises to give him strength to bear up against what is coming. Have you noticed this affirmation from God the Father also repeats itself several times when Jesus is on earth seven centuries later with the identical words? (Lk 3:22, Mt 3:17, at his Baptism; Mt17:5 at the Transfiguration; and Jn 12:28-29 during the first days of Holy Week.) I’d like to enlarge a bit on this last reference.
In John 12:27-30, Jesus utters these words, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father bring glory to your name.” These words were spoken only a few days before his crucifixion. In response to what Jesus said, a voice (God the Father) spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name and I will do it again.” The people present thought an angel had spoken while others thought it was thunder. Jesus’ response was, “It was for your benefit [people], not mine.” I mention these affirmations of the Messiah’s mission to earth to point out the involvement of the Trinity in all aspects bringing redemption to a very broken world.
Being empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Servant Savior will bring justice to the nations. He will speak tenderly. He will help the weak and give hope. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not fail or faint in dealing with injustice. This glorious day is yet to come. You note the central theme in this portion of Isaiah’s writing has to do with injustice. The people of Judah were cheating and taking advantage of the poor. The wealthy and power-grabbing ruling class was crushing the ordinary people. It would seem that the same problem remains in our world today.
In the next section Isaiah reminds the people that they are dealing with God the creator, the giver of life, their protector and provider. He will guide and guard the Servant Savior. He will be a light to guide the nations. In Luke 2:32, Simeon speaks these very words when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus for his Presentation at the Temple forty days after his birth. “He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Once again, we see connections between the Testaments.
When Jesus began his Galilean public ministry in his home synagogue in Nazareth, he quoted this very passage in Isaiah: “You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons” (Lk 4:18-19) thus identifying for the people of Nazareth that the hometown boy is the long-prophesied Messiah from the scroll of Isaiah! The Nazarites wouldn’t believe him and tried to stone him for blasphemy.
Isaiah concludes this portion of our reading with the statement of a true prophet of God. “Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the truth before it happens.” Seven hundred years later, every word he spoke came to pass verbatim! That is the test of a true prophet of God. What do you think the odds are of those things he prophesied that have yet to be fulfilled will come to pass?
What strikes me in this passage is the “affirming personal care” that is reflected from the Godhead as the Son of God dwelt in human form. It wasn’t as though Jesus said, “I’m going on a redemption mission to earth, and since I’m God, there will be nothing to it. I’m God after all.” Were that the case, we could hardly identify with Jesus, and he surely could not feel the pains and weaknesses humans grapple with. In this portion of Scripture, we see once again how very human Jesus was but also how very understanding and tender the Father is now and how present the Holy Spirit is to help and comfort us in our lives. As with Jesus, God is for us.
Music: “The Blind Man Stood on the Road and Cried” Josh White (singing begins at :45)
Prayer:
O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Be thou exalted over my friendships. Be thou exalted above my comforts. Be thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase; let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, “Hosanna in the highest.” -A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.108
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.
12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”
14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
Some thoughts:
Just to give us a little context, we retrace recent events. Jesus had raised Lazarus within the last week to ten days. Many people, both friends and the curious, came to see both Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus was staying just outside Jerusalem in Bethany. The day when the above passage occurred is today, Palm Sunday.
Like an out-of-control forest fire, word has been circulating about Jesus’ raising a man from the dead. Meanwhile as religious tensions are rising because of the perceived threat that Jesus presented to their power, the Pharisees and Sadducees are plotting to do away with Jesus and with Lazarus as well. At this point Jesus knows this will be his final week on earth. His life and mission since his birth have been pointing to these very days. You’ll notice all this coming week that Jesus is completely in control of everything. Even in knowing what lies ahead, there is resolve and anguishing moments but no fear. To prepare for his entry into Jerusalem, he sends two disciples (Peter and John according to tradition) to get a donkey, one on which no one had ever ridden. He tells them where to go and what to say, and it happens just as he said. You know the story quite well.
I want to make a few observations. In his ride down the Mount of Olives, Jesus was announcing himself as Israel’s king. Notice, Jesus asked for a donkey. When kings rode donkeys, they were coming in humility, peace, and reconciliation. When they rode horses, they were coming to do battle, to fight a war. A donkey was a royal, peaceful limousine as it were. Donkeys are humble servant animals. (You’ll recall Jesus was later in the week to wash the feet of the disciples as a servant.) In fact, the First Testament prophet, Zechariah, prophesied (9:9-10) that Israel’s king would enter Jerusalem on the back of a donkey―a donkey’s colt. What is often overlooked is that the passage goes on to say that your king will remove battle chariots and war horses from Jerusalem and destroy all weapons used in battle, and he will “bring peace to the nations.” The people missed the last part of the prophecy. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world.
King David, an ancestor of Jesus a thousand years earlier, had exited Jerusalem as king on a donkey, fleeing before his son. Incidentally, his son, Absalom, who was attempting a coup, rode into Jerusalem on a mule, an animal for war. Now the true King of Israel, of King David’s royal line, enters Jerusalem again on a donkey, the same road by which David had fled a 1,000 years earlier. What is interesting, at some point in the future, the King of kings will again return to set up his eternal kingdom. This time he will be on a white horse as he comes to rule (Rev.19:11) and destroy the forces of evil forever. Jesus’ Palm Sunday trip down the Mount of Olives and the place of Christ’s Ascension is also the ultimate place of his final Return at the end of the Age. This road on the Mount of Olives is one of the most significant geographical places on the planet. I remember walking down that road in 1996 being aware of these very things!
As Jesus rode down the hill, great crowds gathered singing “hosanna!” (meaning ‘salvation now’) while waving palm branches as was typical in celebrating a hero. The people were undoubtedly hoping and believing that this Nazarene rabbi would lead a revolt against the Roman occupation. 160 years earlier against the Seleucid (Hellenistic) occupation, the Maccabees brothers engineered an overthrow. There was success in that earlier revolt, though latter Israel was again overrun by foreign powers. The people’s hope was that Jesus would set up his own kingdom ousting the hated Romans. Palm branches were waved as a symbolic sign of defiance. This fact was not lost on the foreign occupiers and added to the tensions of the Passover celebration.
The historian, Josephus, writes that at Passover there were some 2 ½ million Jews in Jerusalem, double the size of Rome! Even if he exaggerated, there was a massive swell in the Jewish population. Pilate, the Roman prefect, struggled to keep things under control. The war horse he rode was a show of force in great contrast to the donkey Jesus rode! The political climate was tense on several fronts. So the Romans were justifiably nervous as they were significantly outnumbered as well as intensely hated.
The people sang these glorious words to a victorious king from Psalm 118. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!” What the people didn’t realize is that Psalm also has these prophetic words, “Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar,” words that would later in the week be fulfilled as Jesus was bound and crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God. (v.18) It is prophetically ironic the people shouting these texts from the First Testament did not realize the full extent of what they were saying. Within a few days undoubtedly a number of them were yelling “crucify him!” Jesus did not conform to their expectation as to what he should do regarding the Roman occupation.
The Triumphal Entry is a kind of picture of our response to God all too often. We are in a difficult situation wanting release from an imposed stress or an outside pressure, and we pray that God will in effect do our will and get us out of our plight. When God doesn’t do what we think he should or in our time frame, we crab, we doubt, and we get angry at God or each other. Don’t forget. The point in the Triumphal Entry is not the people’s response, but rather the magnificent, costly unfolding of God’s plan to bring healing and restoration to all people. It was not about the people then, and it is not about us and our wills now. Moreover, we need to be careful we don’t dictate how and when God should act. Rather, we should kneel in the Garden of Gethsemane with our Savior praying, “Not my will, but thine be done.” It has a much better outcome. And let’s be the servant donkey, carrying Jesus to the world! Remember, it was about Jesus, not the donkey! He is unfolding his plan for us.
Music: “Ride On King Jesus” Moses Hogan Singers
Bonuses!
“Ride on King Jesus” Jessye Norman
“Hosanna to the Song of David” Cambridge Singers
Prayer:
O Christ, the King of glory who didst enter the holy city in meekness to be made perfect through the suffering of death: give us grace, we beseech thee, in all our life here to take up our cross daily and follow thee, that hereafter we may rejoice with thee in thy heavenly kingdom, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit world without end Amen.
12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
Some thoughts:
This is a most interesting passage as all four gospels record an anointing of Jesus. Without going into great detail, it would appear there is more than one anointing. Luke’s account clearly seems to have occurred early in Jesus’ ministry since the location, the one anointing, the one objecting, the context, and Jesus’ response are completely different from the other gospels (Luke 7:36-50). Remembering the gospel writers had different audiences in mind, they had different emphases. In addition, they did not always record events in chronological order. For example, the above passage tells us Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover at Lazarus’ home. The next verse says a dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. The passage does not say the dinner was prepared the same day Jesus arrived though that may have been the case. Other scholars have interpreted the dinner as being six days before Passover, hence the designation of Lazarus Saturday. Matthew and Mark record the anointing two days before Passover. They also mention the anointing included Jesus’ head, while John and Luke only record Jesus’ feet being anointed. Remember Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience and his citing anointing on the head was significant because Old Testament kings were anointed on the head and Messiah means ‘the anointed one.’ Matthew was concerned with helping Jews make the connection between Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. You begin to see the point in endeavoring to harmonize the various accounts! With some of these various interpretations in mind, let’s look at the anointing itself.
What do you do for the person who brought your dead brother to life? It doesn’t happen very often . . . ok, never. You have a party honoring the one who restored your sibling’s life. That is apparently what Mary and Martha did for Jesus in response to his raising Lazarus from the grave. As usual, Martha was busy serving. And once again, Mary was with Jesus. I have to smile reading this passage. You’ll recall an earlier occasion with Mary, Martha, and Jesus (Lk.10:38-42). Martha was busy preparing a meal and crabbing to Jesus that her sister wasn’t helping but talking with Jesus. In this pericope, we read once again, Martha is engaged in serving and Mary is tuned to Jesus. I see a family dynamic pattern here! The Bible is so real and covers up nothing. Sibling rivalry has been around a long time!
During the meal in the presence of Lazarus and the disciples, Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of very expensive perfume from the essence of pure nard. To give us a better understanding of the value of what Mary did, nard is a product of fragrant roots of a plant of the honeysuckle family grown in the Himalayan mountains between 11,000 and 17,000 feet. You can imagine importing the perfume to Judaea from there would not be cheap. It was worth an entire year’s wage. Now put yourself in Martha and Mary’s home at the party. Can you imagine the aroma of a twelve-ounce bottle of potent perfume filling the air? My guess is that for the following days leading up to the crucifixion, Mary was reminded of the anointing of Jesus as the perfume lingered in her own hair having wiped Jesus’ feet. If it is the same anointing, according to Matthew (26:7) and Mark (14:8), she also anointed his head with the oils running down on his garments. During the coming days, my guess is that Jesus also was reminded of this loving act as the aroma lingered with and on him as well.
Into this beautiful, honoring, loving and tender moment, Judas is the rude crude bull in the China shop. Mary is devoted to the Savior and Judas is devoted to Judas the greedy thief, the betrayer. As we trace the few references to him, he was clearly operating in a different world. I am surprised he was given responsibility for taking care of the money set aside for the disciples since John knew he had sticky fingers. At any rate he makes a crass comment and is rebuked quite strongly and sharply by Jesus. It was not that Judas misunderstood Jesus and his mission; Judas was inherently an evil at the core thief who cared not the least for the poor. He also seemed to be disillusioned and rejected the nature of Jesus’ ministry.
Jesus’ rebuke of Judas in this case is unlike his response to the disciples on an earlier occasion when a “woman of ill repute” anointed his feet, and he gave them an explanation of the implication of what had happened (Luke 7:36-50). In this case, Jesus’ words to Judas were very different . . . with a curt, “Leave her alone.” (Mt.26:10-13) I can’t recall anywhere else in Scripture where Jesus spoke that harshly to a person one on one. He was harsh with groups of people (Pharisees), but never with a one-on-one conversation that I remember. In his following comments, he was certainly not advocating that we don’t need to care for the poor, but rather drawing attention to the significance of his coming death. Mary had expressed extravagant devotion and gratitude to Jesus by what she did, even as she anointed him for his burial.
This portion of Scripture concludes with the spiritual “rubber-neckers” crashing the party to see the “man who did it” and the guy he raised from the dead. It kind of reminds me of the people who slow down to see how bad the wreck was. They don’t really care about what happened, they just want to see the unusual, the spectacular. With the astounding resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, the priests decided this man of miracles was becoming far too popular as more and more people were slipping away from their teachings and believing in Jesus. Hence, he needed to be eliminated. The triumphal procession into Jerusalem, merely confirmed their suspicions and accelerated their murderous plans.
What can we take from this pericope? Don’t be half-hearted or measured in your devotion to the Lord. Mary gave of herself to Jesus at great personal and material cost. She knelt at his feet, the act of a slave. She let her hair down, a very unsocially unacceptable act, to wipe his feet, a very personal act of devotion. (A short time later, Jesus was to do a similar thing in washing the feet of the disciples in expressing his servitude to and love for them.) She did not care what anyone else thought. She expressed her love and complete devotion to her Lord with unrestrained abandon. Judas, on the other hand, was concerned with himself and earthly material—money, money in relation to himself since he stole. Mary anointed Jesus for his burial. Devotion to Jesus carries into eternity. Judas’ betrayal yielded a different eternal story. May we express devotion to Jesus with innocent extravagant abandon like Mary.
Music: “Jesus Shall Reign” Grace Community Church
Prayer:
O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do therefore what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that with humble and perfect submission and in holy confidence I may receive the orders of your eternal providence and may equally adore all that comes to me from you.
―Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, p.56.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”
Some thoughts:
Here we see the heart of the other self-centered brother. While the younger son grabbed what was his and took off, thinking only of himself, the older brother blamed the father for not being generous toward him, thinking only of himself. This was a giant pity party. Serving his father, he called “slavery.” Was he glad to see his little brother? No. Was he concerned about the time his brother had been away? No. Did he feel his father owed him something? Yes. His heart is embarrassingly laid bare before us. Then the father does something with the older son he did not do with the younger. He pleaded with him. Why? When the younger son demanded his inheritance and took off, the father did not plead with him not to go. He gave him that freedom. But here, he pleads with the elder son to rejoice with them in the joy of repentance.
The elder son could not let go of his brother’s past. He was so consumed with himself. Though he was the elder brother, in some ways he was the more immature of the two, for he had not yet “come to his senses.” He remained the childish, reluctant, and joyless joint heir of the wealthy father, a sad place for an heir to be.
What is the bigger picture here that Jesus is getting at? Remember he told three the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Those listening to him were a large crowd including tax collectors and other well-known sinners plus Pharisees and teachers of the religious law who were annoyed because Jesus associated with sinners in their eyes, failing to recognize their own sinfulness. In the parable of the two sons, the prodigal son represented the tax collectors, prostitutes, and such. The father represented God and the elder son the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Like the elder son, the Pharisees complained that they had kept the law to the nth degree and Jesus wasn’t giving them any credit but was embracing and forgiving the sinners and not honoring them. They were intent on distancing themselves from sinners as evidenced in the phrase “Yet when this son of yours . . ..”
It occurred to me that the father raised two rather self-centered boys. Had he failed as a father? He gave his sons freedom to fail, and both were self-focused. How did he raise such selfish boys? Then, I remembered in this parable, the father is a portrayal of God. We are the sons in this story! It’s a commentary on the Father’s great love. All of his children are prodigals. It is not a commentary on God’s failure as a parent, quite the opposite. It tells of his great love and eagerness to forgive and restore wayward and rebellious children to the point of going to the cross.
Music: “My Song Is Love Unknown” Sylvia Burnside
Prayer: Gracious Lord of joy and delight, grant that I may always rejoice with those who rejoice, cheer for those who are cheerful, laugh with those who laugh, be happy with those who are happy, be enthusiastic with those who are enthusiastic, discover anew with those who discover new things. Forbid that I should ever withhold my heart’s embracing of another’s joy for some silly, selfish, or sanctimonious reason. Your kingdom does not need more “joy monitors.” From sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us! Amen! —Daniel Sharp
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
Some thoughts:
This part of the parable is about restoration and forgiveness. In it we learn something of the father’s heart and focus regarding his son’s escapade. Notice the father [God] barely responds to the son’s words of confession and in fact cuts off his son’s forgiveness speech in the middle. The father then negates the son’s “hired hand” self-designation by calling for a rich ceremonial robe which would be given to an honored guest, giving the son a ring an heir would own, and sandals which only a free man would wear. There is no dwelling on the son’s past foolishness, poor decisions, personal greed, moral failure, and so forth. No “I’m glad you finally learned your lesson! What have you learned from your mistakes? It’s about time you wised up.” None of that.
The father completely restored the son’s position and identity. His coming home called for a celebration! I wonder if the calf was being fattened in anticipation of the son’s returning home. The father’s love for his son never wavered even while the son was deep in debauchery. The father’s words focused on the bottom line of what had taken place. He did not dwell on the surface events of the past, but went to the heart of the issue, the restored soul of his son. Sons and daughters need their father’s affirmation. Notice his words of ‘dead and alive’ and ‘lost and found’ also apply to one’s life before and after coming to Christ. You’ll notice the father’s celebration here affirms Jesus’ words in the lost sheep parable of the great joy in heaven over a sinner who repents and returns to God.
Repentance brings God joy (Zeph 3:17). Do you ever think of God “rejoicing” over you when you turn from your self-will to his will and repent? Are there some “prodigals” for whom you have been praying a long time? Keep it up. They may not have made it to the pigpen yet. Keep watching the horizon and get ready to run! Your heavenly Father did that for you.
Music: “And the Father Will Dance Over You” New England Conservatory Alumni Choir
Prayer: Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’ Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience. Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work now and forevermore, Amen. —Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997, from Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, p.99
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
Some thoughts:
We may think of this story as a parable about the two sons, but these verses tell us it may be more about the boys’ father and his deep love for his children. The father is the God figure in the parable. Jesus is teaching the people and us about the nature of God’s great compassion and mercy. There is something here that is unique to all of Scripture. An action happens in this parable that does not happen anywhere else in the Bible. Read the above verses again and see if you can figure out what it is. Except for this parable, nowhere else in Scripture does God ever “run” after people. He does call people to come to him and as the Good Shepherd he goes after his lost sheep. In a patriarchal society it would be considered undignified for the father to run toward anyone.
Jesus walked everywhere. He never ran to a situation, quite the contrary. Remember Lazarus, Mary, and Martha? When Jesus heard the news about Lazarus, he stayed two more days. God never runs after people. He is near to people. He loves people dearly. He is always ready to respond to people. But he does not force his way into people’s lives. He gives them freedom. But here is a beautiful picture of God’s love for the repentant person. The son had turned toward home and the father, filled with love, saw him and ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. Some commentators have surmised that perhaps the father went every day to watch and wait for his son’s return. The Savior is patient toward the lost.
God is patiently waiting for us to turn around when we get on the wrong road. He does not impose his will on us. Have you thought how hard that must be for God? Think of your own children making terrible choices. How hard is it to not intervene and take over their life? The father is not pointing a boney-fingered condemnation of the son’s stupidity, but rather offers a warm embrace and expresses great joy in having the repentant son back home. The son doesn’t need to hear how foolish he was. He already knows it which is why he came home. The father even calls for a party and great celebration. Can you offer this kind of love to someone today? As you do, you are reflecting your Father’s heart.
Music: “The Love of God” Gaither Vocal Band
Prayer: Bring us, O Lord God, at the last awakening in to the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but an equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity, in the habitations of thy majesty and thy glory, world without end. —John Donne, 1571-1631
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father.
Some thoughts:
What was I thinking! Have you ever said that? When we first get off the path, it’s hardly recognizable. We used to live in Seattle. We drove to the farm in Illinois every summer. There was a point in eastern Washington where the interstate highway split. We could go straight and go through Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota or choose to make a slight veer to the south and a day later be somewhere in Nebraska, hundreds of miles to the south of where we might have been. At that moment of making the split it was hardly noticeable, but it did set the course for the next several days.
When the prodigal son left home, it seemed to him like a great leap into freedom and the training wheels came off the bike! “I can do what I want. After all, it’s my adventure and I have plenty of money!” As he continued down the path, however, the folly of his course become very clear. If you are in fantasyland or on the wrong road, turn around! (Just to clarify, it is not a sin to drive through North Dakota, though it is if you go too fast thinking there is no speed limit (another story!)
“Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.” —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p.36
“When he finally . . . came to his senses” is a testimony to God’s grace. Notice the prodigal’s father does not intervene in his son’s poor decisions. The seed of humility in the son we mentioned yesterday finally began to grow. He recognized his sin was against heaven as well as his earthly father. Notice he mentioned heaven first. All sin is ultimately against God and secondarily against others. This realization is an indication of truly understanding the significance of his previous choices. He repented went back to the place where he got off track which was home. Notice how much more there is than a simple “I’m sorry.” We see in the prodigal a complete attitude and heart change giving evidence of true repentance. Where is your path leading you today?
Music: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” Moses Hogan Chorale
Prayer: Fix thou our steps O Lord, that we stagger not at the uneven motions of the world, but steadily go on to our glorious home; neither censuring our journey by the weather we meet with, nor turning out of the way for anything that befalls us. The winds are often rough, and our own weight presses us downwards. Reach forth, O Lord, thy hand, thy saving hand, and speedily deliver us. Teach us, O Lord, to use this transitory life as pilgrims returning to their beloved home; that we may take what our journey requires, and not think of settling in a foreign country. —John Wesley, Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayer, p.64
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
Some thoughts:
Welcome to the world of “self” son! Should we be surprised that no one gave him anything? Look with whom he was spending his time and money. This was not generally a community that is known for giving or caring about others. No, this was a crowd of self-focused takers. It became particularly evident to the prodigal when everything headed south. Friends of this caliber and character bail as soon as another’s money runs out. The same thing happens today with people and corporations who have “squandered their wealth on wild living.” How many heirs of fortunes, “lottery winners,” and professional athletes are dead broke after a few years of squandering great wealth?
A kind of severe famine has likewise arisen in the prodigal’s country. Have you ever noticed how often a bad decision escalates into even more disasters? A bad tree can’t produce good fruit (Matt 7:18). But as is sometimes the case, here we see the seeds of humility being planted in the son’s soil of desperation. The seeds sprouted as starvation brought a dose of reality and he decided to look for work. Imagine, . . . work! He got a job feeding pigs. Think about the parable Jesus is telling. Pigs were unclean to the Jews. The son’s job was the lowest of the low. He was on a Jewish skid row. He was eating the same pods as unclean animals! (These were not snow pea pods from P.F. Chang’s!) His loneliness was so overwhelming it spurred him to action. This whole parable centers on a wayward heart which had to make it all the way to the bottom and finally being so alone broke the self. The prodigal finally had enough of, no, was sick of himself and decided to act.
Look for people in your life today who may be in the son’s situation and extend a hand in whatever form to bring encouragement and hope. It’s not time to judge, but time to love and encourage. The prodigal didn’t need to be told he had played the fool. He needed to be forgiven. Don’t be the “no one gave him anything” person. God may use you to play the prodigal’s father in another’s life today. Or perchance you may be that prodigal person. If that is the case, go back home. Ask forgiveness. You won’t be disappointed at the response.
Music: “Father of My Heart” Fernando Ortega
Prayer: Lord, I am blind and helpless, stupid, and ignorant. Cause me to hear, cause me to know teach me to do, lead me. —Henry Martyn, 1781-1812
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
Some thoughts:
This is the third of three parables Jesus told to demonstrate God’s love for the lost, in his giving freedom (prodigal), and the great joy in finding the lost, whether a lamb or a coin. In this parable, the younger son represents the tax collectors and other outcasts, and the older son the religious leaders. Now to the parable . . .
Those four little, simple, short, one syllable words, “I want my share,” speak volumes. A shorter version is, “I want.” And the very shortest version is, “I!” The season of Lent is about helping us to recognize how often that priority of self, guides, shapes, and rules our lives in contrast to Jesus’ giving of himself in his journey to the cross. We live in a society and in our own lives, where we are very aware of our “rights.” Look at all the lawsuits in the media and lawyer commercials on television. It is quite easy to be conscious of me. Where did we get this idea of “mine?” I think we know.
In this parable, the son was a rightful heir, albeit an impatient, self-centered, shortsighted one! I’m embarrassed for him. Notice the Father did not reprimand him, humiliate, nor dishonor him in his demand even though the son was rude and disrespectful of his father. He gave the son what he demanded, knowing full well the consequences of his foolishness.
There are certainly times when our heavenly Father does the same for us. He does not impose his will or force us in any direction in honoring our freedom of choice. Thankfully in his wisdom, God does not always give us what we want or ask for. But here the father does not override the son’s greed, foolishness, and immaturity. There is no “thy will be done” in the son’s demand! Can you imagine a love like this that it is so honoring and strong that God gives the freedom to be foolish? And then welcomes home the fool? As you pray today, be careful of what you ask for. In God’s gracious way, he may give it to you or not. May our words be, “Lord, I want your heart . . .” rather than, “I want my share.”
Music: “The Prodigal Song” Cory Asbury
Prayer: O God our Father, help us to nail to the cross of thy dear Son the whole body of our death, the wrong desires of the heart, the sinful devising of the mind, the corrupt apprehensions of the eyes, the cruel words of the tongue, the ill employment of hands and feet; that the old man being crucified and done away, the new man may live and grow into the glorious likeness thy Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. -Eric Milner-White, 1884-1964
9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
10 While the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.11 The very next day they began to eat unleavened bread and roasted grain harvested from the land. 12 No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan.
Some thoughts:
This passage of Scripture marks the end of a very long wait for the children of Israel. Most days are pretty ordinary which is good. If every day was a drama, we’d wear out! Then there are those days when something of greater significance occurs. This was such a day for the Israelites. There is also an interesting play on words here. The phrase used by God is “I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” The Israelites were camped outside of Jericho at a place called Gilgal which sounds like the Hebrew word galal, meaning “to roll,” indicating that this was the place where God would roll away the reproach of Egypt . . . forty years after the fact.
The great Exodus is an Old Testament type of the redemption story. God’s message to Joshua, “I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt” is an interesting choice of words. For in the New Testament, it was God who rolled away the stone which covered the entrance to Jesus’ (Joshua in Hebrew) tomb. Jesus led the ultimate exodus from slavery to sin by his victorious resurrection thereby opening the way to the ultimate promised land, that of seeing him face to face. God rolled away the shame of our slavery to sin at the tomb of his Son.
The provisions God had supplied in the past (manna) had come to an end in their new setting.
The phrase “and it was never seen again” was another way of saying it’s over and done with, what was necessary then is no longer now, the forty-year miracle is over, and we are in a new chapter. The celebration of the Passover reminded them again how God had brought them out of slavery. The past was past. God continued to supply for their needs, but now the provisions came from their current home. The same holds true as believers look forward and dwelling in God’s presence eternally. In one sense we are all still in the desert relying on daily manna from the Lord. We need to feed on his Word daily. The day is coming when we will be with him in heaven. This is all to say, though God may linger, teaching, disciplining, and training us in the meantime, he is always faithful to the end. Remember his words, “Today I have rolled away the stone.” That day was not ordinary, it made all the difference all the way to today! The greatest day is yet to come.
Music: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Sam Robson
Prayer: Heavenly Father, your love, timing, and care for your children are perfect . . . always. Forgive us when we doubt your love, are frustrated at your timing, and wonder if your care for us is really the best. We forget you swell in eternal time. You are utterly faithful in ways we never experience except with you. May our “experience with you” become more and more ordinary in that we would consciously live with greater and greater awareness of eternal time as we look forward to celebrating the “todays of the rolled away stone” with you in the heavenly realm. This we pray in the name of our faithful Savior, Jesus the Christ.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.
14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Some thoughts:
Earlier in this psalm David confessed his sin and focused on his guilt and his desire for the joy of salvation to return. He wanted the Holy Spirit to remain with him. Did you notice how this portion begins? The “then” refers us back to what was just written. David wants to teach others so they may benefit from his sad experience. Rebelling and rejecting God’s laws brings separation and disaster. After moving through all his thoughts and feelings, David comes to the place of naming his sin of having murdered Uriah and asking God’s forgiveness. The naming of sin . . . even audibly at times can be very helpful. The “shedding of blood” is also an expression to include any injustice toward another, not simply his murdering of Uriah.
Here King David writes of his return to joy in the Lord. His mouth is again open to praising God. He makes a beautiful distinction. David had brought hundreds of sacrifices. The burnt offering was a type of sacrifice for atonement, the forgiveness of sin. It also represented the giving of one’s whole self to the Lord. From the early sacrifices of Cain and his bother Abel, God’s words to Cain were, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” The communion of the worshiper and the Lord was the central significant factor. While offering of the Old Testament sacrifice was necessary and of a significance of the first order, the whole point was the heart of the worshiper. Cain’s heart was dark with respect to the Lord, his brother’s, humble.
Have you noticed the qualities of the heart God is looking for? A truthful heart, a humble heart, a transparent heart, a relentless heart. Honestly, how truthful, humble, transparent, and relentless are you with the Lord? As you pray, ask the Lord to reveal his perspective on your heart.
Music: “Psalm 95 ‘Come Let Us’” Half a Mile
Prayer: Take, Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. You have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your divine will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With this I am rich enough, and I have no more to ask. -Ignatius Loyola 1491-1556
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Some thoughts:
David was aware of his fickle faith. He knew he needed the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life continually. In the Old Testament era, the presence of Holy Spirit would “come upon” a person for a specific task or reason such as ordination for an office. For example, David received the Spirit of God when he was anointed king and the Holy Spirit departed from King Saul for his disobedience when David was anointed (I Sam 16:14). When Saul disobeyed, his reign was ended, the Holy Spirit departed.
In this portion of the psalm David asks for a pure heart. David was very aware of the Spirit’s departure from Saul and asked to be spared from the same fate as the result of his sin with Bathsheba. He had acknowledged and confessed his sin earlier in this psalm. Now he asks the Lord to help him have a steadfast spirit. Like David, we all want to be consistent in our walk of faith. Yet we are “prone to wander” as the song says. It seems our old nature keeps creeping back, trying to get its gnarly foot in the door of our house. The key is the presence of the Holy Spirit within us recognizing when the door is being pushed agar. With the advent of Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit is available to all believers who put their faith in Jesus for their salvation, a major change from the First Testament. As was the case with king Saul, people are warned in the latter Testament not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
As we continue through this Lenten season, let the Holy Spirit guide us. Ask him to watch the door of your house and keep you alert throughout this day. Live consciously in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Talk with him as you go about your business. Seek the mind and heart of the Lord as you move through the day. At the end of the day, notice what has happened. Something will happen; God is not distant. God is looking for a willing spirit in you. He will sustain you,
Music: “Psalm 51” Praises of Israel (In Hebrew with subtitles)
Prayer: As the wind is thy symbol, so forward our goings. As the dove, so launch us heavenwards. As water, so purify our spirits. As a cloud, so abate our temptations. As dew, so revive our languor. As fire, so purge out our dross. –Christina Rossetti 1830-1894
(Note the use of symbols for the biblical symbols for the Holy Spirit. Pentecost, baptism of Jesus, Transfiguration, Pillar of fire in the desert wanderings, Manna from heaven-dew, etc.)
6 But you [God] desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Some thoughts:
Imagine! God wants us to tell the truth even from the womb, (can also mean “inner parts.”) David prays for wisdom from the beginning of life. Then he says, “Purify me from my sins” the literal translation reads “purify me with the hyssop branch.” You’ll recall it was a hyssop branch that was used to put the blood on the door posts at the great exodus from Egypt (Ex 12:22). Here David may be alluding to that event in asking God to pass over and wash him clean by the blood of the lamb, even as the Israelites were spared as the angel of death passed over them. David desires the joy of a clean heart, of being forgiven. His desire is to be guilt free. He does not want to be reminded again and again of is past sins—that’s one of the devil’s joys, throwing past failures in our faces again and again. When you are haunted by past confessed sin, recognize where those thoughts are coming from; it’s not the Lord. It is also David who wrote, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12)
Why is it that we can so easily live in duplicity? There is either a stubbornness, pride, or arrogance that has trouble admitting when we are wrong or have failed. We have a dozen reasons why it was not our fault; why we can be excused for missing the mark; or why we should be granted leniency in this circumstance. In this Scripture passage, the “inner parts” can also be translated “inner being,” in other words our heart, our soul. The Lord wants us to be truthful with ourselves. Why are we reluctant or even afraid to face the truth? When the truth penetrates as to who we really are from God’s perspective, look what follows! Our heart gets a lesson in wisdom and God cleanses our sin completely.
Look what this pericope tells us about God. He wants us to be honest with him, complete transparency. Desire truth. And these are acts God can do on our behalf: teach us, cleanse us, wash us, crush, or break (discipline) us, completely remove our sin, like an ink blotter soaks up and removes ink. All of this is the action of God on my behalf when I am truthful with God. He is the one who does the washing. We physically revive. For unconfessed sin pays a heavy physical and spiritual toll. It eats away at us. Our relationship to God deadens. Confession gets a load off our chest. It is freeing. When that happens, joy returns. Jesus dealt with the truth all the way to the end of his earthly life with the result ending in the greatest joy ever. Are you telling God the whole truth about yourself today?
Music: “Come Let Us Reason” Ken Medema
Prayer:
Dear God, make me think about what I’m doing with my mind, with my body, with my habits, with my study, with my friends, with my hopes, with my parents, with my faith, with life. Amen. —Carl Burke
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Some thoughts:
With a verse like that, what chance do we have?! As a friend of mine said, “There is very little ‘original’ sin!” From the beginning we were sinners. Did you have to teach your children to say “MINE!” I rest my case. You may have a translation that reads “In sin did my mother conceive me.” The translation above is a far better, more accurate translation. Conception itself is not sin, it’s the beginning of life! But sin is present from conception! This passage means that everyone is part of the fallen human race. No argument there. David writes in another Psalm (143:2) “for no living thing is righteous before you.” No one has ever gotten it right with a single exception. We are not getting better as a human race. Being good is helpful, but it does not solve the sin problem.
Knowing what is right to do surprisingly does not equate with doing right (James 4:17). Our society and culture cling to the hope that with more education, more money, more studies, more time, more love, less hate, we’ll progress as a people and as a culture. Instead, our education has contributed to our problem, in fact, it is the problem, more money has made things worse, our studies are studying fallen human’s material rather than God’s material, the Bible, time is not a friend when one is heading down the wrong road, and our love and hate are self-selected missing the entire point. Do we need any more convincing that sin abounds in sinners?
My brother-in-law tells of an incident when he was flying from LA to San Francisco. He struck up a conversation with the man he was sitting beside. He asked the man how he would sum up the human situation in one sentence. The man’s response was “We are all part of the problem; we are all part of the solution.” Though the man never asked my brother-in-law for his sentence, he told him anyway! His answer? “We are the problem; there is one man who is the solution, and his name is Jesus.” It is only through Christ that we are given the solution to our sin problem.
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen. —Worship Source Book, p.563
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
Some thoughts:
Have you ever thought, “Sure I messed up, but it’s not that big a deal. No one got hurt too badly. I’ll just keep a low profile and things will get back to normal. I’ll eventually feel better in my heart. Just give it time for the guilty feeling to go away.” King David would not have gone along with such thinking! Though we go on with life and try to lose guilt by getting busy in the next thing and hoping others will calm down, that method of dealing with my sin does not really work. How do I know this is the truth, . . . personal experience. All sin matters to a holy God.
David thinks, “I know my sins and they won’t go away. They wear on me. I think about them sub-consciously and I can’t get rid of them.” Have you had times when a relentless “cloud on a string” followed you day after day? It didn’t go away, did it? David’s key in dealing with the mess he was in, was acknowledging that his sin was not only against a man but also against God. Confession to others we have sinned against and asking their forgiveness is important. But David also confessed what he had done was wrong in God’s sight, the only one who’s sight ultimately matters.
As we reflect on our own journey with the Lord during these days of the Lenten season, are we cognizant that the sin in our lives, while at times is against other people, is also ultimately against God? Is confession to the Lord for having sinned against him also a part of our prayer? It was so with David. In his words, “against you, you only, have I sinned.” David makes clear that he adopts God’s view of his wrongdoing. As we deal with tempting situations, looking at them from God’s viewpoint, is a great clarifier. Since all sin is against God, he is the only one who can solve our unsolvable problem. He alone paid the penalty. His forgiveness is the one that counts the most.
God of compassion, you are slow to anger and full of mercy, welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts. Receive in your loving embrace all who come home to you. We confess that we have been wayward children. We have disobeyed your commands; our ears have been deaf to your call; our hearts have been cold to your love. In thought, in word, and in deed we have hurt others and dishonored your name. Receive us yet again as your beloved children, not because we are worthy, but for the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen. —The Worship Sourcebook, p.562, adapted Daniel Sharp
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Some thoughts:
What words of pleading. Mercy is not something to be assumed nor guaranteed. Control of the situation is gone. The penitent has nothing to offer. Having been responsible for carrying out a murder, King David pours out this confession to God. In pleading for mercy, he appeals to God’s own character of unfailing love and great compassion. Though David was guilty of a treacherous crime, his past walk with God had shown him God’s character firsthand. It is to this character of God that he appeals in three different ways. He asked to have his sin dealt with. Blot out my transgressions, wash away all my iniquity, cleanse me from my sin. He places no blame elsewhere. David’s words were “my transgressions,” “my iniquity”, and “my sin.” He took full ownership of his past actions. I am not sure how much we realize the significance of God’s character of mercy as shown toward us. We live because God is merciful not wishing anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). How easy it is to assume God’s mercy, not realizing the heavy price paid by God to make mercy toward humans possible.
Our sin is not something that goes away nor is it anything we can remove ourselves. Notice David’s choice of words. It is God who has to blot, wash, and cleanse out of love and compassion for the sinner to be freed from the weight of their sin. Yet, how many people continue to carry their past sin, or the sins of generations past even as part of their identity. David will have none of it. In this prayer David is learning to be merciful himself.
In an almost incomprehensible way, we see this “unfailing love” and “great compassion” of this psalm played out in the Jesus’ embrace of the hard wood of the cross as he takes ownership of all of our sins and the sins of the whole world as he expresses mercy toward a fallen and sinful world. As a result, God has shown us mercy and blotted, washed away, and cleansed us from our sins. Thanks be to God! Let us show God’s mercy toward those around us and may it be part of our character.
Music: “What Wondrous Love Is This?” Robert Shaw Chamber Singers
Prayer: Forgive them all, O Lord: our sins of omission and our sins of commission; the sins of our youth and the sins of our riper years; the sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies; our secret and our more open sins; our sins of ignorance and surprise, and our more deliberate and presumptuous sins; the sins we have done to please ourselves and the sins we have done to please others; the sins we know and remember, and the sins we have forgotten; the sins we have striven to hide from others and the sins by which we have made others offend; forgive them all for his sake, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, and now stands at thy right hand to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. —John Wesley, 1703-1791
“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.
3 “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. 4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples. I made him a leader among the nations. 5 You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Some thoughts:
This pericope is so rich in so many ways. Once again, notice the verbs God uses. We are urged to come, to listen, to seek, to call, and to turn. Follow the sequence: come, there is no charge, it’s free; listen with your ears wide open and I will make a covenant with you and bless you; seek the Lord, you can find him; call, he’s right beside you, turn from your waysto the Lord, repent. You will be forgiven. You are deeply loved. Isaiah’s words paint a picture of the Messiah’s love.
Jesus fleshes out this Isaiah passage in John 4 with the woman at the well where he offers her living water . . . and grace is emphasized again. The Lord offers her wine and milk, more costly than water. His is living water, an offering of everlasting life. This gracious invitation of God to come to him recurs in Revelation 22:17 in very similar words. “Come, let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”
In the second half of verse three through verse five, God reminds his people of the covenant he has made. As is typical in a suzerain covenant, the greater (God) reminds the lesser (his people) what he has already done on their behalf. It is an affirmation of what he has done and will do for them in the future. Isaiah urges the people to seek the Lord and be faithful to him “now while he is near.” Since the invitation will not always be open, it is important to act when God extends an invitation which continues in the present moment.
This passage of Scripture then concludes with two of the more interesting and insightful verses in the Bible. The Lord says very plainly, I don’t think like you think. You can’t even imagine in your wildest dreams the way I work. That’s comforting. Would we want a God who thinks like we do? No. We don’t want an equal; we want God to be God. He then gives us a metaphor. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than . . .” What God does, his plans and actions, and the way he thinks and operates are not comprehensible to us. All the people in the New Testament failed to understand Jesus’ mission until Pentecost. We cannot begin to grasp either his ways or his mind, yet he loves us, guides us, and forgives our petty ways. Humbling, isn’t it?
Music: “23” A Girl Named Tom (These are siblings. Growing up her brothers called her Tom!)
Prayer: You, O eternal Trinity, are a deep sea, into which the more I enter the more I find, and the more I find the more I seek. The soul cannot be satiated in your abyss, for she continually hungers after you, the eternal Trinity, desiring to see you with the light of your light. As the hart desires the springs of living water, so my soul desires to leave the prison of this dark body and see you in truth. —Catherine of Siena 1347-1386
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Some thoughts:
Did you ever notice how as the last week of Jesus’ life approached; he remained locked in on the events immediately before him? He did not get pushed off course or rush or delay. He was in completely tuned to his Father’s will, rock solid. Isaiah records the Messiah “set his face like flint” and Luke picks up the same idea (Isa 50:7, Lk 9:51). Jesus did not shrink from what was before him. As the Passover neared, he told the disciples “the Son of Man would be handed over to be crucified.” He remained calm with a heavy heart, even as he washed the feet of the one who would betray him and the feet of his disciples who would run away at his arrest. He was composed in the present because he was connected intimately to the will of his Father and to God’s overall plan for restoring the whole created order.
Jesus was always realistic as he dealt with “the day’s troubles.” Make no mistake. Jesus had daily troubles! For example: Mary and Martha being mad at him for not coming sooner when Lazarus was sick or Peter telling him not to ever die. The local people from the synagogue where he grew up getting mad him and even trying to kill him when he told them who he was. The Pharisees calling him a liar and accusing him of being possessed by the devil! Yes, Jesus faced significant troubles from people who did not understand his mission.
His trust was not a “God will work everything out” or a “whatever happens, happens” mindset. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed earnestly hoping there might be another way. There wasn’t, and the Father sent an angel to minister and strengthen Jesus for the ordeal that lay ahead (Luke 22:43). One of the reasons I love and trust the Bible so much is that the Holy Spirit covered nothing up in guiding the writers as they wrote. Nothing is sugar-coated!
In this Lenten season, rather than being overwhelmed by the daily worries and all the things in our lives that need attention, trust the Lord one day at a time as we walk with the Savior through these days leading to the cross. Jesus bowed and submitted trusting everything to his Father’s care and will. Do you see how beautifully Jesus lived out in all circumstances what he preached in his Sermon on the Mount? We are to journey with Jesus in the same way. Set your “face like flint” and stay the course of faith in the Father.
Music: “Rock of Ages” James Ward (a beautiful different tune)
Prayer: Who can tell what a day may bring forth? Cause me therefore, gracious God, to live every day as if it were to be my last, for I know not but that it may be such. Cause me to live now as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. O grant that I may not die with any guilt on my conscience or any known sin unrepented of, but that I may be found in Christ, who is my only Savior and Redeemer. —Thomas á Kempis, (1380-1471)
(In case you thought written out prayers from centuries ago were irrelevant!)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Some thoughts:
As we focus in on Jesus’ life as he heads toward the cross, we see more and more clearly how his life demonstrated the words he spoke. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . .” was played out in his words “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus did not store up treasure on earth. He had no home, no retirement account, no investments, no transportation except walking, no educational degree of any sort. He stayed with friends. When he was killed, he had nothing other than the clothes he was stripped of. He possessed nothing! But what treasures he stored in heaven is glorious beyond our imagination; glory we will one day get to see!
A legitimate question to ask is “How much of my life (my time) is going into things or pursuits that are of little eternal consequence?” A few events can suck money dry in a very short time. Do you see in Jesus’ words, the point is not even the treasures, but once again, the location of the heart? The quality of the treasure is indicative of the quality of the heart. The character of the heart is central, not the treasure. It is for that heart’s affection that Jesus went to the cross. Where is your heart’s affection today?
Is the light in your eyes set on your treasures? If your eyes see the light of heavenly treasures your eyes are good. But we live in a secular world that thinks it is enlightened. It believes in its own wisdom, insight, and brilliance. It is a culture that arrogantly rejects God and biblical moral values. It lauds fame, earthly wealth, control, and power. Jesus’ words were never more true regarding our present world’s views. His words: “If the light you think you have [world] is actually darkness [and it certainly is!], how deep is that darkness [and it truly is dark]. How great is the need for the Savior.
Put as simple as possible, everyone has a choice—heavenly treasure which is eternal and God’s way, or earthly treasures, which are misleading, temporary, and limited to our days on earth. In truth, the latter worthless when you are in the grave, and the former brings great wealth both in your present time here on earth and in the world to come. As your financial planner, invest wisely. The returns are out of this world!
Prayer: May God support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at last. —John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Some thoughts:
Fasting has long been a religious discipline in many faiths. In both the Jewish and Christian traditions it is often associated with repentance. But there are different kinds of fasts. We read in the Scriptures on special occasions of “fasting in sack cloth and ashes.” (David, Esther, Ninevites, Elijah, and Jonah.) Fasting was a part of the life of every major character in the Bible. The longing that comes within us because of a lack of food or water, speaks to us of our complete and utter dependence upon the Lord. The longing we have for that which is being purposefully denied easily transfers into a longing to be closer to God. Upon occasion, fasting can be a symbol of the discipline it takes to turn away from sin. As is the case with so many of the spiritual disciplines, the focus is on the condition of the heart. Have you noticed again and again how Jesus centers on the heart and shows disdain for any show of outward spirituality.
Fasting is not magical. It earns nothing. It does not obligate God to anything. It earns no “bonus points” with God, nor is it always necessarily an isolated, solitary act. Fasting sharpens the mind and spirit and quickens spiritual perception. Sometimes there are short total fasts for a day or more and on other occasions longer fasts. There may be fasts from specific foods, or perhaps choosing to eat only one meal a day for the specific purpose of being liberated from a fleshly habit or desire. Fasting of some sort is a traditional part of Lent from the early centuries of the church.
If this is a new area to you, it might be worth doing your own Bible study on fasting, and then perhaps doing a fast as an occasion arises. As Jesus points out, the whole purpose is to deepen one’s relationship with our heavenly Father. One’s overall physical health should definitely be taken into consideration before embarking on a fast and if necessary, check with one’s personal physician. (Sorry, this sounds like a commercial disclaimer!) From personal experience, I would highly recommend regular fasting . . . (I shouldn’t have said that, now I’ve lost my reward!)
This is a setting of Psalm 42 “As the Deer Pants” sung to a Latin text: “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after thee.” Thought you would enjoy seeing what they are singing!
Prayer: Come now, little man turn aside for a while from your daily employment, escape for a moment from the tumult of your thoughts. Put aside your weighty cares, let your burdensome distractions wait, free yourself awhile for God and rest awhile in him. Enter the inner chamber of your soul, shut out everything except God and that which can help you in seeking him, and when you have shut the door, seek him. Now, my whole heart, say to God, “I seek your face, Lord, it is your face I seek.” —Anselm 1033-1109
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Some thoughts:
In Jesus’ teaching trilogy of living the Christian life of, giving, praying, and fasting, have you noticed two recurring words? “When you . . . give, pray, fast,” do it in private. Don’t advertise or make a production out of your spirituality. In today’s devotional, right after Jesus talked about the importance of praying, he gave us an example. Notice the similarities between the ancient Jewish prayer the Kaddish and the prayer he taught his disciples. The Kaddish originated during the first century. Jesus may well have known the Jewish prayer which developed not in synagogues, but in the house of study, the beit midrash. It is interesting that Jesus’ is teaching the disciples how to pray in response to their question to learn how to pray. Did you notice how he enlarged a bit on the forgiveness side of things? He knows how hard it is for people to forgive each other and then gives us an example. He begins, “Our Father in heaven . . .” He makes a point of reminding us of whose we are at the same time reminding us of the existence of another world we cannot see. Here is the Kaddish prayer of Jesus’ day.
Kaddish
Magnified and hallowed be His great Name in the world which He created according to His will.
May He establish His Kingdom in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel speedily and in a near time. And say ye, Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Perhaps it may be wise to think a little more carefully than we sometimes do in our approach to praying. We’ve all been in situations where someone’s public prayer seemed to be more clever than heartfelt. It might be that “God, we ask you to . . .” may not be the most thoughtful, respectful way to address our Creator. “God” is not meant as a punctuation mark. Notice the way Jesus addresses his Father in John chapter seventeen. He is always mindful of who he is and who his Father is. Certainly, there are times when a prayer is as short and urgent as “Help, Lord!” How we address our prayer can be a great reminder of the one to whom we are conversing. Though Jesus is our friend, he is also our Redeemer, our Savior, our Intercessor, our Master, which does not make us an equal. The Father is our Creator. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. In his prayers, Jesus was always very aware of the Father/Son relationship. That kind of awareness is perhaps something we can tune our hearts to in our prayers. Just some things to think about,
Music: “The Lord’s Prayer” Andrea Bocelli
Prayer:
Play the Lord’s Prayer again and let Andrea’s voice be yours as you pray.
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Some thoughts:
The Jews in Jesus’ day had frequent hours of public prayer at 9 AM in the morning and at 3 PM in the afternoon (Acts 3:1). The Pharisees made it a point to be seen prominently at those times. Jesus’ teaching here comes in this context. The original meaning of hypocrite was “actor.” Jesus is drawing our attention to one’s motives in praying. The Pharisees’ hypocritical prayer has the appearance of reality but is only that. No authentic prayer is happening, just babbling words. Jesus makes clear that words and pretense do not make a prayer. God is not impressed by the volume of words, tone of voice, or anything else when we pray. What he does see is our heart motivation. Do we genuinely care about those things for which we are praying, or are we simply moving through our check list? God is not affected by what others think of our praying nor even by what we think of our prayer. In truth we are praying to someone who knows our heart’s concern and our thoughts before we utter them. I’m reminded in my public praying, that I am talking to God, not conveying news, giving advice to those listening to me pray, explaining to God what he already knows, or telling God what I think he should do. God does not need my or your advice!
Again in a simple, beautiful way Jesus simply comments “when you pray.” “When” is a word of action, a word of time. It signals the beginning of an event. So in Jesus’ saying “when,” his full expectation is that prayer is a regular part of a Christin’s daily life. Maybe you want to keep (or start) a prayer list or a prayer journal. While interceding for others is an important part of prayer, don’t neglect adoration, confession, and thanksgiving. Then there is the part of prayer I most often forget, neglect, or rush through . . . that of listening to God. Could one of our goals during this Lenten season be to cultivate time to listen to God if that is not a normal practice? Simply be quiet and listen. How can we converse when we never listen?
In prayer we are turning to God in dependency. There are a great many examples of prayer in Scriptures to guide us along. (Col 1:9-14; Phil 1:3-11; Dan 9:1-19; John 17) Maybe during these forty days you’ll want to build a collection of all the “prayers” you can find in Scripture. Pray them. Study them. Diagram the prayers—you know, like you had to do in high school English class! You will be surprised at what you learn about praying from the saints in the Scriptures. Remember, “your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
Music: “Open the Eyes of My Heart” Duffley
Prayer: Lord Jesus, our Intercessor, I open my heart to you, to see as you see. May I be quiet and listen to your voice. May I be obedient to what I hear. May my prayer life with you multiply many times throughout this day. I ask you to bring things to my mind during the day that need prayer. May I be free and recognize those opportunities to pray as I go through the mornings, afternoons, and evenings of our lives. In all of these actions, may you receive glory. Thank you for praying for me continually. I pray these things in your tender name. Amen. —Daniel Sharp
2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Some thoughts:
Notice the simplicity of Jesus’ words above. Most have only one syllable and many have four or fewer letters. His message couldn’t be clearer, the Jesus’ way—profound teaching with uncomplicated words. Lent is often marked by a renewed focus on some of the simple disciplines which demonstrate faith. Christianity expresses itself in actions. Actions demonstrate that the message has registered (cf. Shema: to hear, one’s actions proved one had heard).
Giving to the needy is one of those simple actions that is done not to buy God’s favor or earn salvation. It is done simply to live out one’s relationship with the heavenly Father. Giving to the needy is what Christians do. Jesus was clear. He didn’t say “if you give to the needy,” but rather “when you give to the needy.” Have you noticed that is exactly what he did his whole life? We are the “needy” who continually benefit from his immense giving. Giving is a window into the heart. Generosity is at the heart of God so it makes sense that believers would reflect the same spirit and be generous toward others.
But what about this business of “he will reward you?” While we may think such an idea less than spiritual, Jesus doesn’t, for he said the Father sees everything and rewards accordingly. People don’t do meaningless acts for no reason. It would be very odd if there were consequences for acting badly, but no consequences for good acts or vice versa. Justice requires punishment for bad behavior and reward for good behavior. Humans are moral beings. Jesus’ way of thinking is explicit. But are rewards a motivation for giving? Jesus is most clear that a humble, quiet heart is central as expressed in his right/left hand reference.
So our question is how, when, and where do you give to the needy? God will guide us. Perhaps volunteer or lend financial support to one of the various Christian humanitarian agencies. Put together a “Grace Bag” in your car. In the bag you might have a toothbrush and toothpaste, a little bottle of shampoo, a roll of toilet paper, a bottle of water, a bar of soap, some baby wipes, a can of beans with a pop top and plastic spoon. Then when you see a homeless person, you’ll have something you can give to them. Be extra generous when you tip at a restaurant. Too often I’ve heard from those who work in restaurants that Christians are lousy tippers, especially after church on Sunday!
After all, nothing we have is truly ours. Even the ability to “earn” anything is a gift from God. The capacity to create is likewise a gift from God. You see, we are the needy ones and God gives so lavishly to us. Have you noticed that Jesus has never boasted on what he’s done to bring salvation to the needy. He was outward focused. Jesus perfectly modeled the last two verses.
Hymn: “Take My Life and Let it Be” Norton Hall Band
Prayer: Lord Jesus, our Sustainer and Provider, help us to be your hands and feet to those in need. Tune our hearts to your own generous heart that we may see as you see and do something about it as you guide. Thank you for coming to us in our great need. You are our only hope and salvation. May we bring hope, the hope found in you, to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, [exodus] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Some thoughts:
We have mentioned in previous writings there is not a word or phrase wasted in the Scriptures. Have you ever wondered why it was “eight days later” and why Luke made a point of putting that phrase in Scripture? (Matthew and Mark say it was six days. They counted only full days whereas Luke counted parts of days. Luke also gives us more detail than either Matthew or Mark.) Why not “four days later” or “two weeks later?” Numbers are significant in Scripture. Numbers often have symbolic meaning in Jewish thought. The number seven is related to Creation and the Sabbath. The number eight is the perfect number of completion. For instance, the Tabernacle was dedicated in an eight-day celebration. So when Luke writes that it was eight days after Jesus had told the disciples that some of them would not die before they had seen the Kingdom of God, it signifies the coming completion of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Jesus was raised from the dead on the eighth day.
Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to a mountain top to pray. As happened later in the Garden of Gethsemane, these same three again fell asleep as Jesus prayed. W and saw Jesus’ body in a glorified state and audibly heard God the Father speak to Jesus from within an engulfing a cloud, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” Joining them on the mountain were Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. While the trio of disciples were privy to a conversation among Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, the truth is, they fell asleep and missed the whole thing. Can you imagine being there? These two Old Testament prophets talked with Jesus about his “exodus”, (yes, that is the word) from this world. Moses had first-hand experience with an exodus and the redemption of Israel from the bondage of slavery. Jesus’ “exodus” redeemed all of creation from the bondage of slavery to sin. The men also talked about what shortly lay ahead in Jerusalem. Jesus was about to fulfill completely and permanently the Law (Moses) and all that the prophets had foretold (Elijah-representing all the Old Testament prophets).
As the conversation came to an end, the disciples woke up just soon enough to get glimpses of the Old Testament saints. The completion of Jesus’ journey to bring redemption was nearing an end and God the Father once again audibly affirmed Jesus’ mission. Jesus then told the disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he was raised from the dead.
As these disciples learned, traveling close to Jesus puts us off center at times. Rather than speaking up and moving into some action when we don’t understand or know what to do, the Father’s words were to hold still, be quiet, and listen to my Son. Don’t substitute activity and talking for listening to Jesus, a life-long daily endeavor.
Music: “La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ” Messiaen (1:50:50)
Prayer: As long as Thou art present with us, O Thou whom our soul loveth, we are in the light; all is brightness, all is sweetness. We discourse with Thee, live with Thee and rest with Thee. Arise in our hearts; make Thy light to shine in darkness as a perfect day. Amen. —Henry Vaughan (1622-1695)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Some thoughts:
Part of what happens during the season of Lent is that of opening anew our hearts and lives to God, our Creator, asking him to show us what things in our lives need attention. Just after describing his anger and disgust with those enemies who defy God, David turns the spotlight on himself with a humble prayer. David concludes this Psalm with the kind of transparency that resulted in God saying of David, “He is a man after my own heart.” Could such a thing be said about you or me? (By the way, these two verses would be an excellent daily prayer.) Note David was more interested in God’s perspective on his life than he was in justifying himself before the Lord. Such a perspective takes courage, faith, and a deep love and trust in the Savior.
Most of the time when speaking of the heart, the Scriptures are not referring to the physical heart. In the language of the Bible and in Hebrew thought, the heart (leb) is the seat of emotions, thoughts, actions, courage, faith, and will. The heart is the core of one’s being, the essence of the person. Your heart shows who you are as a person, what is important to you, and what you believe.
With these things in mind, it is interesting that the Lord proclaims to the people of Judah,
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)
No wonder when we hear, “I just followed my heart” trouble often follows! Countless human relationships have come apart because someone did just that. We can see more clearly the wisdom of David asking the Lord to search his own heart. He doesn’t trust himself, nor should we.
Some of us might be afraid to be that honest with God, because perhaps we don’t know him that well. We’d be embarrassed at what he’d see, as though he doesn’t already see. God looking into our hearts is not for his benefit, it’s for ours. David stepped outside of himself and gave God free rein to look in every nook and cranny of his life because he was in close communion with his Savior. He wanted to know God’s heart. How honorable and transparent are our thoughts? Have courage today and ask God to point out any “wicked way” in you. Be quiet and wait. He will show you. Then ask him to lead you in the way everlasting. Put simply, ask him to lead you in the path he has for your life as you follow his heart.
Music: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” Moses Hogan Chorale
Prayer: O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it, that you may enter in. It is ruinous; O repair it! It displeases your sight; I confess it, I know. But who shall cleanse it, to whom shall I cry but to you? Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare your servant from strange sins. — St. Augustine, 354-430 AD
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
Some thoughts:
Have you ever noticed the endless scandals, cheating, greediness, arrogance, and power struggles that happen in pre-school do not end there? I can easily identify with David’s voice in the words of today’s pericope. I confess, I get angry when people are defiant of God, mock faith, and ridicule the Bible in a hubristic attempt to defame God and his character. Likewise, I would get angry if someone defamed my wife or my children. You don’t speak ill of family, mine or God’s. But when it comes to God, I realize the critic is completely dead in spirit and my anger turns to pity that a person could have such a dark heart. But this callous disregard for God has been in evidence since the beginning of creation. Enter Cain.
But what is also true upon occasion, is that sometimes the outbursts of bitterness or crass sarcasm is the result of the Holy Spirit bringing conviction as the person is involved in a spiritual struggle. We have only to remember the Apostle Paul’s journey to Damascus.
In contrast to my anger and frustration, God has pity and patience, not willing that any should perish. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) I confess God is far more gracious than I. But then he knows what eternally awaits those who reject him. In the meantime, Jesus did something about the human alienation from God and each other. He left the glory of a perfect heaven, of perfect communion with the Father and Holy Spirit, of perfect holiness and came to a world filled with evil, sin, and arrogance, to a place of estranged and broken relationships, and to a place of the profane disregard for the sacred. Why? He made the great exchange to make possible the restoration of God’s entire created order.
We see here again why Christmas cannot be celebrated simply as the birth of Jesus. The nativity is part of a rescue mission. We journey with Jesus through the slough of human hopelessness to the victory on the cross. Look for someone today to whom you can give a word of hope and encouragement. Speak up on behalf of the Savior, it may change their future.
Prayer: Teach us, Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do your will. Amen. —Ignatius Loyola, 1491-1556
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
Some thoughts:
During the season of Lent, we want to reflect and walk with Christ on the road that leads to Calvary. Time and time again as the disciples traveled the hills of Judea with Jesus, they were surprised by what he said and did. Here David writes of the joys of reflecting on God’s thoughts. He notes the overwhelming scope of the mind of God. The Scriptures are filled with God’s thoughts. The Holy Spirit guides us in our thoughts and brings God’s thoughts to our minds. Wouldn’t you think people would want to spend time conversing with God seeking to find his mind? He has written down in our language many, many of his thoughts to tell us about himself. Maybe take some time with the Scriptures and write down those truths about God. The first thing you notice from this psalm is how very personal God is. You are not one of billions to God. You are known intimately by the one who made you. God knows you better than you know you. Some versions of the Bible translate verse seventeen as “How precious are your thoughts about me O God. They cannot be numbered!”
What would it be like to have a running conversation throughout the day with God asking him what he thinks about various things we encounter? Don’t you ever wonder about all the conversations the disciples had with Jesus that are not recorded in Scripture? John’s gospel gave us much information not found in the Synoptics. John even said there were so many more things that Jesus did and said that are not recorded. Remember John was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus and also the caretaker of his mother Mary following his death, resurrection, and ascension.
I think this idea of “what is on God’s mind in the present circumstance I am facing” is what David is getting at because he writes of his longing to live throughout the day in the presence of the Lord. Did you ever notice how close Jesus was to his heavenly Father and how often he prayed to the Father during the day and night, especially during the Jesus’ last hours on earth? He relished time alone with the Father. Perhaps a model for us? As you go through the day today, converse with the Lord, asking him for his perspective on those things you run into, even when you are buying lettuce at the grocery store! You may even have to turn the car radio off on the way home. He doesn’t usually compete with noise.
An Evening Prayer: Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with thee. From the fret and fever of the day’s business, from the world’s discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Thy presence. All day long have I toiled and striven; but now, in stillness of heart and in the clear light of thine eternity I would ponder the pattern my life has been weaving.
—John Baillie from A Diary of Private Prayer, p.27.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Some thoughts:
David has written one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture regarding a human’s worth and uniqueness in being made in the image of God. In a time when building self-esteem, self-worth, and personal identity are so prevalent, we see in the Scriptures our true selves from God’s perspective. In marked contrast to secular cultural values, David directs our individual identity in a wholly different direction. We see self-worth in the context of “God-worth”. Did you notice we are made of both body and soul? We are made of flesh and spirit. Jesus was human flesh and spirit. Yes, we are made in the image of God with a soul. God’s description is the starting place for all human’s identity. An identity beginning with the self is bankrupt from the start for we are commencing with a deeply flawed product! We can all observe the troubled results of the secular approach to self-identity and the value of human life.
God didn’t make a mistake when he made you. He knew you before the beginning of creation and long before anyone had any idea who you were or what you’d be like (Eph 1:4). People are not all the same and some of us live with greater challenges than others, but we are all wondrous works of God’s loving creative hand. Our personhood and true identity come through God as we are in communion with him. Though we may not see it, there are no mistakes along the way. God’s hand was on us from our conception through our last day on this earth. Do you see here God’s commitment to you as a unique person. (You are not special. If everyone is special, then no one is. Rather, you are unique, there is no one in the entire world like you.) This uniqueness is what keeps life so interesting! Put your trust in the one who knows every day of your life on this earth. Stay close to him. His love for you is great, great enough to die for you.
Music: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” Simon Khorolskiy
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made, and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent. Create and make us new and contrite hearts, that, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect forgiveness and peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. —Thomas Cranmer, 1489-1556
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
Some thoughts:
Why is it that we want to avoid being confronted with the truth? We somehow imagine that if we just hide, we can avoid facing the reality of who we are or what we’ve done. Here David writes so disarmingly truthful, reminding us that we cannot escape God’s presence nor his knowledge of us. We played “hide and seek” as children but for some people, that little game has continued with God. We are instinctively material thinkers, and our common reaction is such. We are often more comfortable talking about things and events than we are talking about our inner self. We are perhaps more “human doings” than human beings. Our prayers often reflect more on material concerns.
Is there some aspect of your life that you are avoiding talking with God about? Perhaps you are choosing to ignore it. After all, if you are busy with other things, maybe God will forget about it, or at least you will . . . but you won’t. David reminds us that no amount of finagling or neglect on our part makes things go away. Adam and Eve tried hiding from God and it didn’t work then, and it hasn’t worked for anyone since! Not even the dark of night can hide us for God sees and hears everything. Afterall, wherever we go mentally or physically, “God is there.”
Our comfort is that God sees and cares about every part of our lives and isn’t shocked by the way we live, though sometimes it grieves him. In this portion of the psalm, David is helping us see beyond places in the world to get away from God. God is Spirit and it is not possible to escape or hide from a spiritual being, which is why you can’t hide from yourself.
The season of Lent is a time of penitence, urging us to come before our Creator and come clean as we journey with Jesus on his path to the cross. We are challenged to recognize the heavenly world that surrounds us and to live in that world as well as this earthly material one. Is there something in your life that needs God’s attention, rather, that needs your attention? Do you see God’s tender love and care for you expressed in this passage? David has given us a wonderful perspective in this psalm to help us live into what is true. If you are in the dark or running from God, you can’t get away. He knows right where you are and loves you. His hand will guide you and his strength will support you.
Suggested Lenten Reading: C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters (also recorded on YouTube by the actor John Cleese) www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBxpcGfznos
Music: “Psalm 139” Sons of Korah
Prayer: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name; through Christ our Lord.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
Some thoughts:
Do you ever get nervous when someone comes too close to you? I don’t mean stare but rather someone who knows too much at our deepest level, you know, the parts we hide from everyone. Most of us are a little uncomfortable because deep down we know what’s in us at the core and we’d rather no one find out what those unseemly parts are. Only God knows us at this level. As we read the first five verses, we see a picture of transparency. It is fair to say there is no one on earth who is as “. . . familiar with all my ways.”
We are not even familiar with all our ways! We do too many things without thinking! Yet we have a God who cares about us and knows who we are. He is aware of our physical movement, all the things we think, where we rest, what all our habits are. He knows what we will say before we say it. He protects us and guards us as we move in our paths. My guess is if we could always visually see God’s nearness to us, we would be shocked! We tend to forget the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we have a forgiving God who absolutely cares and is committed to us despite our failures.
David’s response is that this is wonderful news. Is it yours? In this season of Lent where we reflect on our lives and on what Jesus has accomplished in his journey to the cross, we need not carry the baggage of guilt and shame. We’ve all met people who insisted on carrying years and even generations of baggage and shame for something that happened to them or someone in their family a long time ago. That baggage is actually part of their current identity, perhaps causing them to hang on to it out of fear as to who they really are. That obsessive self-focus is debilitating. That person may even be us. God has laid his loving hand upon us, not in anger but as a tender Father who loves his children. Read the passage again noting the verbs associated with God’s knowledge of you . . . searched, know, perceive, discern, hem me in, laid your hand. If you ever wonder who you really are, it would be a good idea to ask God to show you. Our identity comes from him and through him . . . and, he’s right beside and in you! And his hand is on you. How wonderful to know and feel the hand of God.
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. 19 These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. 22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. 23 Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. 25 And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
26 I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. 27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.
Some thoughts:
The above passage of Scripture was written by the apostle John in the later years of his life. John, along with the other apostles, fled Jerusalem in the late 60’s A.D. due to persecution of the Christians. John eventually settled in what is modern day western Turkey. The letter was written to combat the apostasy that was seeking to pull Christians into heresy. Gnosticism (the belief that Jesus was more of a phantom being and did not have human flesh and blood) was alive and real at the time. The spiritual was real, and material was bad, so what you did with your body was of no consequence, hence debauchery reigned.
What does it mean when John writes, “Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist?” Of supreme, lethal importance is that Jesus is believed as being the Messiah (Christ). Being a moral teacher, a model person, a brilliant preacher is not enough, nor was it his claim regarding himself. In many societies today the latter is the perception of the historical Jesus. He is viewed as a good person to emulate. The world in which we live, wants to leave Jesus in that category. When he claims to be God and deal with individual and corporate sin, then it is something else and he becomes a problem to society. He needs to stay in his place when we can control him so says the world. Jesus’ brand of Christianity is annoying to these people.
Our day is not all that different from John’s day. Christianity is definitely under attack with believers being persecuted all over the world. The culture we live in is decidedly anti-Christian. Biblically held moral views are ridiculed and even characterized in some quarters as “hate speech.” John here urges his readers (and us) to hold fast to the truth of the Scriptures, to be guided by the Holy Spirit, and to remain in fellowship with Christ. The truth of God is not relative. It is written in stone and blood.
Friends do not be pushed or intimidated into modifying nor abandoning the truth. God’s word is clear and certain. The world does come to an end. Christ is coming back. We want to be found living in his righteousness rather than in the “enlightened cultural” ever-shifting view of truth and relevance. As we have said on other occasions, eternity is a long time to be wrong.
Music: “Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah” by Katherine Jenkins
Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, “Speak for thy servant heareth.” Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy Voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking Voice. Amen. —A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.83
19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Some thoughts:
When a passage begins “And so…” it behooves us to look at what lies in the previous writing. The entire book of Hebrews up to this point has been explaining and expounding in every way the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Covenant. Step by step the author has addressed each of the most significant points of the Jewish law. More than any other book in the New Testament, Hebrews has shown how Jesus is the bridge, the fulfillment of everything in the Old Testament and specifically how the Old and New Testaments are connected in him. Jesus is our High Priest today as you read this praying on our behalf.
In times past OT priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed animal for their own sins, which they had to do repeatedly. Not so with Jesus. This High Priest sprinkled his own, perfect blood. Therefore, our consciences have been sprinkled with the perfect blood of our High Priest. It does not need to be repeated.
So if we’ve been forgiven, why did Jesus include in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us”? Think about this. Do you sin even though you are a Christian? Yes, of course. You are not perfect. You have an old nature, though defeated is not yet completely dead! Sin separates intimacy with our Father in heaven. Confession frees the conscience of guilt and restores closeness with our heavenly Father.
When our oldest son was a little boy, he had done something wrong. His heart was visibly and obviously very heavy with guilt. When we asked him what he had done, he confessed with tears. We hugged him and forgave him. His countenance and spirit changed immediately. His load of guilt was lifted. His comment, “Daddy, I’m happy again!” His response was biblical. Confession cleanses a guilty conscience and brings joy to the heart. (We also promised him we would never bring “it” up again. Reminding one of past failures is not what God does, which resulted in a Sharp family rule, which we occasionally had to be reminded of!) The cleansing blood of Jesus makes all this possible. Hallelujah!
15 “Then Aaron must slaughter the first goat as a sin offering for the people and carry its blood behind the inner curtain. There he will sprinkle the goat’s blood over the atonement cover and in front of it, just as he did with the bull’s blood. 16 Through this process, he will purify the Most Holy Place, and he will do the same for the entire Tabernacle, because of the defiling sin and rebellion of the Israelites. 17 No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with the Lord.
Hebrews 9:7-14
7 But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.
9 This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.
11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Some thoughts:
Think of one phrase that summarizes the entire Old Testament. What did you come up with? How about “Again and again?” What about the New Testament? Maybe, “Once for all time?” Such a phrase comes pretty close to summing up the redemption story. Leviticus gives us the instructions for Aaron, the High Priest. Combined with the Hebrews passage, we can see why it was necessary for Aaron to offer sacrifices over and over. His practice of sprinkling blood in the Most Holy Place was sufficient ceremonially on a temporary basis. But in terms of eradicating sin, it was clearly ineffective because the blood was sprinkled again and again. If you could wash your hands with “eternal soap,” you’d never have to wash them again. Such is not the case!
In the worship of God, humans on earth seek to commune with God in the heavenly dimension. Since the endeavor is heavenly in its nature, the place of worship cannot have earthly sinful human limitations. The desert Tabernacle was but a “shadow” of the heavenly realm. Aaron was the special God-appointed shadow of what was to come. Because our ultimate God-appointed High Priest entered the heavenly Tabernacle with his own sinless, perfect blood as the sacrificial Lamb of God, his offering was perfectly accepted by the Father witnessed by the rending of the Temple curtain top to bottom, the Father’s debt-cancelling signature.
It means that all our sin and guilt have actually been fully cleansed. We have moved from earthly “shadow” of reality to heavenly reality. Since the sacrifice was perfect and accepted by God as payment in full for all sin, it needs never to be repeated. It is a “once for all time” offering. “Once” is very clear as is “for all.” Neither word allows for exception. There is no time it is not in effect. In other words, it is eternal, beyond time itself. All of your and my sin has already been paid for. For those trusting in Christ Jesus, all the sin in their life right up to their dying breath has been covered already. The righteous of Jesus has been imputed to them. There is no condemnation. Believers do not have to wonder, “am I good enough.” Simple answer is no, but our High Priest is, and we are embraced by our Father. We have that certainty before death so there is no fear in death. Our God’s love for his children is overwhelming. He has done everything in drawing us to himself from the very beginning. Christianity is the only religion or faith where people know their standing with God before they die.
Music: “God So Loved the World” Claire College, Oxford John Stainer
Almighty God, in this hour of quiet I seek communion with thee. From the fret and fever of the day’s business, from the world’s discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Thy presence. All day long have I toiled and striven; but now, in stillness of heart and in the clear light of thine eternity I would ponder the pattern my life has been weaving. May there fall upon me now, O God, a great sense of Thy power and Thy glory, so that I may see all earthly things in their true measure. To Thee, O God, be glory for ever. Amen.
—John Baillie from A Diary of Private Prayer, p.27
21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down.
24 “Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever. 25 When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. 26 Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ 27 And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’” When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.
I Corinthians 5:6-8 6 Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. 8 So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.
Some thoughts:
Yesterday we spoke something of the significance of blood. In the above description from the book of Exodus, we begin to see the function of blood in God’s plan of redeeming and covering the sin of his people. Have you wondered why the blood was placed over the door posts of the homes? Why specifically there? You will recall that the Lord told Cain that “sin couches at the door.” The thought conveyed here gives the image of danger and or sin lurking at doorways. City gates were also places of vulnerability. The doorway marked the entrance into not only the home, but into the life of the family. On the doorway of the Jewish home was the statement of faith, confidence, and trust in God as contained in the mezuzah, a small box containing the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).Putting blood on the top and sides of the doorpost acted as a covering for the family. The blood of the lamb caused the death angel to pass over the family in that home. They were “covered.” The entryway to their home was safe.
You are aware that the lamb was to be perfect and without blemish. It was chosen from a flock and lived with the family in their home for the four days prior to its being slain as the Passover lamb. The idea was that the whole family would become personally attached to the lamb. It’s death and shed blood would be far more personal as the lamb vicariously took the place of God’s judgment on them. The same applies with the Lamb of God. Jesus is our personal Passover Lamb.In Corinthians, Paul ties Christ’s death directly to the Passover lamb. The church in Corinth had fallen into corruption and grievous moral sin. Paul urged the people to deal with sin in their church as leaven was dealt with at Passover. Leaven, a mark of sin, was to be put away. The early church saw Christ as the fulfillment of the Exodus Passover. Jesus was seen as the new getting rid of leaven in the home is still a part of Passover celebrations in today’s Jewish homes. As with Moses, the Prophet, as the fulfillment of Aaron the high priest, as the sacrificial personal Passover lamb whose blood on the doorposts brought salvation, and finally as the ultimate Redeemer from bondage and slavery to sin, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Suggested Lenten reading or listening: C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce also available on YouTube as well. Fascinating reading as you journey by bus from hell to the outskirts of heaven! You’ll gain, in a delightful way, insight into human nature and the leaven within.
Prayer: Almighty God, because of Christ’s blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us. Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors. By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies—the devil, the world, and our own flesh—never stop attacking us. And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. – from The Worship Sourcebook, p. 565-566
12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.
Romans 5:6-11
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Some thoughts:
Lent can become a season where we become extremely self-focused. What am I doing with my life? What am I “giving up for Lent?” (Giving something up is not the point of Lent.) While self-denial and introspection can certainly be beneficial and necessary in our walk with Christ, we dare not neglect or overlook the real significance of these days. What was the significance of the transaction between God and humans that was taking place during the days leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ? Some people have found the whole idea of a blood sacrifice very repulsive and yet it is central to the Christian faith. Over the next few days, we want to look a little more closely at the whole sacrificial process in order to gain a greater understanding of the depth of God’s love for his Son and his people as we head toward Holy Week.
To begin with, God is perfectly holy and perfectly just. I’m not sure we understand the significance since “holy” is a word seldom appearing in our society and perfect justice has escaped human beings. We are neither holy nor just, yet God desires communion and fellowship with his people, with you and me. You can easily see we have an enormous problem! God hates sin because its presence brings death, death to any relationship with the people he created in his own image. The wrath of God is poured out on sin. We want a God who expresses wrath toward sin. The alternative is a God who is indifferent toward his people and his world. “God’s wrath in the Bible is never the capricious, self-indulgent, irritable, morally ignoble thing that human anger so often is. It is, instead, a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil.” (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p.151)
So, how did God go about solving the problem because humans are not capable nor in any kind of position to bridge the insurmountable chasm? As we dig a little deeper into the problem, we begin with blood because it is the source of life. No blood, no life. We learn in the book of Leviticus (17:11) that the “life is in the blood.” Perfect justice demands that sin be judged by God, the perfect Judge. The wages of sin is death. Death is caused by the shedding of blood. If God is going to deal justly with sin, then sin must die. Blood must be spilt and death itself must die. God’s justice is another expression of his love for you and for me. Remember, without the shedding of blood bringing death, there is no forgiveness of sin. Christians are people who live under the blood of Christ shed in their place. The holiness and justice of God is not compromised because of Jesus’ love for you and me and what he did on our behalf. Holiness and justice is imputed to God’s children.
Father, I want to know Thee, but my coward heart fears to give up its toys. I cannot part with them without inward bleeding. But gracious Lord, may they bleed to the death. I do not try to hide from Thee the terror of their parting. I come trembling, but I do come. Please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self, so that Thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rival. Then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyself wilt be the light of it, and there shall be no night there. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. —A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.31, adapted Dan Sharp
Scripture: Psalm 32:1-111 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude
6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. 11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Some thoughts:
In keeping with the healthy reality of facing life and death head on, it is necessary to likewise face our own sin forthrightly for it is the reason we die in the first place. Honesty with repentance is one of the key themes of this season. Confessing involves facing our sin with courage, not making excuses, repenting, saying no to continued sinning, and resolving to resist the next time the situation arises, and it will. These four steps of recognize, regret, resolve, and refrain are what rabbis call Teshuva.
The word for “confess” in Greek is “homologeo,” meaning “same word.” In other words, to recognize my sin and confess is to agree with God’s perfect assessment of my situation. If God always agrees with me, I have a problem. I do not have the God of the Bible! Confessing is not a negotiation process with God! God does not need my explanation. I need to humble myself and bow before him. Repenting involves viewing our lives as God does.
David writes in the second verse of Psalm 32, “blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against him, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” What matters is not what you and I think about our own sin, but rather, what God thinks about it. The heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). We are also reminded that deceiving ourselves about our sin does not bring blessing either. Keeping quiet about it, ignoring it, or pretending it didn’t happen or doesn’t exist, does not make it go away. Unrepentant sin eats at us continually. It is an osmosis that will not leave or dry out in time. It is more like a fungus!
In verse five David has had enough. He finally acknowledged his sin to the LORD and did not try to cover it up anymore. He said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And wonder of wonders, God forgave him (and us). In fact, God has already forgiven all our sin.
The result is a clear conscience, blessedness (being on the right road), lifted guilt, and protection. Look at what the result of repentance is (v.8-10). The Holy Spirit 1) instructs and teaches us as we move along this pilgrim path; 2) The Holy Spirit counsels us with his loving eye on us. Notice it is his loving eye on us. 3) We are not to be stubborn like animals that need to be driven and controlled. 4) Those people who reject God’s care and voice have a tough time. 5) God’s unfailing love surrounds those who trust him. What joy there is in repentance. Again, notice the emphasis is not on what we have done wrong, but on the joy and care God wants to shower on us.
When one of our boys was little and had misbehaved, he was not a happy boy. After he confessed and was punished for his actions, his words were, “Daddy, I’m happy now!” Oh, the joy of a forgiven heart. Jesus took our punishment and paid the penalty for our sins. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress we see Christian, upon conviction coming to the place of repentance, cried out, “I perceive by the Book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to Judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.” He saw his life as God did and began his pilgrimage of faith.
Music: “Miserere Mei Deus” Allegri, Voces8 k
The song is a Latin translation of Psalm 51 David’s psalm of confession.
Prayer: O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart, that so desiring we may seek and find you, and so finding you, may love you, and loving you, may hate those sins from which you have redeemed us. –Anselm 1033-1109
12 While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.
Hebrews 9:13-15
13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
I Peter 1:18-20
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.
Some thoughts:
When God instituted the sacrificial system, in his conversation with Moses, he was very specific about every detail. Have you ever wondered why? Elsewhere in the book of Hebrews the writer tells us that the earthly Tabernacle and worship is a copy, a shadow of the more perfect heavenly worship. If our time on earth is but a faint hint of heavenly reality, then every part of what we do and offer carries significance.
The sacrificial offering of a perfect lamb is of greater importance because the lamb represents more than just the lamb. The animal is a placeholder for individual human beings until the ultimate Sacrifice is made. Abel understood this when heoffered his best lamb from the flock to God in worship; his brother, Cain, who gave “some of his crops” played more loosely with God’s directive to his own demise (Gen 4:3). His casual offering reflected his heart attitude toward God.
Worshiping a holy, perfect God, it would seem, would require the most perfect offering humans could make, hence the perfect lamb without defect. Even though the flawless lamb was a valued placeholder, the sacrifice had to be repeated again and again because the sacrifice was “coming from a fallen world” in an offering to a holy God in heaven. The perfect sacrifice on behalf of humanity would have to originate from heaven, and at the same time, have a very earthly, human connection. There is but one Perfect Lamb, the Lamb of God. This sacrifice was perfectly efficacious, and because it was so, it need never be repeated. The price for human sin, and the sin of the whole world for all of time, has been paid in full. God has accepted the perfect sacrifice of his Son as evidenced by the torn veil in the Temple and the glorious resurrection. Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
Music: “Rejoice Greatly” from Messiah, Sylvia McNair
Prayer: Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. —Jude 24 (Jesus’ earthly brother.)
Saturday, February 17Scripture: Genesis 3:8-13 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Some thoughts: We mentioned yesterday, the first question in the Bible comes from the serpent, “Did God really say?” Then comes the Fall of humanity in Eve and Adam’s response and the entrance of sin and death into the world. On the heels of this first question comes the second question in the Bible, not surprisingly, it’s a question from God. Like the first question, it too is posed to every living human, and it is a question God asks you today. “Where are you?” These are two questions that need to be answered daily. The first query is important because it requires a knowledge of what God has said in the Scriptures, necessitating careful ongoing study of God’s word and one of the reasons for these devotionals. The second question needs to be answered with the implication from the Lord being, “Where are you in relation to me?” “Are you hiding from me?” “Are you ignoring me?” “Are you ashamed?” “Are you too busy to spend time interacting with me?” “Are you trusting me?” “Are you afraid of me?” “Are you enjoying our relationship?” Another way of dealing with this second question is simply, how transparent and healthy is my relationship with God. Now God knew full well where Adam and Eve were hiding. Adam answered the literal, physical question but the Lord went to the heart of the issue because the “Where are you?” was a heart question. The God/human relationship was now different. It had been severed. Then come more pointed questions from God. “Who told you that you were naked?” “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” God zeros in on the couple. And a final question to Eve, “What have you done?” The Lord was walking on a path in the Garden, a path he had created, a path of closeness. The three of them had been in communion and that relationship was now cut off resulting in an infinite eternal chasm. Adam and Eve were “off the path” and with them, the whole human race. Have you noticed in your own life when you have blown it, how quickly the Holy Spirit hits the bullseye in identifying our sin? Have you ever asked someone you love, when the two of you were experiencing difficulties, this same basic question, “Where are you?” “Where are we?” One of the themes of the season of Lent is that of spiritual self-examination in which we might ask ourselves, “Where am I with the Lord?” Am I where I was last year or am I growing closer and deeper in my journey? And like his relationship with Adam and Eve, the Father knows exactly where you are as you read this and is longing for close communion with you. The answers to these two questions “Did God say?” and “Where are you?” determine the path we take and whether we stay on the path. It’s a daily journey. Ask yourself these questions. (I would suggest that you might read one-half a chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress each day of Lent. If you begin today, read chapter one up to the entrance of Worldly Wisdom. Christian asks this very question, “What shall I do?” echoing God’s question to the pair, “What have you done?” Christian answers it by taking the pilgrimage journey of faith and heading down the path to the Celestial City.)Music: “If Ye Love Me” the King’s Singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCUBx0BzzUPrayer: O thou great Chief, light a candle in my heart, that I may see what is therein, and sweep the rubbish from thy dwelling place. —An African schoolgirl’s prayer, from Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, p.90 First Sunday in Lent, February 18Scripture: Exodus 12:1-5 12 While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat. 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.
3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
Some thoughts:
This question of death is one which every person deals with at some point in their life. It is interesting to me that the serpent raised it as his first challenge to human beings. His sly question brought Adam and Eve to a subtle confrontation with the question of their own human mortality. Of course, we are faced with the same question, specifically our own mortality. As has been said, you and I are part the ultimate statistic, one in one die. On this cheery note we look at how we got into this situation because it was not always this way. In the plan of God, people are to live with him forever, but a human problem developed—though people do live forever, it’s a matter of destination.
Let’s trace how human death come about. Our passage contains the first question in the Bible by guess who? Right, the serpent, the ever-lying Satan. His words, “Did God really say?” And Eve’s and Adam’s response to that question is the beginning of a fatal problem that ends in human’s earthly demise. The focus of the serpent’s challenge was on the temporal, the immediate gratification at the expense of obedience and trust. But it is this same question from the serpent which comes to every person who has ever lived, sometimes in slightly different versions, but the bottom line is the same, “Can you trust what God says?” Death and trusting God’s word are intimately and eternally related.
Have you noticed that the devil tempted Jesus with the same sustenance question at the conclusion of the Savior’s forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness? “Jesus, can you trust God’s word? You’re hungry. You can turn this stone into something to eat right now. Exert a little independence.” Satan comes at us with the same question. In appealing to people’s pride, it has been a very effective question since creation and is still in widespread use!
To be sure, the resulting death separated our first parents from God. The previous intimacy was no more. But death’s devastating impact extended beyond each other, but to animals, and ultimately, to the earth itself. Paradise was gone, destroyed. Sin rules everywhere. Questioning God’s truthfulness is one of the deceiver’s methods toward his goal of separating humans from intimacy with God. Remember, that is always the purpose of the devil. Separation in that relationship brings eternal death, his hideous goal. Why should he care where people spend eternity? He desires it because of hatred. He has lost the battle and his time as ruler of this world is running out. Trusting and believing God defeats him and defeats death itself. Death has lost its grip. It drives the devil insane. His serpent “sting” is gone.
What happens at death is a mystery for many people with all kinds of personally developed ideas and explanations. Of course, there is the simple “don’t think about it” or “I’ll worry about it when I get closer to that time,” of course hoping we know when that time is. I am writing this entry on a November 2nd, the exact date my father was killed in a farming accident at age 52. When he finished lunch and went out to the barnyard to move a piece of machinery, little did he know he would enter heaven within minutes. Dad had trusted God’s word for his salvation many years before and was very prepared for his sudden departure. Death is the uninvited intruder who never knocks and forces the door open. In contrast, there is another who knocks at the door . . . “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” We will be together, not separated. This guest waits to be invited in, he is the Christus Victor, the conqueror of dust and death!
Prayer: Lord God, our Creator, we thank you for your mercy in pursuing us when we chose our own selfish path. Help us to see the truth when we are tempted to doubt your word, your character, or your promises. May we learn to know you and hear your voice better so that we may not be so easily deceived. Guard us with your Holy Spirit so that we may recognize the first inklings of deceit and lies towards you. This we pray in the name of the Second Adam, who did not fall for the lie, even our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. —Daniel Sharp
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
Some thoughts:
Just before the passage you just read, we have these beautiful words of creation, “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (Gen. 2:7)
We wrote about dust yesterday, but there is more. Really?There is a bit of irony here. In Psalm 72:9 concerning king Solomon we read the phrase, “The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.” This phrase from the King James Bible later morphed into “bite the dust.” Dust is a fascinating word that is associated with loss or death, like being defeated and falling to earth, getting a mouth full of dust. Dust is nothing more than tiny particles of earth or waste matter lying on the ground that is blown by the wind. We even “dust” to get rid of dust!
In the Garden of Eden, God formed human beings from the dust of the earth. Talk about our humble beginning! Adam and Eve literally “bit the dust” and death entered all of humanity. As a result, these bodies of ours will in fact return to dust (to ash) again as we are reminded each Ash Wednesday, “from dust you came, to dust you will return.” For many people in the world, in their mind, that’s the sad end of their story. You are born, grow up, have as many good experiences as possible and die. But wait! God did something about our “dust!” God took on human flesh; he took on our dust and became one of us. The Son of God, the Creator of dust, identified fully and completely in every way to make possible the great reverse of rebellious sons and daughters. Though a human being in every possible way, his “dust” did not decay to ash. His humanity defeated the dust of death.
The good news of the gospel is that those who put their trust in Jesus, will get a renewed body, not a “dusting up” of the old one. The mortal earthly body of dust, flesh and blood gets a “new” body that will never die. The mortal body takes on immortality. “Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly [dusty] man, so shall we bear the likeness of the [dust-free] man [Jesus] from heaven.” (I Corinthians 15:42-54) Dust cannot inherit the kingdom of God. We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57)
The sign of the cross made in ashes on the forehead proclaims that death is defeated forever. Our “dust” will be recreated by the One who created us in the first place . . . and He does really good work! You will never bite the dust again!
Music: “What Wondrous Love is This?” Concordia Choir
Prayer: Glorious God, give me grace to amend my life, and to have an eye to my end without begrudging death, which to those who die in you, good Lord, is the gate of a wealthy life. And give me, good Lord, a humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient, charitable, kind, tender, and pitiful mind, in all my works and all my words and all my thoughts, to have a taste of your holy, blessed Spirit. Give me, good Lord, a longing to be with you, not to avoid the calamities of this world, nor so much to attain the joys of heaven, as simply for love of you. And give me, good Lord, your love and favor, which my love of you, however great it might be, could not deserve were it not for your great goodness. These things that I pray for, give me your grace to labor for. Amen. –Thomas More, 1478-1535
13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”
“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. 15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
16 Then he said to the woman,
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”
17 And to the man he said,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. 18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. 19 By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”
Matthew 27:45-50
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.
Some thoughts:
In the Garden of Eden, God formed man from the dust of the earth. Did you notice where else the word “dust” appeared in this Genesis passage? The serpent is condemned to groveling “in the dust as long as you live.” Think about it. The serpent never rises above the dust, a symbol of death. Humans are raised from the dust into beings fashioned after the image of God into which God breathes the breath of life and man becomes a living soul. But it is in the dust that the serpent creates havoc bringing death to all of mankind. As a result, this body of ours will in fact return to dust (to ash) again. Mankind drags itself down into the dust by a selfish desire to rule itself.
You and I have two days that are like no others, the day we were born and the day we die. You see, the Nativity is one of the two days in Jesus’ life that was never to be repeated. God took on human flesh, combining the dust of the earth, represented by Mary, with the eternal glory of heaven, the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing of her. In the Incarnation of Christ, the human “dust of earth” was immersed in the eternal Word. Two worlds, earth and heaven, were perfectly united in the holy Son of God, wholly God, wholly human. His death on the cross was that second day, never to be repeated. In Jesus’ death, he mortally crushed the serpent’s head meaning the dust of evil was utterly, eternally defeated. The power of death was destroyed and the human dust of the earth took on immortality. When Jesus released his spirit (Mt.27:50), the grave did not capture his dust, nor will it ultimately hold our dust as we receive resurrection bodies which will never turn to dust. God did something about our dust!
You see, while Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality, it also proclaims the way to heaven has been cleared. The price for our sin has been paid and we are forgiven. Our second unrepeatable day, at the same time, becomes our eternal birth day in glory. In heaven, there is no second unrepeatable day! Hallelujah to the Savior!
As you listen to this piece, notice the joy and delight of the first part, almost like taking delight in going astray. Sinning can be fun at the moment. But also notice how the ends of the musical phrases “fade away.” Then as the piece concludes, notice the dramatic musical shift as the heavy reality of what the “going astray” has done as the Lord bears the weight of our sin. Sin is never without heavy consequence as poignantly reflected in Handel’s music.
Prayer:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved thee with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we earnestly repent. For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in thy will, and walk in thy ways, to the glory of thy Name. Amen.
Most days are very ordinary. We get up in the morning, eat breakfast, do the normal things. We go work or engage in a project of some sort. We may take a break and eat some lunch and then go back to our task. The afternoon may provide a contrast or change of pace in the day and then it will be time for dinner (or supper if you live on a farm!) The day may conclude with a little bit of reading, (some people still do that), or watching a little television or catching up on emails and then off to bed. Such is life most days. Then there are some days that are very different. There are birthdays, wedding days, graduation days, the first day on a new job, or the first day of vacation. There are, however, two days in everyone’s life that are completely unique and unrepeatable, the day you were born and the day you depart this earth. Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent yearly reminds us of the significance of those two days.
For some people, Lent means having to give up something like not eating meat. For others, focusing on death may be their primary thought regarding Lent. Both ideas are a fundamental misunderstanding of Lent. That is not what Lent is about. The root of the word “lent” simply means “spring,” new life, buds, blossoms, the end of the long winter. A better way to view Lent is to focus more on transformation through repentance and humility to a new life made possible because of Jesus’ journey to the cross. Likewise, we take up our cross daily in following our Savior through this season.
The heart of the Christian faith is our participation in the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as Lord. Jesus’ work affects us personally. While Advent is concerned with the final Judgment, the Incarnation, and the birth of Jesus, this season points us to the price paid for redemption in bringing us new life. It is our prayer that these days leading up to Easter Sunday will further shape and form us into the image of Christ as we reflect with repentant hearts what he has done to free us from the bondage of our sinful selves and grow in our understanding of our new life in Christ. “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun.” (2 Cor. 5:17)
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The work on the book continues to progress. I’m working on the second re-write and continue editing. There will be no devotionals from Easter to Pentecost this year due to the book project.
Thank you all for your encouragement and support. You are much appreciated. Always glad to hear from you.
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”
Some thoughts:
Epiphany is about the revelation of the incarnation. The visit of the magi, the wedding feast, and the baptism of Jesus are all central themes of Epiphany all shedding light on the person and ministry of Christ. We’ll focus on the baptism and wedding at Cana in the next few days.
I have to wonder how often we are like the Pharisees when God is moving in our midst and we are so oblivious and engrossed in our small individualistic worlds that we fail to recognize his working among us. Our spiritual “light” doesn’t go on. We don’t see him working through those around us. We live with such low expectations. An epiphany escapes us.
I have discovered over the years, the more we know of Jewish practice and mindset in Old Testament times, the better we’ll understand the New Testament Scriptures and the more times a “light” goes on as we study. Such is the case here. This discourse of Jesus took place in the fall during the Feast of Tabernacles or, as it is sometimes called, the Feast of Booths or Shelters (also known in Hebrew as Succoth or Sukkot). It is significant in Judaism because it was one of three required pilgrimage feasts, which meant Jews from near and far would come to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate. There are Messianic expectations associated with the Feast of Tabernacles.
One of the ceremonial celebrations of this feast was the lighting of sixteen golden bowls on four menorah stands each filled with olive oil giving great light in this part of the Temple court, a place where the people were allowed only for this festival during the year. To quote, “The light celebration was reminiscent of the descent of the Shekinah glory in Solomon’s day and looked forward to the return of the Shekinah in the days of the Messiah pointing to God’s presence among his people (Exek.43:1-6).”[1]
It is in this context that Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” His words would have registered with the Jews as the words of Isaiah pointing to the coming of the Messiah. As proof, the Pharisees immediately picked up his Messianic and accused him of lying in his assertion. So, Jesus answered them quoting the Torah which requires at least two witnesses to validate any claim to truth (Deut. 19:15). Jesus and his Father were the witnesses. The logical question was exactly what they then asked. “Where is your father?”
What immediately comes to mind are Jesus’ words, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” It then becomes very clear the Pharisees do not recognize who Jesus is because they do not know God the Father but are lost in their interpretation of the law’s regulations and rules. Had they truly known God, they would have recognized the one in their midst.
The other morning when I started working on these devotionals again, I had a bright kind of flash in my eyes that wouldn’t go away. I had difficulty reading my screen. I had to stop. I was scared. I prayed and asked the Lord to heal the problem. I immediately told Nancy and she prayed. I looked up what the trouble could be. What I found was not comforting, I needed to act. So, I pulled up our insurance page to find an eye doctor. When “Finding an Eye Doctor” came up, the flash in my eyes immediately went away as did some floaters that I’ve had for several years. My eyes have been fine ever since. Do I think God had a hand in this? Yes. What’s the point? The Light of the world is alive and well. We need to keep our eyes and ears open. His witness is all around us. Today look for his Light in your world.
Music: “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” Mahalia Jackson
Prayer: An Evening Prayer
O Divine Father, whose mercy ever awaits those who return unto Thee in true lowliness and contrition of heart, hear now one humble suppliant who needs Thy help. Bravely did I set out this morning upon the life of a new day; now I lie down ashamed and burdened with memories of things undone that ought to have been done and things done that ought not to have been done and things you Lord, did which I missed entirely, not even recognizing your hand working in my midst. Bring to me afresh, O God, Thy healing and cleansing power so that again I may lay hold of the salvation which Thou hast offered to me through Jesus Christ my Lord. Quicken my heart to look for your presence and working as I go through the day tomorrow. Thank you for your grace, mercy and protection as I close my eyes at the ending of this day. In the name of the Light of the world, Jesus, I pray. Amen. ―A Diary of Private Prayer, p.79, adapted Daniel Sharp
[191/1002 19% 8v.]
[1] Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal, The Feasts of the Lord, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson), p.140.
January 5, 12th Day of Christmas FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH
Scripture: John 1:10-13
“10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”
Some thoughts:
As you consider the passage you just read, I am asking you to put yourself in the place of Christ for a moment. I realize this is a very naïve concept falling far short of any reality which in truth is not possible to comprehend, but let’s try in simple humility.
You are the one through whom the Father created the universe simply by his speaking everything into existence. You know every person who has ever existed in greatest detail even before they came into being. While creation started out perfectly, the first two people you created rebelled as did those who followed. To a person, all the people who ever lived have rebelled and rejected you seeking their own ways. Yet, to this day your love and care continue for every single person. You have come to earth to offer the way back to the Father at great cost to yourself by your crucifixion. You have made the way available to everyone to be reborn spiritually, not just your chosen people, Israel. You have provided the only way for the physical world to be united with the heavenly world for eternity. You have made possible a direct intimate relationship with the God of all creation. There is nothing any person can do to aid the transaction; they are hopeless without you. It is a matter of their receiving a gift which has been purchased on their behalf at great cost to God.
Why would anyone reject your offer? Yet sadly, people out of pride, arrogance, and host of reasons do dismiss their only hope. I watched a debate involving the atheist, Christopher Hitchens. His condescension and caustic comments revealed a very angry, sad, and defiant person. He lived in a very, very dark world. Pray for all people who live in a dark world of anger, indifference, defiance, and rebellion who have yet to receive the Savior. Repentance leads to truth and eternity is a long time to have been wrong, stubborn, and selfish.
Music:“From Heaven Above” Westminster Choir
From heav’n above to earth I come
To bear good news to everyone!
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Whereof I now will say and sing.
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild
This little child, of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth.
Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth.
-Martin Luther
Prayer:My Father in heaven, as we ponder the wonder of the Incarnation, help us to see more and more of its mystery and majesty. Forbid it, Lord, that we should ever take lightly what you willingly did on behalf of this fallen creation. How you laid aside your power as God and willingly became completely human is truly more than we can comprehend. Having prayed that, help us to wrestle with the great truth that you are fully God and fully man. In the joy and festivity of this season, may we not shy away from the great theological truths that have changed the course of history. We fervently pray for those who have yet to receive you. May it come to pass this year and may we be faithful in prayer. In the name of the Incarnate Christ we pray. Amen. –Dan Sharp
January 4, 11th Day of Christmas HOLY GROUND, MOSES
Scripture: Exodus 3:1-5
3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
“Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.
Some thoughts:
In today’s Scripture we come to the familiar passage of Moses and the burning bush. We have previously mentioned that God does not seem to be in a hurry in accomplishing his purposes. His people have been in slavery to the Egyptians for 400 plus years. He has “remembered” his people (God’s “remembering” means he has decided to act, to move forward.) Now God has chosen an eighty-year-old man to lead the exodus of a million plus people!
Moses was minding his own business caring for the sheep. He had never in his life encountered God directly before this time. Curiosity leads him to this puzzling bush afire. As he approached, an angel of the Lord from the middle of the bush spoke his name. Imagine a voice coming from a bush! This angel of the Lord is none other than the God the Word (John 1:1). The bush was not consumed because God came to save people, not to consume them. God is often represented by fire throughout Scripture: Cherubim in the Garden of Eden, fire on the top of Mt. Sinai, pillar of fire leading the Israelites in the desert, “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb.12:29).
At this point, Moses was a novice in dealing with God. God’s words were, “Do not come closer” after which he immediately told Moses the reason. “Take off your sandals, you are standing on holy ground.” Why take off the sandals? Nothing dead is to stand between God and man. Sandals were made of leather, the skin of a dead animal, plus there was to be nothing “common” when coming into contact with the holy. The entire book of Leviticus makes the point that God is wholly other. When we speak of holy in relation to God, not only does it mean “completely other than human,” even pagan religions in this time spoke of their gods as holy. The Bible is unique in that when speaking of God, holy also describes God’s moral character, his moral perfection.
Moses, like Jacob hundreds of years before, failed to realize he was standing in God’s presence. But like Jacob, God spoke to Moses helping both men see the bigger picture of what he was doing. I am wondering how often we enter worship like Moses, unaware of where we truly are? We might come out of curiosity or habit, pretty much oblivious that we are in the presence of God. How many times have we missed realizing we are standing on the holy ground of God’s action in our lives? Something to think about. Familiarity can be a dangerous word when it comes to God, as Uzzah found out (2 Samuel 6:6-7). An epiphany isn’t relegated to January 6th as Jacob and Moses discovered.
Music: “Infant Lowly, Infant Holy” Chris Rupp and The Hound and the Fox
Prayer:
Praise and glory be to the omnipotence of the eternal Holy Father, who in his providence created the world out of nothing. Praise and glory be to the wisdom of this only-begotten Holy Son, who redeemed the world with his blood. Praise and glory be to the living kindness of the Holy Spirit, who enlightened the world in faith. Praise and glory be to the holy and undivided Trinity, who formed us without our deserving it in their image. We give praise and glory to you, most blessed Trinity, for the blessing of our creation, by which you granted us bodies and souls, you adorned us with your image and likeness, and added us to your Christian flock, making us sound and whole in our senses and in our members, above all the creatures who are beneath the heavens, and gave us your holy angels as our guides and ministers. For all this be pleased that we may praise you, Holy God, world without end. Amen.
―Latin, 11th century, from The Oxford Book of Prayer, p.60
10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
John 1:49-51
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Some thoughts:
Today we come to a familiar Old Testament story. Here is an example of the pacing of God unfolding his grand plan some 1800 years ahead of the arrival of God’s Son. This story is two generational steps further down the road from God’s covenant with grandfather Abraham. Jacob is on his way to find a wife among his relatives. On his journey, he stops for the night. You know the story; he has a dream.
In that dream he sees angels “ascending and descending.” We might ask, if the stairway, (ladder) is connecting heaven and earth, wouldn’t it seem that the angels (malach in Hebrew meaning “messenger”) should be descending and ascending rather than the other way around? But the stairway is the path connecting earth to heaven and heaven to earth. If you will, it moves us from where we are (earth) and bridges us to heaven (the presence of God).
A further word here about this stairway is helpful. We may think of a stairway as grounded on the first floor and ascending to the second floor. The Hebrew words here paint a slightly different and significant picture. Think more of this stairway as descending to earth and ascending to heaven, more of a floating stairway, connecting two worlds, generated from heaven, not from earth. The angelic traffic on this bridge was executing God’s will to communicate and commune with his people.
You’ll recall in the New Testament Jesus picks up this very phrase (John 1:51) where he is talking with Nathanael who had just affirmed Jesus, calling him the Son of God, a phrase Jesus did not use of himself as he began his public ministry, but rather referred to himself as the Son of Man. Jesus went on to say to Nathanael, “I tell you the truth (another way of saying what follows is really important), you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” Whereas Jacob had his name changed to Israel, which means in Hebrew “contending with God,” Nathanael, whose name means “God has given,” took a step of faith right away. In other words, where Jacob (Israel) was contending with God, Nathanael, an Israelite, was not contending with God and believed right away without “contention.”
Jesus is the one who makes it possible for humans to move from earth to heaven. Carrying this thought further (Luke 22:67-70), in Jesus’ trial just prior to the crucifixion, as he stood before the religious leaders when asked if he was the Messiah, Jesus responded, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.” They all shouted, “so, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And Jesus replied, “You say that I am.”
What is the significance of Jacob’s vision? There is no amount of effort, planning, technology, or determination that will ever connect man to God, earth to heaven. Unless God reaches to earth in making himself known, Jacob and all of humankind are doomed. The Tower of Babel proved that. God loves his children and comes after them and goes with them . . . and with you and me.
Jesus interpreted Jacob’s vision for all time. He is the stairway enabling all human beings to connect with their Creator. In Christ, that stairway is open even as you read this. Jacob is the prototype for every person on earth. For being made in the image of God means there is a longing to know the Creator while at the same time there is the desire to rule oneself. There is an “Israelite” nature, contention with God, in every person and the stairway of Jesus Christ is the solution.
Music: “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” King’s College Cambridge
Prayer:
Gracious Lord, grant us a truer understanding of the wonder of connecting heaven and earth and earth with heaven. We are so fraught with earthly endeavors, and earthly delights, and earthly ideas, that the temptation to believe in the reality of earth and the seeming unreal nature of heaven is all too real. May we better experience, trust, and live in Christ that we would know the great truth that God has come to earth bringing earth to heaven and bring redemption and restoration to the whole created order. May Jacob and Nathanael’s experiences become our experience today as we walk around in this world. And grant that we may see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one and only stairway between heaven and earth. In the name of Jesus, Amen. —Daniel Sharp
January 2, 9th Day of Christmas JESUS ALWAYS EXISTED
Scripture: John 1:1-3, 10-18
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Some thoughts:
Today’s passage of Scripture is one of the most profound in all the Bible. Books, doctoral dissertations, debates, and countless pages of theology have been penned regarding these few verses. Building on these verses, eighty-five percent of John’s gospel is unique from the Synoptics. As many of his readers had never seen or heard Jesus speak (John is writing about 60 years after the resurrection), his focus is on the God/Man Jesus, the Son of God. So, he starts at the beginning of the man Jesus. The theological word encompassing this discussion is Incarnation.
Everything you can think of has a beginning point. A human life begins when the egg and sperm unite. A novel is launched when that first word is written down and music starts at the downbeat. A day commences when the sun peeks over the horizon. Likewise, faith begins the moment someone puts their trust in Jesus. This “beginning point” truth is what makes the first sentence of today’s pericope so unique. John begins his gospel the same way Moses began Genesis.
“In the beginning the Word already existed. Having always existed means the Word dwells outside existence itself because he is the Creator of “existence.” It is worth stopping a moment to ponder that truth . . . yet he chose for a period of time to dwell within the creation he made in order to redeem it. The word used is actually “tabernacled” among us. In other words, the Old Testament Tabernacle in the desert housing the presence of God above the Ark of the Covenant, was replaced by the presence of God in human flesh, in which Jesus was the Tabernacle. When the baby was born in the manger, it wasn’t as if he had not existed previously. But then there was that moment . . . a beginning of the “in the flesh” Word. The Word was always with God because the Word was God. There was never a “beginning” to that relationship nor did it change when Jesus took on human flesh.
John is writing from firsthand eyewitness experience when he says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” You’ll recall that John was one of the three, along with Peter and James, to observe Jesus’ interaction with Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-13). As the encounter concluded the brilliant light and glory of God showed forth in Jesus and the disciples fell to their knees in fear and wonder.
I am wondering if the Incarnation were to occur in our lifetimes rather than two millennia ago, how would we respond? Like the Jews, we would have been looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. We’d have been waiting 4,000 years since the time of Abraham! And now, here was a remarkable man healing every person with an illness, he has brought back to life some people we know who have died, he has restored limbs and instantly healed people with Alzheimer’s. He talked continually about the kingdom of heaven and asked us to “follow him” leaving what we were doing. Would we commit our life to believing that this human being was truly the Creator of the universe and all that exists, who has never not existed and was in fact God in the flesh, the long-awaited Messiah? Would you leave your job to follow him when he said, “follow me”? How would you respond? What would your friends and family say? That was the call to the disciples.
You’ve figured out by now that this scenario is exactly the situation today. When Jesus came the first time, very few people recognized who he was. Even the Jews, his own people, rejected him. In our day, very few people in our world pay any attention or give a second thought to the claims of Jesus of Nazareth. In their minds he is nothing more than a dead historical figure from the distant past. In their mind, there are more pressing questions and important things to consider.
But what a contrast for those who do believe! As his adopted children, they experience a spiritual birth. Whereas the Son of God came from heaven born into humanity into a natural physical body, the natural physical bodies of human beings are reborn to a spiritual body to eventually dwell in heaven. This spiritual birth comes as a gift from God, not something human beings can generate.
These are all things we all know and have heard before. But for many, many people around us, they have never grasped these glorious truths. They have yet to realize that Jesus of Nazareth is not a dead historical figure from ancient history but is alive now in a physical glorified human body, transforming the lives of all who put their trust in him. During this coming year, let each of us endeavor to encourage those around us to consider contacting the One who created them. He’s always available. In his Spirit he is tabernacled among us and in us!
Music: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” Cambridge Singers
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, the wonder of the humility and love you have shown simply leaves us without words. We kneel before you, trusting you with our lives for all eternity. This we pray through you Jesus, who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, throughout eternity. Amen. ―Daniel Sharp
January 1, 8th Day of Christmas The Holy Name of Jesus
Scripture: Luke 2:21
“Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.”
Some thoughts:
Mary and Joseph were given great responsibility in the raising of God’s Son. Talk about pressure! How do you raise a perfect child? Nevertheless, we see at every significant point, they were up to the task though at times a little uncertain. It was Jewish law that on the eighth day after the birth of a boy child, he was to be circumcised (bris, the circumcision ceremony)) and given his formal name (Gen 17:12, Lev 12:3). Often the name was chosen to reflect the character, the God-given uniqueness of that infant, and even perhaps reflective of the little one’s path in life. It is interesting that Mary was told she would become pregnant and bare the Son of God, but it was in Joseph’s dream that the angel told him the child’s name would be Jesus, meaning “God saves his people.” The Hebrew version is “Joshua.” In many cultures throughout history people chose names for their babies which carried a specific meaning or quality. But Mary and Joseph did not pick out the name of their firstborn son, God did. So, you can see in Jewish culture, the naming carried great weight as the meaning of the name was a reminder of the character and mission of the child. You can begin to see the significance of Jesus’ name. Could there be a better name for our Savior?
In addition, the circumcision of the male was an outward sign reminding one and all that this child is part of the covenant God made with Abraham. As we mentioned, baby boys were circumcised and given their name on the eighth day after their birth. Why so specific about this particular day? It’s in accordance with the ancient Jewish law and as it turns out, there is a good medical reason as well. Normally, prothrombin, the material that causes blood to clot reaches 100%, though not in the very first days after birth. On the eighth day it hits 110%, the only time it ever gets that high, and then settles back to the normal level. So, circumcision on the eighth day allows the blood its maximum clotting potential. God thought of everything! Then after his circumcision (it’s eight days since Christmas Day), Mary and Joseph went back to the Temple thirty-two days later for the rite of purification (February 2nd is forty days from the birth). You’ll note from the scriptural evidence that Mary and Joseph were practicing Jews keeping the laws―the naming Jesus on the eighth day, observing the purification ceremony on the fortieth day, regular attendance at synagogue, and Jesus’ own bar mitzvah at age twelve. Jesus was clearly an observant Jew his entire life―reading as usual from the scroll in his hometown synagogue (Lk 4:16), his observances of Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2), Hanukkah (John 10:22), Pentecost (Lk 24:49), and of course, Passover. Not only did he keep the Law, but he also fulfilled the Law and fulfilled his name.
The meaning of his name is interesting when looking back at the Old Testament in relation to the Law. God made a covenant with Abraham and the sign of that covenant was circumcision. (Gen 17:9-14) God gave Moses the Law. But by following the Law, no one could ever enter heaven because no one could keep it perfectly, hence symbolically, Moses was not able to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land (a type of heaven) through observing the Law. Moses broke the Law through disobeying God and died without entering Canaan, the Promised Land.
After Moses’ death, Joshua (Jesus in Greek), led the people across the Jordan (through the river of death) into the Promised Land! Joshua was a “Christ figure” in some ways in the First Testament. When Jesus said I have not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, it became very clear indeed, “the Lord saves.” While Joshua was a type, Jesus is the real Savior. What’s in his name? Salvation!
Music: “At the Name of Jesus” Holy Childhood Schola Cantorum
Prayer:
Glory be to thee, O Christ, whose praises the angels sing, whom the heights of heaven adore. In the miracle of thy stable-birth and in the mystery of thine incarnation thy people everywhere rejoice this day. To thy name help us to bow the knee and all its worshiping, bow the head and all its thinking, bow the will and all its choosing, bow the heart and all its loving. Glory be to thee, O Father, who by the birth of thy Son didst give a great light to dawn on the world’s darkness. Glory be to thee, O Holy Spirit, who hast again in these days hung forth a star in the lowly heaven of every Christian soul and seekest to lead us in the ways of humility and the paths of peace. Blessed be God, the only God: three persons in one eternity of love. Blessed now and blessed for evermore. Amen. ―Prayers for Sunday Services, p.74
Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! 2 As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame! 3 When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked! 4 For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! 5 You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But you have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved? 6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. 7 Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over[c] to our sins.
8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. 9 Don’t be so angry with us, Lord. Please don’t remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.
Some thoughts:
Israel is in turmoil. And they wonder why God seems far away when the people have been engaged in sin and rebellion? Surprised? The people were in difficult times, not unlike our day. Their relationship to God is estranged, not unlike our day. Israel has been at war with a frequent enemy and distant relative, the Edomites, descendants of Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Rejection of God does not bode well for people or nations.
Notice the overall structure of this pericope: 1) God is acknowledged as Creator; 2) the people have fallen away from God; 3) the people repent of their sin; and 4) the people desire restoration with the Lord. Isaiah’s concern is that the people would reflect a reverence for the Lord which was not happening, not unlike our day. The prophet, in talking with the Lord, begins this passage by declaring “when you [God] came down long ago.” To what is he referring? Creation. “Since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you.” (Paul much later quotes this same verse in I Cor. 1:9.)
The world of Isaiah had dismissed God as irrelevant, not unlike our day. The transparency of Isaiah’s confession before the Lord is powerful . . . “we are not godly, we are constant sinners, we are all infected and impure with sin, our sins sweep us away, no one calls on your name . . .” again, not unlike our day. “Infected” seems like the perfect word to describe the days of Isaiah and the days of our own world. We live in a culture with a rampant, pandemic sin infection which has but One cure. As the people of Israel in Isaiah’s day, our society is in need of genuine repentance. Our problems are spiritual in nature and remain unperceived in a secular world. The passage concludes with this strong word of hope . . . in spite of our gross, continued failures, you are our Father, God. You made us. As your children, Lord, forgive our sins. . .
If you reread the passage, you’ll notice at the beginning a longing for God to again “come down.” We are a people deeply infected by sin. In these unsettling times, a great deal of repentance and healing needs to take place in every person as we await the Savior’s return. This passage of Scripture concludes with “Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.” Yes, we are all made in the image of God. Today, let us live as his children.
Music:
“O Come, Let Us Adore Him” Voctave
Prayer:
O Son of God and Son of man, Thou wast incarnate, didst suffer, rise, ascend for my sake; Thy departure was not a token of separation but a pledge of return; Thy Word, promises, and sacraments show thy death until thou come again. Grant that I may, with all diligence, walk in a manner worthy of my status as a child of Thine. May I live with a repentant heart, humble soul, Spirit-quickened mind, and a quiet spirit until that great day when all will see Thee face to face. In the Savior’s name. Amen.
December 30, 6th Day of Christmas IDENTITY UNITED IN CHRIST, ethnic unity
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29
23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.
26 For you are all childrenof God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Some thoughts:
I’m not sure we fully grasp these words; we certainly have a different understanding than did the people of Galatia. The Jews knew they were God’s chosen people. Though they were born his chosen people, the heart aspect of a relationship to God had escaped many of them. Paul went to great lengths to drive home that there was more than ethnicity involved in being God’s children. Jesus challenged the Jewish religious leaders again and again on this very point. Faith was essential. No one could keep the law perfectly. Simply being Jewish was not enough.
In reading the last paragraph above you can begin to see how striking it would be to Jews, Greeks, and Romans realizing how radical this truth was considering their very separated cultures. The gospel unites all ethnicities as one people under God. Now you have unity between slave and free, male and female. The gospel is the most inclusive faith the world has ever seen.
Have you noticed how hard some factions in society work to separate people into various groups where each defines itself by its own system of beliefs and values. The secular mind seeks its identity with ethnicity, with sexual identity, with victimhood, with political perspective, with various causes to champion, and/or with various moral or social values to promote. To this mind, being united as brothers and sisters in Christ is a foreign concept, for God has no place in the secular mind. There is no Christian worldview in the secular mind so why would we expect anything other than the bitterness and anger toward other people groups. For this mindset, the starting place is not God but self. There is little interest in any kind of unity among people of this persuasion. Differing ethnicities are viewed with suspicion or even condemnation as people struggle to accept or discover their own identities.
The beauty of the gospel is that being united by saving faith in Christ and dying to self and being buried with him in baptism brings a oneness that spans ages, cultures, languages, economic states, and all peoples. As people are committed to Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit transforms personal values, uniting people with the mind of God; put simply, he is Lord of all. Ideally, every follower of Christ endeavors to live out a Christian worldview.
As you walk around today doing what you normally do, look at the people around you, (don’t stare!), and realize every person can be one of Abraham’s heirs through faith in Jesus. Pray for them as you go your way and pray for all those who have yet to discover their true identity in Christ.
Music: “Mary, Did You Know?” Vocative with Mark Lowrey
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, this world is filled with nations, tribes, ethnic groups, peoples and factions hopelessly fractured and warring with one another. Nations squabble. People groups within nations wage vitriolic verbal wars. Civility barely survives. Lord God of heaven and earth, Creator of all that is seen and unseen, source of redemption, love, and healing, grant that as this new yar begins, the birth of the Savior may in some remarkable way point this troubled world to unity in the person of your perfect Son, our Savior. May the celebration of the nativity by millions of your children serve to draw many others to repent of their ways and callous hearts and receive forgiveness, discovering the joy of true fellowship with all peoples as brothers and sisters in Christ. And Lord, may we be useful to you in that process. In our Savior’s name we pray. Amen. ―Daniel Sharp
His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Some thoughts:
How long does forever last? We live in a world fixated on time. There is a phone near at hand much of the time. We are always working for faster and faster transactions of data. So far, the shortest measure of time is the theoretical “attoseconds” (1.2 x 10^-17 seconds) whatever that means! And what is the point? I’m reminded of the word Jesus spoke in “The Chosen” television series, “soon.” His response when asked by a disciple was, “Ah, such an interesting word. Does it mean today, this year, or some time in the next thousand years?” How often have children asked, “When will we be there?” And the answer was, “We’ll be there soon.” And their response . . . “Well, how soon is soon?”
Contrast “soon” with “forever.” Our mindset is often so very different from the eternal. We have trouble grasping a concept of “time” outside of our own. Isaiah and Gabriel both speak of the reign of the Son of God as never ending. The closest we may get to understanding eternity is a stream of endless days. Think of eternity not as endless hours, but no hours at all! It is more like those rare moments in our life when we are so overcome or absorbed by the events of the moment that awareness of time is not even on our radar. What if the present moment was so engaging that we never came out of the moment and the present never ended?
The pressure is off; there is no due date! No wonder there is peace. We are often admonished in Scripture to set our minds on “things above.” C. S. Lewis comments, “Aim for heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim for earth and you’ll get neither.” I believe this idea is part of what he was driving at.
Coming out of an eternity not measured by time, our Savior entered this world in Bethlehem for a few short years and then left our world from the Mount of Olives to return to his Father. For that brief period, the Son of David, lived among us. But that is only the “timed” portion of the story. He has reentered eternity preparing a place for each of his children to join him when time is no more. Can you imagine being so engrossed by being the presence of God that you never check your phone for updates! God has everything under perfect control. Peace and justice abound. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies rules in compassion and love. Jesus reigns overall.
We need always to see the Nativity in the context of the eternal. In addition to the fact that you are living on the earth, you are also a part of the eternal right now. Set your sights on heaven. Remember, Jesus’ last words in the Bible are, “Yes, I am coming soon!”
Almighty God, who of Thine infinite wisdom hast ordained that I should live my life within these narrow bounds of time and circumstance, let me now to forth into the world with a brave and trustful heart. It has pleased Thee to withhold from me a perfect knowledge; therefore, deny me not the grace of faith by which I may lay hold of things unseen. Thou hast given me little power to mold things to my own desire; therefore, use Thine own omnipotence to bring Thy desires to pass within me. Thou hast willed it that through labor and pain I should walk the upward way; be Thou then my fellow traveler as I go. And grant that I be not so distracted with this world that I lose track of the eternal world to which I go. This I pray in the name of the pioneer of our faith, even Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
-adapted from A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie/Daniel Sharp, p.85
December 28, 4th Day of Christmas Feast of the Holy Innocents
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18
2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”
Some thoughts:
This third day in Christmastide has been observed since the fifth century in parts of the Western Church as the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a remembrance of Herod’s slaughter of the little boys in Bethlehem in a desperate effort to kill Jesus. At a deeper level, Herod was used by the devil in an effort to thwart God’s plan of redemption. God had previously communicated news to Joseph regarding Mary’s pregnancy via an angel and here again an angelic visitation in a dream warns them to leave Bethlehem because the murdering king is seeking to kill their little boy. Joseph gathers up Mary and Jesus and leaves for Egypt that very night.
Interestingly, Luke’s gospel refers to Jesus as a baby, whereas in Matthew’s record, he refers to Jesus as a child. He also records the visit of the magi to a house rather than an inn or a stable. There is reason to believe that Mary and Joseph may have stayed a while in Bethlehem after the census before escaping to Egypt, noting that Herod’s decree was to kill all boys under two years of age.
Herod, “king of the Jews,” was hated by the Jews. He descended from the Edomites (Esau’s lineage rather than Jacob’s) which meant he was not a descendant of King David. His Jewish heritage was a continual sore point and his ascent to the throne questionable. He was also despised for his collaboration with the occupying Romans. Knowing he was not accepted by the Jews resulted in his paranoia, always afraid someone would take his throne. He killed two of his wives, his brother, three of his sons, two husbands of his sister, among others, out of fear that they were plotting against him! He kept kosher law, so people said it was safer to be his pig than his son! He died a slow very painful death.
In a similar story some 1400 years earlier, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ordered all baby Jewish boys to be killed in a kind of prefiguring of Herod’s cruelty. Moses, the redeemer of the Israelites, was spared to lead his people under bondage out of Egypt to freedom. In much the same way, God calls Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer into Egypt for protection to ultimately lead all people out of the bondage of sin to forgiveness and freedom.
The reference to Rachel weeping for her children may seem odd and bears some comment. Jeremiah recorded (38:15) the people of Israel being led into exile passing by the village of Ramah on their way to captivity in Babylon. Ramah was right near Bethlehem. You’ll recall Jacob’s wife, Rachel, dying while giving birth in Bethlehem to Benjamin, one of the twelve sons of Israel (Jacob) was buried in Ramah. The idea may be that from her grave, Rachel is weeping as the Israelites, descendants of her sons pass by her grave on the way into Babylonian captivity. But Jeremiah records that the Lord tells her they will return to the homeland in these words, “Let your voice cease from its bitter weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work . . . they will return.” (Jer 31:15-16)
Just as the Jews would return from exile to their homeland, so Jesus would return from his exile in Egypt back to Israel. Since Rachel had lived about 800 years before Jeremiah, it is interesting that Rachel is apparently still aware of what is happening on earth. But then we have Samuel coming from the grave to appear to King Saul knowing Saul’s situation, Moses and Elijah appearing at the Transfiguration to talk with Jesus about his upcoming “exodus” from earth. It would appear in some cases at least, that people who have died may be aware of what is happening on earth to some degree. This last observation is not doctrine, just interesting and another example of the connectedness of the whole of Scripture.
Music: “Away in a Manger” Libera
Prayer:
Almighty God, who canst give the light that in darkness shall make us glad, the life that in gloom shall make us joy, and the peace that amidst discord shall bring us quietness, let us live this day in that light, that life, and that peace, so that we may gain the victory over those things that press us down, and over the flesh that so often encumbers us, and over death that seemeth for a moment to win the victory. Thus we, being filled with inward peace, and light, and life, may walk all the days of this our mortal life, doing our work as the business of our Father, glorifying it, because it is Thy will, knowing that what Thou givest Thou givest in love. Bestow upon us the greatest and last blessing, that we, being in Thy presence, may be like unto Thee for evermore. These things we do ask, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.”
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
Some thoughts:
The mysterious ways of God are certainly evident in these passages. Put yourself in the position of Mary or Joseph. Play it through in your mind; You have become a parent to a baby both you and your spouse believe to be the Son of God. You both have had encounters with an angel on separate occasions. Only a couple of people believe your story about the “virgin birth.” And now, while you are still in Bethlehem, Joseph has another dream in the middle of the night, a dream so vivid and urgent that he wakes up Mary with the news “we need to leave for Egypt right now.” And while it is still in the middle of the night, they hurriedly leave Bethlehem.
It almost sounds like someone has an overactive imagination! Yet notice again and again throughout the Old Testament how a “type,” a shadow is fulfilled in the New Testament. While it is doubtful that Hosea was thinking he was writing prophecy at this point, the text was not lost on Matthew who was writing to convince the Jews that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. The above Hosea pericope refers specifically to the massive Exodus of Israel from Egypt. God, in this case, refers to Israel as his son. Israel was redeemed from the bondage and slavery to the Egyptians. Moses was called out of Egypt to lead God’s people to freedom. The blood of the lambs covered the Israelites saving them as the death angel passed over their homes. God saved them from an earthly death temporarily. The call was to leave Egypt for the destination of the Promised Land.
In the same way God called his Son, Jesus, out of Egypt to lead all his children to freedom from the bondage of sin and into an eternal life. I’m guessing Joseph wasn’t thinking about the Hosea passage after his angel dream! He just knew they had to leave pronto. Have you noticed how the unfolding of daily events coincide with God’s overall plan of redemption? It is very clear that the devil was trying to thwart God’s purpose by killing his Son. The angels of heaven protected Jesus here and later in his life.
Tough things can happen to God’s children, but they will never derail his overall plan. I’m sure Mary and Joseph wondered about the uniqueness of their situation wondering what was next, but they obeyed and walked in the path before them and, as a result, fulfilled all that was said in the Scriptures. Your path today may not be as exciting or it may be very challenging, but just walk in it. Who knows where it may lead? Rest assured, he does.
Music:“The Coventry Carol” Assyrian Group dedicated to children who have suffered in Middle Eastern war.
Bless all who worship You, from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same. Of your goodness, give us; with Your love, inspire us; by Your Spirit guide us; by Your power, protect us; in Your mercy receive us now and always. Amen. –5th century An Ancient Collect
December 26, 2nd Day of Christmas Stephen martyrdom
Scripture: Acts 7:51-60
51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Some thoughts:
In October of 2017 we celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. One of the things our family did was to watch the movie, Luther, with Joseph Fiennes and Peter Ustinov. (By the way, I would highly recommend it if you haven’t seen that particular version if you can find it.) One of the most powerful lines in the film is when Luther responds to his spiritual mentor who had asked him to back off because what he was doing was splitting the Roman church. In Luther’s words, “Did you not think there would be a heavy cost?” At times, holding to the truth brings harsh conflict.
On this first day after Christmas, the early church marked it with what is known as the Feast of St. Stephen. For those unfamiliar with this tradition, this Scripture may seem like an odd choice. But there is a reason, Stephen was the first adult martyr of the faith. This passage occurs at the end of a powerful message and challenge he gave to the Jewish leaders. He traced their Jewish history from the call of Abraham through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, to King David. He chided his accusers for resisting the testimony of the Holy Spirit, reminding them of their long history of killing the prophets who predicted the coming of the Messiah. When he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!” that pushed his indicters over the edge. When Jesus spoke those same words to Caiaphas in his trial, the response of the Jewish leadership was the same angry explosion (Matt 26:64, Daniel 7:13, Ps 110:1). When Stephen identified Jesus as the divine Son of Man spoken of in the book of Daniel, it was akin to blasphemy, deserving of stoning to death under the law, which they did.
In his dying moments, Stephen prayed words similar to those of Jesus on the cross, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin.” Only months after Pentecost following Christ brought persecution and sorrow as Saul, a consenting witness to the death of Stephen, was to learn. The soul of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was indeed pierced as Simeon had prophesied at Jesus’ dedication forty days after his birth (Lk.2:35). From the beginning, following Jesus was not without cost, then or now.
If we take grasp the significance of God’s coming to earth to bring restoration to a fallen world at the most extreme cost of his Son, why should we think there would be no earthly cost to us to stand against evil? The irony is that while the gift of salvation is free, that gift can bring with it persecution, imprisonment, ostracizing, ridicule, or death. In fact, Jesus told his disciples there would be persecution (Jn.15:20-21). What does this have to do with Christmas? It reminds us of the greater significance of the birth of Jesus.
We may think of martyrdom as something that happened to past believers. Not so. Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world for Christians. One of my IWS students from Nigeria was murdered along with his pregnant wife a few of years ago. Christianity and Judeo-Christian values are under constant attack. Should we be surprised? No. Jesus said such would be the case. Christianity goes against the social and political order of the day.
While we have wonderful feelings of joy about the Christmas season, we dare not forget the wood of the manger is the first step to the wood of the cross to the Carpenter from Nazareth. It’s important to always remember that Christmas and Calvary are part of the same story, just different chapters . . . they are not self-contained, isolated events. Tertullian in the second century is credited with saying, “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” There were times when Roman soldiers were so amazed at the Christians facing martyr’s death, that they converted to Christianity on the spot and died as martyrs alongside those they had come to kill. Never under-estimate your witness to those around you.
A few more words about the Feast of St. Stephen. This day is also known as Boxing Day in the British Empire. The idea being it was a day to collect alms for the poor among us in honor of Stephen’s martyrdom. As the story goes . . . In the 10th century Good King Wenceslas, the Duke of Bohemia, risked his life on this day to feed a peasant who was gathering wood on this freezing cold night. The idea carried on with the giving Christmas boxes to the poor and needy, or in our day, small gifts to thank people who serve us throughout the year.
Music: “Good King Wenceslas” Traditional Choir with text
Father of Jesus, cause me to be a mirror of thy grace, to show others the joy of thy service. May my lips be well-tuned cymbals sounding thy praise. Let a halo of heavenly-mindedness sparkle around me and a lamp of kindness sunbeam my path. Teach me the happy art of attending to things temporal with a mind intent on things eternal. Send me forth to have compassion on the ignorant and miserable. Help me to walk as Jesus walked, my only Savior and perfect model, his mind my inward guest, his meekness my covering garb. Let my happy place be amongst the poor in spirit, my delight in the gentle ranks of the meek. Let me always esteem others better than myself, and find in true humility an heirdom to two worlds. —from The Valley of Vision, p.136