Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 24

            Today is the final day of Advent – Christmas Eve. We have prepared our hearts for this day since the first day of December. Day by day we have studied the inspired Word of God so that we would be prepared to welcome the Incarnate Word of God. Like the shepherds and magi, we have followed the message of good news and now we arrive at the day for which we have been waiting and longing. I know it has been WORTH THE WAIT!

            Today’s study focuses on the Incarnation of Jesus – and has everything to do with a progression of days. What we will find is a pattern that recurs across the pages of the Scriptures. It is a pattern of creation, fall and recreation. God creates, man falls, and God recreates. Look for this pattern as our Advent studies come to fruition in the Word becoming flesh – the Incarnation of Christ.

Genesis 1:1-3        

            ¹ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

³ And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

 

John 1:1-5, 9-14, 29, 35, 43, 2:1

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

                ⁹ The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

            ²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

            ³⁵The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

                        ⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

            ^2:1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.

            How should we read the Scriptures? As a purely human endeavor, the Scriptures are impossible to understand. Only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to the depths of Truth found in the pages of the written Word. There are at least three levels of understanding that should be considered when reading Scripture.

·       First, the Scriptures should be read “literally.” We should ask, “What is the clear meaning of the text as it was originally written?”

·       Second, we should consider the “moral” teaching of the passage. “What am I to do based on the teaching of this passage?”

·       Finally, the “typological, allegorical, or spiritual” meaning of the text should be prayerfully considered. How does a particular passage relate to the sweep of salvation history?

            A Scriptural “type” has been described as, "...a real person, place, thing, or event in the Old Testament that foreshadows something greater in the New Testament."

            As we consider John 1, realize that John often utilizes the “typological” sense. Given the theme of “creation, fall and recreation” that we suggested in the introduction, today we will examine one of the more fascinating uses of typology to underscore this main theme. In order to ascertain this, we must be open to reading as Augustine proposed. “The New Testament is in the Old concealed. The Old Testament is in the New revealed.”

 

A Quick Study in Typology

            Before we go any farther, let’s see how “typologies” are used in the Scriptures. “In Hebrews 8:5, the Old Testament tabernacle and its rituals are described as “types and shadows of heavenly realities.” Do you want a glimpse of heaven – study the tabernacle.

            Hebrews 10:1 says that the law is a “shadow of good things to come.” Do you want to understand the freedom Christ brings? Study the Law and man’s complete incompetence at keeping it.

            Peter, in 1 Peter 3:20-21, noted that Noah and his family came, “through water,” and that “this prefigured baptism…” The word Peter used for “prefigured” is actually a Greek word for “typify” or to “make a type.” Want to learn more about baptism – study how God brought His people through water to safety on the other side – for instance, Noah and the ark and Moses and the Red Sea.

            Let’s look at one more. The apostle Paul described Adam as a “type” or foreshadowing of Jesus. Romans 5:14 says, “Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.” Adam was born without sin – as was Jesus. Both were confronted with a daunting choice – Adam failed, blamed his wife and cursed all of humanity. Jesus succeeded – died for his wife, the church, and reversed the curse purchasing redemption for all of humanity. Listen to 1 Corinthians 15:21, “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Adam ruined creation. Jesus restored creation.

Creation, Fall and Recreation in Genesis and John

 

            Which two books of the Bible begin with the words: “In the beginning…”? Genesis and John begin with the same words! This should cause us to scratch our heads and look for other connections. Which two books of the Bible begin with creation? “In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1) – “All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3). In which two books of the Bible does light appear? “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” (Genesis 1:3) – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:5, 9). Could these similarities be happenstance? It’s hard to imagine that these obvious connections could be coincidence.

            In Genesis 1, we find the account of God’s creation. Each day’s creative activity is accounted for. On the first day, God creates time – light and dark, day and night. On the second day, God creates the universe – the space, skies and seas. On the third day, God creates dry land and all that grows on the land. On the fourth day, God placed the sun, moon and stars in their places to govern the day and night and the seasons. On the fifth day, God creates birds and fish. On the sixth day, God creates the animals and man. After each day, God says that His creation is good (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23). But after creating man on the sixth day, He says, “it is very good” (Genesis 1:31).

            On the seventh day, the “Sabbath” was established. Also, we see Adam and Eve coming together in the first marriage covenant – “the two shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24). The work of creation was completed!

            In Genesis 3, the perfection of paradise is lost as Adam and Eve fail to follow God’s instructions for them. Because of their blatant disobedience, mankind is plunged into the curse of sin. Though God created perfectly, mankind fell away into sin. What was needed so desperately was RECREATION. Here we see the pattern – creation, fall and recreation. Let’s look at John 1 and see if we can find any solutions.

            What does the Gospel of John have to do with recreation? We have already noticed that Genesis 1 and John 1 have some amazing similarities and parallels. The creation account in Genesis has a progression of days. Do we have a similar pattern of successive days recorded in John’s Gospel?      

            Actually, we do find the mention of days in John 1.  In John 1:29, it says, “the next day…” And again in John 1:35 we find, “the next day…” And yet again, we find the same phrase in John 1:43. It says, “the next day…” Sadly, that ends the occurrences of successive days in John 1. If we have a first day and three “next days,” that only equals four days! We are three short of matching the seven days of creation in Genesis 1.

            But, wait a minute. In the first manuscripts of the Bible, there were no chapter breaks. So, chapter one would have flowed into chapter two. How does chapter two begin? “On the third day…” If we add the four previous days with three more days, it is the seventh day!

            In Genesis, the seventh day introduced the Sabbath and the marriage covenant of Adam and Eve. It marked the completion of creation. Soon thereafter came the fall. In John 2, on the seventh day, Jesus is also at a wedding. And what happens at this wedding? Jesus performs His first miracle – that of turning water into wine! John 2:11 tells us, “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” This marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. What was His ministry? Jesus came to RECREATE what was destroyed by sin. In this typological picture from Genesis and John we see the theme of creation, fall and recreation underscored beautifully.

            For centuries, many have pondered just why God became man and dwelt among us. Why did Jesus become a man? After the fall of man, God offered a restored relationship with Him through a series of covenants. Covenants create family – which is precisely what was lost in the Garden of Eden. But each human mediator and those living within the covenant were unfaithful to God. From Adam, to Noah, to Moses, to Abraham, to David – not one of these humans could mediate the covenant perfectly. Sin continued to recur – and the sacrifices of lambs and other animals to atone for sins was imperfect, temporal and had to be repeated (Hebrews 10:11). What humanity needed was a perfect mediator and a sinless sacrifice. But, a quick survey of mankind reveals that none of us qualifies. Our only hope was for God to enter humanity as our representative head – as our perfect mediator – and as our sinless sacrifice. Through the Incarnation of Christ – all of this, and more, was accomplished. God created. Man fell. Jesus, by His Incarnation and passion (death, burial, resurrection and ascension), RECREATED.

            As we celebrate the coming of Jesus, the Promised Messiah, the one to save us from our sins, all of us should marvel at the manifestation of His glory! I pray that our time studying and preparing has caused you to ponder afresh God’s gracious gift of salvation – offered through an innocent little baby boy, born to a virgin girl in Bethlehem. And, I pray that you will believe in Him more deeply than ever before. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Now, let’s go and see this thing that has come to pass…

A Personal Note - I have enjoyed preparing these devotions. I pray they have been meaningful to you. If you have delayed the instant gratification prescribed by the secular society which is much more interested in partying than preparing and pondering, would you find a way to let me know your story? How has this effected your celebration of Christmas, now that the day has really come. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus came, "In the fullness of time," that is, "when the time was right." Let me know if it has been worth the wait. Merry Christmas.

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 23

          We move into the final two days of our Advent preparation. In this study we will consider the very first ones to receive a personal invitation to be witnesses to the coming of the Messiah. One might think that the birth of a king would command the attention of political leaders, dignitaries, members of the intelligentsia, and the religious elite. In keeping with the humility of Jesus’ arrival, the first on the scene to worship God in human flesh were simple shepherds. In our study for December 23^rd, we will attempt to uncover why these tenders of the flocks were given an angelic announcement and first row seats to the greatest birth in all of history. We begin our study with the close connection between shepherds and the dynastic tradition of Israel. Let’s go back to the story of one of the most famous shepherd boys in the Bible…a shepherd who became king.

 

1 Samuel 16:4-13

          The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” ² And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ ³ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” ⁵ And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” ⁷ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” ⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” ⁹ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” ¹⁰ And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” ¹² And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.

 

 

          In this dramatic and ironic narrative, Samuel has been dispatched by God to find the new king for Israel. King Saul’s failures rendered him impotent and in disfavor with God. Therefore, God sent the prophet to Bethlehem, to Jesse, the father of eight sons. Out of Jesse’s progeny would come God’s anointed one.
 

          One by one the sons were interviewed by Samuel. One by one they were rejected. After seven sons had paraded by the prophet, Samuel asks if all of Jesse’s offspring have been seen. Jesse explains that one son remains. Surely he was not the future king, for the only son left was the youngest who was out tending the sheep. Regardless of Jesse’s seemingly dismissive attitude toward his baby boy, when Samuel met David, the shepherd, he knew immediately that this was the chosen one of God.
 

          The Lord instructed Samuel to anoint David, for he was the one to be king. Samuel took the oil which God commanded him to bring. He anointed David while his brothers witnessed the spectacle. At his anointing with oil, the Spirit of the Lord came upon David. Indeed David, the shepherd boy had become King David.
 

          Herein lies the connection between the occupation of shepherd and that of king. For David, the mighty King was first a shepherd, and according to 2 Samuel 5:2, would continue to be a shepherd. “And the Lord said to (David), ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be leader over Israel.’” Likewise, Ezekiel 34:23 states, “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.”
 

          And how does this apply to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah? Remember that David was promised by God that one of his heirs would sit on his throne forever (1 Kings 2:45, 9:5). The Messiah would be a “son of David.” It stands to reason that the Messiah, in the line of David, would retain the connection of shepherd and king.
 

          John 10:11-16 make Jesus’ identity as King of kings (Matthew 2:2), and as a shepherd absolutely undeniable. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
 

          In the Davidic kingdom, the king was a shepherd. In the kingdom of God, Jesus, the King of kings, was also a Shepherd. So, it makes sense that a band of shepherds tending their flocks would be offered first row seats for the nativity! 
 

Luke 2:8-20

          And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

           ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ¹⁵ 

                When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
 

          Have you ever thought it strange that some men announce the birth of their children by passing out cigars? Welcoming new life into the world is certainly a cause for celebration. We want the news to be spread! From frantic phone calls to pictures posted online, we want everyone to know the good news.
 

          When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a similar dynamic existed. The news of the Messiah’s arrival should have been received centuries before – through the prophetic writings. The “waiting room” ought to have been full of those who had received the announcement through the Scriptures. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah and others had prophesied with great specificity the details concerning the arrival of the Anointed One. Yet, there was no one there to welcome the baby King, save Mary and Joseph, and a cadre of farm animals.
 

          So, God doesn’t wait for people to figure it out. He sends a personal invitation to a group of shepherds out on the hillside of Judea. In doing so, God also makes a great theological statement concerning the mission of His Son in coming to dwell with men.
 

The Announcement
 

          Birth announcements by angels or the Lord, Himself, are not uncommon in the Scriptures. This happened to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13), Abraham (Genesis 17:1-21), Manoah (Judges 13:3-23) and to Zechariah (Luke 1:11-20). To this list add some shepherds from the hills of Judea. What stands out is that the previous announcements were made to those to whom the child would be given. In the angelic announcement to the shepherds, they were given the privilege of being witnesses despite having no apparent relationship to Mary and Joseph. Could God be revealing that Jesus’ ministry would focus on the humble? He would bless more than his own family – but the Messiah would come for all people – especially the humble and lowly. Mary’s song of praise speaks to this. She proclaims that the Lord, “has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate…” The angel declared that the birth of the Messiah was good news for all the people!
 

          The story unfolds in a familiar pattern, consistent with the other birth announcements in Scripture. The angel appears, the shepherds react in fear, the angel assuages their fear and makes his announcement concerning the birth of the Messiah, the angel concludes by offering them a sign – the babe will be found wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.       
  

The Glory

 

 

          God’s glory has oft been expressed as an enveloping cloud. God’s Presence was made manifest through these occurrences. God’s glory cloud encircled Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18). His glory filled the temple (2 Chronicles 5:13, 7:1). The glory of the Lord was also associated with the Ark of the Covenant and the most Holy place where the Ark was kept (Ezekiel 10:4). This is also seen at the transfiguration when Peter, James and John are encompassed about by God’s glory (Matthew 17:5).
 

          On that hillside, the angel appeared to those shepherds, “and the glory of the Lord shone around them.” How do these simple men respond to this spectacle? They are fearful!! After the angel calms their fears, he extends the invitation for them to come and see this thing that has come to pass.
 

The Great Choir
 

          Once the angel concludes, he is joined by the heavenly host offering praise to the Lord. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among those with whom He is pleased.”
 

          As if hearing the angel were not enough, now the shepherds are privy to the greatest choir in human history. A multitude of angels are added to make up a choir of cosmic proportions. Mary’s song and that of Zechariah were wonderful responses to God’s favor. But the coming of Jesus called for an epic song of praise offered up by the hosts of heaven. Nothing less would do.
 

The Threefold Response
 

          After experiencing this, the shepherds find the invitation a cause for action. Whether curious or deeply moved, Luke records that they “made haste.” This is reminiscent of Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel. She “made haste” to go to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39). This is demonstrated to be the correct response when God’s instructions are handed down. Mary and the shepherds were rewarded for their prompt obedience. For Mary, she was given the privilege of being the mother of the Son of God. For the shepherds, they were very first to see the Messiah.
 

          After they found the baby, just as the angel had told them, they went about spreading the news – of what they had heard, and no doubt, what they had seen. I suppose we might consider the shepherds the first missionaries. Those who heard them tell of their experience wondered about these things.
 

          Finally, they returned worshiping God! These shepherds had more than a spectacular night. They were transformed by the Word of God. They had not only heard the Word of the Lord, they had met Him! Their obedience, evangelistic fervor and worshipful response has placed them forever on the mantles of Christians celebrating Christmas, and on the pages of Luke’s gospel where they will be remembered as the first to see the baby King who was also a shepherd.

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 22

          Our Advent studies are moving toward their completion. Today we ponder a place – the birthplace of the Messiah. “Where were you born,” is an oft asked question when getting to know someone. Our hometowns say a lot about us. Our dialect, our cultural sensibilities, our traditions and traits are often shaped by the place of our birth. In today’s study we will see that the birthplace of the Messiah reveals a great deal about him. We will also see that, by extension, these same characteristics apply to us.

Micah 5:2

          But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times (Micah 5:2).

          Micah’s words of prophecy, penned over seven centuries before Jesus’ birth, designate humble little Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. Bethlehem was the “City of David” - the place where the lowly shepherd David was anointed King of Israel (1 Sam. 16:1-13). Bethlehem, which means “house of bread” (Beth = house, lehem = bread), was just five or six miles from Jerusalem in the hilly countryside of Judea.

          Why would God choose Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Promised Messiah? Wouldn’t Jerusalem, the holy city, be more appropriate? Or, how about Rome, the center of political power in the world? What reasons could there be for such a choice?

          There are great answers to this question. Indeed the Messiah, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem, and as we will see, Bethlehem was the perfect choice…

Luke 2:1-7

          In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

          Why was Bethlehem the place chosen as the birthplace of the King of kings?  And, how do the characteristics of this little town reveal the character of the Christ? Consider the following:

Bethlehem was a small and humble town

          1. Jesus humbled Himself and became a man. Luke 2:6-7 tells us that while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem for the census, “…the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Mary and Joseph found themselves in Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral home. But, there was no room for them in the inn. Imagine being ready to deliver a child but having no safe and clean place to give birth to him. What would they do? They were relegated to a cattle stall. If it were not enough that God would take on human flesh, His birth was amidst the filth of the farm animals! At His birth, Jesus was not wrapped in finery, but in swaddling clothes. His head did not rest on a satin pillow. Instead, he was nestled on a bed of straw in a cattle trough. These were the most humble accommodations for the birth of the King of kings!

          Philippians 2:6-8 says that despite the fact that Jesus was God, He, “…did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus was not like most earthly kings—concerned with prideful pomp and ostentatious displays of their royal prerogatives. To the contrary, He made Himself nothing and became a servant.

          As a humble town, Bethlehem seems to fit perfectly the character of the greatest King.

Bethlehem was the City of David

          2.  Jesus fulfilled the promise made to David by God, that one of his descendants would always inhabit his throne (2 Sam. 7:16). Luke 2:4 tells us that Joseph went to Bethlehem precisely because he was in the family line of David. “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.” Though Joseph was not Jesus’ father, nonetheless, Joseph’s kinship to David rendered Jesus officially in the line of David. Matthew 1:1 gives testimony to Jesus’ connection to David. “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David…” What’s more, Mary may well have been in the line of David. While this is not explicit, Romans 1:3 and 2 Timothy 2:8 refer to Christ as being "of the seed of David," which strongly suggests a direct physical descent. This could only come through his mother, Mary. So, legally and physically, we may conclude that Jesus was in the royal line of David.  Jesus’ lineage and His birth in Bethlehem contribute to the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise to David.  

Bethlehem was known as the City of Bread

          3. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48). In the upper room, Jesus took bread, offered thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my Body, broken for you”(1 Corinthians 11:24). Cleopas, “knew (Jesus) in the breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:30-31, 35). It is also interesting to note God’s instruction in Exodus 25:23-30. God required that a table be made upon which the “Bread of the Presence” was to be placed continually. The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was closely associated with God’s Presence with the people. The Bread of the Presence added to this reality. Jesus, claimed to be the Temple (John 2:19-21). He also claimed to be the “true bread sent down from heaven” (John 6:35). The “Bread of the Presence” was no longer isolated to the Temple – for Jesus was the embodiment of both! With so many associations with bread, it only makes sense that Jesus would be born in the “City of Bread.”

          Jesus was born in a humble town, to meek parents in the lowliest of surroundings—a cattle stall and a manger of hay. Consider for a moment that He has also been born into your heart and life. Paul spoke of, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus has been born in us! The Word...dwells within all of us who are His true followers. It stands to reason that we would be called to humility—in keeping with Jesus’ original birth place. Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” As it was in Bethlehem, so it should be with all of us as we welcome the Lord Jesus.  

          “How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where MEEK souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.”

          The time is drawing nigh. Our celebration will soon begin. I pray that our hearts will be warmed and welcoming for the King’s arrival! 

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 21

            As our Advent preparations move into the 21^st day, we focus on a fundamental truth at the heart of God’s plan for Salvation history. God called Abram to leave his home and relocate his family in a new land. In Genesis 12, God makes three promises to Abram (later Abraham). God declares that He will give Abraham a new land (nation), a great name (dynasty) and that his family line will be a blessing to the whole earth (nations relating to God as one family). In Genesis 15, 17 and 22 these promises are updated to covenant status. As we will see in this evening’s study, these covenantal assurances would indeed come to pass – partially under the leadership of men – and perfectly and finally under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Read on and see God’s providential plan unfold just as He said. But, the fulfillment of God’s Word would not be completed through the Patriarch Abraham, or Moses the prophet. Not even King David could preside over the satisfaction of these obligations. Only through the Incarnation would God bring his covenantal commitments to pass.

Genesis 17:1-8

            When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, ² that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” ³ Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, ⁴ “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁵ No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. ⁷ And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. ⁸ And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

            God’s covenantal promises to Abraham meant nothing less than having a new land (the Promised Land), having a great name (which meant having a royal dynasty), and having his family line be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. This meant that Abraham’s progeny would be a unifying force to undo the division of man which came as a result the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). And what’s more, Abraham’s offspring would be used to reverse the curse of Adam that divided God and man because of man’s sin. A land, a name and an evangelistic mission – these were the covenantal promises of God to Abraham.

            Within God’s sovereign plan, the new land promised to Abraham would come only after his family had been in Egypt for four centuries. Toward the end of that time, the Children of Israel (twelve tribes named for Abraham’s grandson – Jacob/Israel) became slaves to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Moses was chosen by God to deliver the Israelites. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Abraham’s offspring finally crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land. But, this was not a permanent fulfillment of God’s promise, as we will see. Abraham’s descendants had received a “Promised Land,” but their unfaithfulness would cause their eviction in just a few centuries. What could be done to fulfill this promise after such a tragic ejection from the “land flowing with milk and honey”?

            Within God’s sovereign plan, the great name promised to Abraham would come as the Israelites clamored for a king – so that they could be like every other nation. They were not satisfied with God as their Lord, they had to have a human ruler. God relented and gave them Saul. King Saul proved to be an unfaithful failure (1 Samuel 13:13-14). So, God brought forward a shepherd boy named David who reigned for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:4). It was to King David that God gave the promise, that one of his heirs would be on his throne forever (1 Kings 2:45, 9:5). Sadly, due to David’s personal failings (2 Samuel 12:10-11), his family was never far from calamity. Solomon, who followed David as King of Israel, exhibited poor judgment. He allowed and was involved in syncretism. Because of this blatant disregard for God’s instruction, in 930 BC, the unified Kingdom was separated into Israel in the north and Judah in the south. In 722 BC, the Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom of Israel. In 586 BC, the Babylonians brought down the Judeans in the South. With the fall of Zedekiah, the last Davidic King had sat on the throne (Jeremiah 52). Obviously, this could not be the end. But, what could be done to fulfill God’s promise?

            Within God’s sovereign plan, God covenanted with Abraham that his seed would be blessed and be a blessing to the entire world. Israel, called “first born son” by God, was meant to be a good oldest sibling to the brotherhood of nations. Through Israel, all of the nations were to be invited to Jerusalem to worship God. Sadly, God’s chosen people desired for their relationship with God to be exclusive. They reviled the Gentiles, not to mention the Samaritan half-breeds! Rather than reach out to other nations, they became isolationists, convinced of their own self-righteousness. Given this elitist snobbery, how would God ever fulfill His promise to Abraham?

            Abraham did not see these promises come to pass. Moses did not preside over their fulfillment. David was unable to fulfill them perfectly. What would God do to prove His faithfulness and fulfill His Word?  

Luke 9:28-31 (The Promised Land)

            Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

            Jesus was making his approach to Jerusalem where he would complete his Passion. There on the mount of transfiguration, Jesus met with Moses and Elijah. And what did they discuss? The Greek word for departure, found in verse 31, is exodus. Jesus spoke with Moses about the exodus he was about to lead from Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18 reveal that a New Moses would come. This new deliverer would lead a new exodus – not to an earthly promised land – but to the heavenly Promised Land! Jesus, was about to lead an Exodus, not from bondage to Egypt and Pharaoh, to Canaan, but from bondage to sin, death and hell, and to the Heavenly Promised Land!  

Luke 1:31-33 (A Great Name)

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

            God promised Abraham that his name would be great. In 2 Samuel 7, God promises David, “I will make your name great.” In Luke 1:32, Mary is told that Jesus’ name “will be great.” In 2 Samuel 7:14, God says, “ I will be his father, and he shall be my son.” Luke 1:32 states that Jesus will be, “called the Son of the most High.” 2 Samuel 7:13 says that God will, “…establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Luke 1:32 also says that, “The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.” In 2 Samuel 7:16, God says to David, “…your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever.” Luke 1:33 says, “And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” There can be no doubt that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham concerning a great name. This promise was extended to David. But, it was ultimately and finally fulfilled in Jesus!

Galatianis 3:13, 26-29 (All Nations Blessed)

            Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

            …for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

            Israel’s disposition toward foreigners was one of disdain and intolerance. Jesus, however, came to bring restoration for humanity. His was a mission to reunite man to God and to break down the walls of animosity that brings division between the people of the earth. Ephesians 2:11-14 gives further clarity.

             Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…”

            Abraham was promised that, through his offspring, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. In Galatians 3 we find that Jesus is the offspring of Abraham through which the blessing would come. Ephesians 3 reveals to us that in Jesus those of us who were alienated from the covenant promises of Israel are now offered these promises in Christ. We were once far off, but now we have been brought near! Jesus is our peace – the One who has broken down the wall that divides and causes hostility. He brings peace with God and peace with men.

            Is it possible that the covenant promises made to Abraham are fulfilled in the little baby born in a humble manger? Could this little babe be the One to bring it all to pass – a Promised Land, a Great Name and through him to bless all nations?

            Isaiah 9:6 says that, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Here, Isaiah prophesies that government will be on the shoulder of the child to be born. Governments operate in sovereign nations – and require a land (check). Isaiah speaks about this child’s great name (check)! Isaiah calls this little one, “Prince of Peace.” Through Jesus, we have peace with God and with man. In Christ, we are reconciled to God and to our fellow humans – there is no greater blessing (check)!!

            As we celebrate the coming of Jesus, may we realize how astoundingly significant this historical reality truly is. Once again we can see that God’s Word is good!

            May you revel in God’s grace and goodness on this 21^st day of Advent.

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 20

            On this, the twentieth day of our Advent preparation, we delve into the meaning and importance of the name to be ascribed to the Promised One. We will find in this brief study that the name chosen for Him is more than just a moniker by which to call the coming King. The name “Jesus” adds to the revelation of God’s transcendent greatness (“I Am, that I Am”), the precise nature of God’s purpose in sending His Son. Let’s travel back to Moses' encounter with a burning bush to begin our study.

Exodus 3:13-14

            Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” ¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

            Moses was minding his own business, keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro (the priest of Midian). When Moses brought the flock to Mount Horeb, the mountain of the Lord, he saw a most peculiar sight. A bush was burning, but was not consumed by the flames. You might imagine that this piqued the shepherd’s interest. As he attempted to ascertain the source of the fire and why the bush was not burning up, God called out to him. The dialogue that ensued would change the course of history, and offer an amazing insight into the identity of God.

            For four centuries the Children of Israel had languished in Egypt. But, the time had come for a deliverer to be sent to save God’s people. So, Moses was chosen by God to bring God’s people out of bondage. God identified Himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To these men, beginning with Abraham, God had made covenantal promises. Recorded in Genesis 12:2-3, God vows, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed…”

            First, God promised to Abraham a great nation. This promise pertains to establishing God’s chosen people in a land. Moses would be the one to lead Abraham’s offspring from their captivity in Egypt to the Promised Land – but due to unfaithfulness to the covenant – in time, God would allow foreign invaders to retake this land.

            Second, God promised to Abraham a great name. The promise of a great name relates to a royal dynasty. While Moses would lead the people to the new land, it would be through David that God would establish a great Kingdom. But, again, the Davidic Kingdom did not last. In time, David’s Kingdom was divided  into two (930 BC) – Israel in the North and Judah in the South. Israel fell to Assyria in 722 BC. Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. The ultimate fulfillment of the first two promises would have to wait.

            The third promise was that Abraham’s family would be blessed and be a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Rather than reach out to the brotherhood of nations, Israel saw their relationship with God as exclusive and they were not interested in seeing God’s favor extended beyond themselves. With this intolerant and exclusive disposition toward the Gentiles, the third Promise would not be fulfilled by Moses, or by David. It would also have to wait for One to come. (Tomorrow's devotion will show how Jesus is the fulfillment of all three!)

            With all of this in mind, let’s return to the burning bush. Moses asks God, “What is your name?” God offers a concise but amazing answer. He says, “I am that I am”. Theologians call this the “Tetragrammaton.” Libraries full of books have been written about what God meant. Suffice it to say that in this expression, God is revealing that He is the essence of Being! He is omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (not bound by space or time), omniscient (all knowing). Simply put, God doesn’t just exist – He is existence! But, there is more to God than awesome greatness – as we will see.

            We have learned a great deal about God through Moses’ experience. What can we learn from a carpenter named Joseph, a virgin girl named Mary and their experience of meeting God’s messenger?

Matthew 1:18-21

            Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”           

            Joseph, like Moses, must have had his interest piqued by the spectacle that was playing out in his life. Mary, to whom Joseph was betrothed, was with child – and Joseph knew that he had nothing to do with it! This situation was not just untenable, it was unthinkable and unbearable. No man could be expected to stand by an unfaithful woman. So, Joseph tried to figure out a way to spare Mary from the stoning that normally followed in such a case. He sought to spare her life while severing their relationship. But, God’s plan was for Mary and Joseph to raise His Son. So, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph while he slept. God’s messenger relayed the message clearly. Do not fear to take Mary as your wife. This Child has not been created in some covert affair but is conceived from the Holy Spirit. The angel continued to fill in the specifics of God’s plan. Mary will have a son and you shall call his name Jesus.  

            Joseph heard God’s instructions and followed them perfectly. Despite the shame that would befall anyone in this marital situation, Joseph was obedient. When the time came for the baby to born, they named him, Jesus. This begs the question, why would the baby be named Jesus? The angel revealed this in his instructions to Joseph. You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. In Hebrew, Jesus means, “God saves”. These words remind us of God’s instructions to Moses – that he would go to Egypt to save God’s people from bondage to Pharaoh (Exodus 3). Now Jesus was coming to save God’s people from bondage to sin, death and hell!

            What was revealed to Moses, that God is the great “I Am,” is now made complete by the addition of the name Jesus. “I Am…the God who saves”. God is not just watching us, like Bette Midler sang, “From a distance.” Though God is the almighty creator of the universe, He also came to dwell with us, and through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, to bring forgiveness of sins and restoration to the Father for all of humanity. Indeed, God is great, but God is also good!  

            In John 17:26, Jesus prayed to his Father, " I have made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them." As the gospel hymn says, they're really is, "Something about that name!"