Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 18

 

          There are only six days left in our preparations for Christmas. Day eighteen has arrived. The Scriptures for today focus on a very particular and peculiar prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. A “sign” is given that will come to pass in such a way that the fulfillment is utterly unmistakable! This “sign” has been mocked, explained away and ridiculed over the centuries. But, for us who believe, it is defining point of Christian orthodoxy. Read on to determine more about this fascinating three part “sign”.

Isaiah 7:10-14

          Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” ¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” ¹³ And he^[g] said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

          The first part of Isaiah 7 is rarely read. We usually skip right to the prophetic statement in verse 14. But, to understand this passage, we must put it in context. Verse one tells us that Ahaz was the king of Judah. He lived in Judah’s capital which was Jerusalem. Chapter 7 goes on to tell us that Israel, the northern part of the kingdom, and Syria had made an alliance. Between 734 and 732 BC, they waged war with Judah (2 Kings 16:5–18; 2 Chronicles 28:16–21). Here in chapter 7, this unholy alliance was threatening to overtake Jerusalem and depose Ahaz. They were hoping to dethrone him and replace him with a king of their own. The Lord spoke to Isaiah saying that this plan to dethrone the Davidic king would not come to pass (Isaiah 7:7), despite the rebellion of the king. God sent Isaiah and his son named Shear-Jashub, which means “a remnant will remain.”  In taking his son, Isaiah was not only obeying God, he was presenting Ahab with a living prophecy. After the fall of Jerusalem, a small remnant would be reestablished in Jerusalem.

          But, God had more to say to Ahaz. Isaiah instructed the unfaithful king to ask for a sign – from the highest heights to the lowest depths. Essentially, Ahaz could ask for any sign he wanted, for God commands everything, whether high or low! Rather than put his trust in God, Ahaz feigns piety and religiosity. He said, “I will not put the Lord to the test.” This is reminiscent of Jesus’ answer to Satan during his temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:7). But Ahaz was not answering righteously. He was afraid that if God offered him a sign, he would be bound to believe it. Isaiah then offered Ahaz a stern rebuke, claiming that the king is “trying the patience of God.” So, what does God do? Verse 14 tells us, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

          While there are several possibilities for fulfillments of this prophecy during the time of Ahaz, the most important fulfillment was yet to come. We learn from this passage that those “in charge” are unfaithful and do not trust God as their deliverer. That sounds strangely similar to wicked King Herod and the unfaithful religious leaders before and during the earthly life of Jesus. They thoroughly rejected Jesus as being the Messiah and God’s deliver. God calls the leaders back to faithfulness, but they balk. Matthew 3:7-8 contains just such a call to repentance from John the Baptist to the Pharisees. “But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.’”  Like King Ahaz, they would not listen to this call to trust the Lord. So, God offers an unusual and unforgettable sign. A virgin will become pregnant and have a son who will be named Immanuel which means “God with us.” Ahaz would ignore the blessing of God’s Presence as His “refuge and strength” and instead, he would forge an alliance with the Assyrians. This is parallel to Herod and the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They aligned themselves, not with God, but with Rome! In Matthew 19:15, the Chief Priests cry out, “We have no king but Caesar.” Only 150 years after Ahaz rejected God, God’s judgment would fall on Jerusalem. In 586 BC, The Davidic King would be deposed and Solomon’s Temple would be destroyed. Likewise, only 40 years after Jesus, God’s judgment fell on Jerusalem and Herod’s Temple was destroyed. But out of the dust and decay, a New Temple stood. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). Our of the carnage of God’s righteous judgment, though Ahaz was gone and Herod was no more, the Davidic King, Jesus, would be on the throne of God’s kingdom forever! Indeed Immanuel, born of a virgin, had come into the world. And, a faithful remnant, the Church of Jesus, would remain!

Luke 1:28-36

           In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”^{[c] 29} But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant^[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

          Luke 1:26-28 served as our Gospel reading in a previous Advent study. So, rather than tread ground already covered, let’s focus on this passage as a fulfillment of the “sign” prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. To fulfill this sign, three things must occur. A virgin must conceive. She must give birth to a son. And, this son must be called “Immanuel” which means, “God with us.”

          First, a virgin must conceive. In these nine verses of Luke 1, we hear that Mary is a virgin three times. Verse twenty-seven has two occurrences. God sent Gabriel…“to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” In verse twenty-seven, Mary is described as a virgin. In verse thirty-four, Mary declares that she is a virgin. After being told by the angel what will happen to her, she replied, “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Matthew’s account also gives evidence to Mary’s status as a maiden. Chapter one, verse one says, “This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” Before Mary and Joseph had come together in marriage, she was with child. This was not because of a premarital lapse, but rather because Mary had conceived through the Holy Spirit. Further, Matthew 1:25 declares, “But he did not consummate their marriage before she gave birth...” Most men would have a problem marrying a pregnant fiancé whose child was not theirs! But, Joseph did take Mary to be his wife, despite her condition. Why did he do it? “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Joseph was not dishonored by this arrangement because Mary was still a virgin. Without question, she fulfills the first requirement of Isaiah 7:14. The young woman had to be a virgin. Mary was a virgin!

          The second requirement was that the virgin must conceive and bear a son. In Luke 1:31, the angel Gabriel tells Mary, “You will conceive and give birth to a son…” This language is identical to that of Isaiah 7:14. The child is described as the “Son of the Most High, (vs. 32)” and the “Son of God” (vs. 35). Matthew 1:21 reiterates, “She will give birth to a son.” Verse 25 states, “until she gave birth to a son.”  Luke 2:7 tells us that, "...she gave birth to her firstborn, a son, and wrapped him in clothes..."  The Apostle Paul also contributes to our evidence. Galatians 4:4 states, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” Mary, the virgin, gave to a son. The first two requirements of Isaiah 7:14 are fulfilled. What about the third?

          The third requirement is that they, “will call him Immanuel.” According to Luke and Matthew, when the son was born, Mary and Joseph named Him Jesus. Oh well, we got two out of three. That’s pretty good. But, wait just a minute. The name Immanuel means “God with us.” This is temple language – speaking of the dwelling of God with men. As we mentioned, it was Jesus who said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19). As the New Covenant Temple, Jesus didn’t just represent the Presence of God to His people; He embodied the Presence of God! John 1:14 states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The Greek word for “dwelling” is tabernacle. Jesus became flesh and “tabernacled” with us. So, the name Immanuel is more than just a proper name, it is a deep theological truth. Immanuel, which means “God with us” is actualized in the coming of Jesus. God became flesh and is indeed with us! Jesus is the fulfillment of the last requirement. He fulfills them all.

          Matthew 1:22-23 lays it out rather succinctly. “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

          Unlike Ahaz, Herod, and the Religious Leaders of Jesus’ day, may we trust the Word of God when it tells us the most unbelievable things! May your 18th day of Advent be full of anticipation. We will soon celebrate the day a virgin gave birth to a son whose name is Immanuel! Could that really happen? You had better believe it!!

 

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 17

          It seems like the season of Advent and our time for preparation are speeding by as we move through our readings toward Bethlehem. Our Advent journey has reached day 17. In the readings for today we will see that there is a certain repetitious rhythm to the Word of God. One theologian said, “History may not repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme.” Samson and John the Baptist have some things in common. See if you can find them as we study. Our readings are:

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25

           There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. ³ And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. ⁴ Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, ⁵ for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” ⁶ Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, ⁷ but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’” ²⁴ And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. ²⁵ And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

          Judges 13:2-7 has some amazing parallels to narratives related to the nativity. In this passage we learn of a couple from the tribe of Dan. The name of the man is Zorah from Manoah. (That almost rhymes!) His wife was “barren”. Little did they know what was in store for them. God would make of their lives a foreshadowing or typology of that which would come to pass just before the Messiah appeared. One day, an angel appeared to Zorah’s wife and informed her that despite her inability to give birth to a child, she would become pregnant and give birth to a son. This sure sounds familiar! Next, the angel places restrictions on the wife, relating to the edict that this boy would be a “Nazarite” (see Numbers 6:1-21). She could not drink alcohol, and a razor was never to touch the boy’s head. These requirements were given by the angel three times in this passage (vs. 4-5, 7, 14). Repetition of this kind underscores just how important the “Nazarite Vow” would be for this child. The woman reported to Zorah that a man of God who looked like an angel had come to her. Then she revealed his message and the stringent requirements under which the boy would live – from the time he was in the womb until he died. Verse 5 says, “He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Does this sound like another who might come to take the lead – a forerunner – who might prepare the way?

          Judges 13:24-25 says that she gave birth just as the angel had promised. His name was Samson. Verse 25 tells us, the child grew and the Lord blessed him, and the spirit began to stir in him. Compare that to Luke 1:80 which refers to John the Baptist. “And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.” There is simply no way that this is just chance. It can’t be coincidence or happenstance. Wow, that rhymed!

Luke 1:5-25

           In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. ⁸ Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” ¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” ²¹ And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. ²² And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. ²³ And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. ²⁴ After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, ²⁵ “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

          Luke opens His Gospel similar in fashion to a good Shakespearean play. Two minor characters are presented who lay the groundwork for the major characters to be introduced later. Before Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus appear, the curtain opens on this priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth. They are about to be swept up into the story of Salvation history as neither of them could have ever dreamed!

          Because he was a priest, Zechariah would have been held in high esteem. Elizabeth, who was in the priestly line of Aaron, would have also been highly respected. What’s more, this passage tells us they were “righteous in the sight of God, observing all of the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” This legal and liturgical designation does not mean that they were sinless. It does mean that they followed God’s covenantal prescriptions precisely. Zechariah and Elizabeth had everything going for them and would have been looked up to by everyone. That’s what makes verse seven so strange. It says, “But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.” The Hebrew people often associated barrenness as evidence of God’s judgment. Deuteronomy 28:15 and 18 give testimony to this. But, we can see with Zechariah and Elizabeth, this is not the case. Their plight brings to mind others who experienced similar circumstances – Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Hannah. All of them were barren until God worked a miracle in their lives and blessed them with children. Zechariah and Elizabeth remained faithful to God and trusted Him, despite their difficult situation.

          As the story unfolds, we see that Zechariah, who serves in the priestly division of Abijah, was called upon to fulfill his responsibility to serve in the Temple. There were 24 divisions of priests and each division served two times a year – one week at a time. One of the priests would be selected by drawing lots. His service was to go into the Holy Place, just outside the Most Holy Place, and there he would burn incense before the Lord. As an ordinary priest, this is as close to the Most Holy Place as Zechariah would ever be. In giving this service, Zechariah would represent the people before the Lord – offering up prayers on their behalf.  This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. Priests were eligible for this high privilege only one time. Many priests were never selected to undertake this blessed responsibility.

          While the faithful were gathering outside to offer their prayers, Zechariah entered the Temple and began his service at the “Hour of Prayer”. What a scene! Zechariah was surely in awe and wonder as he began to minister to the Lord. Just then, an angel appeared to Him. Can you imagine his wide eyed dismay and holy fear at this turn of events? As we will see, his life is about to change forever!

          How would you feel on this the most incredible day of your life – you are the one selected to offer the incense and the prayers of the people just outside the Most Holy Place in all of the earth. This is the apex of your career! If that is not enough, an angel appears!! Zechariah is understandably gripped with fear. But, the angel says, “Don’t be afraid, your prayer has been answered. You and your wife Elizabeth will have a son who is to be named John.”

          There are three things to notice about this promised miracle child named John. First, he is to abstain from wine or other fermented drink. This is not to instruct us concerning John’s culinary tastes, it says much more than that. In the Old Testament, some men, called “Nazarites,” were set apart for special service. As we read, Samson was just such a man. These men took a special vow to avoid alcoholic beverages. The angel is saying that John is to be set apart for special service to the Lord.

          Second, John was filled with the Holy Spirit, even before he was born. The filling of the Spirit in this way tells us that John was to be a prophet. For instance, we read of the Spirit coming upon Ezekiel, Elijah and Elisha among others, setting them apart for service as prophets of God. John was to be set apart as a prophet.

          Luke 1:16-17 tell us the third important fact about John. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The prophet Malachi, in the last book of the Old Testament, prophesied that one would appear to prepare the way for the Lord – the Promised One who would redeem Israel. In chapter 4:5-6, Malachi also prophesies that God, “…will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents…” John was to be set apart as a “Nazerite,” as a prophet, and as the New Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord’s coming! John would not only answer Zechariah and Elizabeth’s need for a son, he would help address the need of all the Hebrew people as John prepares a way for the Messiah!

          Despite the heavenly messenger and the amazing message of good news, Zechariah was focused on the natural challenges to having a son. After all, he and Elizabeth were well along in years. His doubt gave birth to the question, “How can I be sure of this?” The angel’s response was quite remarkable. He said, “I am Gabriel.” What kind of an answer is that?

          Daniel 9:20 gives us some insight. Here, Daniel has an incident that “rhymes” with Zechariah’s experience! While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. In this passage, Daniel is praying on behalf of the people, at the hour of the evening sacrifice, which corresponds to the hour the incense would have been offered. At that very moment the angel Gabriel appears to Daniel. Gabriel’s message to Daniel is a mixed one. The suffering of the people under the bondage of foreign leaders would continue, but, at the end of this long period, the anointed One, the Messiah will come!

          Why did the angel tell Zechariah his name? The parallels with Daniel must have come to Zechariah’s mind in a torrent. Like Daniel who prayed at the hour of sacrifice, Zechariah prays on behalf of Israel as he offers the incense in the temple sacrifice. In the middle of Zechariah’s service, just like Daniel, the same angel – Gabriel – appears to both of them. Just like Daniel, Zechariah hears a message about the coming of the Messiah. Clearly, Gabriel wants Zechariah to hearken back to Daniel’s experience, so similar to his own. Gabriel wanted Zechariah to remember the message he gave to Daniel. The Arch Angel announced to Daniel the end of Israel’s oppression – a time in the future. Now he is announcing to Zechariah that the time is at hand – and John will be the prophet to prepare the way.  “I am Gabriel,” speaks volumes to Zechariah and us.

          Zechariah is speechless – struck dumb for the nine months leading to John’s birth. But, John was born, and subsequently, the Messiah came. For Zechariah and Elizabeth, and the entire earth, life would never be the same, after Jesus’ birth. Hey, that rhymes!!

 

 

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 16

          We enter day sixteen of our Advent studies. Our Old Testament Scripture passages remain focused on prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah. Over the next few days, however, our Gospel readings will begin to reveal the events surrounding and including the nativity. The time is drawing nigh, as the intensity of our readings will indicate. As we study the passages for today, we will learn about good and bad shepherds, a “righteous branch” and an understanding fiancé. Let’s turn to God’s Word and read the following:

Jeremiah 23: (1-4) 5-8

          “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. 5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior. 7 “So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 8 but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

          In order to grasp the meaning of verses 5-8, we need to look at Jeremiah 23 in context. This chapter begins with a stunning rebuke of the leaders, or shepherds of God’s people. Verses 1-4 pronounce a “woe” or a curse on these shepherds for, “destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture”. These shepherds have abused the sheep by scattering and neglecting the flock. Because of this malfeasance, God would punish them (see Ezekiel 34:1-10). Conversely, He will bring back the remnant of His people to the Promised Land and Mount Zion so that they might enjoy the pleasant pastures again (Psalm 23:2, Deuteronomy 26:9). Once there, they would be fruitful and multiply (see Genesis 1:28). New Shepherds will be placed over God’s people (Ezekiel 34:11-16). Those who are called to tend God’s flock in the new day will care for them in such a way that none of them will go missing.

          As we unpack these verses, realize that Jesus and the coming of the New Covenant Church fulfill every one of these prophesies. In these first four verses we see a vivid picture of the religious elite during the earthly life of Jesus. They were supposed to be the shepherds of God’s people. As Jeremiah and Ezekiel pronounced woes on the false shepherds, so to, Jesus pronounces seven woes on the Pharisees of His day (Matthew 23:13-28). Just as God will bring back the remnant of His people to the Promised Land and Mount Zion, followers of Christ will come to a greater Promised Land, the heavenly Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:22-24). When the remnant is reinstated, they will “Be fruitful and increase in number.” This sounds familiar. It is the instruction given to Adam and Eve while they were experiencing the perfection of creation – before they sinned. Jesus, by His Passion, would restore what was lost through the sin of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22). Jesus will bring about a new creation! Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). What was lost had been restored – in Christ. Jesus’ final words before His ascension also speak of “increasing in number.”  He told His disciples to, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19). That is exactly what happened after Pentecost. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). New Shepherds would be placed over the Lord’s flock. In John 10:11, Jesus declares that “I am the good Shepherd.” In John 21:17 Jesus instructs Peter to “feed my sheep.” Ezekiel 34:11-16 leaves no doubt who the new Shepherd is. The Lord, Himself, will be the Shepherd of the Flock. And He appointed the Apostles to be under-shepherds. Jeremiah offers one other characteristic of the New Shepherd. He will not lose any of the sheep. Matthew 18:12-14 records Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. He teaches that He would leave the 99 safe sheep to go after the one who is missing. Also, Jesus said in 6:39, “And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 10:27-28 states, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

          If Jesus is the fulfillment of Jeremiah 23 concerning the new shepherd, what about the curses on the evil shepherds. In 70 AD, the temple was destroyed and the Pharisees and other religious leaders of the Old Covenant were left utterly unemployed. What was emerging from the ashes and rubble of the Old was the New Covenant Church of Jesus in fulfillment of every requirement outlined in Jeremiah 23:1-4.

          In the context of this coming curse for the Shepherds, and the restoration of the remnant, we now look at verse 5. Jeremiah prophesies that God will raise up a “righteous branch” for David.  In those days, “Israel will be saved and Judah will live in safety.” What will the name of this promised One be? He will be called, “The Lord our Righteous Savior.” The prophet goes on to say that a new day is dawning. Previously the rallying cry for the people was that God had brought them out of the land of Egypt. But, in that day, the people will cry out, that the Lord has restored Israel from her dispersion and brought her back to the Promised Land.

          For almost six hundred years, there was no Davidic king on the throne. Zedekiah was the last Davidic king, and he was deposed in 586 BC. God had promised that David would have an heir on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Could God have been mistaken? Jeremiah is stating that hope is not lost. The throne will be occupied again by one who will do what is right and just in the land. In fact, this branch that will grow on the Davidic family tree will be “righteous.” Well, who qualifies for that? Ecclesiastes 7:20 states, “Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” Romans 3:10 says, “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one…” So, who could possibly fit this bill? There is only one way that this requirement for a righteous one could be fulfilled. Since all of mankind is unrighteous, God, who alone is righteous had to become man. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY! Humanity had to have a perfect, righteous representative before God, or we were doomed. John identified the righteous One prophesied by Jeremiah. 1 John 2:1 says, “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” Alright, Jesus is righteous, but is Jesus in David’s family line? Matthew 1:1 settles this issue. “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David…” David presided over a united kingdom. Would Jesus bring restoration and unity? Ephesians 4:4-6 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). What about the name of the Promised One…he is supposed to be called, “The Lord our Righteous Savior”? In Matthew 1:21, the angel is instructing Joseph concerning what was happening to Mary. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus’ Hebrew name is Joshua which means, “The Lord Saves.” Would Jesus change the focus from the Exodus from Egypt to a new a greater Exodus? Would Jesus change the focus from the Promised Land to a greater Promised Land? Would Jesus be seen as greater than Moses? Hebrews 3:3 says, “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.” As we saw in Hebrews 12:22-24, for followers of Christ, the Promised Land and Mount Zion are actually the Heavenly Jerusalem!  

          Jeremiah provides a picturesque prophecy of what the Messiah will be like. As we have seen, Jesus fulfills every expectation. This is not coincidence or serendipity. What we have observed is God’s plan for Salvation History unfolding precisely as He planned.

Matthew 1:18-25

          This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

          Matthew 1:18-25 is a familiar passage. Verse 16 of Matthew 1 tells us that Joseph, the husband of Mary was in the line of David! This is important for legal reasons.  Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus. Do you think that this could have caused a problem for Joseph? The angel of the Lord came to Joseph and explained to him what was happening. It would take an angelic visitor to intervene for most men to accept this situation. Mary and Joseph were betrothed or promised to one another. This was even more significant than an engagement, as we might understand it. Betrothals could not be broken without a divorce. When Joseph found out Mary was expecting he considered how he might divorce her quietly. But, the angel of the Lord came to Joseph. He instructed Joseph in a dream that the Holy Spirit had come upon Mary and that she would give birth to a son. This little child was to be named Jesus, “because He will save His people from their sins.” What an amazing scenario! A virgin is expecting a child conceived of the Holy Spirit!! Those who were familiar with Isaiah 7:14 would have expected this to be the case. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Jesus means “the Lord saves.” Immanuel means “God with us.” The only the way the Lord could save us was to come and be with us! That is exactly what He did. When Joseph awakened from the dream, he did what the angel said to do. He took Mary to be his wife. And, so that there would be no misunderstanding that Jesus was born of a virgin, it is clear that they did not “know” each other before the child was born.

          This child was the “righteous branch” from the family tree of David. This child was to be the Good Shepherd. The child as God and man, would save His people from their sins – bringing unity where there was division, forgiveness where there was condemnation, light and life where there was dark and death. Indeed a New Day was dawning. “…and we have beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

          Oh yes, and He won’t lose a single one of us!! Thanks be to God. Happy 16^th day of Advent.

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 15

          Our preparations are moving forward as we reach the Third Sunday in Advent. During these days of study, we have read many prophecies about the coming of the Promised One. The authentic Messiah (Anointed One) would necessarily have to fulfill every one of them. To this point, our studies of prophetic passages concerning the Messiah have revealed that Jesus is indeed the Promised One. In our readings for today, we will add to our findings. Look for a kingly covenant connection in the passages below.

Genesis 49:1-2, 8-10

          Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come. ² “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. ⁹ You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? ¹⁰ The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

          Genesis 49 offers us a very early glimpse of what will transpire once the Children of Israel arrive in the Promised Land. Verse one sets the stage. “Then Jacob called for his sons and said: ‘Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.’” Jacob’s place within the timeline of Salvation History is widely known. As the grandson of Abraham, Jacob inherited the covenant promises made to Abram (later Abraham) in Genesis 12:1-3. Three promises were made by God to Abram: God would make him into a great nation, give him a great name and bless all the nations through him. These promises were upgraded to covenant status in chapters 15 (great nation), 17 (great name), and 22 (blessing to nations). As we have discovered, covenants create family. In establishing the three-fold covenant with Abraham, God was entering into a family relationship with Abraham and his offspring. In fact, in Exodus 4:22, this family relationship would be clearly stated by God. “This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son…” As Jacob gathers with his sons, he offers prophetic utterances over each of them. Of special interest to our study is what Jacob says to Judah.

          Judah was the forth son of Jacob. His mother was Leah. You may remember that it was Judah who prevented the murder of Joseph by his brothers. Instead, following Judah’s suggestion, Joseph was sold to Arab merchants who took him to Egypt (Genesis 37:26-27). As we know, Judah’s influence led the Children of Israel to settle in Egypt. Some 400 years later they emerged as a great nation of twelve tribes, fulfilling the first covenant promise to Abraham.

          Jacob’s blessing and prophecy for Judah is instructive for us. He tells Judah that his brothers will praise him and bow down to him. Jacob says that Judah’s hand will be on the necks of his enemies, that is, he will be a victorious warrior.  Jacob describes Judah as the family of a lion. The ruling scepter will not depart from him until the One to whom it belongs comes and all the nations will give allegiance to Him.

          These prophecies would not come to pass in Judah’s lifetime. But, when the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the Tribe of Judah settled in southern Canaan (for further study, see Josh 15:1-12, 20-62). It was from Judah that the Messiah would emerge. Matthew 2:6 quotes the prophecy of Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.” Jacob’s prophecies would come to pass in two future fulfillments. The first concerns King David. Indeed, Judah’s brothers would bow down to his descendent, David. 2 Samuel 5:1-3 states, “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.  In the acknowledgement of all the tribes of David’s military prowess, and in declaring that David was God’s choice to be their king, Jacob’s prophecies were coming true. Through their descendents, Judah’s brothers did bow down and praise him. Represented by David, Judah did become a military force. The symbol of the lion was of one who is strong, bold and courageous (Judges 14:18, Proverbs 28:1). David, in defeating Goliath, and Israel’s enemies, proved this Lion analogy to be an apt description. Jacob’s prophecy again rang true.  What about the scepter resting with Judah? In 2 Samuel 7:16, God institutes a covenant with David which fulfills the prophecy with Judah. God says to David, “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.”  In David, a descendent of Judah, we have an unqualified fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy to his son. But, there is yet another fulfillment to come!

          Though David seems to be the final fulfillment of the prophesies concerning Judah, there are two elements unfulfilled in David. First, Genesis 49:10 states that the scepter will belong to Judah until, “He to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Second, by extension to the prophesies about Judah, David’s covenant with God dictated that his “throne would be established forever.” This covenant promise seemed to go unfulfilled after Zedekiah; the last Davidic King was ousted by the Babylonians. With two important prophesies left to be fulfilled, we must look to another King in the line of Judah.

 

Matthew 1:1-17

          This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, ⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, ⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, ¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah^[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. ¹² After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, ¹⁵ Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. ¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

 

          Matthew 1 is the chapter that most folks hope is not the Gospel reading when they are asked to read in worship! All of those names are pretty intimidating!! Most folks, when they turn to Matthew, skip right over the genealogy that begins the book. But, this genealogy is not there to fill space. It is there to make vital connections. After our brief study of Genesis 49 and what flows from it, we should be very sensitive to Matthew 1:1-2.

          “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:  Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah…” These two verses are not just helpful, they are PROFOUND! What do we discover here? First, Jesus is the son of David. And, Jesus is in the line of Judah! So far, He qualifies. Could Jesus be the final fulfillment? Let’s look at the two prophesies left unfulfilled by David. First, Jacob said that a rightful owner of the “scepter” would come to claim it and the world would obey Him. Two passages come to mind. In Matthew 28:18 it tells us, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus has all authority. He has the power to rule ultimately. That scepter could only belong to Him! How about the world obeying Him? Jesus came to break down the middle wall of partition that separated Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:14). So, in Christ, all nations could be reconciled to God. In this way, the world would be obeying Him. But there may be another way to look at this. Philippians 2:9-11 states, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” One day, everyone on earth will recognize who is in authority! Every knee shall bow…to Jesus. Only He could be the answer.

          What about David’s throne being established forever? After Zedekiah, there was not Davidic King on the throne. There had to be someone in David’s lineage on the throne for this covenant promise to be fulfilled. Look again at Matthew 1:1. It establishes unambiguously that Jesus, the Messiah, is the son of David! But, is He a king? Jesus was born a King! The Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2)? Pontius Pilate had the title “King of the Jews” placed on the cross (Matthew 27:37)! If there was any debate, John, writing in the Revelation settles the issue. He writes, “Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns” (Rev 19:6). “The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). And he declares Jesus to be the, “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).

          From the very beginning, God had a plan. It unfolds through the pages of the Scriptures as a series of unfolding covenants. First with Adam and Eve, then Noah, Abraham, Moses, King David and finally, Jesus ushers in the New and Everlasting Covenant. I close with two thoughts. First, God’s plans will come to pass. We can learn His plan. Love His plan. And work within His plan to find our greatest purpose and joy in life. Second, after seeing so many prophesies come to pass, we can trust the Word of God for today, tomorrow and eternity. God is faithful, and what He says He will do.

          May your Advent waiting be bolstered by the fact that God is there. God is in control. And we can trust Him! No matter what we face.

Worth the Wait: Advent Scriptures and Devotion for December 14

          We continue this season of waiting and preparing by opening the Scriptures. Today our readings are filled with a message of joy at the coming of the Lord, and His salvation. But there is more involved that just joining a crowd, singing some joyous songs and then going home. In order for us truly to enter into the “joy” presented, we will have to answer the question, “What then shall we do?” It is posed three times in the gospel reading. As we will discover, what is required is turning from the old way, and turning toward a new Way! Look for these themes as you read.

Zephaniah 3:14-18

            Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! ¹⁵ The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. ¹⁶ On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. ¹⁷ The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” ¹⁸ “I will remove from you all who mourn over the loss of your appointed festivals, which is a burden and reproach for you.

            Zepheniah was a prophet who ministered in the second half of the seventh century BC when Josiah was king. This period of history for God’s chosen people was one of widespread idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. Zepheniah prophesied that God’s judgment would fall upon Jerusalem. But, he also prophesied that a faithful remnant would be spared this time of judgment.

            In our reading for today, Zephaniah has moved from judgment to joy. Verse 14 admonishes the “Daughter Zion”, “Israel” and “Daughter Jerusalem” to, shout aloud, be glad and rejoice with all of their hearts. God’s people should turn their sorrow to shouting! Why? It is because God has taken away their punishment. The days of discipline have passed. And what’s more, the Lord, the King of Israel, was with them. Because the Lord was present, they should not fear! Their arms should be strengthened since the Mighty Warrior is with them and will save them. Further, they should take great encouragement that the Lord their God is actually “rejoicing” over them in song.  Verse eighteen says, “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. God is vowing to deal with those who are out of step with the worship of God! Those who find the assembly to be oppressive or its message to be convicting! God desires to restore His people, but it will be on His terms!

            Zephaniah’s message is clear. The coming of the Lord will be a time of great joy! Why? It is because the Lord brings with Him forgiveness and restoration. And, astonishingly, Almighty God “rejoices” or exults over them in song! Luke 15:7 says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” So, why is God rejoicing over His people? All of heaven rejoices when God’s people repent. Repentance has two components or steps. The first step is to turn away from the old sinful ways (See Ezekiel 3:19; 18:30). The second step is to turn back to God (see Hosea 6:1). “Repentance” is from the Greek word, metanoia, which means a, “change of mind”. True rejoicing follows restoration which follows repentance!

Philippians 4:4-7

            Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

            In Philippians 4:4-7, the Apostle Paul instructs the church to rejoice always! And just in case we do not grasp the concept of “always,” Paul adds, “I will say again, rejoice!” How can we possibly rejoice at all times? It’s simple. Our joyfulness is not contingent on circumstances, but rather, we rejoice “in the Lord.” We rejoice because God is faithful. God will never leave us or forsake us. God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. His character and power, and the fact that we are the children of God give us cause to rejoice, regardless of our circumstances. 

            He goes on to say that our deportment should be marked by gentleness or reasonableness. Paul wrote about this kind of behavior back in Philippians 2:2-4. He says, “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Paul also speaks of Jesus exhibiting this quality. 1 Corinthians 10:1 says, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…” How can we possibly do this! It goes against human nature to be this selfless! Well, the only way we can do it is in the Lord’s power. Perhaps that’s why Paul writes, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” We are not alone in this! The Lord is with us. He has come to us. He dwells within us. What the prophets looked forward to for centuries has come to pass in our lives. The Lord has made His dwelling among us! The Lord is near - nearer than we might think.

            If we truly understand that the Lord is with us, many things should be different. We do not need to spend so much time worrying. In fact, we should be anxious about absolutely nothing, according to Paul. Instead, we should take our prayers, petitions and thanksgivings to the Lord. Then, we will know true peace. The peace that only the Lord can provide will be ours. This peace transcends normal experience. More than a cessation of conflict, this is a consistent inclination of the heart and mind to God. The resulting peace will accompany us into eternity!

            Philippians 4:4-7 teaches us that true rejoicing is a way of life. And, it changes our lives. Rejoicing is followed by reasonableness. We love everyone as Jesus loved. This means turning from self-love and putting the needs of others before our own. Don’t worry; the Lord is near to help us! Rejoicing is followed by reasonableness, which is followed by repose. This is the kind of peace that only the Lord’s Presence can give. After all, He is the Prince of peace!

Luke 3:10-18

            “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. ¹¹ John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” ¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” ¹³ “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. ¹⁴ Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” ¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸ And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

            Luke 3:10-18 shows us the same patterns that we have already encountered. John the Baptist is standing at the Jordan River preaching about “repentance.” Three times the crowd asks John, “What should we do then?” His first answer dealt with sharing with those in need. Those who have extra clothes and food should share with those who are without. John is asked a second time, this time by tax collectors. “What should we do then?” John instructed them to collect only what they were entitled to and no more. Third, some soldiers asked John, “What should we do then?” Because soldiers also tried to use their positions to enrich themselves, John tells them not to extort money, and to be happy with their pay.

            What’s happening here? John is teaching the meaning of repentance. The first step is to turn away from sin. John addresses with each group a specific sin associated with them. Some are selfish and need to share with the poor. Some are cheaters at business. Some are extortionists and malcontents. If those coming to be baptized truly wanted to be “purified,” they must repent, and the first step is to turn away from the old way. The Second step is to turn toward the New Way.

            There is a pregnant pause here. The people are waiting in expectancy thinking that John might be the Messiah. John, perhaps sensing the question on their hearts answers that he is not the Messiah, but a greater One is coming. John baptizes with water, but this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. And He will use His tools to gather the wheat to be stored in His barn. But the chaff will be burned up in a never ending flame. The tool of the Messiah is a cross! 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” John continued to preach the message of repentance, and encouraged them with the good news.

            These people have walked many miles to hear the message of John. What were they seeking? The Romans ruled over them. The Provisional King was not even authentic. They came to the Jordan to hear this eccentric preacher because they wanted to be restored. As we have seen, restoration must be preceded by repentance. These people also came to hear John’s message because they wanted to rejoice again. They had lost so much: their pride, their prestige, their power. Even the Temple was barren, no longer containing the Ark of the Covenant – which was the focus of the Presence of the Lord. Maybe…just maybe, this man was the Messiah! If Emmanuel would come, then the people could rejoice again! As we have read, true rejoicing comes through the Abiding Presence of the Lord. John offered a baptism in water. But, the One coming would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. The Baptism Jesus would offer meant coming into Christ, and the Spirit coming in to you. Indeed, you could “rejoice in the Lord”! But, first things first. Rejoicing is preceded by restoration, which is preceded by repentance.

            The Messiah was coming to them. John was preparing the way. Sadly, most would miss Him when He came. “What should we do then?” That is a great question!