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Advent 2020 – Luke 2:8-20 (Dec. 23)

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14, ESV)

The night sky must have exploded with light as countless angels sang that song. It’s a chorus that has sounded down through the millennia, and no doubt you have read it, heard it or even seen it on a few Christmas cards many times already this season. 

But do we truly take the time to take in the actual words the angels sang? It’s worth doing that phrase by phrase. 

“Glory to God in the highest” – The angels worship God through their song, addressing Him first in His dwelling place, the “highest.” Where is this place? It’s not on any maps. It’s not on any star charts. This is the realm of God’s dwelling, where everything is perfect and glory (the majesty and weightiness of God) fills every place and everything. Yet on this night of the Savior’s birth, more glory goes to God in the realm from which His Son has come. 

“And on earth peace” – We measure peace mostly by the absence of any conflict. No wars or fighting. Yet the biblical word includes so much more: Wholeness, complete harmony in your life, and even prosperity. It’s life working as it should with nothing out of joint. When the angels declare peace on earth, they mean on one hand that the war is over between God and humans. God made the way for rebel humans to be made right again with Him through the Son that He gave. And the angels mean that peace is now delivered to man with man and woman with man. The conflicts that divide us no longer need divide us because God’s Son has arrived, declaring peace with us. 

“Among those with whom he is pleased” – There is one qualification, for peace does not happen to you just because you live on this earth. God is pleased by faith, and as Hebrews reminds us, 

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

God receives glory when we believe His word and receive His Son as our only Savior and Lord. You don’t have to accomplish great things to earn your peace. You don’t have to be rich, smart or popular. But you must exercise faith in God and in His Son. These are God’s terms of peace. Believe on His Son and you will be saved! 

Glory, peace and the pleasure of God. These are the theme of the angels’ song. Don’t rush over those words but pause to worship and talk to God today, thanking Him for those terms of peace, and giving glory to him by faith. 

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Advent 2020 – Psalm 72:18 (Dec. 7)

Psalm 72:18

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things. (ESV)

This week we are focusing on the Way – how God will work out the salvation of His people, despite the overwhelming odds against their salvation. And we’re going to see day by day through this week that faith is required to experience God’s way of salvation. 

Today’s verse in Psalm 72:18 calls on us to bless the LORD, the God of Israel, and proclaims that God alone does wondrous things. Why focus on this verse today as we learn about God’s way? There are a couple of reasons. 

First, we need to know something about this entire Psalm. It is the end of Book 2, the second collection of Psalms, and it was written to honor Israel’s king. Either David or his son Solomon wrote this psalm, and it describes the type of king that Israel needs to sit on the throne. A mighty king. A just king. A faithful king. A compassionate king. A godly king. A king that Israel will pray for, learn from, and grow closer to God as a result of his rule. A king to whom the whole world will give honor and pay tribute. When a king like that rules with perfect justice and love, the whole world sees God most clearly and worships Him for who He is. 

Ultimately, we know Jesus is this King! He is the heir of David, for Jesus Himself says in Revelation 22:16, “I am the root and the descendant of David.” God’s plan is for the whole world to be ruled by King Jesus. That is God’s way forward. That was the expectation of David and Solomon and all the people – for the Messiah to rule them. Yet, by the time of Isaiah, when the people inquire as to what type of King they will get, Isaiah tells them he will be rejected and despised (Isaiah 53). We’ll learn later this week why that would be the case. 

But I said there were two reasons why we are focusing on Psalm 72:18 today. The first reason is to meditate on the perfect king and pray for his arrival. But the second reason to focus on this verse is to give God praise for the wondrous things He has done for you personally. What has God done for you? What wondrous things have you experienced through His work in your life? 

Think on those things today, cultivate your faith in God’s wondrous works and bless the glorious name of the LORD!

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Advent 2020 – Isaiah 40:3-5 (Dec. 6)

Isaiah 40:3-5

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

We are now in week 2 of Advent, and our focus redirects this week to the importance of faith.

Isaiah the prophet had so many good things to share. Chapter 40 is a treasure of comfort for God’s people, and God begins His message through Isaiah with “Comfort, comfort my people… speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins” (1-2). Judah was a war-torn, beaten-up nation when they received that message. As a whole, the people of the nation thought that God had given up on them. But God had not abandoned them. He speaks tenderly these words of comfort.

But what would God do to bring about the security and comfort of His people? What way would He work to bring those things to pass?

God sent a messenger ahead of Him, a voice, to clear the way. “Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Whatever God was about to do would take faith to believe, and that was God’s intent, to call on His people to believe on Him.

It would take a miracle, a mountain-shifting miracle to show Judah that God was still in control. It would have to be a miracle on par with making the rough terrain of treacherous mountains with thieves and hidden dangers on the eastern path to Jerusalem as smooth as a plain. Can God eliminate threats by making even the mountains flat – leveling the field of battle?

Hundreds of years after Isaiah spoke these words, a voice did cry in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” John the Baptist preached his message of repentance and belief in the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. The way forward that Isaiah said God was making was the way of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the glory of the LORD revealed.

This week we will learn more of Jesus as the “Way” of God. We will be challenged to exercise our faith in Him, to believe on Him. And we will be comforted by our powerful and majestic God.

As we close, consider your faith. Do you recognize that God intends comfort for you? Do you believe that He speaks tenderly to you, wanting you not to see your sin as insurmountable but the certainty of salvation through His Son Jesus? God is so eager to display His own matchless glory through the giving of His Son, and He has made a way for you to bring your sin to Him and find forgiveness and complete acceptance in Christ.

That is the way forward. By faith, walk in that way today.

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Following the Resurrected King – Pt 3

Famous last words.

Dozens of articles have been written about the humorous, ironic and often sad last words of those the world counts famous.

What if your last recorded words were, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” That’s what is written in John 20:25 from the lips of Thomas the disciple of Jesus. The story of John could have ended on those words, but thankfully the resurrected King Jesus appeared to Thomas and changed both his words and his heart.

Let’s read about it today in John 20:24–29

[24] Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [25] So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

[26] Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” [27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” [28] Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” [29] Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (ESV)

What can we learn from this passage?

It’s now one week after the resurrection. During the week Jesus has appeared to many of His disciples, proving that He is alive. But Thomas was not with the other 10 disciples when Jesus had appeared to them. Why not?

Some have named him “Doubting Thomas.” I get that, for his recorded words “I will never believe” really are the gloom and skepticism of doubt. However, I think there is more than just doubt troubling Thomas.

He was the one in John 11:16 who said about Jesus to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas was ready to follow Jesus to death. When Jesus talked in the upper room about leaving His disciples, Thomas replied to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). I hear in these words perhaps gloom and pessimism, but I also hear resolve, loyalty and love for Jesus. Thomas was a man prone to pessimism and doubt, but he was also a man prone to loyalty and deep love.

Have you ever thought that people can be very complex? It’s true! Because Thomas exhibits true faith and love for Jesus, I don’t think it’s fair to keep labeling him a “doubter.” Nevertheless he said some very strong words: “I will never believe.” It’s at this point where, if I were one of the other disciples talking to him at that time, I would seriously be fearful for Thomas. How can he say that? What will the Lord say and do?

We read what the Lord did. He appeared to the disciples again the next Sunday, again saying “Peace be with you!” and immediately went to Thomas. Jesus urged Thomas to touch his hands, and to reach out to the place in His side where the spear had pierced Him. He commanded Thomas, “Do not disbelieve, but believe” (20:27).

And you know what the last recorded words of Thomas in the Bible really are? “My Lord and my God.”  One of the most famous skeptics in the New Testament is also one of the first to rightly worship Jesus as God.

The Lord Jesus is still working in us complex people. He knows at times we’ll feel depressed, see the glass half-empty, wonder if the promises about Jesus are really true in this complex and messed-up world. To us Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed” (John 20:29).

Application: 

  • Do you identity with Thomas as I’ve represented him? What are the times when you feel gloomy, sad or see the worst of life?
  • One of the tendencies Thomas had was pulling away from the community of God’s people during a time of deep sadness and grief. I understand personally the tendency to isolate and get away from people as a more introverted person, but I’ve learned the important life lesson that I need the body of Christ to help me in times of grief. As hard as it is for us to involve others sometimes, we need to be open to their love and care during hard times. Especially during times like these when we’re very isolated. We may just miss a blessing.
  • Best of all is that assurance of Jesus, that we today are blessed when we worship Him even though we don’t yet see Him. He knows the challenges we face to believe, but He gives us faith and encourages us to keep believing on His word.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus we confess we are prone to doubt, to pessimism and skepticism. We think often of the negative things happening around us and to us. We often read more news headlines than we spend time in your Word. Forgive us. Please cleanse us and help us to believe; to hold fast to Your words. Grant us the blessing of belief in You as our Lord and God. Amen.

Worship:

Be Thou My Vision

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Following the Resurrected King – Pt 1

On resurrection Sunday, Jesus made many appearances.

One has often often perplexed me. Not because of who Jesus appeared to but what He said on that occasion.

Today we’ll focus on the first appearance recorded to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18) and learn what Jesus meant when He said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”

John 20:11–18

[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. [15] Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (ESV)

What can we learn from this passage?

Mary was a woman from the region called Magdala, and that’s why her name appears as Mary Magdalene. Who was she?

Mary had followed Jesus ever since He had freed her from possession by evil spirits. Luke 8:2 reveals that Mary had been inhabited by seven demons. She had so much gratitude for Jesus that she followed Him with a group of other women who had likewise been delivered from evil spirits and infirmities all the way to the cross and the tomb. People sometimes mix up Mary with a sinful woman mentioned in Luke 7:36-50, but there is no evidence to support that link. Needless to say, Mary was reborn when Jesus saved her, and she truly followed Him as her Savior and Lord.

But what deep sadness she felt renewed when she discovered the empty tomb that Sunday morning. All she could think through her grief is that someone had taken the body of Jesus away. Two angels in bright appearance spoke to her urging her not to despair, but Mary didn’t seemed fazed by their appearance or words. Grief ran deep through her.

She even perceived Jesus Himself who appeared near her by the garden tomb as the gardener. It wasn’t until Jesus spoke her name, “Mary,” that she knew it was the Lord.

It is intriguing that Jesus said to her, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father,” particularly so since Jesus said about a week later to Thomas, “put out your hand and place it in my side” (John 20:27). Why the difference? From what I can understand, it wasn’t because Jesus’s resurrection body couldn’t handle touch. He was not by any means raw or fragile! Mary and Thomas actually had to learn a similar lesson: walk with Jesus by faith. Trust Him and take Him at His word. Mary, by “cling[ing]” to Jesus, tried to grasp onto Jesus with no intent to let Him go! I truly believe Mary was so glad to have Jesus back that she didn’t want to lose her Lord again. That is understandable, and we would all hopefully identify with her right desire. However, no one could have closer access to Jesus than that given by the gift of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus returned to His Father, that’s the promise He said He would fulfill (John 15:26-27).

Application: 

  • Jesus calls each of His beloved people by name. Can you imagine Jesus calling you by your first name? How wonderful it will be for believers to someday hear the voice of their Good Shepherd! Yet, even now He speaks to us by the promises He gave us. Which leads to the next point:
  • Jesus calls on each of us to live by faith in His revealed word. Mary didn’t need to cling to Jesus to try to control what would happen next and guarantee her joy and safety. Friends, you and I don’t need to live trying to control the outcome of our lives. Trust in the promises of Jesus our Lord! Look them up. Perhaps it would do you much good to read through John chapters 14-16 this week.

Prayer:

Our Lord and Savior, we love You and would gladly cling to You! But like You told Mary, it is good for us to know that You are with Your Father now and have sent Your Holy Spirit to us, communicating Your love for us and the truth of Your Word. Help us to live by faith in You today, to live by Your Spirit and live in His power. We long for the day when we can be with You face to face. Amen.

Worship:

He Will Hold Me Fast