Advent Series 7: Joy Forevermore

Light the Advent Candle four,

Think of Joy forever more,

Christ child in a stable born

Gift of love that Christmas morn.

Have you ever watched the sunrise? Not just the sunrise, but the skies turn from darkest night to early morn? I have, only once – I’m not usually up that early. My husband and I were driving to California for Christmas a few years back. We had left in the early evening the day before to try to out run a storm moving in. We made it, but were up all night. Or, I should say, my husband was up all night, I slept a bit. But in the early hours of the morning I was awake with him as we drove through Utah and Nevada and watched the skies begin to lighten.

It was beautiful. I’m not sure I can fully describe it, but the beauty of that morning was alive and vivid and fresh. It was like being let in on a secret. It was joyful. I will fully admit that I didn’t realize the joy of what I witnessed until later since I was so tired. But every time I think about that trip, I always come back to that morning. If you have driven on I-15 through Utah, Nevada, and into California, you know that it isn’t the most scenic and pretty drive. There’s nothing really majestic about the desert spaces and the constant brown of the landscape. But, there was beauty there when the sun began to illuminate the plain brown landscape. All the world was new and fresh.

Now imagine that you have been living in the darkness, in the night for a long time and there hasn’t been any light at all. Then you hear rumors about it. The light is coming, it will be here. The source is reputable; you have no reason to doubt, so you hope. This is what Isaiah was writing about in 9:2-7:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders, the rode of their oppressors.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

To unto us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:2-7

The things that use to be necessary for life: warrior’s boot, war garments, etc, are no longer needed. They can be thrown away. The light has come! Everything is different now, everything looks different, and everyone will behave differently. This new time isn’t going to end, it will endure forever. It’s a new era. When Christ came, lived, died, and rose from the grave, he brought with him this new light. Things aren’t ever going to be the same. Therefore, let us rejoice and worship our God and King!

But remember, Advent isn’t just about Christ first coming as a baby in a manger. We also celebrate and look forward to his second coming, when he comes and establishes his kingdom forevermore. The light has dawned, and is getting brighter and brighter, but it is hardly high noon yet. When we put our trust and faith in Christ, and entered into salvation, we became new creatures. The old was washed away because it wasn’t needed anymore. We entered into a newness of life with our Creator and are privileged to call him Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!

Today, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, let us shed the old and embrace the new, let us increase our joy at the knowledge of our King and Savior. The king has come, and is coming again. When he returns, all shall be made new again! We will be restored, refreshed and completely redeemed. Christmas is a time of great joy because we remember what God has done, and is continuing to do. Amen and Amen.

Advent Post 6: Light the Advent Candle Three

Light the Advent Candle three,

Think of heavenly harmony

Angels singing “Peace on Earth”

At the Blessed Savior’s birth.

Traditionally, the third Sunday of Advent carries the theme of Joy with it because the advent of Christ’s birth is soon at hand. This is symbolized by the light pink candle (or candle of a different color) in the Advent Candle Wreaths. The verse in the Advent song above is taken from Luke 2:14. It is what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds in their fields, “Glory to God in the Highest, and Peace on Earth to those on whom His favor rests!”

This is a message of joy! God still favors mankind, so much so, that He is sending His son to live among them, and to die for them. At a time when the Jews were filled with hope that God would overthrow their Roman overlords, and free them, God says that it’s not just about their immediate physical freedom, but about their eternal spiritual salvation. But there is more to Christ than just a little baby, born in a manger, who will forgive our sins and bring salvation. He is the King who has come to defeat death, and sin once and for all. His entrance into the world is humble, but it is also a reason for great rejoicing.

Think of the lyrics of O Come All Ye Faithful:

O Come All Ye Faithful

Joyful and Triumphant

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.

Come and behold Him,

Born the King of Angels.

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

O come let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord!

In the Old Testament, God was sometimes called, “Yahweh Sabbaoth” which is often translated, “The Lord of Hosts.” What does this mean? This means the Commander of the Armies. God is not just the Lord of all that is, but He is also the commander of the Armies of Heaven. So when we sing, “Born the King of Angels,” we proclaim his Kingship, and ability to command the armies of the kingdom.

We sometimes have the same problem as the first century Jews. We forget who God is, and all his promises and characteristics. The Jews didn’t recognize Jesus because they were expecting the King of Angels and the Lord of Hosts. The idea of a suffering servant didn’t sit well with them. We, on the other hand, expect Jesus Meek and Mild, who loves us, forgives us, saves us, and then forgives us again every time we mess up. The idea of a King who comes with justice and all the Hosts of heaven to conquer the earth and rule it doesn’t sit well with us because violence is a bad thing, even in the hands of a good God right?

The truth is that Jesus comes to rule the earth with divine justice that will put an end to all the evil that pervades our world. He will not just control the violence with the threat of more violence; He will lead us in a better way to live, and heal the wounds that poison our hearts and minds. He comes to save us from ourselves, and from His wrath that will be poured out on the evil in the world. This is wonderful news. This is the God we hope in and trust.

Today, some of the children who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are being laid to rest. There are Christmas presents, wrapped and waiting under a brightly decorated tree that will never be opened by their intended recipients, because of the evil that exists in the world today. We talk about this and search for meaning and a reason for it; someone to blame, or some explanation that will bring peace to our hearts. In eight days, we will celebrate the birth of the King of Angels who came to show us hope and to teach us a better way live. We celebrate the one who is coming to make all things new (Revelations 21:5), and who came and will return to dwell among us. “They will be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).” It is right to mourn for these dear children, for their death’s remind us all of the darkness that exists in this world that we cannot defeat ourselves. But let us also rejoice in the hope we have for our coming King. For, he is coming.

Advent Series 5: Call Him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:10-17)

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths of in the highest heights.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The Lord will bring on you and your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.

At this point in time, Ahaz was king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and the Northern Kingdom of Israel was just a few years away from being conquered by the Assyrians. Right before this passage occurs, we find that the King of Aram and King of Israel have joined forces to attack Judah. Needless to say, things were not going well. Isaiah was then sent to Ahaz to comfort him with the news from God that this plot to destroy Judah would not come to pass, but that both Damascus (capital of the Arameans) and Samaria (capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel) would be destroyed soon.

Then God, to show his faithfulness, told Ahaz to test Him in this and ask for a sign. Ahaz refused, so God gave him the sign of a virgin, conceiving and giving birth to a child who would be called Immanuel, “God with us.” When we hear these verses, we often completely miss the original context because we jump to Matthew 1:18-25 where Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream. The angel commands him to take Mary has his wife and to name the child within her Jesus. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua which means “The Lord saves.”

For Ahaz and the people of Judah at the time of this prophecy though, this sign brought great hope and comfort, especially in light of Isaiah 7:17-25 (details the trials Judah will face in the coming years – not a pretty picture). God’s people have been crying out for centuries for His presence. During the Exodus, the people got nervous that God and Moses had left them so they made idols – physical reminders of God to give them comfort, and to make worship easier (Exodus 32). During the time of the Judges, the people drifted from God, then cried out to Him, “Where are you?! We need you!” God would then save and deliver them, but the people again would drift from Him because they didn’t understand how to serve an invisible God. Psalm 42 cries out to God, longing for His presence, and for a real and intimate connection with the Creator.

All these people and so many more throughout history have all asked, “God, where are you? Will you be here?” To Ahaz, God says, “Yes. I will be with you. I will not forsake or abandon you through all the trials and hardships you are about to endure.” The Immanuel sign assures the king that God will overcome the immediate threat. It is quite likely that there was a young woman in the royal household, who conceived and gave birth to a child and named him Immanuel during Ahaz’ time. This young woman did not experience the Immaculate Conception as Mary does in Matthew 18:1 or Luke 1:26-38, but her child served as a constant reminder to Ahaz that God was faithful and would be present with his people in times of trouble.

Approximately 700 years later, another young woman found herself to be with child, miraculously. Things haven’t changed too much since Ahaz’ time. The people continue cry out to God to deliver them from their Gentile overlords. There was an air of doubt about what God could and would do for His people. And then God came, and lived among his people. He took on physical form so that He could deliver His people from their spiritual bondage and sin. Once delivered, they could once again feel his presence, know His law, and enjoy a covenantal relationship with Him.

And the Word become flesh, and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

Immanuel still is a sign of hope for us. Jesus came, and then he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us so that we might always know God’s presence and truth. It all started with a promise that God would be with us. God has made good on that promise to us, so let us rejoice and honor Him and His purposes, for He is great and greatly to be praised!

Over the next few days I would encourage you all to spend time in prayer praising God, and remembering all He has done for us: he has saved us, provided for us, redeemed us, given us a new calling and purpose, and that his presence is always with us. Hallelujah!

Advent Series 4: Light the Advent Candle Two...

Light the Advent Candle two,

Think of humble shepherds who,

Filled with wonder at the sight,

Of the child on Christmas Night.

Paul writes to the Corinthians to remind them of who they are and, in light of this, to keep God at the center of their world. “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).”

Paul is stating a pattern that can be observed throughout history of how God works. Weak and foolish people accomplishing great and mighty deeds can only be done with supernatural intervention. Therefore, God gets the glory. I am sure many of you have heard this quote: “The next time you think that God cannot use you, just remember: Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Jacob was a liar, Joseph was a tattle tale and was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Rahab was a prostitute, David had an affair and was a murderer, Jonah ran from God, Peter denied Christ, Paul was too religious, and Lazarus was dead!” God not only uses the weak and foolish to further His kingdom, he redeems them as well, and calls them His sons and daughters.

But it is also the weak and foolish that have been privileged to receive some of the greatest revelations of God throughout history, and not the strong and powerful. Moses received the 10 Commandments, etched on stone by God’s own fingers, twice[1]. Rahab confessed the might of God before the Israeli spies and was rewarded by marrying into the line of David, and Jesus[2]. David poured out his soul before God for his sins and was promised honor because of his repentance[3]. Jonah begrudgingly witnessed God’s concern and redemption of a foreign, Gentile, enemy nation[4]. Peter confessed Christ’s identity and spent the rest of his life furthering his master’s kingdom before being honored with the privilege of dying as his Savior did[5]. While Paul was still hell bent on destroying the followers of Christ, Jesus appeared to him, called away from his current mission, and gave him a new mission[6].

So all that to say, it was not the religious elite that were invited to worship at Jesus’ birth. It was humble shepherds. Shepherds were not glamorous. They were not usually wealthy, or, for that matter, clean. They had to stay with the flocks to protect them, to rescue those that were attacked or wandered off. They weren’t home at sundown for quite evening with the family and a hot bath.  But, some of God’s greatest chosen men have been shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s sons, Moses, and David. The life of a shepherd proved to be great preparation for a life of service and leading others because the needs of the others must come before the needs of the shepherd.

Therefore, it is right that shepherds should be the first to welcome Christ into the world—not the high priest, not the pastor of a mega church, not a bunch of theologians and seminarians, but the people who lived to serve. These men were not wealthy, fat, warm, or prestigious. But they had servant’s hearts, and were quiet, so they could hear, listen, and follow the instructions of the angels that appeared to them singing of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20). Now, is it bad to be a pastor of a mega church, a theologian or a seminarian? No, it’s not. But having those degree’s or responsibilities doesn’t give us a pass on knowing God, having an intimate relationship with Him, and following His will, and not doing our own thing.

This Christmas, let us remember that it’s not about us or our families. It’s about God, and what He’s doing, and what He wants us to be doing. If we will submit our lives to Him fully, then we will receive great blessings and revelations about Him.

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[1] Exodus 32: 15-16, 19,  34:1-28.

[2] Joshua 2:8-14, 6:22-25, Matthew 1:5.

[3] 2 Samuel 12:13-14, Psalm 32.

[4] Jonah 3-4

[5] Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, On Peter’s Death: “Having been nine months in prison, Peter was brought out for execution, and after being scourged, he was crucified with his head downwards. It is related that he himself chose this painful posture because he did not think he was worthy to suffer in the same manner as the Lord.” – John Foxes’ Book of Martyrs

[6] Acts 9:1-30.