"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.' For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
What a blessing to know that because of Christ, our "hard service" is complete. Christ's work on the cross was totally sufficient to pay the punishment for all our sins, past, present, and future. All we can do is place our faith in Him, and our "sin has been paid for." That's the glory of the Lord, revealed to all at Christmas and throughout the life of Christ.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Day 7-Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Today's passage is pretty straightforward. A lot of people today seem offended by the term "lost," and understandably so. But, once you are "found" I think the term makes a lot of sense...
Today's passage is pretty straightforward. A lot of people today seem offended by the term "lost," and understandably so. But, once you are "found" I think the term makes a lot of sense...
Friday, December 5, 2008
Day 6-Isaiah 35:4
"Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
Now that we've done some identifiing who the Messiah was to be, we learn a bit about His purpose. "He will come to save you." Certainly all Israel needed saving. Althouhg many thought the needed a political savior, and looked for a Messiah who, like King David, would crush his enemies, in reality, they needed first a spiritual savior, one who could turn their (and our) hearts towards Him in true repentance.
At Christmas time, we sing a lot about "peace on earth." But the kind of peace we all really need, and yearn for, is the peace that is past understanding; the peace that comes from knowing Christ. This Christmas season, let's pray that God would open our hearts and our eyes to see the world as He sees it: let's love others with His love, and show them a better life, a life of true peace.
Now that we've done some identifiing who the Messiah was to be, we learn a bit about His purpose. "He will come to save you." Certainly all Israel needed saving. Althouhg many thought the needed a political savior, and looked for a Messiah who, like King David, would crush his enemies, in reality, they needed first a spiritual savior, one who could turn their (and our) hearts towards Him in true repentance.
At Christmas time, we sing a lot about "peace on earth." But the kind of peace we all really need, and yearn for, is the peace that is past understanding; the peace that comes from knowing Christ. This Christmas season, let's pray that God would open our hearts and our eyes to see the world as He sees it: let's love others with His love, and show them a better life, a life of true peace.
Day 5-Luke 1:31-33
As the angel Gabriel comes to tell Mary that her whole world is about to change, I think it is interesting to see the first words out of his mouth. He greets her (with a greeting that has taken on much mroe theological weight than it deserves), and then he tells her she's going to have a son. So far, not that big of news yet. (Other than the fact that an angel is telling her). Then, the angel identifies the son she's going to have:
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Woah. Every new mother thinks their baby will grow up to do great things, but this kid has cornered the market on doing great thinngs. He is a great thing, from before His birth.
But, in looking at this vese, the best is still to come. As Jesus prepared to leave the earth, He told God He completed the work God gave Him to do (John 17:4). So, this Christmas, as we look forward to the first coming of the Messiah, let's also look for the second coming with equal anticipation.
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
Woah. Every new mother thinks their baby will grow up to do great things, but this kid has cornered the market on doing great thinngs. He is a great thing, from before His birth.
But, in looking at this vese, the best is still to come. As Jesus prepared to leave the earth, He told God He completed the work God gave Him to do (John 17:4). So, this Christmas, as we look forward to the first coming of the Messiah, let's also look for the second coming with equal anticipation.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Day 4-2 Samuel 7:12-14
So already we have seen that God's promised redemption will come in the form of a person (Day 1) and that person will be from the line of Abraham. Throughout the Old Testament history, we trace Abraham's line until we get to King David, our focus today. God promises to David some interesting things in this passage:
"When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men."
On the surface, this passage seems to refer to Solomon. After all, Solomon succeeded David as king, certainly came from David's own body, and did end up building a temple, where God's presence dwelt. So, how could this passage refer to the Messiah, God's plan for redemption?
This passage introduces a key concept for understanding prophecies in the Bible. There is an "already/not yet" tension that exists. In other words, yes, some portions of this prophecy have already come true. Yet some portions of this prophecy have not yet come true. It exists on multiple levels, and we must understand that tension in order to avoid misinterpretations. For example, Solomon did not reign forever, nor has any king from the Davidic line. That portion of the prophecy will have to wait until Christ returns to earth to establish His eternal kingdom. So, this promise from God, while it seems to have Solomon directly in mind, also looks ahead to a future time when Christ will reign eternally.
Tomorrow we'll look at what the gospels say about Christ as David's son...
"When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men."
On the surface, this passage seems to refer to Solomon. After all, Solomon succeeded David as king, certainly came from David's own body, and did end up building a temple, where God's presence dwelt. So, how could this passage refer to the Messiah, God's plan for redemption?
This passage introduces a key concept for understanding prophecies in the Bible. There is an "already/not yet" tension that exists. In other words, yes, some portions of this prophecy have already come true. Yet some portions of this prophecy have not yet come true. It exists on multiple levels, and we must understand that tension in order to avoid misinterpretations. For example, Solomon did not reign forever, nor has any king from the Davidic line. That portion of the prophecy will have to wait until Christ returns to earth to establish His eternal kingdom. So, this promise from God, while it seems to have Solomon directly in mind, also looks ahead to a future time when Christ will reign eternally.
Tomorrow we'll look at what the gospels say about Christ as David's son...
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Day 3-Luke 1:54-55
Mary, who is a pregnant teenager without a husband and living in a small town, starts off this song by saying "My soul glorifies the Lord" (verse 46). That is a sermon in itself--praising God for our circumstances, even when they look quite bleak.
But verses 54 and 55 of this song are our focus today. In these verses, Mary remembers the promise made to Abraham (see Day 2) and asserts that Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. What God promises, He will do, even if it takes a few thousand years...
Another passage I want to point to today references Jesus' own assessment of Abraham. A lot of people today would argue that Jesus never claimed to be God. I've heard many folks say that Jesus never thought of himself as anything other than a rabbi, and the idea of him as God, or as the promised Messiah, was something that the early church invented about him. But, when we look at John 8, we see a verse that very clearly tells us what Jesus thought of himself. Jesus is arguing with some Pharisees about who he is. They claim he is demon-posessed. His response:
56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
Jesus is not a rabbi with bad grammar, He is in fact the I Am, of the same essence as God, who spoke those same words to Moses at the Burning Bush (see Exodus 3:14).
As Christmas draws closer, let's prepare our hearts to receive Christ and His promised redemption.
But verses 54 and 55 of this song are our focus today. In these verses, Mary remembers the promise made to Abraham (see Day 2) and asserts that Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. What God promises, He will do, even if it takes a few thousand years...
Another passage I want to point to today references Jesus' own assessment of Abraham. A lot of people today would argue that Jesus never claimed to be God. I've heard many folks say that Jesus never thought of himself as anything other than a rabbi, and the idea of him as God, or as the promised Messiah, was something that the early church invented about him. But, when we look at John 8, we see a verse that very clearly tells us what Jesus thought of himself. Jesus is arguing with some Pharisees about who he is. They claim he is demon-posessed. His response:
56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
Jesus is not a rabbi with bad grammar, He is in fact the I Am, of the same essence as God, who spoke those same words to Moses at the Burning Bush (see Exodus 3:14).
As Christmas draws closer, let's prepare our hearts to receive Christ and His promised redemption.
Our Christmas Tree
We wanted to post a picture of our little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree. Kris and I have agreed not to buy any gifts this year so we could not justify spending money on a tree. So I got this crazy idea and it was confirmed by a display I saw in McKinney this past weekend. We found this branch in my cousin's yard. I must say, when I brought it home, Calla had serious doubts. But Hannah and I worked hard and by the time we were done Calla said "Hey! It does look like a Christmas tree!" I learned recently that Martin Luther began the Christmas tree tradition to point up to heaven. So we are actually ahead of the game because all of our branches point up...not just the tip of it! Truly...it is a reminder to us this Holy day that it is not about how many things we accumulate or fancy decor but about how God provided for us Immanuel and how simply, without pomp and circumstance, He came to save us all.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Day 2-Genesis 12:3
In today's passage, we'll take a look at the next major step in determining the identity of the promised redeemer. In Day 1, we saw that God's plan for redemption would come from the "seed of a woman." Now, in Genesis 12, we narrow the focus down to the offspring of one particular person: Abraham.
In Genesis 12, God makes a promise to Abraham that he will become the father of many nations. In verse 3, God says, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." It is this last phrase that is important to us today.
Suddenly, the focus is narrowed from the offspring of any woman to the specific offspring that will come from Abraham. And the rest of Genesis traces the family of Abraham, following the line of that One who will bless every nation on earth with God's redeeming love.
Tomorrow, we'll take a look at what Jesus himself says about Abraham...
In Genesis 12, God makes a promise to Abraham that he will become the father of many nations. In verse 3, God says, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." It is this last phrase that is important to us today.
Suddenly, the focus is narrowed from the offspring of any woman to the specific offspring that will come from Abraham. And the rest of Genesis traces the family of Abraham, following the line of that One who will bless every nation on earth with God's redeeming love.
Tomorrow, we'll take a look at what Jesus himself says about Abraham...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Day 1-Genesis 3:15
The first prophecy that relates to the coming Messiah happens almost right away: in Genesis 3.
At the moment that God is cursing man and woman for their original sin, He provides hope, and the promise of redemption. Speaking to the serpent, God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
From this passage, called the "first gospel," we learn that the promised redemption will come from one born of a woman (the offspring or "seed" of woman). Notice, too, that the serpent will only strike the heel of this one, whereas He will crush the head of the serpent, a fatal wound. So, the redemption from sin would come from a person, the seed of a woman, and when he comes he will destroy evil forever.
We know now that Jesus came for exactly this purpose. But wait...if He is supposed to destroy evil forever, then why did that jerk cut me off while texting in his car the other day? It seems like evil is alive and well...more on that as we progress...
At the moment that God is cursing man and woman for their original sin, He provides hope, and the promise of redemption. Speaking to the serpent, God says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
From this passage, called the "first gospel," we learn that the promised redemption will come from one born of a woman (the offspring or "seed" of woman). Notice, too, that the serpent will only strike the heel of this one, whereas He will crush the head of the serpent, a fatal wound. So, the redemption from sin would come from a person, the seed of a woman, and when he comes he will destroy evil forever.
We know now that Jesus came for exactly this purpose. But wait...if He is supposed to destroy evil forever, then why did that jerk cut me off while texting in his car the other day? It seems like evil is alive and well...more on that as we progress...
The 25 Days of Christmas
Over the days between now and Christmas, we're going to be examining some of the prophecies about Christ in the Old Testament with our kids. We thought it would be a fun way to build excitement about the real purpose of Christmas. And, since we've already identified the prophecies, then I thought it would be fun to share them with you, and even engage in some dialogue about them. So, watch this space for the next 25 days...
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