CONTENTS - JLWilliams.org

CONTENTS
Introduction
1 The Fullness of Time
2 Jesus’ Family Tree or God’s Genealogy
3 The Prophetic Names of Christ
4 Immanuel...God With Us
5 God’s Christmas Cards
6 The God Who Changes Everything
7 Joseph: God’s Man for Mary & God’s Man for Jesus
8 Mary: God’s Woman for Joseph & God’s Woman for Jesus
9 Mary’s Song
10 Christmas Gifts Joseph and Mary Gave to Jesus
11 Meeting God in the Ordinary
12 Giving Christ the Mangers of Your Life
13 The People Who Missed Christmas
14 Fear Not...The Message of Christmas
15 Simeon’s Prayer
16 God’s Christmas Tree
17 God’s Gift Wrapping
18 God’s Gift Catalogue
19 Lessons from the Wise Men
20 Giving Like Wise Men
21 Post 9/11 Christmas: God With Us or Allah Against Us?
22 Family Life After Christmas
23 Postscript: The Santa Claus Myth
INTRODUCTION
Christmas is the single greatest event in human history! That’s because it
was at Christmas that God Became A Man. It was that event that created
Advent the world has celebrated ever since.
Because of its cosmic significance, Christmas divided history into B.C, and
A.D. And it continues to divide humanity into believers and
unbelievers...reached and unreached...churched and unchurched.
But even among Christians, Christmas has become so familiar that it has lost
much of its meaning. For most Americans and Westerners, the real meanings
of Christmas have been largely lost to shopping, gift-giving, eating,
drinking, and partying. The secular has over-shadowed the spiritual. Christ
has been taken out of Christmas. "Holiday Greetings" has replaced "Merry
Christmas!" Santa Claus has taken center stage away from the Savior.
Crèches are banned in public places. The Christmas tree has replaced the
cross. Christmas has been secularized, commercialized and trivialized.
In this eBook, Patt and I have presented an in-depth study of the Christmas
narratives. The genesis of these studies have come from teachings I have
done across the years and around the world on Christmas. Each section is a
small book unto itself. They are not "brief devotionals" for those who are
only looking for a quick “Christmas sonnet” from God! The studies are more
theological than sentimental. Each study is directed to the mind as well as to
the heart. Since the truths of Christmas are rooted in history rather than
mythology, a proper study of the narratives require some serious thought.
It is our prayer that these studies will help Americans strip away some of
their Western traditions and trappings of Christmas and anchor it back into
first century Judaism. Only as we rightly understand Christmas in the First
Century, can we properly celebrate it in the Twenty-First Century. May the
studies in this book help you re-center Christmas around Christ! After all, it
is His Birthday!
THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Christmas...The Divine Invasion
“...when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a
woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law, that we
might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, “God
sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out,
‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since
you are a son, God made you also an heir”
(Gal. 4:4-7).
It’s almost time for Christmas! And as the popular song says: “It’s the most
wonderful time of the year!” From the day after Thanksgiving until
December 24th, preparations intensify and expectations increase – especially
among children and all those who are still young at heart.
This yearning and longing for a divine epiphany is not a new one. The
Jewish people prayed for the advent of God’s promised Messiah for over a
thousand years! That’s a long time to wait for Christmas! But finally, in the
“...fullness of time, God sent His Son, born of a woman.”
But from man’s perspective, the time for this “divine invasion” did not seem
right. God’s calendar seemed to be out of sync with the realties of the world
at that time. To most Jews, it seemed like the worst possible time for God to
send His Messiah – especially as a helpless little baby! The only Messiah
they wanted was a military Messiah who would ride in with divine fury and
force Rome out of Palestine! They had little expectation or time for a “baby
Messiah” in the arms of a newly married Jewish maiden. To the expectant
Jews, it was only the “fullness of time” for a Messiah of military might,
clothed in a soldier’s armor – not one wrapped in swaddling clothes! A
“Messiah in a manger” seemed like a contradiction of terms – totally
unexpected and unacceptable! Such a Messiah was untimely and unwanted.
God’s perspective of time is almost always different from ours – whether
then or now. His foreordained plan of a “redemptive invasion” seemed so
inappropriate and untimely. His Messiah did not fit the religious mold and
mind-set of the day. They did not want a Messiah who would “...save their
people from their sins,” as Gabriel had announced to Joseph, the earthly
father of Jesus (Matt. 1:21). They prayed for and longed for a conquering
Messiah who would save them from the Roman legions occupying Israel.
They wanted the liberation of their beloved Holy Land and Holy City. It was
not liberation from sin or holiness of life they were seeking.
It seems that in any century, we always prefer a Messiah who will save us
from our difficult circumstances rather than from our wrong choices! We
desire the liberation of our nation far more than the liberation of our nature.
The liberation of our country is far more desirable than the transformation of
our character. But God’s Messiah had come to deal with the root of man’s
problem – not the fruit. He was coming for redemption – not for revolution.
Both time and causality are generally a mystery to mankind (For a more
thorough study of this subject, please see my book entitled: What Time Is
It?). And God’s sovereign manipulation and redemptive intervention into
history always catches man off guard. That’s because God almost always
does the unexpected...the unthinkable...the unimaginable. And Christmas is
the greatest proof! No one could ever have thought it up in advance. The
Christmas event is not how we would have had God intervene in history.
From our perspective, that’s not how a true Messiah would come into the
world! It was the wrong time...wrong place...wrong people...wrong reason.
So, from man’s perspective, God’s sense of timing almost always seems a
bit off. He is either too early or too late – but seldom “right on time!” He
seems to show up after the irreversible wrong decision has been made...after
the bankruptcy has occurred...after the prodigal son leaves home in
rebellion...after the wayward daughter has become pregnant...after the
abortion has taken place...after the person gets AIDS...after the sickness has
become terminal...after the trigger has been pulled...after the fatal accident
has happened...after the person has died...after the point of no
return...after...after...after – but seldom before. Or so it seems.
But Christmas annually reminds us that God is always “right on time” – at
least from His perspective. According to His celestial watch, it was in the
exact “...fullness of time” for Him to send forth His Son to redeem the
world. And contrary to the prevailing popular perception, His Advent was
perfectly timed. He was not a minute early nor a second late. God’s timing
was eternally perfect. All of history had been building toward this
redemptive rendezvous– literally since before time began (Rev. 13:8). And
this “divine invasion” would forever split time. It would divide human
history in two, between B.C. and A.D. Christmas would give all of life a
“new direction!”
From the very first moment of creation, Christmas was an absolute certainty.
Man’s primal sin and fall from a state of spiritual innocence made Christmas
a redemptive necessity. From God’s perspective, human history had been
moving in a straight line from the Garden of Eden to the manger of
Bethlehem...from Adam and Eve to Joseph and Mary...from the preincarnate Logos of God to the Lamb of God who would take away the sins
of the world...from the eternal Son in the bosom of the Father to the tiny
infant in the womb of Mary...from Jehovah God to Jesus of Nazareth...from
the transcendent Creator to “Immanuel...God with us” (Matt. 1:23). And as
always, God was “right on time!”
By contrast, the Eastern Religious mystics have no such understanding of
either God or time. From their worldview, time and life have no such
meaning or direction. It is cyclical rather than linear. Time is going in an
endless and meaningless circle. And man and all of life are imprisoned in a
time capsule from which there is no escape. Life is going nowhere fast with
an infinite number of reincarnations to work out its purposeless goal.
This Eastern belief in reincarnation teaches people that their station in this
life is strictly determined by their karma, or actions from their previous life
or lives. Karma is a rigid and mindless law of “cause and effect.” It means
that everything that happens in this life is directly caused by one’s behavior
in a former existence. If a person’s “bad karma” was greater than their “good
karma” in their former life (and whose isn’t!), then their reincarnation is
downward to a lower station in life. They may even reincarnate so far down
that they become a hapless member of the animal kingdom! Or, even worse,
an insect!
So, to the Hindu or Buddhist, this present life is a “time capsule” in which
all of us are imprisoned. There is no escape. We are fatalistically locked into
this human prison and there is no key to unlock the door to a different
existence. There is no possibility of a new birth...a new life...a new start...a
new direction. And everything around us is nothing more than maya or
illusion. The only real world is the unseen one that enshrouds us in its
eternal and impersonal grip. Therefore, in this life there is no “...fullness of
time” like the Bible records. There is no place for a “divine invasion.” In this
world of endless reincarnations and rebirths, Christmas does not – and
cannot – exist.
Likewise, it is totally unthinkable for the transcendent Allah of the Koran to
become incarnate in human flesh. He forever remains separated from man –
even from his most devoted followers. As a result, even the most dedicated
Muslims live their whole lives uncertain about whether their eternal destiny
will end in Paradise or hell. No Christmas there either!
All over Asia, especially where Hinduism and Buddhism are believed and
practiced, you see myriads of tankas, or paintings and carvings of this everturning “Wheel of Life.” (It is interesting that I am writing this chapter while
in Asia where these tankas abound on every hand in temples, shrines,
sculptures and art). As you closely study this fatalistic wheel, you see that it
is held by a demon who totally controls it. There is no escape from his
demonic grip.
Thus everyone is condemned to an endless cycle of births, deaths and
reincarnations. A person’s only hope is to ultimately reach nirvana. In this
nebulous and nether world, one essentially becomes extinct by being
absorbed into the oneness of the universe. The closest analogy to this escape
from endless time is the snuffing out of a candle or a drop of water being
absorbed into the vastness of the ocean. Thus personal identity is
extinguished and human uniqueness is eternally lost.
I don’t know about you, but I like the Christmas option much better than
nirvana!
This dramatic difference between the Eastern worldview and the Christian
world view came home to me a number of years ago in Asia. I was visiting
with our Christian Tibetan friends and partners. They were teaching me
about their former belief in Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama as the
living incarnation of the Enlightened One. To help me visualize the
difference between the Buddhist and Biblical worldview, they gave me a
unique work of art that had been conceived and painted by an insightful and
creative Christian artist. He portrayed the birth, life, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ within this Buddhist concept of endless reincarnations. It was
only the power of the resurrection of Christ that broke this endless cycle of
rebirths and secured heaven for those who believe in Him – whether from
the East or West. Jesus’ resurrection alone shattered the “Wheel of Life” and
gave eternal life to all who would believe in Him.
There is literally an eternity of difference between reincarnation and
resurrection – and resurrection is the ultimate conclusion of the Christmas
Story! The resurrection is the next to last chapter in the Christmas Narrative
that will finally be consummated with the events of the Second Advent of
Christ. Then His redemption will be followed by the restoration of Creation
when God will “...make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).
So, it is impossible to separate the “Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes”
from the Son of Man who was crucified, wrapped in a burial shroud and laid
a tomb. And just as the Baby Jesus did not remain in the manger of
Bethlehem, Jesus the Christ did not remain in the tomb outside Jerusalem!
Redemption was secured by the resurrection – not by reincarnation!
Christians, then, gain their understanding of time from the Bible. From the
very first verse of Genesis we understand that the true and living God
created time and holds it in His hands. He spoke and time came into being.
At His omnipotent word, the first nano-second of time and human history
began with the fiat word of His power. As a result, both time and space are
His creation and are His obedient servants to accomplish His will. From the
Christian perspective – largely embraced by the Western world – time was
created by an eternal God. Therefore, time has not eternally existed. Unlike
the Eastern worldview, we do not believe in the eternality of either time or
matter. Both are finite rather than infinite. And since all time is God’s time,
it is not in the fatalistic grip of a demon as the tankas of Eastern religion
depict. Time is forever in the sovereign nail-scarred hands of a loving and
omnipotent God who is working from “outside” the curtain of time and
space to accomplish His foreordained purposes.
Sadly, many Western materialists today have largely rejected this Biblical
view of time and replaced it with either a “secular” or “scientific” one. As a
result, they have embraced the more impersonal and deterministic views of
naturalism, secularism, humanism and scientism. They have rejected divine
revelation in favor of human reason. Therefore, many in the scientific world
believe that time began at some undetermined point in the past through a
sudden cataclysmic event – often called the “Big Bang.”
Other naturalists believe that life spontaneously came into being through an
infinitely slow evolutionary process where time, matter and circumstances
capriciously converged in such a way to bring primitive micro-cell life into
being. As a result of billions of years of random “natural selection” and
“survival of the fittest,” we are all on an upward evolutionary journey from
protoplasm to paradise! But I still like the Christmas Story better!
Therefore, whether a Westerner has a naturalistic or theistic belief and bias,
they each believe that time definitely began at some undeterminable point in
the past. It has not always existed. And most also believe that there is a
terminus point for time when it will also cease as we presently know and
experience it. The Bible clearly teaches the same thing (Rev. 10:6; KJV).
However, to many secular and naturalistic Westerners, time is nothing more
than a compilation of empty days to be filled with pleasure and possessions.
There is no higher good than the accumulation of “things.” Or, to quote the
yuppie maxim: “He who dies with the most toys wins!” So for the
materialists and secularist, there is no eternal purpose for time. No higher
good than to “eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow we die!” Sadly, they
have never understood the principle that God has “...set eternity in the hearts
of men” (Ecc. 3:11). As a result of this internal imprint on every man’s
heart, he can never be satisfied and fulfilled until he finds that “eternal
purpose” for his life. And the greatest gift of Christmas is eternal life and
this eternal purpose for living.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God
has done from beginning to end.” (Ecc. 3:11)
To be pitied even more than the naturalists and secularists are the pessimistic
existentialists and hopeless nihilists. They have become so jaded that they
believe that life is nothing more than “...a tale told by an idiot, full of sound
and fury, signifying nothing.” Or to paraphrase the late French existentialist
philosopher, Jean Paul Sartre: “Life is absurd and death is the final absurdity
of life!” That’s certainly not a very fulfilling way to live one’s life – or face
the inevitability of death! The good news of Christmas is still much better!
The Western atheist or existentialists agrees with the Eastern mystic that life
ultimately ends in the nothingness of death. However, the dual messages of
Christmas and Easter could not disagree more! Together they teach that
there is a definite divine purpose in birth and in death – both in Christ’s and
in ours.
To those of us who believe in the baby Jesus and risen Christ – as well as the
infallibility of God’s written Word – time is linear. It has not eternally
existed. Time had a definite alpha point and is moving toward an equally
decisive omega point – just as each of our lives are. As certain as time had a
beginning, it will have an ending. And the great message of Christmas is that
the sovereign eternal God not only created time – He entered into it in order
to redeem it by the birth, life and death of His Son, Jesus the Christ. And He
is redemptively working from within time for our blessing and benefit.
That’s what Christmas is really all about! Nothing more, nothing less.
Therefore, as we lay the foundation for this special Christmas study series,
we must understand the significance of this profound verse written by Paul
in Galatians 4:4:
“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a
woman, born under law...”
To better understand Christmas as God’s “divine invasion,” let’s break this
verse down in a more timely way and examine each of the key words a bit
more...
First, let’s look at the word “fullness.” Through the inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, Paul began by saying: “...when the time had fully come...” Or as the
Authorized King James Version renders it: “In the fullness of time...” The
word in the original language that Paul used for “fullness” is the word
pleroma. It is a very rich and significant word meaning: “The fullness of
something, or that which is brought to completion.” In this verse it means
“...the completion of the ordained amount of time before the coming of the
Messiah” (see the Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament
Words, William Mounce, p. 276). So, Paul reminded his readers, and us, that
the first Christmas came just at the right time. It was not capricious or
coincidental. As God’s promised Messiah, Jesus came exactly at the right
time – the time God had foreordained before the creation of the world. It was
the perfect fullness of God’s timetable for Christ’s First Advent. And the
time for His Second Advent is just as exact and certain.
Secondly, we need to look at the word that is used here for “time.” In the
Greek it is the word chronos. Just as it sounds, it generally means
“chronological time” like we measure with a clock or calendar. It can mean
“a space of time, whether long or short.” And from the popular Jewish
understanding of the day, it had come to mean a very long time between
God’s promise of a Messiah, through His prophets, and His fulfillment.
Thirdly, we need to understand the phrase “sent forth.” It is the word
exapostello. It doesn’t take much linguistic knowledge or discernment to see
the word “apostello” here at the heart of this word – from which the word
“Apostle” comes. And it means someone who is a “messenger,” a
“delegate,” or a “sent one”. This kind of divine messenger is sent from God
with a specific commission to the world – which is exactly what Jesus the
Messiah was.
The Biblical narratives are clear that Jesus was not some person who
gradually realized a divine intent for His life. Jesus was not a religious
individual within whom a Messianic consciousness gradually emerged. No,
He knew from His childhood that He was “sent by God” – just as His earthly
parents knew. Even at the young age of twelve, Jesus knew that He “...had to
be about His Father’s business” (Lk. 2:49). At both His baptism and
transformation, the Heavenly Father audibly affirmed the fact of His sending
Jesus into the world as His special “Apostle” (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). And often
during His earthly ministry Jesus affirmed that He was uniquely “sent by
God” (Jn. 3:17; 4:34; 5:19-20; 5:30, 36; 6:38; 7:16, 18, 28; 8:16, 18, 28-29,
42; 10;36; 12:49-50; 13:20; 14:8-9, etc). In His own High Priestly prayer, He
expressed this special sending by God the Father no less than 6 times (Jn.
17:3,8,18,21,23,25). Unquestionably then, Jesus had an acute sense that He
was uniquely sent into the world by God as His Messiah to save the world.
So, the Bible teaches us, in this crucial Christmas verse, that when the time
was exactly right, God sent His long-awaited Messiah. And wonder of
wonders, He sent Him forth as an infant in the womb a young virgin named
Mary. A human embryo was divinely inseminated by the very Holy Spirit of
God in a mysterious way that exceeds human comprehension or scientific
explanation! But as a result, that which was conceived in the womb of Mary
was the holy Son of God.
Perhaps it would be timely at this point to stop and quote the words of the
angel Gabriel to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born
will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). This account is especially
significant since it was recorded by “Doctor Luke,” a first century physician
who was just as mystified by this miraculous conception as any twenty-first
century physician! But in spite of the fact that it exceeded his human reason,
he still faithfully recorded this divine revelation about the virgin conception
of the Messiah (See my further study on the Virgin Birth of Christ entitled
Christ’s Birth...Natural or Supernatural?).
Through divine revelation, the Apostle Paul reminds us in this verse that it
was God’s perfect time to send His Messiah into the world. That’s why I
have chosen this passage as the foundational study for this special Christmas
series on the various birth narratives of Jesus.
Let’s look at 6 reasons why it was exactly the “fullness of time” for Jesus to
come into the world.
Peace of Rome
As we saw earlier, the Jews did not sense that it was the “...fullness of time”
for God to send His Messiah into the world. And as far as we know, no other
people of that day were even looking for a Messiah from God other than the
Jews. It was only the Jewish Scriptures that had created that expectation
because of scores of prophecies about such a “divine invasion” into human
history.
So, among the peoples of antiquity, the Jews were unique in their Messianic
expectation. While other oppressed people may have longed for a Messiah
figure who would appear and deliver them, they did not expect that person to
“come from God,” but rather to “arise from man.” The coming of a heavensent Messiah was unique to the Jews. They had received a unique revelation
of a personal God who was intimately involved with the world He had
created. Because of this divine perspective, the Jews alone had this
understanding of a holy God, a sinful humanity and a sacrificial system that
necessitated and pointed to a Messianic intervention. Only such a One sent
by God could balance the spiritual and social scales of justice that were so
radically out of balance.
But, as God seemed to tarry indefinitely in fulfilling His many promises to
send such an Anointed One, Messianic expectations waned more and more.
In the hearts of many Jews, this hope died all together. And from time to
time when those expectations were revived, they were more for a “political
messiah” who would deliver them from Rome – rather than for a “spiritual
messiah” who would deliver them from their sins.
Little did they realize that some of the very political events that had taken
place over the long centuries of waiting were sovereignly orchestrated by
God to prepare the way for His Messiah. Once again we see how often our
preconceived ideas and expectations cause us to miss the hand of God in the
circumstances taking place all around us! And if we are spiritually alert,
every Christmas reminds us of that fact all over again in many personal
ways.
What, then, were some of the significant political, social and religious events
that made that exact time in history the “...fullness of time” from God’s
perspective? Theologians and historians point out at least 5 or 6 interrelated
reasons.
First of all, the Pax Romana, or Peace of Rome.
This is the phrase that describes the political peace that Rome imposed on
the people they conquered. As we know, when Jesus was born into the
world, the Roman Empire was at its zenith of power. They had conquered
the known world of their day and their political power was basically
unchallenged at that time. When Christ came, Rome was at the top of their
political game. Virtually all military or political challenges had been
subjugated. Only the “Jewish Problem” in the remote region of Palestine
remained a perpetual political tinderbox of discontent that kept igniting into
open conflict with Roman rule.
Both secular and sacred history records that Palestine had been such a
complex religious-racial-social problem that it had been the undoing of a
number of promising political careers. But at this particular time, King
Herod, or “Herod the Great,” was doing a pretty good job of placating and
manipulating the Jews. Part of the reason for his success was because he was
from a half-Jewish family of Idumaen descent. Perhaps a little history lesson
would be helpful at this point – especially because it is a crucial backdrop
for the Christmas Story...
Idumaea was the Greek and Roman word for “Edom.” And as you may
recall from your Old Testament studies, the Edomites were descendants of
Esau, the brother of Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel by God.
When they were young men, it was first-born Esau who sold his birthright to
Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup (Gen. 25:24-34). After his resulting
contention and division with his brother, Jacob, Esau “...settled in the hill
country of Seir” after displacing the Horites (Deut. 2:12, 22) where he
became known as the “father of the Edomites” (Gen. 36:1-43). Later “Mt.
Seir” became synonymous with “Edom” (II chron. 20:10; 25:11; Ezek.
35:15, etc).
During the time of the Exodus, the Edomites refused to let the children of
Israel pass through their land on their way to the Promised Land – even
though Moses sent word to them from “...your brother Israel” (Num. 20:1421). This caused further great hardship to the Israelites on their way to the
Promised Land. But God told Israel not to hate the Edomites because of this
since “...he is your brother” (Deut. 23:7). However, hatred and hostilities did
continue between them for centuries. It seems that family feuds and
brotherly animosity are as old as the human race and go all the way back to
Cain and Abel! All it takes is one offense – which is then passed on and
magnified from one generation to the other. That was the situation between
the descendents of Jacob and Esau!
History records that the Edomites became a strong kingdom that often
fought with their half-brothers, the Jews. The first king of Israel, Saul,
fought against the Edomites (I Sam. 14:47). However, King David
ultimately conquered them and put Jewish garrisons through their whole
land (II Sam. 8:14). Later after the division of Israel into the Northern and
Southern Kingdoms, Judah lost control of Edom. This was followed by a
series of battles between Israel and the Edomites – accompanied by
generations of animosity.
Finally, when the Babylonians destroyed and depopulated Judah in 586
B.C., the Edomites rejoiced over the plight of their Jewish enemies. They
were also able to gradually take over portions of southern Palestine – which
only intensified the smoldering hatred between the Jews and Edomites. As a
result, the kingdom of Edom was often portrayed negatively in many
Biblical prophecies. In fact, there are more judgments against Edom than
any other nation mentioned in the Old Testament (Isa. 11:14; 34:1-17; 63:16; Jer. 9:25-26; 25:5-17; 49:7-22;; Lam. 4:21- 22; Ezek. 25:12-14; 35; Joel
3:19; Amos 1:11-12; 9:11-12; Obed. 1; Mal. 1:4)!
It is sobering to note that because of her generations of enmity and hostility
toward the Jews, Edom is the only neighbor of Israel who was not promised
any mercy from God – only judgment and desolation. This ancient Edomite
hatred of the Jewish people is a fresh reminder of the unique role Israel has
in God’s economy. To despise and attack her is tantamount to an assault on
God Himself. No nation has long survived that has been anti-Jewish! And
Christmas reminds us afresh of that historic lesson.
With this understanding of the Edomites, remember anew King Herod’s role
in the Christmas narratives – especially Matthew’s account. As an Idumaen,
or Edomite, Herod worked faithfully for Rome in this troublesome outpost
of Palestine. Because of his success as a ruler, Rome first made him the
Procurator of Galilee. Then in 37 B.C., Rome honored him with the title:
“King of the Jews” – a title that enraged the Jewish nationalists and zealots
of Palestine! In their minds, an Idumaen could never be their king!
As a half-Jew, King Herod understood enough about these people to
generally manipulate them for his own purposes – as well as those of Rome.
He was also a good military tactician and brilliant builder. Some of his
palaces and fortresses remain to this day throughout the Holy Land. And the
Temple he built for the Jews was only surpassed by the original one built by
Solomon. As you will recall, there have been three Temples built by the
Jews across the centuries.
! The First Temple, or “Solomon’s Temple,” was built by King
Solomon and largely financed by his father David (II Sam. 7; I Chron.
17; 28:12- 19). This was the most glorious Temple ever built and was
destroyed by the Babylonians (II Kings 25:8-17; Jer. 52:12-23);
! The Second Temple, or “Zerubbabel’s Temple,” was built by
King Zerubbabel with the help of Cyrus, King of Persia (Ezra 1).
Even though it
was built in fulfillment of prophecy (Haggai 1-2), it was much less
magnificent than the one built by Solomon (Ezra 6);
! The Third and last Temple was “Herod’s Temple,” which was
basically a renovation and enlargement of the one built by
Zerubbabel. King Herod began the work on this Temple in 20 B.C. –
no doubt to help placate the Jews! This was the Temple that Jesus
knew and visited, along with His family and His disciples. In
fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy (Matt. 24:1-2), this Temple was
totally destroyed and burned in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem fell to the
Roman armies led by the General Titus. Only the Western Wall, or
“Wailing Wall,” remains today, which I have visited many times. It is
the holiest site for the Jews to this day.
So, King Herod played a very significant part in the history of Palestine –
and especially the Christmas Story. No other leader left a more indelible
impact on the Holy Land than King Herod. But like many political leaders,
as he grew older, he became more and more paranoid and capricious – as
tyrants and demigods usually do. As a result, he killed several of his own
sons and wives because he feared that they were plotting against him to take
over his throne. As a result, a popular proverb arose in Palestine that opined:
“It is safer to be Herod’s pig than one of his sons!”
Fast forward now to that first Christmas twenty-one centuries ago...
Is it any wonder that when the magi arrived in Herod’s court with the
question: “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” – that Herod’s
heart was smitten with terror. This resulted in his cunning intrigue to try and
get the magi to find this new Jewish contender for his throne and return to
him with a full report. Then with decisive and deadly action, Herod would
deal with him as he had all other rivals to his throne! But when an angel of
the Lord warned these visitors from the East not to return to Herod, he was
enraged. The result was the innocent slaughter of all of the young boy babies
in Bethlehem two years old or under. Though totally unknown to Herod, this
was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah:
“A voice being herd in Ramah, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted
because they are no more” (Matt. 2:16-18).
King Herod’s political ruthlessness is renown in the annals of Roman and
Jewish history! However, he was still a ruthless enforcer of the Pax Romana
of Caesar Augustus. And the Jews who compromised with him were known
as the “Herodians” or “Herod’s Party” (Matt. 22:16; Mk. 3:6; 12:13). These
Roman sympathizers were the political opposites of the Jewish zealots who
hated everything Herod stood for and led many uprisings against him.
(Remember that one of Jesus’ disciples was “Simon the Zealot” – who must
have been a political fire-brand before he became a follower of Jesus Christ
in Mark 3:18!) Along with the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, the
Herodians were a part of the political plot to arrest and kill Jesus. They were
also one of the several religious and political “leavens” that Jesus warned
His disciples about (Mk. 8:15).
At Herod’s death, his kingdom was divided among his three surviving sons,
Archelaus, Herod Antipas and Philip.
! Archelaus ruled over Judea, Samaria and Idumea but was removed
from office by Rome (Matt. 2:22).
! Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and Perea and had John the
Baptist beheaded (Matt. 14:1-12). He was called the “fox” by Jesus
because of his cunning (Lk. 13:32).
! Philip became the tetrarch of Batanaea, Trachonitis, Gaulanitis and
parts of Jamnia.
But Herod’s dynasty extended beyond these three sons to his grandsons:
! Herod Agrippa I became tetrarch of Galilee and Palestine. He was
the Herod who killed James the Apostle (Acts 12:1-23).
! Herod Agrippa II became the king of the territory east of Galilee.
It was this Herod that the Apostle Paul appeared before (Acts 25:1332).
And the generations of conflict between the Jews and family of Herod began
between twin brothers, Jacob and Esau! They never observed a Pax Romana
between them. Nor did their descendants.
So, the Herodian dynasty played a very significant role in the New
Testament period – and especially the Christmas Story! Read again how
Doctor Luke – who was an astute historian – lists some of the Herodian
family members, Roman political leaders and Jewish religious leaders in his
introduction to John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ:
“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar – when
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,
his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and
Lysaniastetrarch of Abilene – during the high priesthood of Annas
and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in
the desert” (Lk. 3:1-2).
It is crucial to note that the “word of God came to John...in the desert” – not
to any of the powerful political or religious leaders of the day! What a timely
lesson for us to be reminded of this Christmas season that is being celebrated
in the aftermath of one of the most important political elections in American
history! God did not speak through the Roman Caesars, governors, Herodian
tetrarchs or Jewish high priests – but through His prophet John. And God’s
message did not come in the corridors of political power or the rituals of
religious pageantry – but “in the desert.” And the person God sovereignly
called as His mouth piece was not dressed in the royal robes of political
power or the religious robes of Judaism – but in coarse “clothes of camel’s
hair” with a crude leather belt around his waist. God spoke His preparation
message for His Messiah through a rugged non-conformist prophet who
preached a fiery message of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near”
(Matt. 3:1).
For a time, John the Baptist had the attention of everyone throughout Judea.
In addition to the common people, John had the ear of the political leaders
and religious leaders of his day. We are even told that the tax collectors
came out to him. It is especially interesting to note that some from the
military also came to him. We read that “...some soldiers asked him, ‘And
what should we do?’” John replied: “don’t extort money and don’t accuse
people falsely – be content with your pay” (Lk. 3:14-15).
With all of the stir that John was causing, these soldiers were undoubtedly
sent out by the Roman authorities to maintain the Pax Romana. It was their
job to do “crowd control” and make sure things did not get out of control.
After all, Palestine had a history of political problems caused by religious
zealots like John the Baptizer! But in the process of listening to John, they
too were convicted of their sins!
Truly God is no respecter of persons when it comes to salvation! That’s what
Christmas is all about – God doing the unexpected thing through the most
unlikely people!
So, the Pax Romana was one of the big reasons it was the “...fullness of
time” for God to send His long-awaited Messiah. Because of the presence of
legions of well-trained soldiers stationed all throughout the Roman Empire,
peace was established from what we know today as Britain to the borders of
India. Rome would not tolerate any challenge to her absolute authority. And
history does show that peace prepares the way for prosperity. But since the
vast majority of the Roman Empire was subjugated people, this peace was
enjoyed the most by the citizens of Rome rather than by her untold number
of slaves and servants. But even slaves faired far better under political
stability and peace than they did under periods of war or anarchy.
It is easy to see how this virtual universal peace created and maintained by
Rome would make the preaching of the Gospel easier and quicker
throughout the entire Empire. And from God’s perspective, the preaching of
this “Good News” about the coming of the Messiah was an integral part of
His plan to communicate this message to the entire world. So, peace was
necessary for the preaching and the propagation of the Gospel. And because
Rome had established this almost universal peace, it was the “...fullness of
time” for God to send His Messiah.
Roads of Rome
Secondly, the Roman roads were another reason why it was the “...fullness
of time” for God to send His Messiah. In order to maintain their world
dominance, the Roman Caesars and Emperors had built excellent roads
throughout their Empire. Archaeologists tell us that there was some 80,000
miles of roads throughout the Roman Empire. Of course they were nothing
like the interstate highways we have in the developed countries of the world
today. But they were a long way ahead of anything that had been built prior
to the Roman Era. Each Roman Emperor extended the roads further than his
predecessor. Therefore, as the Empire expanded, so did their system of
roads.
While primitive by our standards of road construction, this system of Roman
roads was second to none and more extensive than those built by any
previous political empire. And the quality of them was so good that many
still exist today. I have personally driven and walked on some of them in
many of the far flung regions of the Roman Empire. Even to this day, they
are amazing feats of engineering. And as the popular saying of the day went:
“All roads lead to Rome!” – a fact that the Apostle Paul would one day
experience himself as he took the Gospel to the very heart of the Roman
Empire.
It is obvious that these roads were an absolute necessity in order for Rome to
be able to move her legions of soldiers, chariots and machines of war swiftly
throughout the Empire. Without good roads, the Pax Romana could not be
maintained. But with good roads, they could swiftly move their soldiers
wherever there was a hint of rebellion or insurrection. So, for hundreds of
years this “Peace of Rome” was maintained in large part by the extensive
roads they had built to the farthest reaches of their Empire.
Therefore, because of this extensive network of good roads, people could
travel in peace and safety from one end of the Roman Empire to the other –
and in relative short time when compared to previous centuries.
Obviously this interconnectivity of all of the major cities and towns through
good roads would make the preaching and propagation of the Gospel much
quicker. Who but God would have known that good roads were a necessary
precondition for the “...fullness of time” for the sending of His Messiah?!
As we know, Jesus basically walked everywhere he went – unless He took a
journey by boat on the Sea of Galilee. And it was the good roads around
Palestine that enabled Him to “...travel throughout Galilee, preaching in
their synagogues” (Mk. 1:39). It was also these good roads that made travel
and evangelism easier when Jesus sent out the Twelve “...from village to
village, preaching the Gospel and healing people everywhere” (Lk. 9:1-6).
These roads also helped speed the Gospel when Jesus later sent out the
seventy-two others “...two by two...to every town and place where He was
about to go” (Lk. 10:1).
After his own conversion on the “Damascus Road,” Paul exhorted Christians
to have their “...feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of
peace” (Eph. 6:15). Likewise, he said about those who are “sent” to preach
the Gospel: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
(Rom. 10:15). It was the “Roman roads” that gave those obedient Gospel
feet a place to travel on to share the Good News that God’s Messiah had
indeed come into the world.
We all know from the New Testament that John the Baptist was the
forerunner to Jesus Christ. And it is not stretching the point to note that the
Roman roads played a part in John’s ministry, just like it did in Christ’s. We
read:
“People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the
whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matt. 3:5-6).
It was this cousin of Jesus who would fulfill the prophetic words of Isaiah
and: “Prepare the way for the Lord” and “make straight paths for Him.”
It is also interesting to note that this same prophecy predicted:
“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.
And all mankind will see God’s salvation” (Isa. 40:3-5; Lk. 3:4-6).
In a very real and practical way, the Romans helped fulfill that prophecy by
their extensive road system that stretched to the farthest reaches of their vast
Empire.
As we saw earlier, “All roads led to Rome” as the capital of the Empire. And
it would be to Rome that Paul would travel to meet and nurture the church
there on his way to Spain to evangelize this remote part of the Empire. Note
these words from his travel log:
“I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to
speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through
me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and
done – by the power of signs and miracles through the power of
the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I
have fully proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. It has always been my
ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so
that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about Him will
see, and those who have not heard will understand.’ This is why I
have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there
is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have
been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when Igo to
Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you
assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company
for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem, in the
service of the saints there...So after I have completed this task and
have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to
Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I
will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ” (Rom.
15:19-29).
This brief passage out of Paul’s mission travel journal is full of insightful
information about his extensive ministry. And it is easy to “connect the dots”
between the ministry of Paul and the “…fullness of time” that Christmas
annually reminds us of. Note briefly the major themes of his ministry…
! He was careful to give God all the glory for what he had been able
to accomplish through the ministry entrusted to him. “I glory in Christ
Jesus,” Paul wrote, “in my service to God.”
! Paul stayed focused on his primary ministry of “...leading the
Gentiles to obey God.”
! His ministry was based on a practical balance of word and deed
through what he had “...said and done.”
! His ministry was charismatic in nature in that it was verified “...by
the power of signs and miracles through the power of the Spirit,” just
as Christ’s ministry had been (Heb. 2:4).
! In obedience to Christ’s Great Commission, Paul had started
“...from Jerusalem” but by that time had taken the Gospel “...all the
way around to Illyricum.” This was a Roman province on the east
coast of the Adriatic Sea in what was formerly Yugoslavia today.
! Paul had already been so successful in his various missionary
journeys that he could say there was “...no more place for him to work
in these regions.” The “regions” he is referring to here is Asia Minor
and the Grecian Peninsula. He had already evangelized those regions
– to both Jews and Gentiles, and planted churches in every major city
and town.
! We then see that Paul was primarily called to pioneer evangelism
and church planting. His passion and ambition was for the virgin
territory “...where Christ was not known.” He was called by God to be
the spiritual storm trooper who would be the “first to hit the beach”
and make inroads for the Gospel. He was the “point of the spear” and
“first responder” to the missionary call. Rather than one who would
do custodial maintenance where the Gospel had already been
preached and churches established. He was the visionary who did the
pioneer work rather than “...building on someone else’s foundation.”
This was in fulfillment of the prophecy that those who “...were not
told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will
understand.” For over 40 years, that has also been my passion and the
priority of NDI.
! Now that he had planted churches throughout the regions of Asia
Minor and the Grecian Peninsula, he now set his sights on Spain –
which was a Roman Colony at the farthest western boundary of the
Empire.
! This missionary journey to Spain would also afford him the
opportunity to visit the saints in the churches in Rome on his way. He
began his letter by writing: “I long to see you so that I may impart to
you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I
may be mutually encouraged by
each other’s faith” (Rom. 1:11-12). So, to visit Rome was something
that he had “...been longing for many years” to do. However, his other
ministry in Asia Minor had prevented him from visiting Rome. Now
in the “...fullness of time” that visit would be possible.
! Paul expected his visit to Rome to accomplish two things – one
spiritual and one material. First he would “...enjoy their company for
a while.” Apparently he was not planning to stay there long. Secondly,
he expected them to “...assist me on my journey” to Spain. That meant
that he fully expected them to give him the financial and material
support he needed to reach this farthest Western outpost of the Roman
Empire. Missionary travel cost money – whether in the first or twentyfirst century.
! But before Paul visited the saints in Rome, he needed to first travel
to Jerusalem “...in service of the saints there.” You see, everywhere he
traveled and preached, he collected money to help the poor and needy
saints in Jerusalem. And interestingly, the poor saints in Macedonia
were much more generous in their “contribution for the poor among
the saints in Jerusalem” than were the more wealthy saints in Corinth.
When it came to this kind of giving, Paul’s reasoning was simple: “If
the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessing, they owe it to
the Jews to share with them their material blessing” (Rom. 15:27; c.f.
II Cor. 8:1-4).
! So once Paul “...completed this task, he said that he would “...go to
Spain and visit them on the way.” Therefore, in addition to “preaching
the Gospel where Christ was not known,” Paul’s practical financial
“ministry of mercy” from the Gentiles to the Jews was something he
would not be diverted from. Since he personally collected the funds,
he would personally hand deliver it to “...make sure they have
received this fruit.” It has been my same joy and privilege across the
years to collect funds in America for our needy brethren in other parts
of the world. So I understand Paul’s passion about this!
! For Paul, this kind of holistic ministry was to travel “...in the full
measure of the blessing of Christ.”
And all of this was made possible in part by the good “Roman roads” that he
could travel on. That’s another reason that Christ came “...in the fullness of
time.”
So my friend, you just cannot separate the message of Christmas from
missions! They are inseparable. The message of Christmas mandates global
missions. And like Paul, we cannot rest – and dare not rest – until we have
reached all of the yet unreached with the Gospel of Christ. That’s what
Christmas is really all about! As the angels announced to the shepherds: “I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk. 2:10).
Greek Language
Both the Roman peace and the Roman roads prepared the way for the
coming of Christ and sped the message of His Advent very quickly over the
whole world of that day. But there was a major problem for the propagation
and dissemination of this Good News about God’s Messiah – language.
Since both the Law and Prophets first came to the Jews, as well as the
Gospels, they were originally received and communicated in the Hebrew
culture and language. Only a small minority of the world spoke Hebrew or
understood the Hebrew mind-set or Jewish worldview. And since Jesus was
a Jew who grew up, lived and died without ever leaving Palestine – how was
His message to go to the ends of the earth? The linguistic vehicle could not
be Hebrew. Nor could it be Aramaic. Otherwise Christianity would have
forever been the parochial religion of a few converted Jews living in
Palestine.
As we saw in an earlier study, no one in the ancient world but the Jews even
had a concept of a Messiah. Neither the Romans nor Greeks had any
understanding or expectation of a Messiah sent by God – which was the very
heart and soul of the Jewish religion. And the fact that the Messiah had
indeed come was also the essence of the Gospel believed and preached by
the Christians – a totally foreign and alien concept to both Romans and
Greeks. In their worldview a Messiah was an irrelevant issue! Who needed
or wanted a Messiah?! Certainly not the Greeks or Romans!
However, within 30 years of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, His story
had travelled all over Asia Minor, Greece and gone all the way to Rome.
What made this rapid dissemination of the Christian message possible? The
right language – which was a universal language.
A third reason, then, for it being the perfect time for a “divine invasion” was
the universality of the Greek language. Prior to the rise of the Roman
Empire, Greece was the dominant world power. Under the military
leadership of King Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, the
world of that day was conquered and brought under Greek control. Since
Alexander had been tutored by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, he set out to
spread the Greek language and culture throughout the entire world he had
conquered. As a result, Greek soon became the lingua franca, or dominant
language, of the entire Mediterranean world.
Even after the fall of Greece following the death of Alexander at the young
age of 32, the Greek language continued to spread. While Rome defeated
Greece militarily, Greece dominated Rome culturally and linguistically. This
dominance of the Greek language and thinking became known as Hellenism,
which can be seen often in the pages of the New Testament.
By the time of the birth of Christ, Greek was the most prominent language of
literature, philosophy and culture for the educated people. This common
language paved the way for a quicker communication of the Gospel across
country and cultural borders that formerly divided people. In a world that
had previously been divided by multiple languages and dialects, one
common language was a major break-through for communication.
Scholars have often pointed out that Classical Greek is one of the greatest
linguistic achievements of the human mind. One scholar summarized
Classical Greek this way:
“The richness and subtlety of its syntax, its flexibility, the delicacy of
its particles, these and other linguistic features made it the most
expressive medium ever developed for human thought” (The New
Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan, p. 207).
As Greek Scholar, Dr. Bill Mounce, writes in the introduction of his Greek
Grammar book: “Classical Greek was a marvelous form of language capable
of exact expression and subtle nuances.”
However, Classical Greek was primarily used by the educated classes of
people – which were a small minority of the society. But a more simplified
Common Greek dialect evolved over time and became known as Koine
Greek (the word Koine means “common”). It became more of the “street
language” of the common people – rather than the “elite language” of the
philosophers and educated class. According to Dr. Mounce, “Studies of
Greek papyri found in Egypt over the past one hundred years have shown
that this language was the language of the everyday people who used it in
the writing of wills, private letters, receipts, shopping lists, etc.” This Koine
was also the form of Greek that was dominant by the time of the birth of
Christ and was used in the writing of the New Testament documents.
One of the things that especially prepared the way for the popularity of
Koine Greek was the translation and dissemination of the Septuagint. This
was the Jewish Scriptures that were translated from Hebrew into Greek in
the Third Century B.C. in Egypt. As a result, it became the first and most
famous of the Greek versions of the Old Testament. But what made the
translation of the Septuagint a necessity? Good question.
The primary reason was that the Hebrew language was spoken and
understood less and less by the ordinary Jew. It was only understood by the
Jewish religious scholars. In fact, historians tell us that for all practical
purposes, Hebrew was a “forgotten language” for at least a hundred years
before the coming of Christ. While the Old Testament was written in
Hebrew, the ordinary Jew no longer could read or understand it. The
common people of Judaism spoke a “street language” of Hebrew known as
Aramaic. This would have been the normal tongue and “heart language”
spoken by Jesus and His disciples. So for the non-Hebrew speaking Jew,
there was a need for an Old Testament translation into Greek – which more
people could read and understand. Thus the translation of the Septuagint.
The Septuagint was obviously the only Bible of the day since the New
Testament had not yet been written. Because this translation was done from
the Hebrew to the Greek by seventy Jewish scholars, it is also known by the
Latin numbers, LXX, because it was the “Version of the Seventy.” It was the
“Greek Bible” read and studied by the Jewish Diaspora who were far more
familiar with Greek than Hebrew. It also became the standard Bible for the
early Gentile church.
So, for several hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Koine Greek of
the Septuagint had made it the “preferred Bible” for the Jewish world of the
Diaspora. And the Septuagint linguistically paved the way for the Gospel to
be translated and communicated in that same Koine Greek. As a result, what
we now know as the New Testament was penned in this lingua franca of the
common people.
While Aramaic was the common “street language” of Palestine and of the
Jews (Acts 22:1-2), Greek was still widely understood and spoken because
of centuries of prior influence there by both Rome and Greece. So there was
a sovereignly orchestrated historic and linguistic partnership between the
world powers of Rome and Greece to prepare the way for the Messiah. As a
result, Greek became the linguistic conduit that the Gospel was written in
and communicated through in the early church and New Testament writings.
As the Gospel jumped from the confines of the Judaism of Jerusalem and
Palestine to the Gentile and Greek-speaking world, we see a major shift in
influence in the early church from the “Jewish Christians” in Israel to the
“Hellenist Christians” of the Diaspora (Acts 6:1-7; 9:29). And the two men
whom God sovereignly prepared to write the majority of the New Testament
were a converted Jew by the name of Saul of Tarsus and a Gentile Doctor by
As we all know, Paul wrote or influenced more of the New Testament than
anyone else. While he was a Jew by birth, Saul had received the best of two
worlds religiously, culturally and linguistically. He had received the best of
Hebrew education at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the leading Jewish scholars
of the day (Acts 22:1-2). But as a Roman Citizen, he was also a Hellenist by
education who was fluent in Greek (Acts 22:25, 37). Because of God’s
sovereign grace in his life, Paul was a unique hybrid of the best of the
Jewish, Roman and Greek cultures. He was fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic,
Latin and Greek. As a result, Paul was able to synthesize the divine
revelations of the Jewish religion with the linguistic preciseness of the Greek
language in both his preaching and writing. This sped the Gospel throughout
the world of his day.
So, it was the “...fullness of time” for God to send His Messiah so the Good
News about Him could rapidly spread over the “roads of Rome” and the
“language of Greek” in the known world of that day.
Like no other previous language in history, Koine Greek was the lingua
franca that was perfectly suited for the accurate presentation of the Christian
message. While the Hebrew language is composed of some 10,000 primary
words, the Greek language has over 200,000 words. Greek had a linguistic
richness, diversity and preciseness that could synthesize and communicate
the eternal verities of the revelations God gave to the Jews with the
philosophical understandings of the Greek mind – and yet do so in the
language of the common people.
Once again we can see the importance of language and communication when
it comes to the Gospel. You can have the best news in the world to share but
if people cannot understand it – your message is lost on “ears that cannot
hear” (Matt. 13:13). And the Gospel is a message that must be articulated.
Contrary to what a lot of Christians wrongly believe, you cannot just “live
out the Gospel.” None of our lives are that good that they perfectly
communicate the truths of the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension and
return of Christ. The Christian Advent is a historic Event that must be
articulated verbally. That’s why the angel Gabriel verbally announced this
Good News to Joseph and Mary (Matt. 1:20-23; Lk. 1:26-37). And that’s
why the angels heralded it to the shepherds in words and song (Lk. 2:10-12).
And that’s why Christians have been preaching, teaching and “gossiping the
Gospel” all over the world ever since!
The Bible clearly teaches that “...without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and the He
rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). But where does this
faith come from that gives us favor with God? Glad you asked! Paul gives a
crystal clear answer in his letter to the Christians in Rome: “Faith comes
from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of
Christ” (Rom. 10:17).
So, as you do a lot of talking about Christmas this season, make sure that
you communicate through word and deed the real meaning of this blessed
time of year! Christmas is the “...fullness of time” for us to talk about our
faith in Jesus Christ – in any and every language.
Greek Philosophy
But it wasn’t just language that fulfilled the fullness of time. The historian,
Lecky, wrote:
“The progress and spread of any idea depends not only on the strength
and force of the idea, but on the predisposition to receive it in the age
to which it is presented” (The Gospel of John, William Barclay, p. 2).
Another hurdle, then, for the early Christians was how to create that
predisposition for the Gospel? Since the Good News first came to the Jews
and then to the Gentiles (Rom. 1:16), it was understood and communicated
through their mother tongue of Hebrew. And if the Gospel would have just
“stayed at home” in Jerusalem and Palestine where the Passion of the
Messiah took place and where the church was born, Christianity would have
forever remained a small Jewish sect. They would have become largely
marginalized like the majority of the Jews had become. And few of us would
have ever heard of Christmas – much less be celebrating it twenty-one
centuries later!
So, the big challenge for the early church was the message of the Messiah
and mandate of the Great Commission of Christ – both of which were bound
up in the Jewish history, religion, culture and language. And that message
just would not successfully cross geographical boundaries and parochial
mentalities – especially to Gentiles, whether they were of Roman or Greek
descent. The challenge was how to relevantly communicate the message and
mandate of the Gospel to the Greek-speaking world and Gentile mind-set.
The Biblical scholar, E.J. Goodspeed, framed this Gospel challenge this
way:
“Must a Greek who was interested in Christianity be routed through
Jewish Messianic ideas and through Jewish ways of thinking, or could
some new approach be found which would speak out of his
background to his mind and heart?” (Barclay, p. 3).
If the Gospel was going to spread to the whole world in obedience to the
Great Commission that Christ gave His disciples, there must be a wider
linguistic vehicle and philosophical mind-set to communicate it through.
History shows that the language of Greek became that vehicle of global
communication. And it was the “Hellenist Christians” in the early church
who became some of the first preachers who took this Good News across the
linguistic and geographical boundaries of Judaism to the Diaspora (Acts 2:911; 6:1-7; 8:1; 11:19-21, etc).
But, it was the converted Saul of Tarsus – along with his Gentile traveling
companion and co-worker, Doctor Luke (Col. 4:14; II Tim. 4:11; Phm. 24),
who became the chief agent of that communication to the non-Jewish world.
As we saw in an earlier study, Paul was a man uniquely prepared by God
because he was a synthesis of both Jewish and Greek education. He also had
the “golden passport” of Roman Citizenship – which very few Jews had. As
a man who spoke and wrote a minimum of three languages, Hebrew,
Aramaic and Greek, it was the Apostle Paul who became the great evangelist
and apologist to the Jews of the Diaspora – as well as to the Greeks and
Gentiles of the world of that day.
Therefore, in addition to being a missionary to the common man through
Koine Greek, Paul could also be a missionary to the intellectuals through
Classical Greek. As a result of this education and knowledge, Paul was not
intimidated to go to the Areopagus in Athens where the Greek philosophers
and scholars hung out to discuss and debate their heady philosophical
concepts.
The Apostle Paul, then, was a very versatile evangelist and apologist. In
addition to his thorough knowledge of the Greek language, Paul also had a
good working knowledge of Greek philosophy. This understanding of the
thinking of the great philosophical minds of ancient Greece made it possible
for him to communicate intelligently with the philosophers at Mars Hill in
Athens – even though most of them ultimately rejected his message about
the resurrection of Christ (Acts 17:16- 34; c.f. Titus 1:12).
But Paul found that the message of the crucifixion and resurrection were
equally offensive concepts to both Jews and Greeks – but for different
reasons! To the Jew that message of saving grace by faith was a “stumbling
block” because of their orientation toward the “works righteousness” of their
Jewish religion. To the Greek it was laughable “folly” because of the
prejudices of their philosophies against such supernatural intervention in the
affairs of this life (I Cor. 1:18-25). But Paul boldly preached the whole
Gospel to both Jew and Greek – regardless of the “offense of the cross.”
This issue of worldview brings us to another reason why it was the
“...fullness of time” for God to send His Messiah – the prominence and
popularity of Greek Philosophy, which we need to examine a bit more
closely. While the Jewish worldview was largely limited geographically to
Palestine and the Diaspora, the thinking of the Greek philosophers had
permeated the worldview of the majority of the Gentile world of that day.
How then was the best way to communicate the Gospel across the Jewish
parochial mind-set to the Gentile world? Was there a common bridge that
both the Jew and Greek could walk over into God’s redemptive presence?
What would make the Messiah relevant to both Jew and Gentile alike? Since
they did not have a commonality in the Jewish religion, culture or language,
where could they meet and find a mutual understanding? Could it be that
God, through natural revelation, had sovereignly prepared a cultural bridge
to special revelation? Was there a place where revelation and reason could
meet as friends rather than enemies?
Absolutely! And that place of commonality was the prevailing understanding in both the Jewish and Greek mind-set of the concept of the “word
of God.”
Through the revelations of Scripture, the Jews had a clear concept of the fiat
power of the “word of God.” To them, the “word” was far more than just a
sound uttered by the mouth of man. If a Jew was speaking the words of God,
then that word had a certain dynamic all its own. It had its own supernatural
autonomy and authority. In Jewish thinking, the “word of God” had a power
like nothing else in the universe! The only thing more powerful than the
“word of God” was the “Person of God.” But in the mind and thinking of the
Jew, the “word of God” was almost synonymous with the “Person of God.”
They were virtually inseparable. Therefore, because of the revelation of the
Scriptures to the Jews, the “word of God” had inexpressible power. Note a
few examples...
! It was the “word of God” that created the world and everything in
it (Gen. 1:3, 6, 11; Ps. 33:6).
! It was the “word of God” that was to be their spiritual food (Deut.
8:3; Ps. 119:103; Jer. 15:16; Matt. 4:4). And as food, God’s word was
both “milk” and “meat” (I Pet. 2:2; Heb. 5:13-14) – sustenance for the
young and old, for the immature and mature.
! The “word of God” was like life-giving water (Isa. 12:3; Zech.
14:8; Jn. 7:37; 15:3; I Cor. 10:4; Eph. 5:26; Rev. 7:17).
! It was the “word of God” that was like refreshing rain that fell
from heaven (Isa. 55:10-11; Deut. 32:2).
! It was the “word of God” that was a divine lamp and light (Ps.
119:105, 130; Prov. 20:27).
! To the Jew the “word of God” was both a fire and a hammer that
could destroy all obstacles (Jer. 23:29).
! It was the “word of God” that brought healing to God’s people (Ps.
107:20; 19:7).
! To the Jewish Christian the “word of God” was an all powerful
sword (Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17; Rev. 1:16).
!
For the Jew, the “word of God” was a dynamic spiritual seed that
germinated into eternal life (I Pet. 1:23; Matt. 13:1-23).
! The “word of God” was also a divine mirror that perfectly
reflected back to man his true spiritual nature (Ja. 1:22-25).
! To the Jew and Christian, the “word of God” was nothing short of
the absolute truth of God that contained no error or impurity (Ps.
119:43, 151; Ps. 33:4; Jn. 17:17).
Therefore, to the Jewish mind there was nothing that could “run more
swiftly” to accomplish the “will of God” than the “word of God” (Ps.
147:15). So throughout both the Old and New Testament, there is the
consistent concept of the all powerful, creative “word of God.”
Here was the commonality, then, between Jewish and Greek thought. The
Greek word that was used for this unique “word of God” was logos. And it
generally had a dual meaning of both word and wisdom ... of revelation and
reason. It was a concept that many of the Greek philosophers had spoken
and written about for decades prior to the coming of Christ.
While there were too many Greek philosophers for us to try and examine or
summarize at this point, most historians agree that the zenith of Greek
thinking was reached under men like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Some
writers even refer to them as pre-Christian Christians. Others see their
philosophies as proto- evangelistic, or concepts that prepared the way for the
Gospel. Regardless of how you view them, the thinking of the Greek
philosophers helped set the stage for the Christ Event – especially through
their concept of the logos of God.
Were these Hellenist concepts simply pagan longing for what was hinted at
by their loftiest Greek philosophers – but only fully revealed in Christ?
Perhaps. Only eternity will fully reveal how God was sovereignly using the
Greek Philosophers to set the stage for the “...fullness of time” for His
Messiah. But set the stage they did for the Greek mind to understand the
logos, the very “word of God.”
It is especially interesting to note that it was the Apostle John who was the
primary theological bridge between the “word of God” as understood by the
Jews and the logos as understood by the Greeks. As you recall, John was the
writer of the fourth Gospel and in his prolog he clearly connects the Jewish
“word of God” with the logos of Greek thinking.
It is also significant to note that John was living and ministering in Ephesus
when he wrote his Gospel. And we know from history that Ephesus was a
prominent Greek-oriented city in the Roman Empire. As such, Greek was
the dominant language of the region. We also know from the book of Acts
that the Apostle Paul had briefly visited and evangelized there at the end of
his second missionary journey as he was on his way back to Antioch. But
before leaving Ephesus, he left his tent-making associates, Aquila and
Priscilla, behind to continue ministry after his departure (Acts 18:19-22).
Paul obviously saw how strategic the City of Ephesus was – so he planned
another visit there. Therefore, on his third missionary journey he stayed in
Ephesus three years – longer than he stayed anywhere else as far as we
know. And during that time, he birthed and nurtured strong house churches
(Acts 20:17-38).
According to early church fathers like Polycarp, Irenaeus, Tertullian and
Eusebius, the Apostle John took up residency in Ephesus and labored there
for a number of years before he was banned on the Island of Patmos. So, as
he was surrounded by and immersed in a Greek city and mind-set, the Holy
Spirit revealed to him how to bridge the gap between the Jewish “word of
God” and the logos of the Greek philosophers.
Now hang with me here! In today’s world, the study of Greek philosophy is
not the hottest subject! But some basics are crucial in our Christmas study.
Remember that we are seeking for answers as to why was this the “...fullness
of time” for Christ to come into the world? Why was it the perfect time for a
personal “divine invasion” of planet earth? Well, for several hundred years
before the Christmas Advent, Greek philosophers had been struggling with
the concept of the logos. It had become the most lofty concept in their
thinking and reasoning. This logos represented to them the word...reason
...wisdom...mind of God. You might even say that it was their “god concept.”
This logos was the guiding force outside of the universe and guiding force
for all of life inside the universe.
It is especially timely to understand that this concept of logos originated
back in 560 B.C. in the very city of Ephesus where John was residing! It had
been first articulated by the Ephesian philosopher, Heraclitus. He reasoned
that the only fixed external point of order in an ever-changing universe is the
logos. It was also this logos that was the internal source of morality within
every man that gave him a sense of rightness and wrongness. So this logos,
or mind of God, was controlling everything in the universe – including man.
This concept of the logos originated by Heraclitus, became the fountain head
from which a river of Greek thinking flowed for centuries – originating in
Ephesus. Coincidence? Hardly. Not in a sovereignly governed universe! So
it was this logos of Greek philosophy that gave the Apostle John the perfect
theological bridge from the Jewish “word of God” to the philosophical
reasoning of the Greek mind. In the introduction of his fourth Gospel, John
in essence said this to the Greek philosophers:
“For centuries you have been thinking about, speaking about and
writing about this logos – this divine power that created the world,
sustains it and gives it order. But while your logos is transcendent and
impersonal, I am writing to tell you that the true logos of God is very
personal. In fact, this “eternal Word” is really Jesus the Christ – who
has come down from God to live among us! He is the logos incarnated
in human flesh!”
Or to precisely quote John about the logos:
“In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word was with
God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was
made that has been made. In Him was life (zoe, the very “life of
God”) and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the
darkness, but the darkness has not understood it...He was in the
world, and though the world was made through Him, the world
did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but
His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those
who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of
God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision
or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have
seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:1-5, 14).
Beloved, there’s the Christmas Story from John’s Gospel! While the other
three Synoptic Gospels began with the birth of Christ to Joseph and Mary in
Bethlehem, John goes back into eternity past and begins with the eternal
logos of God. It was this logos Who eternally existed “before the beginning”
of the world. As the fiat power of God, that logos created all things. And this
Word was the very life – zoe, of God. As God’s light, this logos not only
shines into this world of darkness – He has personally come into this world
to dispel the darkness! And while the majority of His own people – the Jews,
rejected Him, those who did “receive and believe” were “born of God” and
became the very sons of God!
So, another key reason why it was the “...fullness of time” for that first
Christmas Advent was the pervasiveness of Greek Philosophy – especially
their preoccupation with the logos of God. It became a philosophical bridge
to a full theological understanding of the “Word Who became flesh and
dwelt among us!”
However, just like there were many Jews who persisted in clinging to their
religion and “traditions of the elders” (Matt. 15:1-2), there were also the
Greek thinkers who wanted to hold on to their philosophy for mental
salvation. To the Jews who clung to their religious traditions, Jesus warned:
“Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”
(Matt. 15:3). And to the Greek who wanted to exalt human reason over
divine revelation and persist in their “worldly wisdom,” Paul gave this stern
exhortation:
“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.
For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the
intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the
philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of
the world for since in the wisdom of God the world through its
wisdom did not know Him. God was pleased through the
foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews
demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we
preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness
to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the
foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom...When I came to
you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom
as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to
know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified” (I Cor. 1:18-25; 2:1-2).
While Greek philosophy provided a bridge through their concept of the
logos, human reason was not enough for salvation – whether then or now.
That’s why Paul gave this warning to some first century Christians who
were being duped by philosophy and human tradition:
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and
deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the
basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col. 2:8).
Therefore, while we rejoice in the Greek philosophy that helped set the stage
for the “...fullness of time,” we do not look to it for our salvation. As high
and lofty as much of Greek philosophy is, the very quintessence of human
reasoning falls woefully short of divine revelation. Or, to paraphrase Paul:
“If God could have any folly, His ‘foolishness’ would be wiser than the
highest of man’s wisdom!” Talk about a humbling thought?!
None of us can get to heaven “head first” – although the Greek philosophers
tried! And while the Greek wanted to “think his way to heaven,” the Jew
wanted to “work his way to heaven.” Both are dead end spiritual streets!
Jesus made it clear that each of us must “...humble ourselves like little
children” if we are going to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:3).
You see, my friend, that’s what Christmas reminds us of annually. Since
Christ – the Word...the logos – humbled Himself and came into the world as
an infant in a manger, we too must humble ourselves through repentance and
faith if we are to enter into the Kingdom He came to bring. And it is always
the “...fullness of time” for that kind of child-like faith!
Roman Religion and Greek Mythology
Thus far in our Christmas study, we have seen four reasons why it was the
perfect time for a “divine invasion” of human history. Why it was the
“...fullness of time” for God to personally intervene in the world He had
created – for the purpose of recreating those whom He had made in His
“image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26-27). The historic time was exactly right
because of the pervasiveness of the...
!
!
!
!
Peace of Rome
Roads of Rome
Greek Language
Greek Philosophy
These “mega trends” had been developing for hundreds of years and were
God’s sovereign preparation for the sending of His Messiah. These political,
geographical, linguistic and philosophical trends set the stage for the coming
of God’s Messiah.
So, the fifth reason why it was the “...fullness of time” for God to intervene
in human history was the impotence of the gods and goddesses of Roman
Religion and Greek Mythology. Through the preceding centuries they had all
been tried and found wanting – which is the eventual fate of every false god.
Throughout the Greek and Roman Empires thousands of expensive and
elaborate temples had been built to their gods and goddesses.
Anthropomorphic images were carved of their deities who were little more
than a superhuman projection upon their gods and goddesses of their own
human natures – raised to the power of divinity. And it seemed that their
pantheon of mythological gods and goddesses was almost infinite. Belief in
them was strong and pervasive. Across the centuries millions of prayers
were raised to them...untold numbers of sacrifices were made to
them...battles were fought in their behalf. But people’s lives were unchanged
by these part-human-part-divine-deities.
The people of that day found out what we have also learned today. Through
time and experience their mythological deities could no more save them than
our “super-heroes” today can save us! Whether it is Superman, Batman,
Spiderman, Iron Man, the Bionic Man or Darth Vader – we need a greater
deity than a superhuman being! When one’s back is to the wall and all
options used up, a nebulous internal voice saying “May the Force be with
you” – sounds hollow and empty!
So, when your gods and goddesses fail you, spiritual disillusionment and
despair set in.
Therefore, for decades before the coming of Christ, people had become
increasingly disillusioned by their traditional religion, mythology and
philosophy. But because it was the expected thing to do, most of the people
continued to “go through the motions” of religious belief. This will be the
same mentality that will dominate at the “...end of the Age” when people
will have the “form of godliness” but not the power thereof (II Tim. 3:5). So
like people in every age who know only religiosity rather than spiritual
reality, few people of that day had any real expectation that their gods or
goddesses would or could make a difference in their lives or circumstances.
They had come to expect the silence and inactivity of their deities. They
knew well from their own personal experience – not only their own moral
impotence, but also the inactivity and impotence of their gods. As a result,
their hearts were longing for an authentic “divine invasion” of a true God –
if there were such a Being in the universe!
In this spiritual vacuum, it was time for the Christ of God to step on that
stage – not as the greatest actor of history but as the very author of history.
But wonder of wonders, the Messiah did not make His entrance on the stage
of human history – but in a stable! Once again, God surprised the world! He
did
the
unthinkable...the
unimaginable...the
inconceivable...the
incomprehensible! He didn’t come as a powerful King in a palace but as a
helpless infant in a cattle stall! In stead of being royally born, He came to a
poor peasant couple who were members of a marginalized race living in an
insignificant corner of the world. And soon thereafter they would become
refugees fleeing for their lives from political persecution. How much their
world is like our own world today!
Only God would have thought-up Christmas! Only a God of incredible
divine humility would stoop to such depths from the heights of heavens!
That’s because His First Advent was to save, not to judge. In the “...fullness
of time” He was coming in love, mercy and grace – not in wrath, judgment
and condemnation.
It was not for judgment that God was invading and intervening through His
Messiah – it was for redemption. That’s why He told Joseph this about the
child Mary, his betrothed wife, was now pregnant with: “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” (Matt. 1:21).
The angel Gabriel had previously told Mary the same name for this son that
was to be conceived in her by the very Holy Spirit of God:
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give
Him the name Jesus. 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” (Lk. 1:31-33).
You see, the name said it all. That’s because in the Bible, naming a child
signified two important things. First, the naming of the child signifies the
parental authority the father and mother have over the child – especially the
father. A parent only has authority over their own children – not someone
else’s. You only give names to your own children – not to the children born
to someone else! That’s why it is significant in this case to see that God
Himself named this Son who was to be born – not Mary or Joseph. So God
gave the name “Jesus,” to both Mary and Joseph separately – even before
the conception or birth of the child! To both parents Gabriel specifically
said: “You are to give Him the name Jesus.”
Secondly, name was associated with nature. A person was not just randomly
given a name by his parents. They were to give a name that was consistent
with the nature or calling of the child. And since this boy was like none
other in history with both a perfect “divine nature” and “human nature,” He
would have a special name that would represent both. The name Jesus
means Savior. It is the same as the Hebrew name, Joshua, meaning “Jehovah
is salvation.” But His “title” would be Christ, meaning the “Anointed One,”
or the Messiah. Through His birth He gained the name “Jesus.” Through His
death and resurrection, He earned the name “Christ.”
Jesus the Christ denoted both His name and nature. He would be the unique
theanthropic, or God-Man, of human history (Theo = “God”; Anthropos =
“man”). One Person with two perfect, sinless natures – one fully divine, one
fully human.
Matthew, the writer of the first Christmas narrative, then clearly connected
this dual announcement to Mary and Joseph about the name and nature of
Jesus with the ancient prophecy of Isaiah: “The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means,
‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:23). He would literally be Immanuel Incarnate! God
wrapped in human flesh.
It was the “...fullness of time” for Jesus the Christ to be born – the One who
was the long-awaited Messiah, or “Anointed One” for the Jews, who was
also the “logos longing” whom the Greek philosophers believed in.
By this time, both the traditional Roman religion and popular Greek
mythology were fading in influence. Each had had their day of prominence
and popularity. But as we have already seen, the deities of Rome and the
mythological characters of the Greek pantheon were little more than “human
gods” who could not save. These super-human deities were nothing more
than fanciful human projections upon the realm of divinity. As such, their
gods and goddesses were all victimized by the very same human passions,
vices, jealousies, weaknesses, fightings and failures as the rest of humanity
they were supposed to save.
In what we now know as the first century, the veil between the natural and
supernatural world was very thin. And their deities were not very
transcendent from the human condition. There was always the hope that the
gods would “come down to us.” So any person who seemed to manifest
supernatural character and activity drew quick attention.
This mentality is seen when the true and living God was speaking and
working through Paul and Barnabas on their First Missionary Journey. When
they visited the Roman City of Iconium in Asia Minor, God “...confirmed
the message of His grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and
wonders.” But because of opposition, they went to the city of Lystra where
they continued their supernatural ministry and healed a “...man crippled in
his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked.” As a result of this
miraculous healing, we read this interesting account that so perfectly reflects
the religious culture of the day:
“When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the
Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human
form! Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes
because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose
temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the
city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to
them” (Acts 14:3-13).
One Bible scholar summarized this incident with these helpful insights into
the pagan mindset of the day:
“The response of the Lycaonian fold was one of pagan credulity.
Because the people spoke in their native language, Paul and Barnabas
could not understand what they were saying. Attributing deity to
Barnabas and Paul probably can be traced to a legend about Zeus and
Hermes visiting an aged Lystrian couple named Philemon and Baucis,
who were abundantly rewarded for their hospitality.
Zeus was the chief god and Hermes the messenger equivalent to the
roman gods Jupiter and Mercury, respectively...Paul was the
spokesman and would therefore be called Hermes and Barnabas, the
more retiring of the two, would be seen as Zeus, the dignified, behindthe-scenes god” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John Walvoord
and Roy Zuck, pp. 391-392).
It is also interesting to see how Paul and Barnabas responded to this spiritual
confusion. Since these people had absolutely no exposure to Jewish
Scriptures, they reasoned with them about God from natural revelation
rather than from the special revelation of Holy Writ.
“When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore
their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: ‘Men, why
are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are
bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless
things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and
everything in them. In the past, He let all nations go their own
way. Yet He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown
kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons;
He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
But in spite of their disclaimer to deity, we read: “Even with these words,
they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them” (Acts
14:1-18).
The spiritual vacuum in that day was so great that the people who had
known nothing but the impotent gods of Roman Religion and Greek
Mythology – were eager to worship Paul and Barnabas for their God-like
activities! And these supernatural manifestations were nothing less than
proof that the “...fullness of time” had already come and God was at work in
His world in a new and more intimate way.
Like every authentic Biblical leader, Paul and Barnabas sought to take the
attention off themselves and their supernatural endowment and put it where
it belonged – on God. They were there to tell the “good news” – which was
not about Zeus or Hermes! They implored the people to repent – or to
“...turn from these worthless things to the living God.”
But, note again their wise approach to evangelism among pagans who knew
absolutely nothing about the God who had revealed Himself to the Jewish
people. They emphasized the spiritual “light” of general revelation – that
unmistakable knowledge of God that is clearly seen in nature. They did not
immediately go to the special revelation of the Jewish Scriptures because
their listeners had no frame of reference to understand that.
Neither did Paul and Barnabas immediately talk about the Incarnation–
God’s highest and most personal revelation of Himself to humanity. They
did not start by telling the Christmas Story because the mind-set of the
people at that point was paganism and idolatry. So they talked first about
how there is one true God who has “...not left Himself without testimony.”
And who or what bears God’s testimony to everyone in the world? It is the
“...rain from heaven” that causes their “crops to grow in their season” so that
you will have “plenty of food.” What is the source of such benevolent
providence? Not Zeus or Hermes. It is the “...living God.”
In saying this, Paul and Barnabas were only echoing the words of the Lord
Jesus when He said that God “...causes His sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45). So
everything in nature – like the “sun” and “rain,” are the servants of God to
demonstrate His benevolence on humanity. And as the saying goes, He
graciously showers His blessings on the “...good, the bad and the ugly!”
But, God does not stop with this external revelation through nature or His
providential goodness upon all mankind. He also gives an internal revelation
by “...filling their hearts with joy.” This wonderful and often unexpected
experience of joy is an internal “emotional hint” of the God who is the center
of all joy! That’s why we love to sing at Christmas: “Joy to the world, the
Lord has come!”
Later, on another missionary journey, Paul had another confrontation with
the lingering deities of Greece and Rome in the City of Ephesus. There the
goddess Artemis, was worshipped. Her counterpart in the Roman pantheon
was Diana. While she was widely worshipped in the world of that day,
Ephesus had the largest and most famous temple dedicated to her. And as is
always the case in paganism and idolatry, there was a booming religious
industry built up around Artemis. We are told that a very successful
silversmith named Demetrius, was losing business because of the preaching
of Paul. So he called his fellow idol makers together and made this
accusation:
“Men, you know that we receive a good income from this
business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has
convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus
and practically the whole province of Asia. He says that manmade gods are not gods at all. There is danger not only that our
trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great
goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who
is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will
be robbed of her divine majesty. When they heart this, they were
furious and began shouting: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’
Soon the whole city was in an uproar” (Acts 19:23-29).
As a result of this “religious riot,” Paul had to soon leave the City of
Ephesus where he had obviously had a great spiritual impact. Even his arch
enemy and idol maker, Demetrius, said that “...large numbers of people in
Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia” have turned away
from their pagan idol worship to believe in Christ. But when there is a
conflict between the heart and the pocket book – guess which one usually
wins?! So off Paul went to preach in Macedonia.
Like it or not – lose money or not – the “...fullness of time” had already
come and God had sent His logos into the world. He had sovereignly moved
from general revelation through nature...to written revelation through the
Scriptures...to the Incarnation through Christ where “...the Word (logos)
became flesh and dwelt among us.”
So, He who was hinted at in the logos of Greek Philosophy and poorly
intimated in the pantheon of Roman Religion – had now been incarnated in
the Christ! And the ministry of Paul demonstrates that you just cannot
contain or constrain the “good news.” Idols or not...financial loss or
not...riots or not...persecution or not—you just cannot stop the Christmas
Message!
The truth that Paul reminded the Galatian Christians of who were falling
back into their former wrong beliefs and practices – is just as true for us
today:
“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those
who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God – or
rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to
those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved
by them all over again? ... I fear for you that somehow I have
wasted my efforts on you...My dear children, for whom I am again
in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:819).
I pray that this Christmas Season will be the “...fullness of time” for Christ
to be more fully formed in you! That these Holidays would be true Holy
Days through which Christ would be more fully formed in your
attitudes...your thought life...your relationships...your finances...your
recreation – your all. Or to quote Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesian saints:
“That you would grow up in every way to the measure of the statue of Christ
to mature manhood” (Eph. 4:). Anything less is to miss the true purpose and
power of Christmas!
We forget sometime that Jesus did not remain a “Babe in the manger.” He
grew up. He matured. He reached the fullness of manhood. Or as Luke
records: “He grew in wisdom and in stature an in favor with God and
man” (Lk. 2:52). Christmas in an annual reminder that we are to do the
same.
Jewish Synagogues
The sixth and final big reason that it was the “...fullness of time” for the
Messiah to come was the existence of the Jewish Synagogues throughout
much of the Mediterranean world. It is hard to overemphasize the spiritual
and historic importance of this fact. There is no other institution that more
directly established a spiritual beachhead in the Gentile world than did the
extensive presence of the Jewish Synagogues. They could be found in almost
every major city and town of the Roman World.
The word synagogue actually means a “place of assembly.” While it’s origin
is not known for sure, it is believed that they began during the Babylonian
exile when Ezra “assembled the Jews” for the reading of the Law (Ez. 8:15;
Neh. 8:2; 9:1). Since the Jews were dispersed from Jerusalem and separated
from the Temple Mount, they had no place to meet. As a result, they just
“assembled publicly” whenever and wherever they could.
Therefore, synagogue at first just meant a “public assembly” more than a
“place of assembly.” But since any regular “assembly of people” develop a
need for a “place of assembly,” synagogue buildings were built. So over
time, this “assembly of people” evolved into a specific “place of assembly”
– and the synagogue building was born.
This religious evolution among the Jews would make sense since they had
been captured and deported to Babylon. As slaves, they were separated from
Jerusalem and deprived of their normal “place of assembly” to practice their
faith and culture. So in all probability, these little “religious outposts of
Judaism” were the result of the Diaspora – beginning with the Babylonian
Captivity.
The primary purpose of these Jewish “places of assembly” was for the
public reading and instruction of the Law of Moses. This revelation from
God was what uniquely distinguished them from all of the rest of the people
of the world. Without the Law of God, they became like everyone else.
There were many other temples and shrines all over the Mediterranean world
that were filled with statues and carvings of Greek and Roman deities. But
all such “idols and images” were strictly forbidden in the synagogues
because of the “Ten Commandments” God had revealed to His “Chosen
People” (Ex. 20:3-4; Deut. 4:37; 7:6). As a result, they were to be holy like
the God who had sovereignly chosen them from among all of the other
people of the world.
As a result of this belief in their unique revelation and distinctive calling, the
very heart of the synagogue was the Word of God. So every synagogue had
special cases to store the sacred scrolls of Scripture since they were the very
reason for the existence of these “places of assembly.” Therefore, the most
important focal points in the synagogues were the lectern or pulpit from
which the Scriptures were read. Closely associated was the “Seat of Moses”
where the Law was expounded.
In these synagogues of the Diaspora, no single person was appointed as the
permanent “preacher.” Any respected male member of the congregation, or
visiting Jewish man, could be invited to read the Scriptures and give the
“Sabbath sermon.” We see that Jesus was asked to do just that following His
40 days of temptation in the wilderness. After this battle with Satan – which
He won because of the power of the Word of God (Lk. 4:4,8,12), Jesus had
returned to His childhood hometown to inaugurate His public Messianic
ministry. And note specifically where He went to make this dramatic
announcement:
“He went to Nazareth where He had been brought up, and on the
Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And
He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to
Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written:
“‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to
preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoner and recovery of sight for the blind, to
release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat
down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on
Him, and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing.’
All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that
came from His lips, ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.”
Every Jew there heard clearly that Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah.
They could not believe their ears! There was absolutely no room for
ambiguity in the specific passage He read from the Isaiah Scroll! This claim
amazed some because they knew Him from childhood. And in spite of His
“gracious words,” no “carpenter’s son” could be the Messiah! It just didn’t
fit their preconceived Messianic mentality – which you can easily
understand! This negative response evoked the now famous words of Jesus:
“No prophet is accepted in His hometown.” Sadly, familiarity does often
breed contempt!
As the discussion and debate about Him grew more intense and heated, Jesus
was almost killed! The synagogue erupted in anger and hostility against
Him:
“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard
this. They got up, drove Him out of the town and took Him to the
brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw
Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and
went on His way” (Lk. 4:29).
So, Jesus specifically chose the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth as
the perfect place to first announce that “...the fullness of time” had come and
that He was the long-awaited Messiah. He did not do so in the Temple in
Jerusalem. This would have been the place we might have expected the
Messiah to announce Himself since the Temple was the spiritual and
geographical center of Judaism. But instead, Jesus went to His hometown
and to the synagogue He grew up in from childhood. And certainly He
would have anticipated this negative response – while humanly speaking, He
must have desired otherwise. Everyone wants to be accepted by his family
and friends. But accept it or not, He had to be faithful to His calling because
it was the “...fullness of time.”
It is particularly important to remind ourselves at this point that this was the
very same synagogue that Jesus had attended with His parents and
worshipped in from His infancy “...as was His custom.” So Jesus was not a
sporadic and irregular attender at the Nazareth synagogue. Along with
Joseph, Mary and His brothers and sisters (Matt. 13:55-56; Mk. 3:32; 6:1-3),
Jesus was a regular and faithful member of the synagogue in good standing
with the religious authorities there. And while He did go up “...every year to
Jerusalem with His parents for the Feast of the Passover,” it was this local
synagogue that was the locus of His public Jewish education. Read again
these telling words about the faithfulness of Joseph and Mary in their
religious instruction in the home and synagogue after the birth of Jesus:
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law
of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of
Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong: He was filled
with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him...And Jesus grew
in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk. 2:3940, 52).
It is important then that we “connect the dots” between Jesus’ birth in
Bethlehem and His up-bringing in Nazareth. As you “read between the
lines” of the Gospels, it is clear that this local synagogue played a strategic
role in the “silent years” of Jesus’ childhood and life as a teenage. Along
with the traditional Jewish instruction in the home (Deut. 6:4-9), it was the
public reading of the Law of the Lord...the expounding of the Word from the
“Seat of Moses”...the dialogue and debate of the Scriptures by the teachers
and people...the singing of the Psalms...the celebration of the various Jewish
Feasts...and the worship of Jehovah God – that together played a crucial role
in the spiritual education of Jesus. It was His public attendance and worship
in this very same synagogue in Nazareth that God used to enable Him to
“...grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
In the local synagogues then, the most important focal points were the
lectern or pulpit where the Scriptures were read and the “Seat of Moses”
where they were expounded through the rabbinical method of dialogue and
debate.
But what about the congregation? Where did they sit? Good question. In
addition to the lectern and “Seat of Moses,” there were also seats for the
congregation – which were often “stone benches.” The men would sit on one
side and women and children on the other. And as you would expect, there
would always emerge men who would become the “rulers of the
synagogue.” As you will recall, Jesus raised the dead daughter of one of
these synagogue rulers (Mk. 5:35-38).
In these Jewish synagogues, usually the more wealthy and prominent
members took the front seats or “chief seats.” On several occasions Jesus
gave strong warnings to His disciples against this practice of the Pharisees
who loved these prominent places so they could be better seen and heard for
the “public performance” of their prayers and pontifications (Mk. 12:39; Lk.
11:43; 20:46)! As Jesus pointed out:
“Everything they do is done for men to see...they love the places of
honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues”
(Matt. 23:5-6).
But, as you look beyond the spiritual perversions of the Pharisees, you can
see some important elements of synagogue worship in Judea and the
surrounding world. Note several positive practices through these negative
examples given by Jesus:
! Teaching: Jesus said to the crowds and to His disciples: ‘The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses Seat. So you
must obey them and
do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do
not practice what they preach” (Matt. 23:1-3).
! Giving: “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before
men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from
your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not
announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues...to be honored by men” (Matt. 6:1-2; 23:23-24).
! Prayer: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues...to be seen by men”
(Matt. 6:5).
! Evangelism: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single
convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a
son of hell as you are” (Matt. 23:15).
! Cleanliness: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but
inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisees!
First clean the inside of the cup and the dish and then the outside
also will be clean” (Matt. 23:25-26).
In spite of the hypocrisy and religious abuses often taking place in some of
the synagogues, Jesus still utilized them in His public ministry – especially
for preaching, teaching and healing. Note these familiar examples:
! “They went to Capernaum and when the Sabbath came, Jesus
went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were
amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as one who had
authority, not as the teachers of the law...News about Him spread
quickly over the whole region of Galilee...As soon as they left the
synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon
and Andrew” (Mk. 1:21-22, 28- 29).
! “I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the
desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from
heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread
that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, He will
live forever. This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of
the world...He said this while teaching in the synagogue in
Capernaum” (Jn. 6:48-59).
! “They tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, ‘I
must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other
towns also, because that is why I was sent. And He kept on
preaching in the synagogues of Judea” (Lk. 4:42-44).
! “Another time He went into the synagogue, and a man with a
shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason
to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closely to see if He would
heal him on the Sabbath...He looked around at them in anger and,
deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man,
‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was
completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to
plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus” (Mk. 3:1-6;
Matt. 12:9-14; Lk. 6:6-11).
! “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in
their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and
healing every disease and sickness” (Matt. 9:35).
! “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for
eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at
all. When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her,
‘Women, you are set free from your infirmity.’ The He put His
hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised
God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the
synagogue ruler said to the people, ‘There are six days for work.
So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’
The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on
the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to
give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be
set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’
When He said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the
people were delighted with all the wonderful things He was doing”
(Lk. 13:10- 17).
At the end of His public ministry, when Jesus was being tried by the high
priest, He said this in response to their interrogation about His teaching: “I
have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in
synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said
nothing in secret. Why question Me? Ask those who heard Me. Surely
they know what I said” (Jn. 18:19-21).
Therefore, in spite of the fact that most of synagogue worship had become
leavened by the formalism, ritualism, legalism and hypocrisy of the
Pharisees, Sadducees and Herodians, Jesus still went there regularly for
worship and ministry. Even though many of them had become so apostate
that they could rightly be called the “Synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9; 3:9),
Jesus still ministered there regularly. And as we have seen, He gave some of
His major teachings there and performed some of His greatest miracles
there. All of this was a clear irrefutable witness to the Jewish people that He
was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. The combination of His teachings and
miracles were clear evidence that the “...fullness of time had come.”
In His “Seven Woes,” Jesus gave some of the boldest warnings and rebukes
ever spoken to the Jewish leaders about the perversion of their religion. And
this only intensified their hatred of Him – culminating in their plot to kill
Him. Such open rebuke and condemnation on “their turf” could not be
tolerated!
It was natural for the Jewish converts to Jesus the Messiah to carry over
some of their synagogue practices to their new faith. After all, in their minds
He was the fulfillment of all they had believed and practiced in the
synagogues. But apparently some of the same kind of preferential treatment
in Jewish worship spilled over into the early Church. Note these words of
warning from James, the Lord’s brother:
“My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ,
don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting
wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby
clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man
wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here is a good seat for you,’ but say
to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘sit on the floor by my feet,’
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges
with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not god chosen those who are poor
in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the
kingdom He promised those who love Him” But you have insulted
the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not
the ones who are dragging you into court?” Are they not the ones
who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong?
If you really keep the royal law found in scripture: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself,’ you are dong right. But if you show
favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers”
(Ja. 2:1-9).
But, in addition to being a religious “place of assembly” for the dispersed
Jews, the synagogue was also a “social center” where they could perpetuate
their culture in a sea of paganism and persecution. It was in the synagogues
that Jewish weddings were perform, funerals were held, Bar Mitzvahs were
celebrated, community problems were discussed and legal matters settled –
like who could and could not participate in synagogue worship and
fellowship. Remember how Jesus warned His disciples that they would be
tried, persecuted and “put out of the synagogues” because of their faith in
Him (Matt. 10:17; 23:34; Lk. 12:11; 21:12; Jn. 9:22; 12:42;16:2, etc)?
So, these Jewish synagogues that were spread throughout the Mediterranean
World before and during the life of Christ were having a leavening spiritual
presence among many Jews and Gentiles alike. Obviously these synagogues
were teaching the strict monotheism taught in the Law, Psalms and Prophets
(Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 86:10; Isa. 44:6; Zec. 14:9, etc). And in a
sea of impotent idolatry, this Jewish monotheism was attracting many
Gentiles. We read this intriguing and telling account from Luke about an
early healing in the ministry of Christ:
“When Jesus had...entered Capernaum...a centurion’s servant,
whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The
centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him,
asking Him to come and heal his servant. They came to Jesus,
they pleaded earnestly with Him, ‘This man deserves to have you
do this because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.’
So Jesus went with them.”
This professional Roman soldier and centurion had obviously been so
impressed and impacted by Judaism that he had developed a “love for the
Jewish people,” when the norm was disdain by the Romans! And he was so
intrigued by their Jewish faith that he personally “built their synagogue” in
Capernaum.
You know the rest of the story. As Jesus approached the Centurion’s home,
one of the most amazing encounters and exchanges in the New Testament
took place. It even amazed Jesus! This Centurion was so humbled before
Jesus that he felt unworthy for Him to enter his own “pagan home.” So he
came out to meet Jesus and said:
“Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you
come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself
worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be
healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers
under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’
and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’
When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the
crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such
great faith even in Israel!’ Then the men who had been sent
returned to the house and found the servant well” (Lk. 7:6-10).
Later in Acts, we read of another Roman Centurion who was likewise
impacted by the Jewish Faith. His name was Cornelius, and once again the
Gentile Doctor Luke, records his story in Acts 10:
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in
what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family
were devout and god-fearing; he gave generously to those in need
and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the
afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of god, who
came to Him and said, ‘Cornelius...Your prayers and gifts to the
poor have come up as a memorial offering before God” (Acts.
10:1-4).
Undoubtedly, the presence and preaching of the Jewish Scriptures in the
local synagogue in Caesarea had impacted Cornelius’ heart. He had become
a “..righteous and God-fearing man, who was respected by all the Jewish
people” (10:22). This kind of respect of a Jew for a Roman – and especially
a professional soldier, was certainly not the norm! Usually there was great
hatred and mutual disdain between them!
But, as a result of Cornelius’ faith and obedience to all of God’s will that he
had been exposed to, the Lord sent him further revelation through the
preaching of Peter. But this ministry to Cornelius by Peter could only take
place after God gave him a vision to purge him of his spiritual pride and
racial bigotry. So when Peter was “dozing his devotions” on the top of
Simon the tanner’s house in Joppa, God gave him a heavenly vision of a
“sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.”
On the “heavenly menu” that day were all kinds of non-kosher foods that
Peter as a “true blue Jew through and through” – would never dare eat! And
much to his shock, Peter heard a heavenly voice saying: “Get up, Peter, kill
and eat.” In pietistic protest Peter said: “Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten
anything impure or unclean!” But the risen Lord emphatically responded to
Peter: “Do not call anything impure that God as made clean.”
After that divine vision from heaven healed Peter’s spiritual pride and racial
prejudice, he went to the home of Cornelius – the “Gentile General.” And he
probably did so with great reluctance and discomfort since this was really
way “outside the box” for him! Becoming “unclean” by entering the home
of a Gentile was bad enough! But what if they invited him to dinner and
served him a rack of pork ribs?! If the Jews back home got word of this, they
would never let him back in the synagogue again! His religious reputation
would be ruined for life! “God,” he must have thought, “are you sure that
vision was from You?!”
So, because of Peter’s strict sense of separation, he would never have
entered a Gentile’s home like this in the past. That’s why Peter did not get
the message the first time. Or the second time! God had to repeat Himself no
less than three times before Peter got the message! “Peter,” the Lord said,
from this point on, do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Truly, our prejudices die hard!
Finally Peter got this three-fold message and with some fear and trepidation
went to the home of Cornelius. There he preached about the life, death and
resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And before Peter got to the end of the
message and gave his invitation – God already gave His! So the Holy Spirit
fell on everyone in mid- sentence of Peter’s sermon:
“While Peter was still speaking...the Holy Spirit came on all who
heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with
Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in
tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone keep these people from being
baptized with water?” They have received the Holy Spirit just as we
have. So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ” (10:44-48).
It is important to note that this “Gentile Pentecost” was about 10 years after
the “Jewish Pentecost” in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-12). As Peter and the other
Jewish Christians watched in awe and wonder, they had to acknowledge that
these Gentiles had “...received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
What a spiritual lesson this was for Peter! It forever expanded His
understanding of the heart of God and of his own responsibility in
evangelism and missions! “I now realize,” Peter exclaimed, “that God does
not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do
what is right” (10:34). That’s what Christmas is really all about – seeing
“men from every nation” come to belief in the Messiah.
God had undoubtedly used the presence of Jewish worship and the
expounding of the Scriptures in the local synagogue at Caesarea to prepare
the heart of Cornelius and his entire family, for the preaching of the good
news about Jesus Christ through Peter! The message and ministry of the
synagogue had already been crucial links in the spiritual chain for Cornelius.
Peter just had the joy of “closing the deal” with the final link that eternally
connected Cornelius to the Lord Jesus. It was also his own personal
“...fullness of time.”
As we have been seeing in this study, Judaism was characterized by a belief
in a monotheistic God and messianic Deliverer. And both faithful Jews and
seeking Gentiles were impacted by this dual belief through the presence and
preaching of the synagogues. That’s why Jesus utilized them all through His
public ministry.
Just as the local synagogues played a central role in the ministry of Jesus, it
did the same for the Apostle Paul. Interestingly, before his conversion when
he was known as “Saul of Tarsus,” he would pursue and persecute Jewish
believer in Christ – beginning in local synagogues. After Stephen made his
great witness for Christ and preached one of the longest sermons in the New
Testament – he was dragged out of the local synagogue, condemned before
the Sanhedrin and taken out and stoned to death as the first martyr of the
Christian Church (Acts 6:8-15).
This only increased Saul’s passion to persecute more Christians. As a result,
“He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues of
Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether
men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-3;
22:19; 26:11). And we know the rest of the story how the risen Christ
accosted him on that Road to Damascus. As a result, “Saul the persecutor”
became “Paul the preacher.” It was also the “...fullness of time” for Saul.
And the first place he went to preach was in those very synagogues of
Damascus where he had intended to arrest Christians!
“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once
he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of
God...Saul grew more and more powerful and battled the Jews
living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts
9:19-22).
You gotta love it! Only God could do that!
From his conversion onward, the local synagogue in any and every town he
traveled to was Paul’s starting point of ministry. From the Book of Acts we
can see how important these synagogues were to him because everywhere he
went he first preached, taught, reasoned in the synagogue. Note these
examples...
! “...they went on to Pisidan Antioch. On the Sabbath they
entered the synagogueand sat down.After the reading from the
Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sentword to them,
saying, ‘Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the
people, please speak.’
Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: ‘Men of
Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!...we tell
you the good news: What God promised our fathers He has
fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus...I want you to
know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to
you. Through Him everyone who believes is justified from
everything you could not be justified from by the Law of
Moses...as Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the
people invited them to speak further about these things on the
next Sabbath...On the next Sabbath almost the whole city
gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:13-44).
! “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish
synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of
Jews and Gentiles believed” (Acts 14:1).
! “...they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish
synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and
on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the
Scriptures...” (Acts 17:1-2).
! “As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away
to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures everyday to see if what Paul said was
true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent
Greek women and many Greek men” (Acts 17:10-15).
! “While Paul was waiting...in Athens, he was greatly distressed
to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the
synagogue with Jews and the God-fearing Greeks...” (Acts 17:1617).
! “After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he
met a Jew named Aquila a native of Pontus, who had recently
come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had
ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and
because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked
with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to
persuade Jews and Greeks...but when the Jews opposed Paul and
became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest...Then Paul left
the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titus Justus, a
worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire
household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who
heard Him believed and were baptized ” (Acts 18:1-8).
! “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the
interior and arrived at Ephesus...Paul entered the synagogue and
spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about
the kingdom of God...but some of them became obstinate; they
refused to believe...so Paul left them. He took the disciples with
him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who
lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:110).
It is also crucial to see that one of the greatest shifts in church history took
place because the Jews in the synagogues increasingly rejected Paul’s
message. As a result, his ministry emphasis shifted from Jews to Gentiles.
Note this “paradigm passage” in Acts about this seismic spiritual shift in
missions:
“When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy
and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. Then Paul and
Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of
God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves
worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what
the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring
salvation to the ends of the earth.’
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the
word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life
believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.
But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and
the leading me of the city. They stirred up persecution against
Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they
shook the dust from their feed in
protest against them...And the disciples were filled with joy and
with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:45-52).
But, in spite of the general rejection in the synagogues of the Gospel, it still
played a great role of preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Through
their constant reading and teaching of the “Law of Moses,” the synagogues
helped prepare for the “...fullness of time” for the coming of Christ.
Unknowingly, the Jewish synagogues had done their educational and
preparational work. Just as John the Baptist had been the forerunner of
Jesus, the synagogues played the same role – though in a more general way.
James testified to this ministry of preparation at the Council in Jerusalem,
the very first Christian Council in Church History:
“For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times
and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21).
While there was a spiritual mystery here that he did not fully understand,
Paul knew from years of experience that most of the Jews of his day – and of
our day, have a “closed mind” when it comes to Jesus being the Messiah.
That rigid religious mind-set was the same one he had before his conversion
on the way to the synagogues of Damascus. It was if there was a “veil” over
the spiritual eyes of their mind and heart keeping them from clearly seeing
Jesus as the Messiah. Paul described the Jews this way:
“Their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil
remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed,
because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when
Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But when anyone turns to
the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (II Cor. 3:14-16)
Because of their willful blindness, Paul turned from a prior primary
emphasis on reaching the Jews – to a mission of reaching the Gentiles. Most
of the Jews were like the ones in His home synagogue in Nazareth. They
were so familiar with Jesus that they could not really recognize Him!
Moslems are the same way because the biased picture in the Koran about
Isa, or Jesus, prejudices them against really seeing Him for who He is. They
have an inoculation against the real Jesus because of the false message of the
Koran.
However, none of this caught our sovereign missionary God off guard. He
knew all of this from the very foundations of the world. He was
providentially using all of this to open the door of the salvation to the
Gentiles as a result of the resistance and rejection by the Jews.
Since all of Christ’s first disciples were Jews who had been spiritually
nurtured in the synagogues of Judea, they too did not “connect the dots”
between the Scriptures and Jesus. They knew the Scriptures and knew Jesus
– but could not clearly connect them. So after His resurrection, Jesus would
remind His disciples that Moses and all of the Scriptures pointed to Him:
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself...He
said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you:
Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law
of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then He opened their
minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Lk. 24:27, 44-45).
My friend, I hope this study has also helped “open your mind to understand
the Scriptures” more clearly about the “...fullness of time.” Not in some
vague general kind of way – but very specifically. I pray that during this
Christmas Season you might clearly “connect the dots” between Who Jesus
is and what the Scriptures say about what you are struggling with most right
now.
It matters not whether it is a relational struggle between you and your
spouse...a conflict between you and your child or teenager...a loss of a job...a
dramatic decline in your financial portfolio as a result of the melt-down on
Wall Street...some personal health crisis...a crippling fear of dying –
whatever! I pray that you will let the same Jesus that “opened their minds so
they could understand the Scriptures,” do the same for you. Anything less is
to miss the real meaning of Christmas!
God’s Gift of Grace
At this point we have now spent some time studying in detail why it was the
exact “...fullness of time” for God to send His messiah into the world. I
really appreciate those of you who have stayed with me as we have done a
rather in depth study of this subject. As I indicated in the beginning, this was
not going to be a brief sentimental “snap shot” of the Advent Story – like
what is pictured on Christmas Cards. We were going to “dig deeper” into the
various Christmas narratives and connect them together with other relevant
Scriptures, as well as with pertinent historical facts and trends.
We have seen thus far that it was the “...fullness of time” for a divine
invasion because of the...
!
!
!
!
!
!
Pervasive Peace of Rome
Extensive Roman Roads
Universality of Greek Language
Logos of Greek Philosophy
Decline of Roman Religion & Greek Mythology
Wide influence of the Jewish Synagogues
All of these together had a cumulative effect of preparing the way for the
coming of the Messiah. While none of them individually would have created
the “...fullness of time” for Christ to come, together they set the stage for
this divine invasion of planet earth.
From both the revelation of the Bible and the vantage point of history, it is
clear that the sovereign God of the universe had been planning all of this
from before the foundations of the world (Rev. 13:8). So there was a
political ... geographical ... linguistic ... philosophical ... cultural ... and
religious preparation for the coming of Christ.
Paul summarized this Christological focus of history this way to the
Believers in Ephesus:
“He (God) made known to us the mystery of His will according to
His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring
all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even
Christ.
In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of His will, in order that we...might live for the praise of
His glory” (Eph. 1:9-12).
Paul likewise emphasized to the Christians in Colossae that Christ was both
the Creator and Culmination of history...
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation. For by Him all things were created...all things were
created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all
things hold together...so that in everything He might have the
supremacy” (Col. 1:15- 18).
Jesus, then, was both the Person and Purpose of all of creation. Everything
was created by Him and for Him. Christ is both the Center and
Circumference of all things. He is the one Who makes everything in the
cosmos “hold together.” Without His cohesive presence and power,
everything flies apart...falls apart... comes unglued. And contrary to what we
all like to think in our self-centeredness, we are not the center of the universe
– He is. It’s not about us – it’s about Him. Christmas is supposed to remind
us of this. Jesus is to have “supremacy in everything” – not us. There can be
but one supreme throne in the universe – and it belongs to Him, not to us!
But, we are all usurpers. That’s what sin is all about. We want to reign in our
little worlds. We want to be the center of the universe. We believe
everything should revolve around us. That’s the sin and selfishness that
made Christmas necessary. As we will see in a later study, we all still tend to
give Christ the mangers of our lives.
It was the “...fullness of time” then, because everything internally and
externally was longing for an authentic “divine invasion” – but hopefully
one that would be benevolent...One that would redeem rather than destroy.
Both the human heart and human history were right for the Messiah.
When you put all of these Scriptural promises and historical trends together
on parallel tracks, you see in retrospect that the “...fullness of time” had
indeed come for God to send His long-awaited Messiah. The “prophetic
timetable” was now complete. The Messiah had to come in order for God’s
Word to be true. God had to keep His Word spoken through the Law,
Prophets and Psalms!
As every student of the Bible knows, for generations God had been
promising a Messiah through the prophets – a “suffering Servant” and a
“conquering King” who would be the “seed of woman” (Gen. 3:15). And
with the conclusions of the prophets Zechariah and Malachi, the “prophetic
portrait” of the Messiah was completed – even to the exact details of the way
He would present Himself to Israel as their King...
“...righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey”(Zech. 9:9; Matt. 21:1-11).
In Daniel 9:25-26, we read that he had been given by God’s Spirit a definite
length of time between the decree to rebuild the City of Jerusalem under
Artaxerxes (Neh. 2) and the Messiah being “cut off.” The period was “70
weeks” of years or 483 years. The fulfillment of that period of time would
focus on the calendar at exactly 33 AD. So if God’s Messiah was to come,
grow to maturity and fulfill His public ministry as described in Isa. 61 and
then be “cut off” about 33 AD, He must be born a few years before the year
one. So Jesus was born about 4 BC (This oddity in Jesus being born before
year one was due to a 6th century calendar maladjustment).
Therefore, the prophetic timetable was now completely “filled-up.” God’s
promised Messiah had to come! And once the “...fullness of time” had
come, nothing in heaven and on earth could stop the coming of the Messiah!
And so Jesus came. And in doing so, He split history wide open and forever
divided it in two between B.C. and A.D. – or into “Before Christ” and
“Anno Domini,” the “Year of Our Lord.”
Let’s conclude this study on the “...fullness of time” where we began, with
Paul’s prophetic summary found in Galatians 4. As you read up this point in
Paul’s letter, you realize the struggle these young Christians were having.
While they had been “saved by grace,” they were being seduced by the
Judaizers. This was a group of legalistic Jews who followed Paul and tried to
bring Gentile converts to Christ under all of the laws and traditions of
Judaism –circumcision, kosher foods and all!
In reality, these Judaizers were still where Paul was before his conversion on
the Damascus Road. They too had heard about Jesus – but had rejected Him
as the Messiah. Because He did not fit their spiritual stero-types, they did not
believe that the “...fullness of time” had come. If it had come and Jesus was
the true Messiah, they would still not be under the domination of Rome!
Having rejected Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, these Judaizers were rabid
religionists who continued to cling to the whole Law of Moses. They
insisted in the priority of both the Law and “traditions of the elders” as the
only means of salvation. And apparently many of these young Gentile
Christians were succumbing to this Jewish pressure and submitting to the
laws and traditions of Judaism. They were now believing in Jesus plus the
law – rather than in Jesus as the fulfillment of the law for them because of
His grace.
As a result of this very dangerous spiritual perversion, Paul wrote some of
the most severe words of condemnation found in the New Testament – other
than the “Seven Woes” that Jesus pronounced against the Jewish Pharisees
and hypocrites (Matt. 23:1-36). Paul literally said these Judaizers should be
“accursed” ...”damned” ...“cut off” from God for their perversion of the
grace of God (Gal. 1:6-10).
So, in Galatians Paul reminded them that the Law had fulfilled its God-given
purpose. It was His heaven-sent “school teacher” for them when they were
living in spiritual ignorance and immature (Acts 17:30). During that time
before Christ, God was treating them like slaves rather than like sons. And
He was using the Law to show them their sin and total inability to live up to
His standards of righteousness and holiness that He had revealed through the
Law.
But, the good news of the Gospel was that God had sent His Son – their
Messiah, to perfectly fulfill the Law in their behalf. Because of God’s love,
mercy and grace, Jesus would do for them what they could never do for
themselves by trying to obey the Law – and always falling woefully short of
its demands. After fulfilling every “letter of the Law,” Jesus would then
impute His own perfect obedience, righteousness and holiness to them. As a
result, they would no longer live like slaves under the bondage and tutelage
of the Law – but as sons living in the glorious liberty of the grace of God
freely provided through Christ!
Paul wrote a very stern letter to rebuke the Judaizers and remind these new
Gentile Christians that they were now sons who had fully “come of age.”
They were no longer immature “school children” living under the rules,
regulations and rituals of the Law. They were now heirs of all that Jesus had
provided for them through His life, death, resurrection, ascension and
indwelling Holy Spirit!
With those understandings in mind, read again the Scriptures with which we
began this study:
“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no
different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.He is
subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the
basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come,
God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem
those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our
hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So
you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God
has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:1-7).
Talk about Christmas presents that exceed all expectations! Unimaginable
“gifts of grace” that money can’t buy! Divine bestowments that cannot be
equaled or excelled – these are it! And they were all given in the “...fullness
of time!” They were exactly the right gifts...given at the right time...in the
right place...by the right God – but to wrong people! That’s why they are
called
“gifts
of
grace.”
The
word
grace
means
“unmerited...unworthy...unattainable.”
These gifts were given not because we worked for them...deserved
them...earned them...or merited them. As people who are wrong both by
nature and choice, we could never deserve such “gifts of grace.” But when
you believe in the Right God, you receive the right gift even though you are
the wrong person! That’s what Christmas is all about! Nothing more,
nothing less.
Read through this summary of these “gifts of grace” that God has bestowed
upon us who have believed in His Messiah:
! Though we were once slaves living in bondage to the “basic
principles of the world,” we are now sons and daughters of God
through our faith in Christ.
! While we used to live under the tutelage of the law – which we
could never measure up to, we are now under grace.
! This great spiritual shift fromlaw to gracetook place because the
“...fullness of time” had come for God to send His Messiah, the Lord
Jesus.
! While He was naturally born, He was supernaturally conceived by
God in the womb of a virgin girl by the name of Mary. Therefore, the
child within her was holy.
! As the sinless Son of God, He came to perfectly fulfill the law for
us and impute to us His righteousness and holiness.
! Jesus then, came to “redeem those under the law” through His
perfect life, vicarious death and glorious resurrection.
! Through faith in Him we are no longer slaves living in fear but
sons living in freedom.
! Because of this grace from God and intimacy with God through
His Spirit, we now can call God our “Abba, Father.”
! And like Jesus, we are also heirs of everything God has promised
and made available through His Messiah.
Since those are God’s eternal “gifts of grace,” don’t settle for anything
less this Christmas!
JESUS’ FAMILY TREE
OR
GOD’S GENEALOGY
“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of
Abraham.” (Matt. 1:1). “Now Jesus Himself was about thirty years old
when He began His ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of
Joseph.”
(Luke 3:23)
A
number of years ago, author Alex Haley wrote a book on his own
personal genealogy entitled Roots. It became an overnight success and
quickly rose to the top of the “best seller” list in America. Very quickly, its
popularity exploded around the world – especially on the African continent
and in other predominantly Black countries. Soon it was made into a
docudrama movie and TV series that made it one of the most widely viewed
stories about slavery ever produced. In addition to graphically exposing the
horrors of slavery, that book awakened within many people – especially
African-Americans – a deep desire to know more about their own ancestry
and genealogy.
Unfortunately, few Americans today can trace their genealogy back past
their great-grandparents – if that far. Sadly, hundreds of thousand of children
in America grow up in single parent families where there is either no mother
or father – or the spouses or “live-ins” are constantly changing. Many don’t
even know for sure who their real biological mother or father are! It would
take a DNA paternity or maternity test to know for sure – if the suspected
parent could even be found!
As a result of this unprecedented breakdown of the family, millions of
children have little or no concept of normal marriage or family life. When it
comes to marriage, abnormality has become the norm. Divided and broken
families are more common than ones that are still together. Children grow up
with little or no sense of belonging. Relational deprivation and
dysfunctionality are the results. Children and teenagers are almost totally
disconnected from any consistent sense of family. There is no concept of
genealogy or inter-generational heritage. Their “family tree” was cut off
through the death, divorce or desertion of one or more parents – leaving
them nothing but a lifeless stump when it comes to genealogy. They grow up
with little or no sense of family or extended family – much less a genealogy
that goes back for many generations. Truly, we live in a shifting, rootless
society!
Just like millions of people have little or no sense of physical rootedness,
many Christians have the same spiritual sense of rootlessness. That’s why
Paul prayed that new Gentile Believers would be deeply rooted in Christ and
the richness of Scripture. Note his practical prayer for them…
! “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order
that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the
richness of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His
incomparable great power for us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19).
! “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you
with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,
being rooted and established in love may have power…to grasp
how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled
to the measure of all of the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19).
! “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you…so just
as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were
taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:1-8).
This was an important prayer for many Gentile Christians who had been
separated from their countries and cultures through warfare, slavery and
commerce. So Paul’s prayer was that their sense of spiritual family would
compensate for their lack of physical family. He knew the basic principle
that “root determines fruit.” So they could not “grow up” and be “built up”
unless they were first “firmly rooted in Christ” through the Scriptures and
through the Spirit.
But this sense of rootlessness was generally not the case with the Jews –
even among those who had been dispersed to the farthest reaches of the
Roman Empire. From their very beginning as a people, the Jews had a
passion for genealogies – which was recorded in their Scriptures. This
helped them stay connected to their Jewish ancestry and history and was one
of the biggest factors that kept them from being assimilated by the peoples
they lived among.
From their earliest recorded history in the Bible, the Jews were concerned
about genealogy. In Genesis, the book of beginnings, there is the genealogy
of Adam, the very first man in human history (Genesis 5:11). Reflecting this
same concern for genealogy, the book of Matthew – the book of new
beginnings – is also the genealogy of the Last Adam. And since Matthew
was the “Gospel for the Jews,” he understandably traced Jesus’ genealogy
through His earthly father, Joseph (Matt. 11-16). On the other hand, Doctor
Luke, in his “Gospel for the Gentiles” and “Gospel for Women,” traced
Christ’s genealogy through His mother Mary (Lk. 3:21-37).
Because of our general disinterest in genealogies as Americans, most of us
Christians in the west skip over the various “family trees” that are carefully
recorded in the Bible. And few of us begin our reading of the Christmas
Story at that point. Nothing could be more boring! Besides, we can’t
pronounce most of those strange sounding names! So we quickly fast
forward over that part so we can get to the “important parts” of the story
about the birth of Christ! But not the Biblical writers. They began with a
careful reciting of His genealogy. Matthew goes back to the patriarch of the
Jews, Abraham, while Luke goes back to Adam, the father of all people.
As we study Jesus’ “Family Tree,” I want to remind you of this important
Bible verse:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (II Tim 3:16).
This verse reminds us that “All Scripture is God-breathed” – including the
genealogies! So let’s examine them more closely to see what we can learn
from Christ’s “Family Tree.” And if you study carefully, you just might
see yourself and some of your own ancestors in His genealogy! So in the
next few days, we will look at four important principles about His genealogy
– and ours.
So let’s begin with…
The Purpose of Genealogy
As we have already seen in my introduction to this study, the Jews were very
interested in pedigrees. Because God had assigned certain roles and
responsibilities to the various Twelve Tribes, one’s place in the Jewish
Community was largely predetermined by their place in the “Family Tree.”
Therefore, for a person to be able to verify their “Jewishness” they must be
able to verify their lineage. Or as one Jewish historian put it, “Without it
they were legally neither fish nor fowl!” That meant that they were a
“Gentile” rather than a “true blue Jew through and through.” And since they
could not be called a “Jew” if there was an admixture in their heritage, the
purity of bloodline was crucial. A very familiar example of this in the Bible
is the Samaritans. The Jews considered them a mongrel race of mixedbreeds. They were at best half-Jews. As a result, the rest of the Jews felt both
racially and religiously superior to them. And with a spirit of disdain and
disgust, they looked down upon the Samaritans as a mixed-race they would
have nothing to do with. This disdain for the Samaritans is seen in many
incidents and parables in the life of Christ.
Purity of pedigree was also necessary for marriage. You could not marry
another Jew unless you could prove that you too were a Jew of “pure blood.”
You and your parents had to show that there was no “polluted stock” in your
background. If so, you could only marry another person of “mixed blood” –
much like the “coloreds” had to do in South Africa during the Apartheid
years.
Most importantly, the priests had to be able to trace their ancestry all the
way back to Aaron in order to serve in the Temple. And their wives had to
also be able to prove their Jewishness for at least five generations! A good
example of this is found in the Old Testament book of Ezra:
“The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai… searched
for their family records, but they could not find them and so were
excluded from the priesthood as unclean” (Ezra 2:62).
Without a birth certificate based upon an accurate genealogy, a Jew was
legally “neither fish or foul.” Nowhere was that more evident than in the
priesthood. And remember that Jesus came to fulfill all priestly offices that
foreshadowed Him in the Old Testament.
It is also important to note that these genealogical records were kept by the
Sanhedrin – the highest governing body of the Jewish nation. So that’s
where a Jew would go to study or verify their genealogy. It would also be
where they would record new births in their family so their genealogy would
be kept current.
As we saw in the earlier study on the “…fullness of time,” Herod the Great
was particularly despised by the Jews because he was half-Jew, halfEdomite. And history records that he had the official Jewish records
destroyed to try and cover up his mixed lineage – thus legitimizing his title
as “King of the Jews!”
The Jews were very zealous in keeping and checking genealogies – much
like the Mormons today, but for a very different reason. And just like many
people today are interested in genealogies and pedigrees for the wrong
reasons, the same was true in Biblical times. Many Jews and Gentiles alike
paraded their pedigrees as a means of pride and racial superiority. Paul did
the same before his conversion to Christ. He shared with the Christians at
Philippi how he once gloried in his racial and religious pedigrees:
“If anyone thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I
have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel;
of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the
law, a Pharisee…as for legalistic righteousness, faultless” (Phil.
3:4-6).
However, all of his prideful “racial profiling” of himself died when he was
made alive in Christ Jesus. Through faith in Christ he was now a member of
a new and greater race of people. Listen to his words of racial conversion…
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of
Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to
the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish…” (3:78).
Paul well knew the dangers and divisiveness of racial pride in his own life
before Christ changed everything. So he wrote a strong word of caution and
correction to keep this kind of spirit of racial pride and superiority out of the
early church.
! “As I urged you…stay there in Ephesus so that you may
command certain men not to teach false doctrines…nor devote
themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote
controversies rather than God’s work – which is by faith” (I Tim.
1:3-4).
! “…pay no attention to Jewish myths…avoid foolish
controversies
and
genealogies
and
arguments
and
quarrels…because these are unprofitable and useless” (Titus
1:14; 3:9).
From these passages it is easy to see that a prideful use of genealogy was not
uncommon in the world of Paul’s day among most Jews as well as some
Gentiles. Nonetheless, it was still important for the Gospel writers to clearly
establish Jesus’ prophetic pedigree as the Messiah. This would be especially
important for Matthew who was specifically writing for Jewish readers. He
knew it would be very impressive and convincing to them if Jesus’ lineage
could be traced all the way back to both Abraham and David – the two most
outstanding patriarchs of Jewish history. That’s because the Messianic
Promises were first revealed to them.
Let’s start with Abraham, the single greatest person of antiquity to whom the
three great monotheistic religions still look as their spiritual father –
Judaism, Christianity and Islam…
! Abraham, the great patriarch of the Jews, became known as both the
“father of faith” and the “friend of God.”
! He was the one to whom the promise was given that “…in you all
the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3; Acts 3:25; Gal.
3:8).
! It was also to Abraham that God said: “You shall be the father of a
multitude of nations” (Gen. 17:4; 35:11; 48:19).
Later, James the brother of Jesus, wrote this spiritual summary about the
patriarch, Abraham:
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he
did…Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness, and he was called God’s friend” (Ja. 2:21-23).
Next, consider David, the greatest King in Israel’s history. When God was
rejecting King Saul in favor of David, the Shepherd King, He said this to
Saul through the prophet Samuel:
“But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out
a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people
because you have not kept the Lord’s command” (I Sam. 13:14).
Whereas Abraham was known as the “friend of God,” David became known
as “the man after God’s own heart.” Even though King Saul was the first
king of Israel, he was ultimately rejected by God because of his “divided
heart” and carnality. As a result, he lost the kingship to one who had a
different heart toward God. And this young King would be the foreshadow
of the “greater Son of David” – God’s Messiah (Matt. 22:41-46).
So, the kingly genealogy of Jesus did not go back to Saul, the first king of
Israel – but to David, his successor. It is interesting to note that many kings
are named in Christ’s genealogy – but only David is called “king” (1:6).
This is because the Kingly Promise was made to him alone:
“My lovingkindness shall not depart from him…and your house
and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne
shall be established forever” (II Sam 7:12-16).
In light of this Old Testament promise, the angel, Gabriel’s announcement to
Mary is especially interesting:
“Behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you
shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son
of the Most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of
His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; and His kingdom will have no end” (Lk. 1:31-33).
All of this was a clear fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, that
“…the government would be upon his shoulders” (Isa. 9:6). Only God’s
Messiah would be the real “King David” whose throne would be eternal and
His kingdom would have no end.
All nations, then, would be blessed by the “seed of Abraham” just as they
would one day be ruled by this greater “Son of David.” So it was absolutely
necessary that the genealogies of Jesus be clearly linked to both Abraham
and David.
Both of these Old Testament patriarchs were promised and given sons.
However, neither Isaac, Abraham’s son; nor Solomon, David’s son, were the
fulfillment of God’s promises. Both were fulfilled in Jesus.
Unless Jesus could be proven to be both the “seed of Abraham” and the
“seed of David,” He could not possibly be the Messiah! Is it any wonder
then that Matthew went into such careful detail in his genealogy to prove
that Jesus was the proper heir of both.
Jesus, then, is shown in these genealogies to be racially, religiously and
royally a Jew! Matthew shows Him to literally be the “Jew of Jews” – God’s
long promised Messiah because He is of the house and lineage of both
Abraham and David.
But through his genealogy, Luke reveals Jesus not just as the Messiah for the
Jews, but the Messiah for all men – the “Last Adam” – the “Son of man.” So
his genealogy ends by tracing Jesus all the way back to Adam. Jesus then,
was the “…son of Adam, the son of God.”
The Period of the Genealogies
“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 Christ” (Matt. 1:17).
Thus, Matthew divides the genealogy of Jesus into the three great periods in
Jewish history of 14 generations each.
Abraham to David: Creation
In this first period of 14 generations, God sovereignly calls out a people to
Himself – beginning with Abraham. And his story also begins with a
genealogy (Gen. 11:10-12:3). Following Abraham there is a long series of
people, prophets, judges and kings – the “good, the bad and the ugly.” But
then under King David, God ultimately makes them a great nation. His reign
was followed by Solomon who built upon his father’s foundation and
brought Israel into her “Golden Years” as a nation. But it would not last. So
we move from…
David to Babylonian Exile: Corruption
During these 14 generations, the nation of Israel begins to divide and
implode. They became their own worst enemies as they copied and imitated
the idolatry and apostasy of the peoples around them. As a result, they
moved from triumph to tragedy…from the heights to the depths…from
sovereignty to slavery…from glory to humiliation!
Israel’s ultimate defeat and deportation by the Babylonians would have
meant the end of most people as a distinct nation. History shows that a
national defeat and deportation like this usually meant destruction and
assimilation. Deportation to Babylon should have become their national
“dead sea” experience. But God sustained the Jews from assimilation with
the Babylonians. The Book of Daniel is a good study in this – especially the
first three chapters. And I was their commitment to their unique history and
genealogy that helped keep them from racial and religious assimilation.
Neither Babylonian captivity nor Babylon as a nation would last forever. But
the Jewish nation would. That brings us to the last 14 generations…
From Exile to Christ: Conversion
In spite of the great national humiliation they suffered for 70 years through
the Babylonian Captivity (Jer. 29:10), God brought His people back home to
the Promised Land. Their national sovereignty had only been lost because
of their sin, rebellion and apostasy – in fulfillment of God’s warning. In
spite of their national disobedience and faithlessness, God remained faithful
to His covenant with them. And through His sovereign grace and power, He
brought them back home (Deut. 30:1-5; Isa. 1:9; 11:11; Jer. 3:18; 16:14-16;
24:4-6; 29:11).
So these final 14 generations take Israel from tragedy to triumph…from
slaves to sons…from shame to salvation…from exile to exaltation. Or to
quote Matthew: “…from the exile to the Christ.”
Through these 3 sets, we can clearly see a spiritual parable of the salvation
history of mankind. Like these Old Testament patriarchs, we too have gone
through these 3 phases of creation, corruption and conversion. Therefore,
this general history of mankind is also our spiritual history as Believers.
Since we were all spiritually “in Adam” (Rom. 5:12-15; I Cor. 15:22), we
are the result of God’s creation in His image for the purpose of ruling for
Him over the works of His hand. But like Adam, we have also fallen and
experienced unspeakable spiritual and moral corruption. As a result, we
were each born as a slave to sin and have lost forever in this life the Garden
of Eden. But because of the coming of the Messiah in the “…fullness of
time,”
an
eternal
change
is
possible. Through
our
own
personal conversion we become “new creatures in Christ Jesus” (II Cor.
5:17). As a result, we have a new creation…new life…new
beginning…“new direction” in Christ Jesus. That’s what Christmas is all
about!
So, just like the Jews, we have all been disobedient and rebellious. We have
each apostatized by serving and worshiping the idols of this age. We have
each “bought into Babylon” – lock, stock and barrel! As a result, we have
lived most of our lives in spiritual exile – pursuing, loving and serving the
gods and goddesses of Babylon!
You see, the only city mentioned in the Bible more than Babylon is
Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is mentioned some 811 times, Babylon is
mentioned 290 times. Our allegiance is to either one or the other. We cannot
live in both at the same time. While Jerusalem represents the “City of God,”
Babylon represents the “City of Man.” God is the center of one Kingdom
and man the center of the other. Man is the messiah of Babylon while Christ
is the Messiah of Jerusalem!
I hope you can see then, the relevance of Jesus’ genealogy for you and
me. Our names are each written in it multiple times! His story is our
story…His lineage is our lineage…His genealogy is ours also. We are each
in His “Family Tree.”
But, these 3 periods of 14 Generations also show us several marvelous
things about God:
! God is faithful: He ultimately fulfilled His promises to Abraham
and David – although it took many generations to do so. God did
indeed perfectly fulfill His promise by sending His long-awaited
Messiah. And through Him redemption was completed and secured.
! God is patient: In the “…fullness of His time He sent His son”
(Gal. 4:4). As we have seen, God’s time is not our time. The promise
to Abraham waited for 42 generations – or about 2,000 years for
fulfillment. And as Peter wrote, “God’s patience” with us because He
does not want “any to perish but for everyone to come to repentance”
(II Pet. 3:9)
! God is Omnipotent: He is greater than either human circumstances
or human disobedience. Neither His promises nor His people were
destroyed through hundreds of years of disobedience, defeat and
deportation. Only a sovereign God could draw a continuously straight
line with so many crooked human sticks!
This brief overview of these 3 sets of “14 Generations” proves God’s
sovereign grace in both personal and national salvation. At the least probable
time from man’s perspective, God made His “divine invasion” of human
history. He personally came to planet earth through His promised and longawaited Messiah. And the Christ came when the Jews were a hated people
who were virtually slaves of Rome – a most improbable time for a Messiah.
Especially one who would be born in a manger to a marginalized peasant
couple living in an insignificant corner of the Empire!
All of this fulfilled the ancient prophecy that said that David’s son would be
“…a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1) and a “…root out of dry
ground” (Isa. 53:2). So at a time when everything seemed as lifeless and
hopeless as a “stump” in “dry ground,” God did the impossible…the
unthinkable…the unexpected…the unimaginable! He wrapped Himself in
the flesh of a tiny baby and gave Himself to the human race! So Christmas
was born because Christ was!
Now we move to our next study of the genealogy of Jesus and transition
the purpose and period to the people of His lineage. And for sure, you will
find yourself in His “Family Tree.” One way or another, both you and some
of your close relatives are listed there!
The People of the Genealogies
I wish that time and space permitted us to make an in depth study of every
person listed – because every person is important. People are what matter
most to God! But since Matthew lists some 45 people in his list while Luke
lists 74 in his – it would take a whole book to examine them in the detail
they deserve. But since their stories are each recorded in the Old Testament,
you can study them there if you want to take the time to do some further in
depth research.
Obviously in this list of nearly 120 names, there are many duplicates. Each
Gospel writer emphasized certain people in keeping with his purpose in
recording Christ’s genealogy. I will only take the time to list a few.
On just your first read-through of these two genealogical lists, several things
“jump off the page” at you. First, one would have expected the Son of God
to come with an impeccable genealogy. We would have expected the
Messiah to be high bred and high born. We would have anticipated that He
would be born into a family of royal and regal “pure bloods,” that the
Messiah would have descended from a line of racial thoroughbreds! We
would expect to find nothing but nobility…royalty…aristocracy in His
family tree!
However, we find just the opposite. We see in Christ’s family tree a
very mixed lineage! In fact, it is almost a “rogues’ gallery!” Consider just a
few…
! Rehoboam (v. 7): He was a wicked and foolish king who
“…did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord” (II Chron.
12:14).
! Abijah (v. 7): He was an idol worshipper who “…walked in all
the sins which his father did before him; and his heart was not
wholly true to the Lord his God” (I Kings 15:3).
! Joram (v. 8): He was the 9th King of Judah, and He too
“…did evil in the eyes of the Lord…he built high places…and
caused people to prostitute themselves…” (II Chron. 21:18).
! Ahaz (v. 9): As the 11th King of Judah, he sank to indescribable
depths and became one of the spiritual “low water marks” of
Israel. He went so far in his idolatry that he “ . . .sacrificed his son” to
the evil god, Moloch! An abomination known as making your child
“pass through fire,” or be burned alive on the altar of pagan gods (II
Chron. 28:1-4). This was a spiritual offense so abominable to God that
it was to result in capital punishment to the offender (Lev. 20:2)!
! Manasseh (v. 10): He was another wicked and apostate king who
“…shed much innocent blood…did more evil than the Amorites” (II
Kings 21).
! Amon (v. 10): Another despicable king who also “…did evil in the
sight of the Lord…he walked in all the ways that his father had
walked served the idols…and worshiped them…he forsook the
Lord…” (II Kings 21:20-22).
I could detail the “dark side” of other people in Christ’s ancestry – but you
get the point! Any way you interpret it, these people do not sound like
individuals with the proper spiritual pedigrees to be in the Messianic line!
But, not only are there many sinful and evil men in Christ’s lineage, there are
also some women of questionable character! But before I highlight a few
examples, let me remind you again of how unusual and unorthodox it was to
even list women in such genealogies.
Before the Gospel and emancipation brought by Christ, women were
basically persona non grata. They had little or no human or political rights
and were little more than chattel – the possession or either their father or
husband.
Even among the Jews – who knew better because of what God had taught
them – there was still this male chauvinism. That’s why Orthodox Jewish
men of the day prayed in their morning prayers: “I thank thee that I am not a
Gentile, a slave or a woman!” Therefore, with this kind of spiritual and
social stigma, women would normally have never been even listed in Jewish
genealogies. Their very presence in a lineage would have caused it to be in
great suspect – if not disqualify it altogether.
So, the fact that women were even listed at all in the genealogy of Jesus is
amazing in itself. But it is even more so when we consider the particular
women listed. As a Jew writing to convince other Jews, Matthew could not
have listed a worse group of women from the Jewish point of view!
Of the 4 women listed besides Mary, 2 were what Paul would call
“…strangers to the covenants and the promises” and “…strangers to the
commonwealth of Israel” (Eph. 2:12-13). That means that they were not
even of Jewish birth! That in itself would have been anathema to orthodox
Jews!
Consider them briefly…
Tamar: Do you remember her sordid story? She was a widow who
became a deliberate seducer of her own father-in-law, Judah. Through
the death of his wife, Judah had become a widower. In time, he
traveled to another town where he ended up committing adultery with
Tamar. He thought she was a prostitute because she had disguised and
specifically positioned herself in the “Shrine of prostitution” in order
to be able to seduce him – knowing he was her own father-in-law
(Gen 38). So far, there is not a lot of virtue in either one of them! But
as a result of this incestuous adultery, Tamar became pregnant by
Judah and had twin boys. Their names were Perez and Zerah. And all
four of these people are listed in Jesus’ family tree!
Are you impressed yet with His linage?! If not, keep reading. It
gets better – or rather worse…
! Rahab was a Cannanite and a “harlot of Jericho” (Josh. 2:1-7). So
how did a “woman of the night” get into the genealogy of Jesus?! God
used her to save the two spies who secretly went into Jericho on a
recon mission. Did you ever wonder what those two spies were doing
in her vicinity of the city in the first place?! Well, we don’t go there in
this study! But her story became part of that “scarlet thread” (Josh.
2:17-21) that is woven by grace through Christ’s genealogy and runs
redemptively through the entirety of the Bible from Genesis to
Revelation!
Then there was another sister listed with a very poor racial and ethnic
heritage…
• Ruth the Moabitess: Now in case you have forgotten some of your
Old Testament history, let me remind you where this ethnic group
stood as far as the Jews were concerned. This is what Moses had
declared: and Deut. 23:3-4 said: “No Ammonite or Moabite or any
of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down
to the tenth generation. For they did not come to meet you with
food and water on the way out of Egypt, and because they hired
Balaam…to curse you” (Deut. 23:3-4).
During a period of famine in Israel, Naomi and her husband, Elimelech,
went to Moab to live in search of food. He died there leaving Naomi with
two sons who had married Moabite women – in disobedience to God’s
commands. Ultimately her sons died leaving Naomi with two widowed
daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. When God again prospered Israel
agriculturally, Naomi went home. Orpha stayed with her own people in
Moab. Naomi urged Ruth to do the same. But Ruth “clung to Naomi” with
these immortal words:
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you
go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be
my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and
there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so
severely, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:1617).
Now there are some spiritual characters for anyone’s family tree – including
Jesus! You know the rest of the story. In Bethlehem, Naomi plotted a
meeting between her rather wealthy relative, Boaz, and Ruth during harvest
time. He became her “kinsman-redeemer” (Ruth 2:20; 3:9-12) – just like
Christ became ours!
It is easy to rejoice, then, in the presence of a person like Ruth in Christ’s
lineage. But now we move to another woman who became an adulteress and
an accomplice to murder…
! Bathsheba and her adultery with King David is perhaps one of the
most famous illicit relationships recorded in history! We all know the
story of how King David stayed home from war when he should have
been “leading the charge” as the Commander and Chief of the armies
of Israel. And since it was springtime in Israel, there was more than
sap that was running – so were his passions and lusts! As a result of
seeing the “beautiful Bathsheba bathing,” David sent for her. You
know the rest of the story. Our imaginations and lusts need no further
help at this point. Suffice it to say, David did commit adultery with
her. And he sent her husband, Uriah, to the front lines to face a certain
death – in order to cover up his adultery (II Sam. 11-12).
While God ultimately forgave both David and Bathsheba, it created strife
and division in his household from that time on. Internal and external war
never left his life from that point. But it also cost him the life of the child
conceived by that adultery (II Sam. 12:13-18). However, from a subsequent
union, Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon, who became the successor of his
father David (II Sam. 12:24). Once again, grace triumphed over sin and
disobedience!
So, 3 out of 4 women listed in the genealogy of Jesus were adulteresses!
From a human standpoint, then, it is absolutely remarkable that Jesus was
descended from these women! If we would have been writing the story, we
would have either eliminated the women altogether – or we would have
taken some “poetic liberties” in tastefully omitting the seedier side of their
stories! That’s just not the kind of thing you want revealed in a royal
pedigree!
When you stop and think about it for a moment, this is also another great
proof for the inspiration of the Bible. The very fact that these women were
included and not deleted or veiled is incredible! And whether it was the men
or women listed in Christ’s family tree, there was no attempt to “air brush”
any of them and make them look “better than life.” They are presented rather
matter-of-factly – “warts and all,” as Winston Churchill asked an artist to
paint him!
We see many people in Jesus’ genealogy who had serious character flaws
and made serious spiritual and moral lapses – just like each of us are guilty
of! As a minister and counselor, I have often pointed many people, many
who have fallen into adultery, to these people in Jesus’ family tree. I remind
them of God’s grace that can and will still forgive them and use them for His
honor and glory – rotten roots and all!
And that, my friends, is really what Christmas is all about!
The Principles of the Genealogies
We are going to conclude this portion of our Christmas Devotional Studies
with the principles of the geneaologies. Rather than just being an abstract
list of strange sounding names, we have been seeing that these two
genealogies in Matthew and Luke are in reality a miniature of the Gospel.
That’s because the essence of the Gospel is “reconciliation” versus
“alienation.” The great message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is
that God is the God of reconciliation. While we are all people
of alienation as a result of our universal rebellion, sin and selfishness, God is
a God of reconciliation through His love, mercy and grace.
The Apostle Paul summarized this truth when he said that “God
has reconciled us through Christ and given us the ministry of
reconciliation” (II Cor. 5:28-19). That means that after I have been
reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, I am commissioned to be a “minister
of reconciliation” anywhere and everywhere I confront alienation.
Therefore, in every situation I can either speak and act with the words and
spirit of reconciliation, or by my inactivity and silence I can contribute to
the existing alienation.
With that principle in mind, I want you to note at least 3 areas where God
has broken down the “…dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14-15) and
brought peace and reconciliation vertically and horizontally. First, through
Jesus the Messiah, God has brought…
Spiritual Reconciliation
The Apostle Paul summarized this when he wrote: “Those who were
formally far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph.
2:13). That means that all of those people who should not have been in the
genealogy of Christ – including you and me – are now listed there because
of His grace. We who were formerly “far off” and totally unworthy to ever
be “brought near” are now listed in His family tree – all because He died
on Calvary’s tree!
In these genealogies we also see God sovereignly causing the “…wrath of
man to praise Him” (Ps. 76:10). We see Him providentially redeeming
sinners and making them a part of His covenants!
In doing this we see God deliberately choosing:
“…the foolish
things
of
the
world
to
shame
the
wise…the weak things of the world to shame the things which are
strong…the lowly things of the world and the despised things…so
that no one may boast before Him” (I Cor. 1:27-28).
And, my friends, if you and I have an ounce of honesty we know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that we are in that list of “foolish things…weak
things…lowly things…despised things” that God has graciously chosen to
use! That’s what Christmas is all about! Nothing more, nothing less.
Racial Reconciliation
Under the Old Covenant, God was uniquely the “…God of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob.” That meant that a person had little or no access to God apart
from their racial and religious lineage. To be “chosen by God” you had to be
a part of His “chosen race” – the Jews.
But under the New Covenant of grace, everyone has equal access to God
through Jesus Christ, His Messiah. Or, as Paul wrote: “Here there cannot
be circumcised or uncircumcised…Jew or Greek…” (Col. 3:11).
In our brief study of the genealogy of Jesus, we have seen how Gentiles like
“Rahab the Canaanite” and “Ruth the Moabite” were included. They were
some of the spiritual “first fruit” of the millions of “foreigners” and
”strangers” who would be adopted into the family of God through faith in
Christ. By accepting God’s Messiah, they would be spiritually engrafted into
His family tree – forever.
Paul described this incredible engrafting into God’s forever family this way:
“Remember that formerly you who were Gentiles by birth and
called the ‘uncircumcised’…were excluded from citizenship in
Israel and foreigners to covenants of promise, without hope and
without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once
were far away have been brought near through the blood of
Christ…For through Him we both have access to the Father by
one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens,
but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s
household…And in Him you too are being built together to
become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (Eph. 2:1122).
Sexual Reconciliation
As we have already seen in some sordid detail, 5 women are listed in
Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. This teaches us that not only are racial
barriers destroyed in Christ – but sexual barriers also come down. Or, as
Paul wrote, in the family of God there can be “…neither male nor female”
(Gal. 3:28). While the two sexes are different functionally, they are
absolutely equal spiritually.
Therefore, when it comes to both creation and recreation, men and women
stand shoulder-to-shoulder with each other and face-to-face before God.
Both equally bear His image and likeness…both are objects of His
love…both are recipients of His grace…both are filled with His Spirit…and
both are endued with His spiritual gifts. In Christ, the “war of the sexes” is
over! There is no place for male chauvinism on the one hand or radical
feminism on the other! In an authentic Christian marriage, neither the
husband nor wife is to dominate or control the other. Rather, each is to
mutually submit to the other out of their reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21).
So, the lineage of Jesus reminds us afresh that men and women are
absolutely equal before God and before the church. While male and
female roles differ and should never be confused, redemption does not
divide along those lines. Because of grace, men and women are fully “one in
Christ” with all of the rights, and privileges thereof.
Are these not still the same areas of much-needed reconciliation in our world
today? These are the same areas of alienation this Christmas that they were
on that first Christmas over two thousand years ago! Our world is literally
dying for…
! Spiritual Reconciliation
! Racial Reconciliation
! Sexual Reconciliation
As we conclude this study on Jesus’ Family Tree, let me ask you again: How
is your genealogy? What are your spiritual roots like? What does your
spiritual line
You may have human roots and pedigrees that include European royalty
…kings…American presidents…or African chiefs. Or your family tree may
be filled with crooks…murderers…adulterers…alcoholics…addicts…and
criminals and nare-do-wells from every walk of life! Whether the majority
of people in your family line are good or bad…high born or low
born…white collar or blue collar…blue bloods or bad bloods…royalty or
red necks – if you do not have Jesus in your genealogy then you are a slave!
Let me remind you of how the Apostle Paul described the spiritual and
social condition of the Ephesian saints in their “B.C. days” – which were the
same as his and the rest of the world living outside a personal relationship
with Christ:
“You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you
used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in
those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one
time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of
wrath” (Eph. 2:1-3).
No matter what kind of spin you might try to put on that description, it is not
a very positive pedigree! You could summarize all of our condition before
that first Christmas this way: We were all dead spiritually…deluded
mentally…dominated emotionally… disobedient willfully – doomed
eternally! Our spiritual roots were literally “rotten to the core!”
However, the very moment God redeems us through His sovereign grace
and engrafts us into Christ’s family tree, we become a part of His bloodline
through the new birth. That’s why Paul does not end his diagnosis of our
spiritual genealogy with the verses I shared above. Praise God for the
glorious transition he makes with the little conjunction “but.” So read on…
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in
transgressions…For it is by grace you have been saved through faith”
(Eph. 2:4-8).
That “gift of grace” that we receive “by faith” is what Christmas is all
about. That was the sole purpose for the “…fullness of time.” The giving of
that gift was the exclusive reason for the “divine invasion” of planet earth.
That and only that is the reason God sent His Messiah into the world. Jesus
came to engraft you into His family tree. He was born that you and I might
be reborn. He lived, died and was resurrected so that His genealogy could
become our genealogy.
Because of Christmas, God has spiritually adopted you and me through
Christ. As a result, we are a…
! “New Creature in Christ Jesus” (II Cor. 5:17)
! “Child of God” (Jn. 1:12)
! “Joint-heir with Christ” (Rom. 8:17)
! “Citizen of heaven” (Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20)
I counsel with so many people every year who think that God cannot use
them. They have bought into the devil’s lie that there is no hope for them.
They believe that they have made too many mistakes…committed too many
sins…been guilty of too much disobedience…been in the far country for too
long for God to ever really love them and forgive them! It’s over. It’s
hopeless. It’s too late.
But that’s why this genealogy is here. It was recorded in such personal detail
to let us know that God can take people just like you and me and redeem us
and use us for His eternal purposes – regardless of our sins and failures. But,
that redemptive reality does not even remotely suggest that we “…sin that
grace may abound” (Rom. 6:15). Nor does it mean that we develop a
cavalier attitude about sin and disobedience in our lives. But it does assure
us that God’s grace is greater than all our sins. These genealogies show us
that “…where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Rom. 5:20).
That’s why I am always encouraged by the following passage written by
Paul where he lists the kinds of people who will not enter the kingdom of
God. Note the list:
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: Neither harlots ... adulterers … idolaters
… homosexuals … thieves … the greedy … drunkards … slanderers
… swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God. And that is what some
of you were. But you were washed … sanctified … justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (I Cor.
6:9-11).
Praise God for that transitional sentence where Paul says: “And that is what
some of you WERE.” Because of grace, that’s a description of what they
were – but no longer are because of Christmas! Even though their roots were
“rotten to the core,” God brought them to life again through His Spirit and
engrafted them into the Jesus’ Family Tree – which is the real “Christmas
Tree.” Because of the unbelief of the Jews, they were “broken off” of the
Messiah’s Family Tree and the Gentiles were “engrafted in.” Paul described
this spiritual grafting this way:
“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a
wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now
share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…” (Rom. 11:17)
As believers in the Messiah, you and I are not only “engrafted” into God’s
Christmas Tree – we are also being sustained by the “nourishing sap” that
flows from Christ through His indwelling Spirit. And because of
that spiritual root, we can continuously bear spiritual fruit for His glory and
for the good of others.
So, my dear friend, here is a closing principle in this study that I hope you
will never forget: “You can’t change your ancestors but you can change
your descendents! While you can’t do anything about your past, you can do
everything about your future! But that can only happen if you allow Jesus to
be Incarnate in your genealogy.
Don’t let your past life hold you down! Don’t let your ancestors control your
present life or future destiny. Discover your true spiritual roots in the Lord
Jesus. He alone can make all the difference in the world in your past, present
and future! He died for your past, lives in your present and is already in your
future. Nothing in your past caught Him off guard and nothing in your
present or future will surprise Him. He knows you perfectly and still loves
you unconditionally!
Because of Christmas, I often remind people of this principle: “Nothing you
can ever do will cause God to love you any more and nothing you will ever
do will make Him love you any less.” God’s love for you
is perfect and eternal! That’s because you did nothing to earn it and
therefore can do nothing to lose it. His love for you is totally unmerited and
unconditional. It’s 100% grace from start to finish. That’s what Christmas is
all about.
The moment the “…fullness of time” comes for you and Jesus enters your
genealogy, you are eternally somebody! What a Christmas present! Don’t
celebrate anything less this Christmas Season!
Let me close this chapter with a song. While it is not a Christmas Carol in
the strict sense of the word, it is certainly appropriate to Christmas. It is
entitled: A Child of the King…
“I once was an outcast – a stranger on earth;
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down;
An heir to a mansion, a robe and crown!
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King,
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King!”
If you will sing that by faith in your heart this Christmas, you will
experience afresh what Jesus came to make a reality in your life. And as
that truth sinks deeply into your heart, you can’t help but sing out:
“O Come Let Us Adore Him…He Alone is Worthy!”
PROPHETIC NAMES OF CHRIST
“For 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.
There will be no end to the increase of His government
or of peace…The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.”
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
Names
are very significant in the Bible. Generally, a person’s name
represented his or her nature.
That’s still true today in many countries and cultures of the world and is why
a person is often not given their name immediately upon birth. They are just
called “the son of” or “the daughter of” for months – sometimes for years.
The parents and relatives watch the nature of the child begin to manifest
itself and then they pick a name that is a reflection of that nature.
That’s very different from how we generally name our children in the west.
We just name them after ourselves…another family member…a relative…a
friend we respect…a historical person we admire. Or, we just pick out a
name at random that we like from a list -- and our children are stuck with it
for life!
But names in the Bible are far more important – starting with the Names of
God. In the very first verse of the Bible, God identifies Himself by the name
of Elohem – meaning God, Creator, Judge.
The second Name God used to describe Himself is Yahweh, or Jehovah. It
too is first used in the Creation Story (Gen. 2:4). But it does not stop there
because it is used 6,519 times in the Bible – far more than any other name
for God.
While these are the first names God uses to reveal and describe Himself in
the Bible, they are certainly not the only ones. He called Himself by many
other names to reveal other aspects of His nature. Here are a few of the
major ones – each is a fruitful study unto itself.
• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
• El Elyon (The Most High God)
• Adonai (Lord, Master)
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
• Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
• El Olam (The Everlasting God)
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
These names do not represent different gods in the Bible. Unlike many
other religions, the Bible does not teach polytheism – or many gods. The
Biblical revelation about God is very different. In most pagan religions,
there is a pantheon of multiple gods and goddesses – each with his or her
own nature. These pagan deities are little more than “super humans” with
our nature on steroids! But the Bible reveals that there is only One true God
with many aspects to His nature.
It only stands to reason that if there is a God, then His nature is far above our
own. He is infinite and we are finite. He is eternal while we are mortal.
Therefore, we can only know for sure the things about God’s nature that He
chooses to reveal to us.
While revelation is another important study unto itself, we need to at least
point out that there are a number of levels of revelation – going from the
general to the specific. Here is how I have outlined them in other studies on
this subject:
• Revelation through Creation
• Revelation through Conscience
• Revelation through Countries
• Revelation through Commandments
• Revelation through Christ
• Revelation through Church
However, the Bible clearly reveals that mankind has generally rejected each
of these levels of revelation about God – because of the sin and rebellion in
man’s heart. In Romans, Paul gives us a good summary of the rebellious
rejection of revelation:
“…men suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be
known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to
them (through revelation). For since the creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been
clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that
men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they
neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their
thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and
exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look
like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles….They
exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served
created things, rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:18-25).
So, the seminal sin is the rejection of the revelation about the nature of God.
This was the original temptation sown into the mind of the first man and
woman by Satan (Gen. 3:1-7). And mankind has been buying into that
Satanic lie ever since the Garden of Eden! That’s why most people go
through life with un-god-like attitudes about God that lead to ungodly living.
But, another aspect of the “Good News of Christmas” is God’s continued
revelation of Himself through that Advent. Through the Christmas story,
God again reveals His true nature to us. And what He reveals through the
Christmas narrative is a total shock! It shakes the foundation of our ungodly
attitudes about the true God. He always does the unexpected – which
Christmas proves!
As the prophet Isaiah looked down the corridors of time toward the coming
of God’s Messiah, the Spirit revealed to him several significant names for
this long-awaited Anointed One. Let’s look at them together as part of our
preparation for Christmas.
Early in chapter 9, Isaiah writes about the transformation that God’s Messiah
would bring to humanity – beginning with the Jews: “The people walking
in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the
shadow of death, a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:2).
With a prophetic specificity that defies logic, Isaiah said that the Messiah
would come as a baby – specifically a boy: “For to us a child is born, to us
a son is given” (9:6).
Earlier in chapter 7, Isaiah wrote this about this miraculous child: “The
Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will
give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel” (7:14). I will cover the
issue of the “Virgin Birth” in more detail in another chapter. But, suffice it
to say for now, there can be no doubt that this coming Messiah would be
more than human. He would be called “Immanuel,” or “God with us” –
another of the very significant names for God. This “child” that was going
to be born, this “son” that would be given to humanity – would be nothing
short of God Incarnate, or “God in human flesh.”
Is it any wonder, then, that Isaiah said the coming Messiah would be known
and called by names that represented His divine nature?
Wonderful Counselor
Their world, just like ours, had “lost its mind!” They had “gone crazy”
because they had cut themselves off from the wisdom and counsel of the One
true God. As we saw earlier in the words of Paul, that spiritual suicide
caused a downward devolution into mental darkness:
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God
not gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their
foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise,
they became fools…” (Rom. 1:21-22; c.f. Eph. 4:18).
Nothing much has changed since Paul wrote those words in the first
century. With all of our education, enlightenment and scientific advance,
twenty-first century man is still living in spiritual and mental darkness –
manifested by “futility” and “foolishness.” The evening news reveals the
“futility” of man trying to solve his own problems by his own reason, will
power and political maneuvering. The latest movie or video game
graphically reveals the “foolishness” of the fantasy and escapism in which
most people live.
There has never been a time in human history when there are so many
mental, emotional and spiritually disturbed, distraught and depressed
people! Nor has there ever been a time when more people are “popping
pills” by the handful to try and find sleep, rest and peace of mind. But it
keeps alluding them. The pills, alcohol and drugs only suppress and
anesthetize the fear, pain and guilt haunting them.
When the pharmacy and drug pushers can’t solve the problem, we run to the
therapist’s couch in droves! Never has a society had more human
counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, analysts and therapists than we have
now. And when endless hours of emotional regurgitation or sedatives
cannot solve the problem, people turn to the cults, occult, astrology, yogi,
Zen, Transcendental Meditation, Eastern Mysticism of every flavor – and
scores of other false prophets and gurus peddling false panaceas – all for a
price, of course! Or they turn to the cheaper TV therapists like Dr. Phil, Dr.
Oz, Oprah and others.
All the while, we are getting sicker and sicker – not better and better. Why?
Because our spiritual, mental, emotional and social ills do not have a human
solution. Human counselors – as educated and well intentioned as they may
be – can only deal with the “fruit of the problem” rather than the “root of the
problem.” They put band-aids on deadly spiritual dis-eases of the soul.
What mankind needs is a “supernatural counselor” who can introduce the
miraculous to transform our fallen, rebellious, sinful, selfish natures. We
need someone who can forgive our sins…take away our guilt…abolish our
shame…restore our humanity…bring us to maturity…set us free! Only the
true and living God can do that. He alone is our “Wonderful Counselor.”
God’s counsel is “wonderful” because it is based on 100% truth. His
counsel is not based on the “wisdom of the ages or sages.” His wisdom is
based on Himself – His perfect knowledge…His perfect understanding…His
perfect light…His perfect love. There is not an ounce of error or ignorance
in God’s counsel – which means no shadow or darkness (Ja. 1:17; I Jn. 1:5).
Since He is omniscient, He factors into His counsel the wisdom we need to
know and do in order to experience His blessing, peace and prosperity in our
lives.
But, it is only in knowing the truth and doing the truth that a person
becomes free from his guilt and shame (Jn. 8:31-32). It is not enough to
know God’s “Wonderful Counsel” intellectually, theologically or
theoretically. We must know it existentially. When confronted with the
truth of God’s counsel, we must move from information to application if we
are going to be free. Otherwise, we remain in bondage. That’s why Jesus
said: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn. 8:36). To put
it in the vernacular, Jesus was “hung up” for your “hang ups!”
The Bible, especially Proverbs, is filled with exhortations about the
importance of wise counsel – without which our plans fail (Prov. 15:22).
And the Bible is equally strong in its exhortations against foolish counsel, or
the “counsel of the wicked” (Ps. 1:1) – which always leads us into deeper
and deeper darkness.
God spoke about this “cause and effect” through the Psalmist when He
described the self-imposed bondage of people who reject Him and His
counsel:
“Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering
in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and
despised the counsel of the Most High” (Ps. 107:10-11).
Those sobering words are also a pretty apt description of millions in our
world today who also “…sit in darkness and deepest gloom.” Rebellious
people who are “prisoners…in chains” because they too have “rebelled
against the words of God and despised His counsel.”
The Jews rejected God’s “Wonderful Counsel” in the Old Testament
through the Law and prophets. The majority of the people of Christ’s day
did the same thing by rejecting Him.
In spite of that rejection, Jesus still gave His disciples a fantastic promise.
While He was physically with them on earth, He was their Wonderful
Counselor. But, he assured them that after He had left them to return to
heaven, He would not leave them without a “Wonderful Counselor” to
continue to guide them.
“I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to
be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…He lives with you and
will be in you…the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you…when He, the Spirit of truth,
comes, He will guide you into all truth” (Jn. 14:16-17; 25; 16:13).
The Good News of Christmas is that the Savior who was born is our
“Wonderful Counselor.” He is wisdom incarnate.
I wrote earlier that the world has “lost its mind.” It has gone mad. But,
through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we now have the “mind of Christ” (I
Cor. 2:16). When we have His mind through His Spirit and Word, we also
have the “wisdom of Christ” (I Cor. 1:30). We no longer have to live in the
limitations of a “darkened mind.” We can live in the revelation of the
Word and the illumination of the Spirit because we have a “Wonderful
Counselor.”
As the prophet Isaiah summarized: “All this comes from the Lord
Almighty (El Shaddai), wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom”
(Isa. 28:29). What an incredible Christmas present!
But there is a second Name that Isaiah gave to this “child who would be
given” and to this “son who would be born.” Let’s look at another
wonderful name.
Mighty God
The Holy Spirit reminds us, through this prophecy by Isaiah, that this “child
who would be born” and “son who would be given” would be far more
than just another normal human being. He would be super-normal. While
His conception in the womb of a virgin would be super-natural – His birth
would be natural. As a result of His being “…conceived by the Holy
Spirit” (Lk. 1:35), He would be nothing short of God incarnate.
The birth and life of this coming child would be both miraculous and
mysterious. While He would be born among us and have many
contemporaries, He would have no counterpart…no peers…no equal. He
would be totally unique in the human genealogy. He would be an
incarnation of deity in human flesh – that’s the miracle. As such, He would
be both “Perfect God” and “Perfect Man” – that’s the mystery. One Person
with two natures – one human and one divine. As such, He would be
“Immanuel, God with us,” as the angel announced in advance to His
earthly father, Joseph (Matt. 1:23).
As has been previously mentioned, God’s names are significant because they
reveal to us His nature. Again, the very first name He identified Himself by
was Elohem (Gen. 1:1), meaning “God Almighty.” A God who can create
the world exnihilo, or “out of nothing,” is truly an Almighty God! As
creation proves, He possesses “all might.” There is nothing too great for His
power to perform. There is nothing He cannot do. There is a little
children’s song we sing that reflects this truth:
“My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY,
there’s nothing My God cannot do!”
We cannot sing that song about ourselves because you and I have “human
limitations” on our might – but God has none. His power is limitless. There
are many things you and I can conceive but not achieve. God has no such
limitations. He is omnipotent where we are impotent. He is Almighty…AllPowerful…All-Sufficient. He never faces a task that is TOO BIG for Him.
He never needs anyone to help Him out. He never reaches the limits of His
power. He never gets tired. He never runs out of energy or has a “power
shortage.” There is no challenge too great for Him. There is no mountain
He cannot move. He has “All Might!”
From the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation, God wants us
to know that He is Elohem. That’s why this Name for Him is used over
2,000 times in the Bible. Over and over again, He reveals Himself as our
Elohem who is “Almighty” (Gen. 49:24; Neh. 9:32; Job 36:5; Ps. 24:8; 45:3;
50:1; 89:8; 93:4; 147:5; Isa. 60:16; 63:1; Jer. 10:6; 20:11; Zeph. 3:17; Matt.
26:64, etc). And because He is “Almighty,” His “mighty deeds” are told
and extolled – especially through the Exodus in the Old Testament and the
miracles in the New Testament (Ex. 6:1; Deut. 5:15; 7:8; Ps. 71:16; 72:12,
15; 118:15; 136:12; 145:4, 12; Lk. 11:20; Eph. 1:19; 6:10, etc).
Christmas reminds us that this helpless Babe in the manger is nothing short
of the “Almighty God!” That means that He is not only your “Wonderful
Counselor,” He is also your “Mighty God.” That’s what makes our God
unique. That’s what sets Christ apart from all other religious leaders in
history. While other religious leaders and human counselors can give you
some “good counsel” at times, they cannot give you the will power to carry
it out. They may give you “good views” – but Jesus brings you “Good
News.” And the “Good News” is that as our Elohem, our God, can and does
give us the power to fulfill His Counsel!
Paul summarized this “Good News” to young Christians when he wrote:
“Faithful is He who called you who will also do it.” (I Thess. 5:24) That
means that God will never ask us to do anything that He will not empower us
to do. That empowerment comes from the Holy Spirit whom He sends to
live within us. Therefore, God becomes the dynamic of His own demands;
the cause of His own effect; the means to His own end.
Through the prophet Zechariah, God reminded His people of this same truth:
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord
Almighty.” (Zeph. 4:6)
The Good News of Christmas is that our “Wonderful Counselor” is also
our “Mighty God.” He is our Elohim who has unlimited might to
accomplish all of His dreams and desires in and through us.
So, here’s a Christmas Card from God that is truly “Good News”:
“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the
great God, mighty and awesome.” (Deut. 10:17)
But there is a third name that Isaiah reminds us of in this prophetic passage.
This “Wonderful Counselor” and “Mighty God” would also be our…
Everlasting Father
While it is very comforting and assuring to know that God is Elohim and
“Almighty” – it can be an over-powering concept of God for many people.
That
kind
of
God
can
seem
transcendent…distant…impersonal…unapproachable.
People with power are often threatening and intimidating to be around –
whether they are parents, principals, policemen or presidents! But an
“Almighty God” is even more intimidating! His power and might tends to
overwhelm us in our insecurities. While He is certainly awesome, He can
seem awful – especially if you have been hurt growing up by people holding
and abusing power.
Few people are motivated to run into the arms of an “Almighty God.”
Quite the contrary. You feel more like cowering in His
presence…prostrating yourself…hiding your face in your hands…groveling
in the dirt…fleeing from His awesome and awful presence!
Perhaps that is why God quickly reveals Himself as “Everlasting Father.”
There are other religions that portray their deities as powerful. But, as we
saw earlier, it is more of a human power on steroids! Their “divine power”
is more of a projection of “human power” – but supercharged. But the true
and living God needs no steroids to “pump up” His omnipotence to its full
potential! He is power personified! All the power in the universe originated
from Him. He is the supreme “power source” for all other power in the
cosmos – regardless of who holds and wields it. His power flows from a
Father’s heart. While He is “Almighty,” He is also All-Loving. God’s
“Almighty” power is regulated by His all-encompassing love.
If many people have a difficult time relating to the concept of a “Mighty
God,” many more find it impossible to relate to Him as “Everlasting
Father.” Why?
First, the whole concept of “God as Father” has been under assault by
radical feminists – both from inside and outside the church. They have been
on an endless crusade to expunge any and all masculine names of God from
the Bible. They view them as sexist and chauvinistic with a patriarchal
biased that is hostile to women. They believe that these masculine terms
reinforce a male misogynist God who subjugates women. While some press
for a “gender neutral” or “gender inclusive” language for God, others push
to the extreme of referring to the supreme deity of the universe as our
“Mother Goddess.”
Sadly, this is little more than the projection of their own personal bias,
emotional confusion and twisted theology on to the Godhead. This gender
confusion or sexual bias by feminists cannot be accepted for several key
reasons.
First and foremost, there is not a single reference in the entire Bible where
God is called “Mother.” However, there are definitely many key attributes
of God that are revealed that are more feminine than masculine in character:
love, compassion, comfort, giving, caring, toiling, gentleness, tenderness,
etc. (Isa. 49:13-16; 66:13; I Thess. 2:7).
So, we do not need to expunge the masculine attributes from God in order to
project His feminine characteristics – they are already clearly revealed
without distortion, bias or confusion. The feminists just need to study their
Bibles more closely!
Secondly, to refer to God as “mother” is to distort the nature of the Trinity.
From Genesis to Revelation, God is revealed and portrayed as triune in
nature. Not three gods – which is “tri-theism.” But as “triune” – three
persons within one Godhead. While it is a revealed mystery, the doctrine of
the Trinity is the single most important revelation of the Bible. This
revelation portrays One God who eternally exists as “Father, Son, Holy
Spirit” – each fully God in every way. So the proper name of God is:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As the “Everlasting Father,” God has revealed His eternal relationship
with His Son through the Holy Spirit. That’s why the Bible reveals God as
“…the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:6; c.f. Ps. 2:7; Matt.
3:17; Heb. 1:5, etc). And the Good News of Christmas is that through Jesus
Christ, God also can become our “Heavenly Father!”
This revelation about the triune nature of the One God is also what separates
Him from the other two major monotheistic religions – Judaism and Islam.
Both teach that God is in essence one and not triune.
• The Shema, or creed of Judaism, summarizes the Oneness of
Jehovah God (Deut. 4:35, Ps. 86:10; 39; 6:4; Isa. 44:6; Zech. 14:9,
etc).
• The Koran of Islam teaches that Allah is One and not Triune –
therefore, he has no “Son” (Sura 5:75-76; 112:1-4). For the Muslim,
the term “God’s Son” implies that Allah had sexual relationships with
Mary – which is blasphemy to Islam (but that perversion is also
blasphemy to Christianity!). Their mis- understanding of the Trinity
is an obvious gross distortion of the Biblical revelation!
As the Second Member of the Godhead, Jesus Christ was sent into the world
to reveal the First Member of the Godhead, the “Heavenly Father,” who
manifested that relationship through the Third Member of the Godhead, the
Holy Spirit. Touch One Member of the Godhead and you touch them all –
because each one is equally God. Tamper with the nature of One Member of
the Triune God, and you distort each of the others.
Therefore, to project upon God the title or concept of “mother” is to totally
distort and destroy the clear revelation of the Trinity – the God of the Bible!
Thirdly, to portray God as “mother” is to destroy the Biblical revelation of
creation. In the Bible, creation is clearly revealed in terms of paternity.
Without the agency of a male, there is no conception or creation of new life.
While not projecting sexuality on the fiat acts of creation, the parallel is
clear. That’s why Isaiah said: “O Lord, You are our Father…we are the
work of Your hand” (Isa. 64:8; Mal. 2:10). That’s why God is also
revealed in the New Testament as “…the Father, from whom His whole
family in heaven and on earth derives its name” (Eph. 3:14; c.f. II Cor.
6:18).
This clear Biblical revelation of the “Fatherhood of God” is totally unique to
the Bible. This is especially significant in the light of history – especially of
the Near East where the Bible originated. Most all of the religions of that
era were polytheistic with a “goddess” being the chief deity. And generally
they were sexual and sensuous by nature. Thus we read about:
• Isis worshiped by the Egyptians
• Ashera worshiped by the Canaanites
• Tiamat worshiped by the Babylonians
• Aphrodite worshiped by the Greeks
These are but a few of the myriads of female deities worshiped in antiquity.
It is the same today in Hinduism through the worship of the goddess, Kali –
whose temples I have seen in India and Nepal many times. Or, consider the
worship in America and the West of sex through the Playboy and Penthouse
mentality!
In the ancient world, all of these deities were portrayed as “fertility
goddesses” who were worship by every conceivable form of sexual
perversion and prostitution. Both male and female “temple prostitutes”
abounded. Whether ancient or contemporary, these many “mother
metaphors” or “female goddesses” have done little to liberate women. Far
from dignifying femininity and womanhood, they have only defiled sex and
demeaned women as chattel and objects of sexual exploitation by men!
Once again, we see how unique and desperately needed is the full Biblical
revelation of the “Fatherhood of God” as revealed through Jesus Christ! We
see the relevance of Christmas in a new way.
But, not only have people then (and now) had their view of God distorted by
“mother deities” and “fertility goddesses” – they have a marred image of
God because they have a “damaged father image.” That’s because they
either had a bad relationship with their earthly father or no relationship at
all. For millions of people the world over, the word “father” conjures up bad
memories. Through detachment, divorce, desertion, death – their fathers let
them down. They were not there. They did not meet their needs. They
were aloof…angry...abusive …hurtful. They left indelible marks of pain
and shame on the minds, emotions and psyche of their children. As a result,
their children carry their damaged “father-concepts” through life– and then
project them upon God.
Through the years I have had scores of people say to me that they can relate
to the concept of “God.” But they cannot relate to “God as father.” Their
human father stands between them and their Heavenly Father. They view
the Heavenly Father through the damaged and distorted emotional lenses
crafted by their earthly fathers. As a result, their poor or perverted concepts
of father keep them from ever knowing and loving God as their “Everlasting
Father.”
But, part of the Good News of Christmas is that Jesus came to heal our
damaged father images and experiences. The Apostle Paul connects the dots
for us from himself to His Heavenly Father through the person and presence
of the Holy Spirit. Carefully read these verses and let them sink deep into
your spirit:
“When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a
woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we
might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God
sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out,
‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave but a son; and since
you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:4-7).
Wow! What a Christmas message! What an incredible Christmas present!
Yet, sadly, it remains unopened and unexperienced by millions of people –
even Christians. So let me unwrap God’s Christmas present for you.
• “When the time had fully come…” that means the “fullness of
time” for the fulfillment of God’s promises to send His Messiah.
• “God sent His Son…” The First Person of the Godhead, “God the
Father,” sending the Second Person of the Godhead, “God the Son,”
into the world in fulfillment of His many prophetic promises.
• “…born of a woman…” Jesus was incarnate in the womb of the
virgin Mary through the activity of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person
of the Godhead.
• “…born under law, to redeem those under law…” Jesus came
as a Jew and lived under the “Law of Moses” and perfectly fulfilled it
for us and “redeem” us from it’s tutelages and bondage.
• “…that we might receive the full rights as sons…” Prior to
Christ’s coming, we all lived under law as slaves rather than as sons.
But by perfectly fulfilling all of the demands of the law for us, Jesus
gave us “…full rights as sons.”
• “…God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts...” God
personalizes His Gift to us through the presence of the Holy Spirit
who takes up residence in our hearts. And this Spirit is none other
than the “Spirit of His Son.” So the role of the Holy Spirit is to
manifest the “Sonship of Jesus Christ” in and through our lives!
• “…the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’” The role of the
Holy Spirit is to manifest, in our hearts, the reality that we are God’s
sons and daughters – just as much as Jesus is.
• “So. you are no longer a slave but a son…” Jesus changes our
relationship to God from that of a person who is a “slave” to sin and
death – held in the bondage and condemnation of the law – to that of a
“son.” Through love and grace, God has fully adopted us as His sons
and daughters – for time and eternity!
• “…and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”
Because of the Gift of Jesus Christ, we have become an “heir” of all
that Jesus is an heir to – which is everything!
Let me say it again: “What an incredible Christmas Present!” And it is
personal! It has each of our names individually inscribed on it – in blood!
These verses remind us that Christmas is not about religion – but about
relationship! Through the coming of Christ, God did not introduce another
religion into the world – which was already in bondage to many religions.
He sent His Son to provide a new relationship with Himself through His
indwelling Holy Spirit. As a result of the “Spirit of His Son” dwelling in
our hearts, we cry out in joy the same words that Jesus often did: “Abba,
Father!”
No other religious leader in history before Jesus or after dared to say that the
true and living God is “Abba, Father.” Only Jesus made that revelation
and declaration. You see, in Christ’s day, the word “Abba” was an Aramaic
word – the common language spoken by the people. It was a term of
endearment and intimacy. It reflected a close, loving relationship between a
father and his children. It would be similar to our word, “Daddy.”
Only Jesus dared to use that term in His conversations with His Heavenly
Abba. But wonder of wonders, He gave that right to us also by making us
“sons of God!” And again, as “sons and daughters of God,” we are “heirs”
of everything of which Jesus is an heir (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29; Eph. 3:6).
And the greatest thing of which we have been made an “heir” is the same
relationship with the Father that Jesus had. How can we tell? If our hearts
cry out through the Spirit of Jesus: “Abba, Father!
Through Isaiah, God reminds us that He is not a capricious, judgmental,
wrathful, vindictive, transcendent God – but an “Everlasting Father.”
Focus a moment more on that descriptive adjective, “Everlasting.” That
means that this quality of God as “Father” is eternal, unchanging, never
ending – forever! Because He is our “Everlasting Father,” His love for us
is an “everlasting love.” It is an unconditional love. That’s why the Bible so
often speaks about the “…steadfast love of the Lord that endures forever”
(Ps. 100:5; 118:1-4; 136:1, etc). And the references to God’s “unfailing
love” are too numerous to list in this study – especially in the Psalms.
Suffice it to summarize that God’s “steadfast love” is nothing like our
human sentimentality that we call “love” – that changes with the wind and
shifts with our feelings!
In this Christmas prophecy of Isaiah and amplification by Paul in Galatians,
we see two of the most revolutionary revelations of the Christian faith:
salvation and sonship. We cannot have one without the other. They both
come together in the same gift package. However, we can possess them
without experiencing and enjoying them! The word “Abba” reveals the
certainty of the one supreme relationship – that of sonship over slavery.
I trust this Christmas you will open your heart to the experience and
enjoyment of God as your “Everlasting Father” – your personal “Abba” –
who loves you with an eternal love that “…endures forever!” Only God is
our true “Father Christmas!”
But there is one final Name that God gives us through Isaiah’s Christmas
prophecy that further reveals His nature and character.
Prince of Peace
It is significant that this Name of God appears fourth. I believe there is a
logical theological sequence in this revelation of the nature of God through
His names. Only after we recognize and respond to Him as our “Wonderful
Counselor … Mighty God … Everlasting Father” – can we experience
Him as our “Prince of Peace.” There is no peace outside of a personal
relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.
However, God is still God regardless of our recognition or response to Him.
Absolutely nothing changes about His character and conduct if we believe or
disbelieve in Him. The only thing that changes is our personal experience
of who God is. All of us desperately need Him as our personal “Prince of
Peace.”
It doesn’t take a lot of education or special powers of observation to see that
lasting peace is a rare commodity in our world today. There is a serious
lack of peace on the outside as well as on the inside. Whether in our hearts,
heads, households or hometowns, there is little authentic peace. There are
only brief and fragile cease-fires in our on-going relational hostilities.
That’s because the peace that most people strive for is based on human
efforts. Seldom do we seriously seek the presence and power of the only
one who is the “Prince of Peace.”
Sadly, our world is filled with the false spiritual and political prophets
offering their false panaceas of peace. But God warns against their false
message and methods of peace by saying: “Peace, peace when there is no
peace” (Jer. 6:19; 8:11; Ezek. 13:16; I Thess. 5:3). Through Isaiah, God
said: “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isa. 57:21).
It is important to note that this promised “Christmas Child” would be called
the “Prince” – not the “King.” As you know, a “Prince” is from the royal
line and is the heir designate to the throne. He will one day surely become
the “King.” That’s what He was born for (Matt. 2:2; Lk. 19:12). But for
now, He does not fully rule and reign. He hasn’t yet ascended His throne on
earth. That is yet to come.
As a result of His perfect life…substitutionary death…resurrection in power,
He already sits on the throne by His Father in heaven. Paul wrote of Christ’s
current spiritual reign after His resurrection and ascension when God…
“…seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far
above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every
title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the
one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and
appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which
is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every
way” (Eph. 1:20-23).
So, Christ’s current geographical reign is in the “heavenly realms.” But
one day His rule and reign will encompass the whole cosmos. That’s why
He taught us to pray for His “…Kingdom to come and His will be done on
earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Right now, man’s will and Satan’s
will are predominantly done “…on earth.”
While Christ does not currently reign geographically, He can and does reign
spiritually, emotionally and relationally in the hearts of those who willingly
submit to His Princely reign.
In our world today, we often hear politicians lament a breakdown in the
“peace process.” But peace is not a process – it is a Person! That’s why
Paul wrote: “For He Himself is our peace...” (Eph. 2:14). Jesus Christ is
Peace Incarnate. That’s because He is the embodiment of the “God of
Peace” (I Cor. 14:33; I Thess. 5:23; II Thess. 3:16; Heb. 13:20) – who is the
“King of Peace” (Heb. 7:2).
The first benediction that God gave Moses for His people is a reflection of
His desire to bless His people with peace. This “priestly blessing” is such a
beautiful summary of God’s nature and character:
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you and
give you peace.” (Num. 6:24-26)
Indeed, “God blesses His people with peace” (Ps. 29:11; 37:11; 119:165,
etc). He sent His Messiah to “…proclaim peace to the nations” (Zech.
9:10). So, there is a global scope to His peace. It is not just for the Jewish
people. It is not a “parochial peace” but an all-encompassing “…peace to
those far and near” (Isa. 57:19). It is only by following Him, that mankind
will be “…led forth in peace” (Isa. 55:12).
Contrary to the misconceptions many people have, God is not the God of
wrath and war. He is the “God of Peace.” One of His names is “Jehovah
Shalom,” or “The Lord is Peace” (Judg.6:24; Mic. 5:5). Shalom is His
name and nature. Peace is not just something God gives, it is who He is.
That’s why the “Peace Accord” He initiates with His people is called a
“Covenant of Peace” (Num. 25:12; Isa. 54:10; Ezek. 34:25; 37:26; Mal.
2:5, etc; Note: for a further study on “Covenants,” see my book by that
title).
Please carefully note, then, that God is the Initiator of the peace process.
We do not “make peace with God” – He makes peace with us. But He does
so on His terms – not ours.
The Bible makes it absolutely clear that there is only one means to peace
with God – the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hundreds of years before it
happened, Isaiah foresaw the death of Christ on the cross and wrote this
Messianic incredible prophecy:
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and
familiar with suffering…Surely He took up our infirmities and
carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God,
smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our
transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are
healed…the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was
oppressed and afflicted…He was led like a lamb to the slaughter”
(Isa. 53:3-7).
Why did this Christ Child come? He came to live a perfect life and die a
perfect death – so He could give us perfect peace – “Peace with God.”
That’s why Paul reminded Christians that Jesus made “…peace through His
blood shed on the cross” (Eph. 2:14-15; Col. 1:20; Rom. 5:1). Jesus
assured His disciples then and assures us now: “In Me you have peace” (Jn.
16:33; c.f. 14:27).
So, the peace that God brings is an abiding peace…a perfect peace…a
permanent peace. That’s why Isaiah exclaimed: “You will keep in perfect
peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You” (Isa. 26:3).
In the New Testament, Paul echoed this truth of the steadfastness of God’s
shalom:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:67).
This kind of peace is supernatural. It “…transcends all understanding.”
That’s because it does not originate in man. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit
that dwells inside the heart and mind of the believer (Gal. 5:22). Therefore,
when we allow the “…peace of Christ to rule in our hearts” (Col. 3:15),
there are spiritual, mental, emotional and physical benefits. Fear and anxiety
are displaced by the “peace of Christ.” As a result, we have “peace of
mind.” That’s why the wise man of Proverbs wrote: “A heart at peace gives
life to the body” (Prov. 14:30).
Any wonder, then, that the angelic choir sang out on that first Christmas
night:
Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men
on whom His favor rests.”
(Lk. 2:14)
The Good News of Christmas is that we have the “Gospel of Peace” to
share with the world (Eph. 6:15). And as we follow our exalted “Prince of
Peace,” we will become “peacemakers” who pray, live and work for peace
on all levels of life (Matt. 6:9; Rom. 12:18;; 14:19; I Cor. 7:15; II Cor.
13:11; I Thess. 5:13; I Tim. 2:22; Heb. 12:11, 14; I Pet. 3:11; Tit. 3:2; Ja.
3:18, etc).
Please remember: we cannot have His peace until we let Him rule! We
cannot experience His steadfast shalom until we make Him the crown Prince
of our lives! When He is our “Wonderful Counselor”…our “Mighty
God”…our “Everlasting Father”—then and only then, will He be our
“Prince of Peace!”
Conclusions
As we conclude this study on the prophetic names of God, I want you to
once again meditate on the descriptive adjectives with each name of God:
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
Only that kind of God is worthy to rule and reign in your life – as well as in
the universe. That’s why Jesus as God’s Messiah did not come into the
world to start another religion. The world had plenty of religions – then and
now. He came to rule and reign as the rightful “King of kings and Lord of
lords” (I Tim. 6:15). Ultimately, the government of the whole world will be
shifted to His shoulders. Right now the government of the countries of the
world is on the weak and inept shoulders of human usurpers…political
power-mongers…corrupt rulers…leaders with messianic complexes!
But, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah saw the coming day when
the true God would rule and reign throughout the entire cosmos He created –
on earth as well as in heaven. Here’s the Good News of Christmas that
Isaiah concludes with:
“Of the increase 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.”
That would be too good to be true if this universal peace of “…justice and
righteousness” was based on man’s efforts. But it is not. Isaiah assures us
that “The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isa. 9:7;
59:17). This global government will not be brought in by the zest of man –
but by the “…zeal of the Lord Almighty” who will initially rule and reign
from Zion on “David’s throne.”
The really Good News of Christmas is that He can start that spiritual rule in
your life right now! You do not have to wait until He returns to this world
for His second and final visit when He will wrap up human history. Then, it
will be too late to “switch sides.” He will not be returning as Savior – but as
Judge. He will not return as “Baby Jesus in a manger” or as a “Suffering
Servant” on the cross. He will come as “King of kings and Lord of
lords.” At that time: “…every knee will bow…and every tongue will
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil.
2:10-11).
So, the most important question is this: “Is the government of your life upon
His shoulders?” I pray that it is. I also pray that His government will
“increase” to the degree of total Lordship in your life and that there is an
increase of peace to go along with the increase of government in your life!
Increase one and you increase the other.
Sadly, however, many people have sought His “Wonderful Counsel” – but
not His enablement as their “Mighty God.” Others know and fear Him as
an impersonal, transcendent “Mighty God” – but not as their intimate
“Everlasting Father.” Still others know him theologically and
theoretically – but not existentially as their “Prince of Peace.” While they
have “head knowledge,” they do not have “heart assurance” in their
relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.
What about you? What is your relationship this Christmas with that
“…child who was born” and the “…son who was given?” I pray that
through your faith and obedience you will allow the “…increase of His
government and peace” to rule and reign in your life as your “Wonderful
Counselor…Mighty God…Everlasting Father…Prince of Peace!”
That’s the way to experience Christmas all year long!
IMMANUEL…GOD WITH US
“They will call him Immanuel –
which means ‘God with us.’”
(Matthew 1:23)
One of the greatest truths that we celebrate afresh each Christmas is the
prophecy that Isaiah foretold about the coming of the Messiah: “The virgin
will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). Everyone who has ever heard the word “Immanuel”
knows that the Hebrew word literally means: “God WITH us.” What a
revelation! Not God transcendent from us…or God against us…or God
indifferent to us – but God WITH us! This truth is one of the distinguishing
marks of Christianity. No other religion reveals a god that is the Incarnation
of Immanuel. That is why Immanuel is an incarnational revelation. For the
transcendent Creator God to become “Immanuel, God with us” – the
incarnation had to take place. The Eternal Living “Word” had to
“…become flesh and dwell among us” (Jn. 1:14). Unless the true and
living God “dwelt among us” – He could not be “with us.” Therefore, the
transcendent had to become immanent … the “God of Spirit” had to become
the “God of flesh.”
As someone rightly observed: “Immanuel means that God is ‘FOR US
against our sins’ – rather than ‘AGAINST US for our sins!’” The LAW
required that the Holy Creator God be “…against us for our sins.” But His
LOVE caused Him to be “…for us against our sins!” So only Jesus – no
other religious leader in history – assures us that God stands “with us” –
rather than “against us!” That’s why the Apostle Paul would later cry out
with full assurance: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.
8:31).
Therefore, God’s “standing with us” – rather than “standing against us,”
began on that first Christmas! That’s when the true and living God
incarnated His love for us – in the form of the “Babe of Bethlehem.” It was
then and there that He took His stand “with us” – rather than “against us.”
The Infinite became Incarnate … the transcendent became immanent … the
omnipresent became localized – in a virgin’s womb! Without that Christ
event, there would be no Christmas advent! So the “God of love, mercy and
grace” identified with us in time – so that we could identify with Him in both
time and eternity. He became “One of us” so that we might become “one
with Him.” Is it any wonder that the angels sang out to the shepherds: “I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in
the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord”
(Lk. 2:10).
In this message I want to look with you at nine areas that God is “with you”
this Christmas – just as He was “with Joseph and Mary” on that very first
Christmas. As we go through this study, I think you will quickly realize that
the very same areas that they needed God to be “with them” – are the
identical areas that we need God to be “with us.” These divine theocracies
where God manifested His presence with Mary and Joseph – and also with
us, are what I call “Immanuel Principles.” So let’s begin with the first area
that God was “with them” was in their…
Plans
Like scores of other young Jewish couples of their day, Joseph and Mary
had made their plans to marry … settle down … go into business … raise a
family. They had already gone through the ‘betrothal’ ceremony – and were
each considered sanctified, or exclusively set apart for each other. Even
though their relationship had not yet been sexually consummated, their bond
could only be broken by a legal divorce sanctioned by the religious courts of
Judaism. They were now living in the prescribed period of separation before
the final phase of their marriage. This was to prove their sexual purity.
During this period of separation, both Joseph and Mary were busily engaged
in the plans for their marriage and coming life together. He would have been
busy building a small home for them to live in, and she would have been
preparing her wedding garments in anticipation for their coming day of
public commitment and marital consummation.
But with the unexpected visitation of the angel Gabriel, all of their plans
were changed – forever! Their marriage plans were changed … their social
standing in the community was changed … their locality was changed …
their economics were changed! All of the plans they had made for
themselves were suddenly “out the window.”
Joseph and Mary were experiencing the truth of Proverbs 19:21: “Many are
the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
They were likewise learning what King David wrote about concerning the
eternality of God’s plans: “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever” (Ps.
32:11; c.f. Isa. 46:10-11)
Like Joseph and Mary, many of you have had some of your life plans
radically altered this past year. You were moving in one direction, but the
sovereign intervention of the Lord completely changed everything. Since I
have personally so often experienced that in my own life, I guess that is one
of the reasons that I named my first ministry the New Directions! It seems
that God is constantly taking me in “new directions” in ministry and
missions – directions that I would never have dreamed of or planned for!
But, I have learned through the years just what Joseph and Mary ultimately
learned, and that is: God’s plans cannot be improved upon! Tragically, one
of the greatest satanic lies that man has continually bought into through the
centuries is that our plans are better than God’s plans. Ever since the
Garden of Eden, man has been buying into the satanic lie that – God’s plans
are really dull…boring… restrictive…unfulfilling. In our darkened thinking,
we continually buy into the satanically inspired lie that we know better than
God what will make us happy. That’s why we are always opting for our
plans over God’s plans…our program for God’s program…our will for
God’s will.
Even though we may rebel against it…flee from it…try and modify
it…postpone it – we can never ultimately thwart God’s will! Nor can we
improve upon it! Only God’s plans are perfect. All our best plans are flawed
by our shortsightedness, carnality, selfishness, immaturity, temporal and
earth-bound perspective. As a result, our best plans can only bring short-
lived happiness and fulfillment. By contrast, only God’s plans will bring
lasting purpose…fulfillment…joy… excitement…satisfaction! Therefore,
only God’s plans are both totally sovereign – and totally satisfying!
Even though they did not fully understand in advance God’s plans for their
lives, Joseph and Mary ultimately learned that God would be incarnate with
them in all of their changes of plans.
Let me ask you a timely Christmas question: “Are you living out God’s
plans for your life? Or, are you still substituting your own temporal, earthbound plans for the dream and destiny He designed you for? Have you
bought into the ‘American dream’ to the degree that you have missed
‘Heaven’s dream’ for your life?”
Please remember: God is only personally incarnate “with us” as Immanuel –
when we are submitting to His sovereign plans for our lives. And His plan
for our lives are the “…good works He prepared in advance for us to do”
(Eph. 2:10).
God was also with Joseph and Mary in their…
Perplexities
Just because Joseph and Mary were seeking to obediently follow God’s will
did not mean that they were not having any struggles. God’s plans also
brought perplexity to both the hearts and minds. They quickly began to learn
what every obedient Christian learns – there is often a mystery to God’s will
we do not immediately understand.
Therefore, because Joseph and Mary were both as fully human in every way
as you and I are, they found themselves struggling with
doubts…questions…fears… confusion…perplexities.
Mary was perplexed over how she could “…be with child and give birth to
a son…since she was a virgin” (Lk. 2:31, 34). She knew that she had not
violated her betrothal vows to Joseph. She knew what no one else would
ever believe – that she had not had sexual relationships with Joseph – or
with any other man! So to Gabriel’s announcement about giving birth to a
child, Mary protested: “How can this be? I am a virgin!”
If God’s plans were causing perplexity for Mary, they were doing the same
for Joseph. Since he was living in a very patriarchal, male-dominated Jewish
society – God’s plans were putting Joseph in a precarious spiritual and social
position! Obviously he was very confused. When it became obvious to him –
and to everyone else, that Mary was pregnant – he had only two alternatives:
public stoning, or private divorce. Neither alternative was socially or
emotionally satisfying to Joseph’s head or heart! However, because he was
“…a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace,
he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19). So he was going to
take what seemed to be the “lesser of two evils” – and divorce Mary quietly.
Their struggles remind us that we are not called upon to fully understand
God’s will – only to fully obey it. Because it is only as we obey God’s will
that we experience His incarnate presence, peace and power with us as
Immanuel! When we are struggling against the prevailing winds and
sovereign tides of heaven – then we are ultimately fighting a losing battle.
Like Saul on the Damascus Road, we find ourselves “…kicking against the
goads” (Acts 26:14) with which God lines our pathway to keep us moving
forward in His will – rather than moving against God’s will.
Perhaps some of you are greatly perplexed this Christmas Season over some
of the twists and turns your life has taken over the past year! Some of the
painful convolutions of your life have produced great confusion in your
spirit. Perhaps some of you are distressed – and even depressed, by some of
the detours your life has experienced recently. Nothing seems to make
sense…life seems to be at a standstill…you are going nowhere fast…you are
plateaued…treading water…in a holding pattern like a circling plane seeking
a place to land.
When Joseph and Mary found themselves perplexed, what did they do?
They pondered…prayed…waited on God…gave God time to give further
direction. Unlike so many of us, they did not spontaneously
react…rebel…take things into their own hands…respond with a “knee-jerk”
carnal reaction! No. They prayerfully pondered! The Bible says that both
Joseph and Mary pondered…considered… thought…analyzed…waited. The
Bible even tells us that Joseph “slept on it.” And while he was sleeping,
“…the 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” (Matt. 1:20).
Just as Joseph obeyed the Lord’s direction and “…took Mary home as his
wife” – Mary likewise obeyed. Without fully understanding the reason or
ultimate consequences, Mary said to Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s
servant…May it be to me as you have said” (Lk. 1:38). Both of their fears
were ultimately made to submit to their faith.
The Christmas story reminds us of another oft-forgotten principle: “Just
because we are people of faith does not mean that we will not also be people
of doubt. Often times the very people in the Bible who demonstrated the
greatest faith also demonstrated the greatest doubt! Sometimes the doubts
will be doubts of the mind. At other times they will be doubts of the heart.
And the worst are the doubts of the spirit – what the saints of old call the
“dark night of the soul!” But regardless of their nature, be assured that
doubts will arise…perplexities will come…confusions will abound…fears
will set in!
Please remember this crucial Biblical principle: “The greater your faith, the
greater your doubt!” Faith and doubt are just two sides of the same spiritual
coin! Therefore, the higher you scale up the pinnacle of faith – the further
you have to fall into the valley of doubt!
However, Christmas freshly reminds us that our Abba, Father is truly our
“Immanuel,
God
with
us”
in
all
of
our
perplexities…preponderances…confusions …doubts.
Joseph and Mary also found God to be their Immanuel in the area of their…
Passions
How we desperately need to rediscover this Immanuel principle for our lives
– whether we are living in the First or Twenty-First Century! The Bible
assures us that both Joseph and Mary were chaste people before they were
married. Both were sexual virgins. Neither was guilty of sexual immorality.
They were sexually pure before God, and before each other. How we need
their model and message today!
In our sex-saturated society in America, all passions are inflamed on every
hand. We are enticed to let every natural drive – drive us! All of our sexual
passions are to be given free reign. All of our urges are urged on by the
media – “alive and in living color!” Every form of eroticism and perversion
is thrust upon all of our senses at every turn. Now “cyber porn” has become
the latest venue for private passion arousal. It goes without saying that
Joseph and Mary did not have these modern forms of sexual arousal
bombarding them from every angle.
However, sexual immorality…fornication…adultery…perversion were
rampant in their world also. Prostitution and perversion have always
abounded in every civilization – whether covertly or overtly, or both. In
reality, among the poor people of the world – sexual gratification is one of
the few pleasures available! Poor people do not have the money or time to
pursue the many types of pleasure and recreation afforded the rich. Eating,
drinking and sex are some of the only pleasures available to them.
We must keep in mind that Joseph and Mary were as fully human and fully
sexual as we are. They were not some kind of dispassionate, asexual, neuter
people – like the serene porcelain figurines that often portray them in
crèches or manger scenes! Every sexual passion or temptation we face, they
also faced. All of the stimulating hormones that adolescents experience
today – they too experienced.
Remember: Joseph and Mary were fully sexual creatures just like every one
of us. Their sex drives were not nullified because they were sanctified. Quite
the contrary. Please remember this principle – especially you teenagers:
“Our sex drives are not nullified when they are sanctified and purified – they
are intensified!”
Not only were both Joseph and Mary chaste before marriage – they were
even chaste after marriage! Now I do not believe the heretical doctrine of
the “perpetual virginity of Mary” – taught by the Catholic Church. Nor do I
believe in their Biblical unbalanced practice of celibacy in the priesthood as
the norm for Christian leaders. However, the Bible does clearly tell us that
after Joseph “…took Mary home as his wife…he had no union with her
until she gave birth to a son” (Matt. 1:24-25).
So, they found that God was “Immanuel, God with them” in their passions.
If there is ever a time or place that we need to have God become incarnate in
our lives today – it is in our sexual passions!
It is because so many Christians – and Christian leaders – do not allow God
to be “with them” in their sexual passions – that they fall morally. Hardly a
week passes that we do not hear about some noted Christian leader who has
fallen into sexual sin. Therefore, Christmas again reminds us that when we
do not allow God to become incarnate…Immanuel…“God with us” in our
sexuality – our sexual lives become sexual lies!
It is a revolutionary revelation to many Christians that God wants to be
“Immanuel, God with us” in EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES – including
our sexual lives.
Therefore, I remind you again of this Biblical principle: “When our passions
are purified, they are not nullified – but intensified!” I hope and pray that
this understanding will be a special gift to you this Christmas!
But Joseph and Mary also experienced another Immanuel principle in the
area of…
Poverty
Not only was God Immanuel in their spiritual, social and sexual lives – He
was also “with them” in their economic lives. In addition – manifesting
Himself as Immanuel in their plans…perplexities…and passions – God was
also “with them” in their poverty.
Contrary to what some people believe – and some even teach – Joseph and
Mary were not people of means. They were people of privation and poverty
far more than they were people of prominence and prosperity. Joseph was a
humble carpenter – what we would call a “common laborer,” or a “blue
color worker.” Mary was a simple peasant girl. In all probability, she was a
young teenager between the age of 13 and 15, when she was betrothed to
Joseph. That was the common age of marriage in their culture – just as it is
in many other parts of the world today.
In her song, Mary seemed to speak about her lowly estate in life – and even
marvel that God would become “Immanuel” to someone of such low social
standing:
“My soul glorifies the Lord…He has been mindful of the humble
state of His servant…He has brought down rulers from their
thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with
good things but has sent the rich away empty” (Lk. 1:46-53).
Certainly, the humble estate of Joseph and Mary was also reflected in the
fact that their newborn baby was “…wrapped in cloths” (“Swaddlingcloths” KJV) and “laid in a manger because there was no room for them
in the inn” (Lk. 2:7). Scholars are unsure whether Jesus was born in a barn,
cattle stall or rock-hewn cave where animals were kept at night. But He
certainly was not born in a rich home or a palace! And we are clearly told
that Jesus was “wrapped in swaddling cloths” – rather than satin cloths,
and “laid in a manger” – rather than in a gilded baby crib.
Humble circumstances…lowly circumstances…poor surroundings were not
strangers to Mary and Joseph! Like the vast majority of their fellow Jews,
they were far more accustomed to poverty and privation than they were to
peace and prosperity. And all of the unexpected travel that they would be
compelled to make due to the birth of the baby Jesus, represented added
financial burdens they had not budgeted for. Certainly the unforeseen very
generous gifts of the Magi from the East were one of God’s sovereign ways
of meeting their increased and unexpected financial needs.
We can also see their poor, humble life-style clearly demonstrated in the
nature of the sacrifices. When they took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem on
the eighth day for His circumcision, Doctor Luke tells us that they sacrificed
“…a pair of doves and two young pigeons” – which was the sacrifice of
the poor (Lev. 12:8).
But in spite of that fact Joseph spent his life working with his hands; he
gained a positive reputation around Nazareth as perhaps the best carpenter
and stone mason in the area! And in good Jewish fashion, Jesus was
mentored by His father as the first born son in that same honorable
vocation. In fact, Jesus spent far more time as a carpenter working with His
hands than He did as an itinerant preacher. He was the Messiah of manual
labor. That’s why Jesus gained the same reputation as His father,
Joseph. Around Nazareth, Jesus was called “…the carpenter’s son” or
simply “…the carpenter” (Matt. 13:55; Mk. 6:3). That speaks
volumes. Those descriptions show that in people’s minds, Jesus could not be
separated from his vocation as a “Master Carpenter.”
What a great and practical gift God gave us at Christmas through “Jesus, the
Carpenter!” Because of His many “silent years” of faithful hard work and
sweat in the carpenter’s shop, Jesus forever dignified manual labor as the
highest possible calling. Since Jesus worked most of His life with His hands,
it was the first place that He learned to please His earthly father and glorify
His Heavenly Father!
Because of Jesus and Christmas, work and worship would forever be
inseparably connected. Work is the gift and worship is the gift
wrapping! Both are offered to God in an inseparable package of love and
adoration.
Whatever your vocation – as long as it is honest and honorable – offer it
afresh to God this Christmas as your worship! Just as the Magi “...bowed
down and worshiped Him” and then ”...opened their treasures and
presented Him with gifts…” you do the same with the treasures your hands
have produced – whatever they are. I can assure you they will be an
acceptable Christmas gift to the Lord Jesus. To do anything less is to sell
yourself short of your Christmas birthright!
But God was also “with them” in the area of…
Politics
We don’t usually associate Christmas with politics. We like to try and
“forget politics” during the Holidays. Now that the “Lame Duck Session” of
Congress is over, we want to completely wipe politics out of our mind! But
Christmas and politics are inseparable. That first Christmas was played out
in a politically-charged atmosphere for Joseph and Mary. In fact, it was their
political situation that precipitated and dictated much of the major events of
their first Christmas together as husband and wife. It was the “...decree of
Caesar Augustus that the entire Roman world undergo a census” that
put everything into motion for Mary and Joseph. And it did so in the most
untimely and inconvenient season! As always, a census like this was for the
purpose of taxation – just as unpopular for Joseph and Mary as it is for most
American citizens today!
The astute historian, Doctor Luke, also tells us that this census took place
when “Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Lk. 2:1-2). This little line of
Holy Writ gives us another trustworthy indicator of the timing of the
Christmas narrative. It firmly roots Christmas in historic soil. It was the
political situation then that lifted Christmas out of the realm of fantasy and
mythology and anchored it firmly in the annals of history – thanks to Doctor
Luke! This census – much like the ones occasionally taken in
America, required Joseph to leave their home in Nazareth and go by foot and
donkey to his home town of Bethlehem to be “...registered with Mary, who
was pledged to be married to him” (Lk. 2:5).
Humanly speaking, these political events were certainly inconvenient and
untimely for Joseph and Mary. It was the worst possible time for them to
have to travel. But the political reality of being a Jew living under the
dominance of Rome gave them no alternative. They had to obey … they had
to leave home … they had to go to Bethlehem … they had to register … they
had to pay their taxes.
Even though they did not understand or discern God’s sovereignty in all of
this – He was still in absolute control. What seemed to be capricious and
purposeless political events – were really God’s means of fulfilling longforetold and largely forgotten prophecies! Rome was not in control – God
was! The throne of Caesar Augustus was not calling the shots – the
sovereign God was! The Bible assures us that God’s kingdom is an “eternal
kingdom” (Dan. 4:3, 17). “Dominion belongs to the Lord, and He rules
over the nations” (Ps. 22:28). So Christmas in the first century or the
twenty-first century reminds us that God’s “…kingdom rules over all” (Ps.
103:19).
This first political dynamic, orchestrated by Caesar Augustus, was soon
followed by another more sinister one by King Herod – the paranoid military
strongman and architectural genius who was ruling Judea through political
intrigue and ruthless power! We will look at his political intrigue more in the
next point.
Ultimately, it would be the power politics of the Jewish religious leader and
Pilot that would lead to the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus. Neither
Jesus’ birth, life nor death was lived out in a political vacuum. He lived His
brief life in a politically-charged environment that was more hostile than
peaceful. While we can all wish for a political utopia, no such government
exists here on planet earth. Never has. Never will. Not until the Lord returns
to set up His earthly Kingdom. So, political tranquility did not exist for
Joseph and Mary, or for Jesus. It doesn’t exist for us either. Like them, we
will always struggle between the tensions of being a good citizen of our
country and a loyal citizen of the Kingdom of God. Sadly, we Christians are
increasingly seeing that the Twenty-First Century is proving to be more and
more hostile to the true meaning of Christmas – just like in the First
Century. The more things change, the more they remain the same. As the
songwriter penned: “This world is not a friend of grace to help me on to
God.” That’s why it is bloody spiritual warfare every step of the journey!
Just as He was “Immanuel, God with us” to Joseph and Mary; so He is
“Immanuel, God with us” in the political events of our day! He is even
sovereign over “ballots, chads and dimples!” Regardless of who we voted
for…whether we are Republicans or Democrats…whether we are
conservatives or liberals… whether we are right-wing or left-wing – He is
still our sovereign “Immanuel, God with us” – and is working out all things
after the counsel of His own perfect will (Eph. 1:11).
This Christmas truth is especially comforting to millions of Christians
around the world – and to thousands of our JL, Patt & Friends partners –
because they live in varying degrees of political opposition and abject
poverty day-after-day. Most of the countries in which I travel and minister
are also in constant states of political upheaval and turmoil. Whether it is
Haiti with her on-going corrupt and fraudulent elections…Burma’s on-going
military dictatorship…Zimbabwe’s failed economy due to President
Mugabe…the growth in India of the Hindu Fundamentalism… possible
renewed Civil War in Sudan after the Referendum…Nepal’s decade-long
struggle with the Maoist Extremist…Sri Lanka’s continuous battles with the
Tamil Tigers and radical Buddhism…Mali’s conflict with al-Qaeda…or
radical Islamic Jihad on a global basis.
A quick overview of history and contemporary events clearly proves that the
vast majority of the world’s problems are politically induced! They are
incited by political power-mongers who gain and hold onto power –
regardless of the cost or consequences to their people. Because of tribalism,
caste-ism, cronyism, greed, corruption, bureaucracy and ineptness –
injustice, ignorance, inequality and inequity are the norm for a vast majority
of people around the world. Where there should be plenty and prosperity
because of abundant natural resources, grinding poverty reigns for the
masses. Thankfully, Christmas is no stranger to this political reality! Joseph
and Mary lived under it all of their lives. So will we. It’s a Christmas reality.
So we need to be reminded afresh this Christmas of the truth of the last
stanza of the Christmas Carol, Joy To The World, which says: “HE RULES
THE WORLD with truth and grace, and MAKES THE NATIONS PROVE,
the glories of His righteousness…” So God has never capitulated His
Lordship over His creation: “He still RULES THE WORLD with truth and
grace!”
Closely related to one’s political and economic situation is the matter of…
Persecution
Tragically, politics often lead to persecution. First, it is directed to any and
all who dare to oppose those who are in power. Political incumbents can
turn into a political incompetents as they blindly hold onto power. Whether
in the first or twenty-first century, the top priority of politicians is to
perpetuate themselves – at all cost! As the political maxim says: “Power
corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!”
So in politics, power and the Party become more sacred than the
people. Party platforms and political promises are quickly compromised and
sacrificed on the altar of expediency. Any serious threat to their power and
authority is usually decisively dealt with. Deadly force is used against
potential contenders to the throne! We see this same reality in the Christmas
Story.
When King Herod heard from the Magi the news that One had been born
who was “King of the Jews,” terror and anger filled his twisted, paranoid
mind! His political history had already shown that he would go to any
lengths to hold onto to his power. History tells us that he had killed members
of his own family because he feared their potential rivalry. A popular
proverb said: “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than to be one of his sons!” So
when Herod heard that there was a newborn “King of the Jews” who had
been revealed to Magi living far away in the East, he set his political intrigue
into motion. But his political savvy was no match for God’s
sovereignty. Rather than return to Herod’s palace with the location of the
Christ Child, the Magi were warned in a dream to return home by a different
route. Enraged by this double-cross, Herod unleashed a diabolically-inspired
attack against Jewish families. Realizing that he had been politically outmanuvered by the Magi – through the leading of the Holy Spirit – Herod
unleashed a bloody genocide against the little boys in Bethlehem two years
old or younger. Surely this mass murder of innocent little boys would
eliminate this one who was recently “born King of the Jews!”
While this unthinkable genocide was totally unexpected to Joseph and Mary
and the inhabitants of Bethlehem, it was another historic fulfillment of
prophecy that is totally inexplicable outside of the divine revelation of the
Bible. Jeremiah had predicted hundreds of years earlier: “A voice is heard
in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more” (Matt. 2:1618). And as Joseph and Mary fled this genocide, they became refugees in
Egypt until Herod died.
Once again we see how relevant the Christmas Story is to the millions of
people around the world who have been forced to leave their homes and
countries and reduced to refugee status! Christmas is a fresh annual reminder
that God fully understands homelessness. In a very special way He is
“Immanuel, God with us” when anyone becomes a refugee in a foreign
land. Each time I am in a refugee camp or among the homeless in slums and
ghettos, I am reminded of this incarnational truth that only the Christian
Gospel reveals. That God left heaven and came to earth and “pitched His
tent among us” so He could be “with us” in any and every situation. That’s
why Christmas is indeed “Good News”! Show me a god or goddess who
has gone to this length to say: “I love you! I will always be with you!”
Parenting
Being a parent is never easy – then or now. Parenting is the single highest
calling in life. It is also the most demanding. That’s why so many adults
seek to postpone or escape parenting. To be a good parent requires turning
from a self-focus to a focus on your child. From the moment of inception a
parent can no longer think in terms of self – or even in terms of two. They
must develop an “other mentality” that supersedes our natural selfish
singularity or self-serving duality. There is now a “third party” in their lives
who will demand a total shift of focus. That’s a tough calling for the most
mature among us! But for a young peasant Jewish girl in her early teens, this
unexpected and untimely calling to motherhood was frightening beyond
words! It is hard enough to be a good mother to a normal baby – but to
a supernatural one?! This one who was sired by the very Spirit of God
rather than by Joseph! To give your virgin womb to one of whom the angel
had said would be the “holy one” who would be called the “Son of God!”
This was totally incomprehensible!
But God gave this young pregnant virgin a mentoring relationship with a
more mature older woman – her cousin Elizabeth, whom she went to live
with for a few months. One was going to be a mother in her old age and the
other in her teenage years. Both were miraculous conceptions from a human
perspective. So they would prayerfully walk the parenting path
together. How good of God to give the gift of wisdom and maturity through
Elizabeth to this young virgin from Nazareth!
Like Mary, there are so many struggling, insecure, fearful young mothers
who need an Elizabeth in their lives this Christmas! Perhaps some of you
women reading this message may be just that woman. You are God’s
Elizabeth for some young mother. I urge you to give your gift of wisdom,
maturity and experience to some younger mother this Christmas – and on
into the New Year – for as long as she needs your encouragement.
And for Joseph, a young Jewish apprentice carpenter, the responsibilities of
providing for a new young wife who was pregnant was a social and
economic challenge. But he rose to the challenge. He did not blame God for
his difficult situation. Unlike so many today, Joseph did not develop a
“victim mentality.” Nor did he have a sense of “entitlement” that caused him
to look to others to meet his and Mary’s needs. “He did what the angel of
the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he
had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him
the name Jesus” (Matt. 1:24-25).
What a simple but profound description of masculine leadership...husbandly
authority...fatherly responsibility! How much those same gifts need to be
given this Christmas by so many of us husbands, fathers and grandfathers!
Both Joseph and Mary gave great gifts of selfless parenting to each other and
to Jesus that first Christmas. Dare we as parents give any lesser gifts this
Christmas to our children?!
Pain
It is impossible to separate parenting from pain. They go together. They are
inseparable. Pain is the flip-side of pleasure. That’s why it is absolutely
impossible to parent without pain. Painless parenting is an oxymoron – a
contradiction of terms! As a result of sin and the Fall of man in the Garden
of Eden, parenting and pain are life-long companions to one degree or the
other. God said to the first mother, Eve: “I will greatly increase your pains
in childbearing” (Gen. 3:16). In addition to the now normal physical pain
of childbirth, Mary would experience an even greater spiritual and emotional
pain as the mother of the Messiah. The aged Simeon prophesied to her that
when this child was grown He would be a source of unspeakable pain to her
and others: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many
in Israel,” Simeon said, “and a sign that will be spoken against, so that
the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce
your own soul too” (Lk. 2:34-35). So for Mary, the physical pain of child
birth would be greatly surpassed one day as she would have to experience
the spiritual pain of watching her Son be vilified, persecuted, rejected –
ignominiously crucified, prematurely killed and buried as a condemned
criminal in a borrowed grave!
For Joseph, the pain of parenting would largely be his responsibility to
protect and provide for Mary and Jesus – along with their other children
(Matt. 13:55-56), with a constant dark cloud of doubt and suspicion hanging
over him as a young blue collar entrepreneur. Many of you hard-working
fathers reading this can fully relate to Joseph’s struggles. You understand his
pain of always trying to pay the bills… make ends meet…stay ahead of your
creditors…meet the expectations of your wife and children…be a good
father.
Pain has many faces. Whether for Mary and Joseph or for you and me, pain
is unavoidable in a fallen, rebellious world. And while Christmas is
surrounded by awe and wonder, it is not make-believe. It is not pietistic
Pollyanna. Christmas is not a spiritual cocoon that securely isolates us from
pain. Nor does it encapsulate us in a comfortable velvet-lined environment
filled with nothing but predictability, peace, prosperity and pleasure.
The Advent cannot protect us from tragic events in life – whether it is
suffering, sickness, pain and death – either for ourselves or for our loved
ones. In our fantasy we wish that were the case. Life’s rude interruptions
impose upon us a different reality – wrapped in varying shades of pain and
anguish! It was an unavoidable gift for Mary and Joseph. It is for us also.
But while I do not know the nature of the pain of your spirit, soul or body
this Christmas, I know that Immanuel will still be “with you” through every
tear and fear! His Christmas gift to you this year is the present of His
presence! He loves you and wants to sustain you with all that He is as
“Immanuel, God with YOU!” That’s the assurance of Christmas.
Another crucial area that Joseph and Mary experienced God being with them
was in the area of…
Passing
Finally, Christmas reminds us that He is “Immanuel, God with us,” not
only in our passing through life but also in our passing from this life. This of
course brings us to two aged saints at the end of the Christmas narrative:
Simeon and Anna. Both were in the last decade and days of their lives here
on earth. But how does Christmas relate to the elderly? After all, isn’t
Christmas for children? Aren’t the Holidays primarily for the young? No,
not if you have the spiritual perspective that Simeon and Anna had. You
see, they had patiently waited all of their lives for this promised Christmas
Gift that the prophets had foretold. Most of their contemporaries no longer
seriously believed in the “Messiah myth” – much less longingly looked for
Him by faith, as they continued to do. It seems that age sometimes has a way
of dulling the spiritual senses along with our other ones. Unfulfilled longings
have a way of jading our perspective. Cynicism replaces optimism. Desires
give way to depression. In any century, it’s hard to “grow old gracefully.”
But Simeon and Anna had done so.
Simeon
We look at Simeon first because he comes first in Doctor Luke’s narrative.
His bio is succinct but significant. We are told that he “...was righteous and
devout … and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” What a resume! I would
like that to be said of me – wouldn’t you?! But not only did he live a life of
spiritual piety, He still lived expectantly. Old age had not destroyed his
spiritual awe and sense of anticipation. We are told that “He was waiting
for the consolation of Israel.” In other words, He was waiting for God to
comfort and console His people by fulfilling His promise to send His
Messiah. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that “...he would not die
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” But day after day…week after
week…month after month…year after year – the Messiah never came!
Nevertheless, even in his “sunset years,” he never lost hope. He never gave
up. He never quit believing. He never stopped going to the Temple. He
never stopped looking. He never stopped anticipating. He never stopped
believing that “This could be the day!”
One of the key Christmas Scriptures says that God sent His Son “...in the
fullness of time.” For Simeon, the fullness of time had finally come. But he
did not know it immediately. This day seemed like all the rest. Then God
surprised him. At the exact time that Joseph and Mary were there in the
Temple making their sacrifice for Jesus “...according to the Law of
Moses,” God’s Spirit prompted Simeon to go to God’s House. “Moved by
the Spirit, he went into the Temple Courts.” There he waited in the
Spirit. “When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what
the custom of the Law required,” Simeon was at the right place at the right
time. As a result, He did not miss God’s timeless Christmas Gift to him and
the world! What a lesson this is in consistency! Spiritual
persistency. Simeon’s life was a “long obedience in the same
direction.” And God rewarded Him with this incredible Christmas Gift – at
just the right moment!
What if he had given up? What if he had lost hope? What if he would have
given in to cynicism? What if he would have lost his sense of spiritual
expectation? What if he had stopped going to the Temple? What if he had
said to himself and God the day before: “God, this is my last visit to the
Temple! If you do not come through with Your Messiah today, I will never
return! I will not look again. I will not believe Your Word any longer! This is
Your last chance to prove Yourself!”
But, Simeon kept going. He kept the faith. He continued to live and walk in
the Spirit. He stayed involved in God’s House – even with all of its spiritual
corruptions. As a result, he was led to the right place at exactly the right time
to see God’s Messiah. He didn’t miss God’s Christmas present to him. So
we read: “Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God.” What
followed was a profound prophecy concerning the coming ministry of the
Messiah: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss
Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which
You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the
Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.”
Then, as Mary and Joseph wondered and marveled at this prophecy over
their infant son, “Simeon blessed them.” He then gave that heart-rending
prophecy to Mary about the death of her Son that would cause her heart to
be pierced as with a sword! Words she did not fully understand then but
would prayerfully ponder for years to come. One day she would fully know
and personally understand the painful reality of Simeon’s prophecy over her
and the Baby Jesus. But for now, she dwelt on Simeon’s blessing of them
and how her infant Child would somehow be God’s “…revelation to the
Gentiles” and “glory for her own Jewish people” (Lk. 2:25-34).
After that brief but profound encounter with the Infant Messiah, Simeon
passed off the scene and off the pages of Biblical history. But he could now
“depart in peace” because His eyes had seen the fulfillment of God’s
promise. And His arms had cradled the Christ Child near his heart that had
so long been close to the heart of God. What a passing! What a way to end
life! Not in a fighting reluctance but in a joyful relinquishment!
But, before Simeon passed on, he left us with one of the earliest “Great
Commissions” in the Gospels that this Christ Child was not just for the
Jews. He was no parochial God. He was no tribal deity. God’s Messiah was
for the whole world! In addition to being God’s Gift to the Jews, He would
also be a “...light for revelation to the Gentiles.” Therefore, we must never
separate Christmas from either the “Great Command” to LOVE or the
“Great Commission” to GO! That’s why you and I must do anything and
everything possible to take God’s Christmas Gift to the world! That’s the
“Christmas Commission” that Simeon proclaimed. We must do the same.
Anna
Then there was Anna. She was an aged prophetess. When we first meet her,
she is “very old.” Eighty-four to be exact. After just seven years of marriage,
her husband had died. She had been a widow ever since – virtually all of her
adult life. No children or grandchildren that we know of. Maybe she and
Simeon were wrinkled, grey, stooped-shouldered and slow moving. One
thing’s for sure, she was alone. Widowhood can be extremely lonely in any
century. But she didn’t give in to pity. She gave herself to prayer. Rather
than fretting, she fasted. Instead of worrying, she worshiped. We are
told, “She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting
and praying.” And just like with Simeon, the Holy Spirit led her to the right
place at the right time.
In spite of the daily throngs of people going in and out of the various
precincts of the Temple, the Spirit led Anna right to the parents of Jesus.
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and
spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption
of Jerusalem” (Lk. 2:36-38). Along with Simeon, Anna became one of the
first evangelists of the Good News of the Christ Child. After that brief divine
encounter Anna had waited for through eight long decades, she too passed
on into eternity. But not before she was able to give her Christmas gift to
Christ. Her life of faithful widowhood is forever immortalized through the
Christmas narrative.
Some of you reading this Christmas Study have lost loved ones this past
year. They “passed away” from this life to the next. Some passed
quickly. Others passed agonizingly slow. Some left this life because of
disease, accident or just old age. Some passed with keen minds imprisoned
in infirmed bodies. Others did so with minds dulled by dementia or
deadened by Alzheimer’s to the degree that they did not know who they
were – much less who you were. But the Christmas assurance is that He is
still “Immanuel, God with us.” He knows us when we do not know
ourselves – or others. And He keeps us when we cannot keep ourselves. Our
senses are under His sovereignty. Christmas reminds us that age is impotent
before God’s omnipotence!
Whatever you may have passed through this past year – or may pass through
in the months and years ahead – He has promised to be your Immanuel! He
will be “with you” – no matter what! God has promised: “When you PASS
THROUGH the waters, I will be with you, and when you PASS
THROUGH the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you PASS
THROUGH the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you
ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your
Savior” (Isa. 43:2-3).
That’s what Christmas is all about. Nothing more. Nothing less. He is your
Immanuel who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you (Heb.
13:5). He loves you with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3). He is the only
Person who perfectly knows you and yet unconditionally loves you!
Therefore, He will be “with you” at all times and under all circumstances –
whether
in
your
plans…perplexities…
passions…poverty…politics…persecution…parenting…pain…or passing.
No hu-man event can trump or triumph over His Advent!
It is Patt and my prayer that you will experience His being “with you” more
intimately this Christmas than ever before in your life! He wants His
presence to be your present this Christmas! It’s waiting for you beneath His
Christmas Tree – the Cross of Calvary! So go ahead…kneel at His
Christmas Tree…receive His gift of grace…unwrap it by faith…and live this
next year “with Him” because He is “with you” – now and forever!
GOD’S CHRISTMAS CARDS
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account
of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
just as they were handed down to us by those
who from the first were eyewitnesses
and servants of the word.
Therefore, since I myself have
carefully investigated everything from the beginning,
it seems good also to me to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know
the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
(Luke 1:1-4)
Christmas
cards have become one of the most widely used ways of
commemorating the Advent Season. Soon after Thanksgiving, people in
America begin to buy and send Christmas cards to relatives, friends, school
mates, employees. Most of us enjoy sending and receiving them. And
increasingly, people put in family pictures to update their friends on
themselves, their children and grandchildren, birthdays, wedding
anniversaries and other significant that took place since last Christmas.
One of my most favorite memories as a boy was helping my parents send
out our Christmas cards. Since my father was a pastor and our extended
family was large – we always sent and received a lot of Christmas cards.
They gave me a sense of connectedness to our family in other states and
friends from other pastorates.
After Patt and I got married, we started our own tradition of sending out
Christmas cards with pictures of our growing family. They also served the
dual purpose of being prayer cards to remind our ministry friends and
partners to pray for us regularly. As I traveled and stayed in people’s homes
across the years, I would often see those Christmas cards posted on people’s
refrigerators. Many saved them from year to year as a pictorial way to
measure the growth of our family and children. Now we include our
grandchildren in these annual Christmas Cards.
So, Christmas cards have a lot of special memories for me personally – just
as I am sure they do for you. Each new card is an annual reminder of God’s
faithfulness to another Christmas season. Sending and receiving them is an
annual family event commemorating Christ’s Advent.
Sadly, however, Christmas and Christmas cards have generally gone through
a downward devolution in the past few decades from their original spiritual
origins. They have regressed from sacred to secular – like most everything
else in our American society. Not only has Christmas been commercialized
– it has been secularized. Santa has eclipsed the Savior. The Christmas tree
has overshadowed the manger. Snowmen have replaced the “Son of Man”
who was born at Christmas.
Because of this devolution and dilution, Christmas has become a cultural
anomaly and spiritual contradiction – an oxymoron. Rather than being an
annual celebration, it has increasingly become an annual contradiction.
Years ago, there was no such thing as a “secular Christmas card.” Every one
in America understood that “Jesus was the Reason for the Season.” Even if
they didn’t personally believe in Him or follow Him, they still clearly
understood that Christmas was about Him – not them. If they did not believe
the Bible, most still accepted the historical reality that Christ’s birth in
Bethlehem was what Christmas was all about. They rightly understood that
Christmas was in reality a “Christ Mass” – or celebration of His miraculous
birth.
When most of us older citizens were growing up in America, there was none
of the now politically correct nonsense of a “Christless Christmas.” Since
Christmas had not been divorced from its historical and Biblical roots, no
one tried to separate religion from the Season. In America, there wasn’t any
of the current political pluralism that sought to excise Jesus Christ and every
form of religious reality from the Christmas narrative.
When I was a boy, there was none of the multi-culturalism that said that
Christmas must be made available to everyone and offensive to no one – be
they Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, atheists or secularists. And there
were no bland salutations such as “Seasons Greetings.” People were not
afraid to greet each other with a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” Not only
churches, but public buildings and businesses, rang out the Good News:
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”
But over time, the Yuletide changed. The political tides shifted. A hostile
undertow began to assault Christmas. Hostile secular tides advanced like a
tsunami against Christians and the church. More and more of our “Christian
rights” were eroded by wave after wave of secular humanism,
multiculturalism and greedy materialism. Overtime, the spiritual shoreline
of America radically shifted. The church gave up more and more ground to
the government. As a result, there was little public ground left to openly
celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.
A half century ago, our Government had not been so intimated by the left
that they ceased to think, act and vote right! In their political cowardice and
desire to endlessly perpetuate themselves, they capitulated to pluralism and
secularism. In the process, they increasingly unleashed against us the
“cultural police” who systematically set about to remove every vestige of
Christ and Christianity from Christmas.
No more crèches in public places. No more Madonna and Child No more
“Baby Jesus.” Fewer and fewer live manger scenes depicting May, Joseph,
Jesus, the shepherds and wise men. No more public playing or singing of
Christmas Carols that mentioned Christ. Once again, Jesus was relegated to
the unseen stable and mangers of society – out back and unobtrusive.
Just like there was “no room in the Inn” for the first family of Christmas
over 2,000 years ago, there is no longer room today in any public American
forum for the authentic Christ of Christmas. And increasingly, our growing
number of “secular Christmas cards” reflect this cultural shift from the
spiritual to the secular. They are largely vanilla seasonal platitudes that
reflect sentimental nonsense that have nothing to do with the true meaning
of Christmas!
But the very first Christmas cards were anything but secular and bland.
That’s because they were sent by God Himself. And even though they were
also sent into a politically hostile world ruled by Roman Caesars, there was
absolutely no ambiguity in the message of God’s original Christmas cards.
Their messages were each totally Christ-centered. They were not about
Santa Claus, Christmas trees and presents. They were all about Jesus –
God’s saving gift of grace to a dark and dying world! Their message was
one of “…Good News of great joy for all people” (Lk. 2:10).
In one sense, then, the whole Bible is “God’s Christmas Card” to the whole
world. That’s especially true of the New Testament – which is Christocentric from Matthew 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. All of God’s Christmas cards
are specifically prophetic. Each reveals how God foretold and faithfully
fulfilled the prophecies of His promised Messiah – hundreds and thousands
of years in advance.
But prophecy is a whole diverse study unto itself – far too big for this study.
Therefore, I want to primarily focus on 5 Christmas cards found in the New
Testament. Since the messages in most Christmas cards are brief and
succinct, I will try to be the same – which is not easy for me!
So, my friend, as you open each of these Christmas cards, remember that
they were sent by God to you! And, while they originated in heaven, their
destination was planet earth. More specifically, they were sent to your
mailbox – or inbox. The mail carrier was not the US Post Office, Microsoft
or Gmail. The Messenger was the Holy Spirit. If you do not read them with
this reality in mind, you will miss the whole message and intent of these first
heaven-sent Christmas cards.
Even though God did not personally pen these first Christmas cards in the
same way I am writing this book on my computer, He did personally write
them through human instrumentation. In the first century, there were trained
secretaries who took dictation for important people, just as there are today.
They were known as amanuensis. The Apostle Paul often used such close
associates to pen his letters for him – which he would then personally sign to
validate that it came from him (I Cor. 16:21; Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18; II Thess.
3:17). In a sense, that’s exactly what God did in writing the first Christmas
cards – personally autographed by Him. They each bear His clear divine
signature.
As you open and read the following prophetic Christmas cards from God, do
so with these words of assurance from Peter resonating in your spirit:
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture
came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy
never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as
they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (II Pet. 1:20-21).
The following 5 Christmas cards are personal messages from a personal
God written personally to you! Each is unique in purpose but unified in
message. Each of these five human amanuensis, or writers, shared several
things in common. Each of them…
• Was inspired by Holy Spirit.
• Wrote with a distinctive theological purpose.
• Wrote from a specific historical context.
• Sent his Christmas card to very specific people.
Here they are for you to open and read.
Conclusions
We can clearly see from the above cards that God is the Author of
Christmas. Unlike many others, it is a heaven-sent Holy Day, not a humanly
devised holiday.
The Bible is crystal clear in its revelation that God planned the first Advent
before there was a single event of creation. God carefully planned Christmas
long before He spoke the worlds into existence. Christmas did not begin in
Bethlehem in the first century. It began in heaven in the eons of eternity
past. Christmas came before creation. It was conceived in the heart of God.
Therefore, “once upon a time” in eternity past -- before God created the
world…the heavens and the earth...the Garden of Eden…Adam and Eve –
He created Christmas. In His omniscience, He knew that these creatures He
would create in His “…image and likeness” (Gen. 1:26), would ultimately
rebel and sin against Him. He knew that they would need a Savior to take
away their sin.
That’s why Jesus is revealed as the “Lamb that was slain from the creation
of the world” (Rev. 13:8; c.f. Matt. 25:34).
God’s first prophetic Christmas card to man is not found in the Gospels –
but in Genesis. And, unlike what we would expect, God’s first Christmas
card was not written to Adam and Eve – but to Lucifer, that rebellious fallen
archangel who had become the arch-enemy of God. He was the tempter
who came as a subtle serpent in the Garden. Later, we would know him as
Satan.
The first Christmas card was written to Satan and not to man, although God
let Adam and Eve read it. And it was not at all “Good News of great joy”
to him! Quite the contrary. It was a succinct prophecy of ultimate “doom
and damnation” for him. The first phase of that prophetic promise would be
initiated on that very first Christmas in Bethlehem. But what was initiated in
the birth of Christ was consummated by the death and resurrection of Christ
in Jerusalem.
Here’s the message of that first Christmas card sent by God:
“Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of
your life. And I will put enmity between you and woman, and
between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you
will strike His heel” (Gen. 3:14-15).
Theologians refer to this as the proto-evangelium, or “First Gospel.” It
prophecies an eternal curse for the serpent – but an eternal blessing for
mankind that would believe the Christmas Story.
My friend, long before the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were
written, this “First Gospel” was written by God prophesying the coming of
His Messiah who would be the Savior of the world. As I have said, He
would be the “Lamb…slain before the creation of the world.” As the
sinless Savior, He alone would be qualified to die on a cross for the sins of
the world. That’s why the angel specifically told Joseph, the earthly father
of Jesus, to “…give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people
from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Unless you clearly understand the message of this proto-evangelium
Christmas card, you will not understand why most Christmas cards today
bear false messages. They are not true to the Savior of the Season!
It is sad to realize that there are untold millions in the world who still have
never had God’s Christmas card delivered to them. After over two thousand
years of annual Christmas celebrations, they still “…sit in darkness” and
continue “…living in the land of the shadow of death.” They have never
yet heard the Good News that “…a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:2) – Jesus
Christ, the “Light of the world” (Jn. 8:12).
While we sit under Christmas lights, they perish in the darkness – all
because they were never sent God’s Christmas cards! So many of us
Christians, who have received Christmas cards from God season after
season, have failed to send them along to those who are still spiritually
“…in the dark.” Multitudes continue to live in “B.C” – Before Christ, as
though He had never been born…crucified…resurrected…ascended. They
have not heard the Good News from the angels recorded in Luke’s
Christmas card:
“Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of great joy that will be
for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you, He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10-11).
So, my dear friend, I hope you will have a very blessed Christmas season
this year. And I hope you will send out many Christmas cards – especially
to those who have never heard the “…Good News of great joy” that is for
the whole world!
And, for your friends, relatives and associates in America, make sure you
buy and send distinctively Christ-centered Christmas cards that are
unambiguous in their message. Don’t be politically correct and spiritually
incorrect. A Christless Christmas card is not worth the paper it is printed
on or the cost of the stamp to mail it!
Since all of God’s Christmas cards are Christ-centered, make sure your cards
reflect His message of incarnational love to the world!
THE GOD WHO CHANGES
EVERYTHING
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph,
but before they came together, she was found to be
with child through the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 1:18)
Like most couples planning to get married, Mary and Joseph had their lives
together all planned out – at least in their dreams. Their hearts were already
fully committed to each other. They were as in love as any Jewish couple
could ever be. But for most Jewish couples, the real love began after
marriage, not before.
As we have seen in earlier studies, Joseph and Mary were “betrothed” to
each other. That meant that they had made a commitment to “get married,”
but it had not yet occurred when we are introduced to them in the Christmas
Story. So when we pick up on their story, they have had little time to spend
together and “fall in love” in our sense of the word.
While we in the west grow up with this romantic fantasy of “falling in love,”
there was little understanding of that in First Century Judaism. You did not
“fall in love” and then get married. You got married and then “grew in
love” as a covenant commitment – unto death. But Joseph and Mary were
“in love” – Jewish style!
When we pick up on their story, they were in their betrothal period – which
we have no real equivalent to in the West. It was more than engagement –
but less than marriage. The betrothal commitment was so binding that it
could only be broken by death or divorce.
Everything was confirmed between them and their parents. Since Nazareth
was a small village of only a few hundred people, their betrothal was clearly
known to their extended family, neighbors and friends. All that was left was
filling up the time until the final stage of their public marriage ceremony,
followed by the physical consummation of their commitment through sexual
intercourse – which every couple hoped would result in conception.
It would be a traditional Jewish marriage in their hometown of Nazareth.
They would live the simple – yet self-sufficient lives – typical of people of
their humble status in society. Even though both had impressive Jewish
lineage and pedigrees, they were peasants. As we would say, they were
“poor but proud.”
Joseph was a carpenter and she would be a homemaker. He would work in
his small carpenter’s shop in Nazareth adjoining their home and she would
raise their children. Other than the perpetual inconvenience of the Roman
occupation of their country, their lives would be rather predictable. The
hours and weeks would be filled with carpentry and construction work from
dawn to dusk. Their sons would be mentored in carpentry, stone masonry
and building by their father.
Their daughters would be taught the many responsibilities of being a
woman, wife and mother by Mary. Every Sabbath would find them in the
local synagogue where they worshipped and fellowshipped regularly.
Annually, at the Feast of Passover, Mary and Joseph would make the several
days journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem for this “Pilgrim Festival” that
defined and distinguished them as Jews.
Other than that, their lives would be routine from day to day and week to
week. They would faithfully live out their Jewish lives as their ancestors
had for untold generations. All the while, there would be the perpetual
Jewish prayers and longings for the coming of the promised Messiah. But
after so many generations of longing and waiting, their expectations would
not be high. As faithful Jews, it would always be in their conscious mind
and perfunctory prayers, but not necessarily uppermost in their daily
thoughts. Like most of their Jewish friends and neighbors, their Messianic
longing had been tempered and tamed by generations of unfulfilled
expectations. So, while they still yearned spiritually for the Messiah, they
did not really expect it to happen – at least in their lifetime.
Then came the divine interruption! And, as is almost always the case with
God’s “sovereign serendipities,” it was at the most inconvenient time
possible for Joseph and Mary. It would be a rude interruption of all of their
marital plans! God’s divine interruption would not require a few minor
adjustments to their life-style. It would require a total paradigm shift from
their will to His will…from their plans to His plans…from their dreams to
His vision…from their timetable to His “…fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4).
Nothing would ever be the same for them again. Nothing.
In short, God’s plans for Joseph and Mary would radically change
everything in their lives! It always does. A theophany, or divine visitation,
is never casual or coincidental. It is always cataclysmic! It literally changes
everything! God doesn’t show up for small-talk. Trivia is not His game.
When He shows up through a theophany, it is a total “game-changer.”
For Joseph and Mary, it all started with an unexpected visit from an angel by
the name of Gabriel. Let’s face it, they were no more expecting an angelic
visitation than you or I would be! Most of us – even the most spiritual or
mystical among us – do not live with this expectation. People who have
encounters with angels are locked up in mental institutions! Or, they
senselessly babble to themselves about their visitation and conversation with
angels – which few take seriously.
While many of us might think we would like to have a real personal angelic
encounter, at the core of our being we fear it more than we expect it. That’s
because in our hearts, we know an angel would not be visiting us to talk
about the weather or sports! He wouldn’t be coming to chitchat about the
mundane things that usually consume our lives and fill our conversations.
His visitation and annunciation would far exceed some personal issue we
needed advice on. No, such an encounter would be earthshaking. It would
be seismic and shake the very foundations of our lives and priorities.
Whatever the angel might say to us, it would have cosmic and eternal
significance. Mary found that out very quickly!
Gabriel announced to her that she was going to become pregnant before the
days of her betrothal were completed. Imagine, announcing to a teenage
Jewish virgin that she was going to become pregnant outside of marriage –
and that God would be responsible for it! That’s not a message that any
Jewish maiden would ever expect to hear from God – especially from the
“God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” who required sexual purity before
marriage and sexual faithfulness after marriage!
Such an angelic message couldn’t be from God. It made no sense
whatsoever! It did not square with the message of the Torah she had been
taught all of her life. This message was not only based on bad theology, it
would result in deadly sociology! If she obeyed this angelic message, it
would destroy all of her family relationships – and probably cost Mary her
life.
Gabriel first greeted Mary with what sounded like assuring words of
affirmation: “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with
you.” The word here for “favored” is charis, or grace. So, Gabriel was
assuring Mary that she was “…graced by God.”
So far, so good! Every faithful Jew wanted to be “graced” by God.
Everyone wanted to be “favored” by Jehovah. Who doesn’t want God to
“favor” them?! That’s because we interpret God’s “favor” to mean that He
gives us what we want. In our minds, God’s “favor” means we are His
“favorite” and get our favorite desires fulfilled!
Mary knew better. She clearly understood from the Torah she had been
taught from her childhood that “finding favor with God” brought with it
heavy responsibilities. It always meant a radical change of plans. For a
woman, it meant that to fulfill God’s “favor,” you had to “lay it all on the
line” in terms of your identity and femininity.
Perhaps her mind flashed back to other women who had “found favor with
God” – women of faith and fortitude like Miriam, Sarah, Rachael, Deborah,
Ruth, Hannah, Naomi, Esther – none of whom had an easy problem-free life
as a result of “God’s favor.” While each of them found fulfillment and
fruitfulness in God’s favor, they all experienced their own personal fears and
frustrations before the full fruition of God’s favor was manifest in their lives,
marriages and experiences. Indeed, “God’s favor” was an exceedingly
weighty matter!
Any wonder, then, that the Bible recorded this response on her part: “Mary
was greatly troubled at these words and kept pondering what kind of
greeting this might be” (Lk. 1:29).
Put in another way, “Mary was greatly troubled over what God’s favor was
going to cost her!” That’s why she did not make a quick, flippant response
to Gabriel. No, the Biblical narrative says that she “…kept pondering
what kind of greeting this might be.” And the word here in the original
means to “think about deeply, to ponder, to consider the circumstances.” So,
we need to read time into this encounter as Mary prayerfully pondered what
Gabriel was asking of her.
For Mary, the bottom line was this: her entire world was about to be turned
up-side-down! And, when her plans for the present and immediate future
were radically changed, it would do the same for Joseph. Nothing,
absolutely nothing, would ever be the same for either of them again!
Around the same time Mary had her unexpected encounter with Gabriel,
Joseph had a similar angelic visitation. He had already heard the earthshattering news that Mary was pregnant before their betrothal was over.
Gossip spreads quickly in a small town where everyone knows everyone
else’s business. By the time Joseph heard the heart-breaking news, Mary
was probably already “showing.” She couldn’t hide her pregnancy any
longer. People began to notice. People began to talk.
Joseph knew that his betrothal period had not been completed and he
definitely knew that their marriage had not been sexually consummated. He
knew he had not secretly committed adultery with Mary. Joseph knew,
beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this child was not his!
According to the Law of Moses, he could bring Mary before the Jewish
elders who could condemn her to death by stoning. Or, he could quietly
divorce her privately. But we are told that “…Joseph, being a righteous
man,” decided on the latter option. He chose to do what was best for Mary
and the unwanted baby – not what was best for himself. While it would not
save his marriage, it would save Mary’s life. And the baby – whomever it
belonged to – would also be spared a premature death before birth. For a
faithful Jew, abortion was not even a consideration.
While Joseph was “tossing and turning” on his bed “…considering this, an
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…” (Matt. 1:20). In
different places and at different times in the small village of Nazareth, Mary
and Joseph had separate visits by the angel, Gabriel, that changed
everything.
Let’s look briefly at some of the major changes that took place in their lives
as a result of this angelic visitation and annunciation.
God Changed Their Plans
As we just saw, God’s angel did not appear to Mary and Joseph to confirm
their plans but to change their plans. This angelic visitation literally
changed every plan they had made. The only plan it did not totally change
was Joseph’s plan to marry Mary – which he was in the process of
dissolving through a “quiet divorce.”
While Joseph and Mary were already “betrothed” to each other, they were
not yet officially married according to Jewish culture. They had not yet
gone through the public ceremony at the local synagogue. They were still in
the required period of “sanctified separation.” Those weeks and months
were a time of preparation and verification. It was their personal season to
prepare for the consummation of their marriage at which time they would
each “…leave father and mother and cleave to each other and become
one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).
But, it was also a time for them to verify their sexual purity and fidelity
before God, before each other, before their family and friends. It was during
this time of “sexual separation” that Mary became pregnant. In the mind of
Joseph and the public, she was a sexual fornicator. Mary was an obvious
adulterer who had violated her vow of sexual sanctification unto Joseph for
life. She now had a “scarlet letter” over her name and reputation.
To their family and friends, either Joseph was to blame or he would have to
bear the shame of another man’s actions. Either way, the options were
devastating. There was no way Joseph could convincingly prove that he was
not the guilty party. It would be his word against Mary’s. As in most
ancient societies, the scales of justice tilted in favor of the man.
Ultimately, however, the elders of their faith would have to make the
spiritual and legal determination. It would be up to them to decide if it
would be death or divorce? Either way, Joseph’s marital plans were ruined.
Just when the hour was darkest and all hope seemed forever lost, the angel
appeared to Joseph in a dream and said: “Joseph, son of David, do not be
afraid to take Mary home as your wife…” (Matt. 1:20). A revised marital
plan was given. The only question was whether or not Joseph would adjust
to this new plan – which would be very costly to him in every way. As the
spiritual head and priest of the home, it would be Joseph’s heavy burden of
responsibility to take the lead in affirming this newly revealed plan for their
marriage. What God was asking of him would challenge all of his
spirituality and masculinity!
Fortunately for both Mary and Jesus, Joseph rose to the challenge. I love
these words of his immediate manly obedience:
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matt. 1:24).
Note the descriptive verbs about Joseph’s obedience: “woke up…did…
took.” More of us Christian men need to follow Joseph in that path of
costly obedience! We need to “wake up” to our responsibilities as the
spiritual heads and leaders of our marriages and homes. Whatever the cost,
we must “do” the will of the Lord – especially as it relates to our wives and
children. In other words, when it comes to God’s plans for our lives and
marriage, we must “take it home” as Joseph did! If it doesn’t work at home
– it will not work anywhere else.
For Joseph, like for most men, it would have been far easier for him to bury
himself in his growing carpentry business and forget the whole thing. We
men have a strong bent toward “throwing ourselves into our work” to the
degree that it takes first place in our lives. Work is where we find our
identity. It is where we distinguish ourselves. But Joseph didn’t let his
work become his priority over his relationship with Mary. He put her first –
which was a very costly decision for him. His decision was going to change
everything in his life from that moment on until his death.
While we should not be surprised when non-Christian men do not adjust
their lives and priorities to God’s plan, we should be shocked when
professing Christian men do not put God in the driver’s seat when it comes
to their plans and priorities. Sadly, the majority of us Christian men make
our own plans without God’s input. We plan out all of the details of our
lives and then go to God to ask him to “rubber-stamp” what we have already
decided! We play God in our own lives. We project our will upon His will.
And as we cling to our childish dreams and plans, we forfeit God’s best for
our lives, our wives and our children.
But Joseph didn’t. He fully affirmed God’s plan for his life as a man,
husband and father. In the process, God used him to change human history
– by first changing Joseph’s personal plans for his marriage!
During this Christmas Season, I hope you will prayerfully ponder Joseph’s
leadership in his home. Ask yourself: Where do I need to let God change
my plans? Am I willing to let God radically change the trajectory of my life
for His glory and for the good of my wife and children?
That’s what Christmas is really all about. It’s about the God who changes
everything. It’s about exchanging my plans for His plans!
God Changed Their Parenting
God also radically changed Joseph and Mary’s parenting. Unlike most
modern couples today in America, ancient Jewish couples wanted to get
pregnant as soon as possible in their marriage. The highest premium
possible was put on children as a “…blessing from the Lord” (Ps. 127:35). There was no desire or expectation to have a number of years together as
a couple “without children.” Jewish couples, then and now, especially
among the orthodox and conservative, tend to be more “children-centered”
in their marriages than “couple-centered.” They generally do not have a
strong desire for years alone together before “starting their family.” They go
into marriage with a very strong parenting perspective. Children are not
seen as “unexpected” and “unwanted.” They are what marriage is all about!
They are the purpose for becoming “one flesh.”
Becoming a parent is not seen as a curse in the Bible but as a blessing. On
the contrary, a couple is considered under a “curse” if they are barren and
childless. So, the highest possible premium is put on parenting in Judaism –
just as it is among most so-called “primitive” cultures today all over the
world. It is only we American and Western people who want sex without
children. We want years of marriage without the interruption of an
“unwanted pregnancy” – and usually it is for selfish, materialistic reasons.
Our abortion industry flourishes and millions of innocent babies are killed
annually on the medical altars of our selfishness!
There was also no concept of “separate careers” between the husband and
wife in Judaism. A wife pursuing a vocation “outside the home” was almost
unthinkable. Her highest calling and greatest satisfaction was found in being
a wife and mother. It was the essence of her identity and femininity. But if
she did have a strong entrepreneurial inclination, like the “Virtuous Woman”
of Proverbs 31, it was still based in the home – not apart from it. It was to
support her husband and their children – not to develop her own career and
autonomy apart from them.
Both Joseph and Mary would have had this normal Jewish perspective on
their marriage. They would expect and hope to have children as soon as
God blessed their marriage with conception. They would hope and pray not
to be like other Biblical women of old who lived with the “disgrace” or
“reproach” of childlessness (Gen. 30:23; Isa. 4:1; Lk. 1:25, etc).
Obviously, that was not going to be a problem for Mary and Joseph. It was
going to be just the opposite. They would not have to face the public
disgrace of barrenness – but the stigma of pregnancy outside of wedlock. As
the Bible records, they were really “parents” before they were officially
“husband and wife.” Mary was like many modern brides who walk down
the isle pregnant!
Regardless of public perception, Joseph and Mary were entrusted with the
miraculous conception of God’s promised Messiah. They would be graced
with the privilege and burden of the first and last virgin conception in human
history. Obviously, this concept of a “virgin conception” was just as
incomprehensible to them as it is to us. Is it any wonder that Mary asked in
total disbelief: “How can this be since I am a virgin?!” (Lk. 1:34).
The angelic proclamation was literally inconceivable to Mary and
unbelievable to Joseph! And it has remained the same down through the
centuries for people inside and outside the faith. To this very day and hour,
the “virgin birth of Christ” continues to be a hotly debated theological tenant
among Christians. The vast majority has rejected it as untenable and
unscientific. And if they embrace it at all, it is spiritualized or allegorized.
But unlike liberal theologians who elevate human reason over divine
revelation, Joseph and Mary embraced the sovereign spiritual mystery of the
miraculous conception. They had a sense of awe and resignation to this
divine-human Baby with which they were being entrusted. After a time of
mental and emotional struggle, Mary accepted by faith the answer Gabriel
gave her and affirmed: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
However, to strengthen Mary’s faith the angel announced to her: “Even
Elizabeth, your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she
who was said to be barren is in her sixth month” (Lk. 1:36-37). If cousin
Elizabeth could conceive in her old age, certainly Mary could conceive in
her young age – even though she was still a virgin! One conception was no
more impossible than the other. For God, it was no more difficult to bring
conception in a dead womb than in a virgin womb.
Whether or not they fully understood it – which they didn’t – they accepted
God’s word by faith that this would be no ordinary child. He would be both
fully human and yet fully divine. He would be the only theanthropic person
in history – deity in human form. This baby would be nothing less than an
incarnation of Jehovah God!
That this would be no ordinary baby spiritually was clearly revealed to Mary
through what Gabriel told her. The baby that would be conceived in her
womb would not be the “son of Joseph” but the “Son of God.”
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give
Him the name Jesus. 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” (Lk. 1:30-33).
Even in her simplicity, Mary clearly understood what untold numbers of
sophisticated intellectuals have rejected.
As a Jewess, she clearly
recognized these terms from the Torah that were unmistakably Messianic.
They were descriptions of divinity rather than of humanity.
While their child would be a boy who would be born as natural as any other
baby, His conception would be supernatural. He would not come from the
paternity of Joseph, but from the power of the Holy Spirit. In describing the
indescribable and articulating the incomprehensible, Gabriel explained:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be
called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).
Don’t miss these clear multiple terms of deity describing the baby Jesus:
• “He will be great…” (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 57:10; 145:3; Dan. 9:4, etc)
• “He will be called the Son of the Most High…” (Gen. 14:18, 22;
Ps. 21:7; Isa 14:14; Dan. 4:17; c.f. Mk. 5:7; Heb. 7:7, etc)
• “The Lord will give Him the throne of His father David…” (II
Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:3-4; 28-29, etc)
• “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever…” (Gen. 28:1315; 37:3, etc)
• “His Kingdom will never end…” (Isa. 9:7; Jer. 33:17; Dan. 2:24;
Mic. 4:7, etc)
• “He will be called the Son of God.” (Matt. 3:17; 4:3; 14:33;
16:16, etc)
Any wonder, then, that Gabriel told Joseph: “You are to give Him the
name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Only a virgin-conceived, sinless, “Holy One” from God could qualify to be
the Savior who would “…save His people from their sins.” Since He
would be sinless from conception, He alone would be qualified to take away
the sins of the world.
Obviously, Joseph and Mary had no preparation to parent such a heaven-sent
child! Indeed, none of us who are parents feel properly prepared for the
daunting task of birthing and raising a child! You don’t become qualified by
studying the “principles of parenting.” You “learn on the job” by becoming
a parent. Like all of the other great lessons in life, you learn by experience.
If you wait until you are “qualified,” you will never become a parent!
That is especially the case when you realize that you have been entrusted
with an infant who is both temporal and eternal. Therefore, the impact of
your parenting will live on forever! Both history and experience proves that
the best parents come from the best parents. In other words, the greatest
preparation you can have for parenting is to have had good parenting.
Good and godly parents tend to reproduce good and Godly children. It is the
foundational principle that God built into the universe: “like produces like.”
That means that everything reproduces “…after its own kind” (Gen. 1:11).
That is both the principle…and the problem. Like every other member of
the human race, both Joseph and Mary carried the DNA of the sin from their
original parents, Adam and Eve. That’s why God had to intervene through
the virgin conception. Note carefully these words by Paul:
“Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death
through sin, in this way death came to all men, because all
sinned…death reigned from the time of Adam…” (Rom. 5:13-14).
But, because of the virgin birth…virtuous life…vicarious death…victorious
resurrection of Jesus Christ, the chain of spiritual death was broken! That’s
why Paul further wrote:
“Just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men,
so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that
brings life for all men” (Rom. 5:19).
Joseph and Mary lived on the other side of the cross, not our side. All of
these truths had not yet been fulfilled. Like all of the other Old Testament
saints, they had to “…walk by faith and not by sight” (II Cor. 5:7). They
could not rely upon their natural instincts or draw from their own
experiences. Nothing, absolutely nothing out of their experience, prepared
them for becoming the parents of this heaven-sent child.
Even so, all the experience in the world could not prepare Joseph and Mary
for parenting the “Son of God.” Fortunately, however, God had clearly
revealed through the Torah His prescription for parenting (Deut. 6:4-9).
That would be their model for parenting Jesus. And from the New
Testament record, we can clearly see that was the case – which is another
study at the end of this series entitled: Family Life After Christmas.
However, the changes for Joseph and Mary did not end with their plans and
parenting…
God Changed Their Passions
Like any other young red-blooded Jewish couple, Joseph and Mary had
sexual dreams and desires. They had just as much sexual passion as any of
their peers. They were not some kind of one-dimensional artificial “sexless
saints!” Like any normal couple, they looked forward to the sexual
consummation of their marriage after the days of their betrothal were
completed.
We also know from the New Testament narratives that they were both
virgins. They had kept themselves sexually pure – each for the other. Purity
and passion go together. In other words, the purer your sexuality, the more
passionate it is – or should be!
Sadly, however, we so often separate spirituality from sexuality. In other
words, we assume that to become more spiritual is to become less sexual.
Nothing could be further from the truth – the Biblical truth, that is. That’s
because God is the author of both our spirituality and our sexuality. He
never intended that they be separated. One was to empower and enrich the
other. So, to divorce spirituality from sexuality was to weaken both. But, to
keep them “in bed together” was to enrich both.
That’s why we read this beautiful description of the first marriage: “The
man and his wife were both naked and felt no shame” (Gen. 2:25). That’s
the purity and power of sexuality enriched by spirituality. Or, expressed
another way, that’s eros love impassioned by agape love. And that’s the
“naked truth” that only the Bible teaches!
But, like in so many other areas, sinful man has tried to separate what God
joined together. Nowhere is that separation more blatantly obvious than in
the area of sexual expression. Whether in the first century or twenty-first
century, man has sought to separate spirituality from sexuality. That’s why
every form of licentiousness and perversion imaginable has always
surrounded sexual expression.
On the other hand, the ancients also “worshiped sex” – like we people of
modernity have. Just like we have our Playboy Mansions, Massage Parlors
and Sex Salons of every description, they had their pagan temples dedicated
to every form of sexual expression and perversion imaginable.
The Roman world that Joseph and Mary grew up in was no different. While
it was somewhat more subdued in this remote Jewish outpost of the Roman
Empire, it was still there through King Herod’s many palaces and Roman
bathhouses. He kept his soldiers well entertained and their sexual appetites
satiated.
Admirably, in the midst of this seduction on the outside and temptation on
the inside, Joseph and Mary had remained sexually pure. We know this
because, contrary to their Jewish cultural tradition of betrothal and marriage,
Joseph “…woke up” and “did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union
with her until she gave birth to a son” (Matt. 1:24-25).
By cutting the time of the betrothal short and taking Mary home as his wife
when she was obviously pregnant, he was taking her stigma upon himself.
In the minds of their family and friends, either one or both of them were
clearly guilty of adultery. There was no way Joseph or Mary could convince
them otherwise. After all, this story of a “virgin conception” and
“overshadowing by the Holy Spirit” would have been just as unbelievable
then as it is now! They would have to live out their marriage with this
scarlet letter hanging over the hearth of their home!
In this Biblical narrative, we see an incredible brave male leadership on the
part of Joseph. He was putting his “reputation on the line” for Mary and for
the baby. In spite of what people would say, he gave them the covering and
protection of his name and home. Any wonder, then, why God chose Joseph
to be the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus?!
But in this story we also see the incredible self-control of Joseph. After
taking Mary home as his wife, he had every right to have sexual intercourse
with her – even while pregnant. But lest there be any possible defilement,
he restrained himself. “He had no union with her until after Jesus was
born.”
Obviously, God did not change Joseph’s passions to the degree that He took
them away from Joseph until after the birth of Jesus. He didn’t make him a
sexless eunuch. No. He gave Joseph the strength to sanctify his sexuality
and control his passions. How men today need to learn from Joseph’s
example!
But, we do know that after the birth of Christ and the early events of that
first Christmas had passed, Joseph and Mary did enjoy sexual relationships.
Like every normal Jewish couple, they were obedient to God’s first
command to: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28). And “multiply” they
did, for out of their unions came at least six or seven siblings for Jesus!
We read in Matthew how the very fact of his well-known brothers and
sisters was one of the greatest obstacles against His claims of being the
Messiah when He returned to His hometown of Nazareth:
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary,
and aren’t his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t
all his sisters with us…And they took offense at Him” (Matt. 13:5557).
We can clearly see, then, that Joseph and Mary went on to have four sons
and several daughters in the years following the birth of Jesus. Contrary to
the Catholic doctrine of the “Perpetual Virginity of Mary,” this Jewish
couple had a normal marriage in every way after the birth of Jesus.
God Changed Their Place
God not only changed Joseph and Mary’s plans, parenting and passion, He
also changed their place – at least temporarily. By place, I am speaking
about their geography. This is important because all of us are created by
God with a need for a place. We were not created by God to be detached,
free-floating creatures. We were created to have a place.
For Adam and Eve, that place was called the “Garden of Eden.” It was the
most perfect place any two human beings ever experienced. Because God
had created that place, every need was met there. There was nothing
lacking…nothing needed…no deficiencies. It was indeed “Paradise.”
Their place was literally “heaven on earth!”
However, they ultimately lost their Place in Paradise because of sin and
rebellion against God and everyone of us has been living in “Paradise Lost”
ever since. As a result, we all are born, live and die “East of Eden.” We live
and toil “outside the Garden” where there are weeds, sin, sickness and death.
Yet, all of us still have a deep longing for a personal place…one that does
not belong to anyone…space that is “ours.” We all need a “place to call
home” – a personal address with a zip code.
God put that “homing instinct” in all of us. There is an emotional
connection between our hearts and our home. That’s why we say: “Home is
where the heart is.” It is always our place that draws us home. Whether our
“home place” is a tent or a palace, our heart is always inseparably connected
to it. We start bonding with it from the moment of birth and it only grows
deeper and stronger across the years. It is never out of our heart or mind’s
eye. In our heart of hearts, we are always “home-boys,” or “homies,” to put
it in the street vernacular.
It is our need for a place that makes homelessness such a sad situation.
Without a place to “take root” and “grow up,” we are free-
floaters…wanderers…gypsies. We are rootless. We are not grounded. We
are homeless.
So, it is our place that gives us both roots and wings. The deeper our roots
in a place the more our wings cause us to always “fly back home” – just like
“homing pigeons!”
Joseph and Mary were no different. Their roots were in the little Galilean
town of Nazareth. It lay on a mountainside surrounded by rocky hills. It
was part of the allotment of the tribe of Zebulon. By our standards, it was
not large – only a few hundred people during the time of Joseph and Mary.
While it was primarily a Jewish town, Nazareth was also very ethnically
mixed and culturally diverse. There were a lot of Gentiles living there of
Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Phoenician origin. While Greek would have
been the language of education and business, Aramaic would have been the
“street language” of the majority of the common people – including Joseph,
Mary and Jesus. However, they would have also used Hebrew in their local
synagogue since all of the scriptural scrolls were in that language.
Nazareth, then, was neither prestigious nor prosperous. But nearby was the
capital city of Sepphoris, the largest city in Galilee – with a population of
25,000 – 30,000. Because Sepphoris was THE place to live, do business in
or visit, it tended to overshadow Nazareth. It was also a source of jobs and
commerce for the more humble, hardworking people living in Nazareth.
Thus the proverb of derision from Nathanael upon hearing that Jesus was
from there: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (Jn.
1:46).
But, for Joseph and Mary, it was their place…their home…their town. And
contrary to what many people wrongly conclude from a superficial reading
of the New Testament, Jesus spent the majority of His earthly life in
Nazareth. It was there that “…the child grew and became strong; He was
filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.” It was in that
sleepy little town that Jesus “…grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and men” (Lk. 2:40, 52).
Because he was writing primarily for Jews, Matthew was always
“connecting the dots” between current events in Jesus’ life and Old
Testament prophecies. So, he points out why God led Joseph back to his
place in Nazareth after their sojourn in Egypt:
“He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled
what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a
Nazarene’” (Matt. 2:23).
Obviously, a “Nazarene” was someone who was a native of Nazareth –
which Jesus was. While he was born in Bethlehem – again in fulfillment of
prophecies – He grew up in Nazareth, spending the vast majority of His life
there. Jesus worked as a businessman through carpentry and home building
or, to put His vocation in our context, He was a contractor. Whether you
wanted a house built from ground up, a piece of furniture built or an ox yoke
made, Jesus could do the job. So, from His boyhood until he was around
thirty years old, Jesus labored long hours as a carpenter in Nazareth. (Even
Paul would later be branded as the ringleader of the “Nazarene Sect” Acts
24:5). The only time Jesus didn’t live in Narazeth was the “flight to Egypt”
when he was an infant – which lasted at most only a couple of years – and
His last three years when He travel around Israel.
I often refer to this flight to Egypt in the Christmas narrative when I am
speaking to displaced people in the world. Every year around the world,
there are literally millions of people who are displaced by wars, genocide,
political upheaval and natural disasters. They become “homeless refugees.”
And because of this sojourn in Egypt, the story of Joseph, Mary and the
baby Jesus is especially relevant. That means that God’s Son was a
“homeless refugee” for a period of time. So, He can fully relate to their
conditions of having to flee into a foreign country and become a “displaced
person” in the process.
But, in time, Joseph and Mary were able to bring their young son back to
Israel – specifically back to their hometown of Nazareth. They returned to
their place. There they and He remained for the rest of His earthly life until
His last three years, when He traveled by foot all over Israel. That was when
He was “…about thirty,” as Doctor Luke reminds us (Lk. 3:23). But, in
the first part of His public ministry, He still went in and out of Nazareth. It
was the springboard for His ministry (Mk. 1:9).
In His final weeks and days, He ultimately focused in Jerusalem where He
was crucified, buried, resurrected and ascended. This was, once again, so
He could fulfill prophecy predicted for that place. Until then, Nazareth was
Joseph and Mary’s place, so it was also His place. That’s why He was often
referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Mk. 1:24; 14:67;16:6).
Therefore, just like Nazareth drew Joseph and Mary back after their journey
to Bethlehem and sojourn in Egypt, it also drew Jesus back. Their place was
His place because it was God’s place for them. That’s why He chose it as
the place where He made His first Messianic proclamation after His 40 days
of testing in the wilderness by Satan.
“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…He went to
Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He
went into the synagogue as was His custom. And He stood up to read.
The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He
found the place where it is written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to
preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind; to
release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
“Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat
down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him,
and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in
your hearing.’”
Since Jesus was a “homeboy,” this claim and his growing acclaim in the area
was met with mixed response. We read that some “…spoke well of Him
and were amazed at the graciousness words that came from His lips.”
Others questioned: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Lk. 4:14-19).
But, as the discussion continued, the sentiment turned hostile – especially as
Jesus spoke about how God had worked in times past and present among the
Gentiles living among them who demonstrated more faith than the Jews did
(Lk. 4:24-27).
Finally, Jesus’ statement: “No prophet is accepted in his hometown,”
really hit a raw nerve! Upon hearing those words of indictment, his
hometown people “…got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to
the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him
down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His
way” (Lk. 4:29-30).
The very place that Jesus was brought up, worked as a carpenter, attended
the synagogue “…as was His custom,” turned against Him early in His
ministry. They took away His place among them. As a result, Matthew
summarized Jesus’ visit to Nazareth with these sad words: “He did not do
many miracles there because of their lack of faith” (Matt. 13:58). What a
sad summary! Nazareth was a “faithless place.” So, Jesus lost His place in
Nazareth and went to find a place of faith in order manifest miracles!
This prompts the question: “Is there faith in your place?”
Is it any wonder, then, that Jesus would later say to a would-be follower:
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man
has no place to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20).
But, not only did Jesus friends and neighbors in Nazareth disbelieve in Him,
there even came the time when Jesus’ own family turned against Him. It
seems that they too had been swayed by the growing hostility against Jesus
by the religious establishment. Some were even saying He was demon
possessed.
“When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of
Him, for they said, ‘He is out of His mind’” (Mk. 3:21).
Jesus had lost His place of social respect in Nazareth and, even more heartrending for Him, He lost His place of spiritual respect with His own family.
Nothing is more heart breaking or discouraging for any person than when
you lose your place of respect in the hearts and minds of your family.
There are no substitute relationships that can ever fully take their place.
However, upon hearing that His “…mother and brothers arrived” and
were “standing outside” trying to get to Him and forcefully take Him away,
Jesus asked:
“Who are My mother and My brothers?” Then He looked at
those seated in a circle around Him and said, “Here are My
mother and My brothers! Whoever does God’s will is My brother
and sister and mother” (Mk. 3:31-35).
Whenever we lose our place in the hearts and minds of people closest to us,
even our family members, God gives us even wider places of respect in the
hearts of others. He gives us new “mothers, brothers, sisters” who
understand “God’s will” and are committed to it – people who live in a
place of faith rather than a place of unbelief. Sadly, we often have to give up
one
in
order
to
gain
the
other.
As much as Jesus loved Nazareth and His earthly family, His mission was
greater than both. He had to ultimately give up that limited place for a
larger place. And this new place would encompass all of Israel – indeed,
the whole world!
His Heavenly Father had sent Him with a far bigger mission than Nazareth.
It was larger than the boundaries of His physical family. It encompassed the
“whole world.” That’s why Jesus said to His disciples on the evening of His
resurrection: “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you” (Jn. 20:21).
He repeated that “Great Commission” many times after His resurrection.
Just before His ascension, He repeated it again: “Go and make disciples of
all nations…” (Matt. 28:19).
Echoing that global commission, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism,
would say much later: “The world is my parish!” Sadly, far too many of us
are tied to a small place. We are parochial in our perspective. For us, the
Kingdom of God is no bigger than our place…our home…our
backyard…our hometown…our church. We have the mentality of: “Us four
and no more!”
But, just as God did with Mary and Joseph, He will uproot some of us from
our false place of security…our place of comfort…our place of familiarity.
He calls us to be pilgrims…sojourners…wayfarers…“gypsies for Jesus!”
He calls us to the largest place possible for His Kingdom and glory – the
world!
We see this in the first Great Commission that God gave to Abraham when
He sovereignly called him:
“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and
go to the land I will show you…and you will be a blessing” (Gen.
12:1-2).
Do you see and hear it? God told Abraham to leave his place…his
people…his possessions – so he could “…be a blessing.”
Do you get the picture? Do you see the principle? “Leave…go…be a
blessing.” God’s program has not changed through the centuries. It was
true for Abraham. It was true for Joseph and Mary. It was true for Jesus. It
was true for the Apostle Paul. It has been true for me. It will be true for
you!
Are you tied to your place – wherever it is? Are you in bondage to a piece
of real estate? Are you bound by geography? Are you parochial in your
perspective of the will of God? Most importantly, is your place a place of
faith? Jesus can’t work there if it is not. He will not long reside in a
faithless place.
Christmas, then, is about leaving our place in order to be fully in God’s
place! Just like Joseph and Mary, we sometimes have to be displaced in
order to be replaced in God’s place!
Finally, God not only changed Joseph and Mary’s plans, parenting, passion
and place…
God Changed Their Politics
Like most of their fellow Jews, Joseph and Mary were apolitical. Or at least
they tried to be. After all, true Judaism is based on a theocracy, or “rule by
God.” Through the laws and principles of the Torah, they were to live under
the government of God, not that of man. Whatever the human governmental
system they lived under, Jews looked to God first and foremost as their
sovereign. In their minds and understanding, God had sovereignly chosen
them as “His people” and Israel as “His land.” Most importantly, He had
chosen Jerusalem, Mount Zion and the Temple as “His Dwelling Place”
(Deut. 12:5; I K. 5:5; 8:29;II Chron. 6:6, etc).
So, all of their government and politics were focused there. That’s what
made Israel such a political “hot potato” for Rome. In order to keep peace
with these fundamental, fanatical and feisty Jews, Rome gave a certain
degree of autonomy. They allowed the Jewish leaders to be in control as
much as possible – specifically the Sanhedrin, or the highest religious
governing body in Judaism.
The Sanhedrin had power over virtually everything but the death sentence.
Only Rome and Caesar could make that judgment. But the rest, they
allowed the Jewish religious leaders to handle. If they stepped too far
outside those political boundaries and challenged Caesar’s ultimate
authority, there were be decisive consequences. Across the decades there
were still periodic revolts against Rome and her occupation of the Jewish
“Holy Land.”
Most Jews had learned that it was better to stay out of politics. It was safer
for them to just concentrate on the spiritual and leave the political alone.
Experience had taught them that Roman politics was a difficult and
dangerous arena in which to become involved. Politics was for the
plutocrats and privileged – not the peasants.
However, there were two groups of Jews who were politically active. Just
like today, they were polar political opposites. One was left, the other was
right. One was conservative while the other was liberal. One believed in
“political correctness,” the other in “political conflict.”
First, there were the Herodians. These were the Jews who basically
compromised with King Herod. He was a military genius and builder par
excellence with great political savvy. As a result of his ability to manage the
“Jewish problem” in Israel, Rome gave him the title: “King of the Jews” –
which the Jewish population loathed! Everyone except the Herodians, that
is. They accepted it as a political reality they had to live with and work with
if they were going to “make it.”
The Herodians were Jews who had bought into “political correctness.” The
only way they could advance and prosper was through political détente with
King Herod. Politics has always been based on the “art of compromise.”
These Jews were willing to compromise some of their spiritual principles
and religious practices in order to prosper under Herod’s rule. They found
that the only way they could enjoy some “upward mobility” out of the
Jewish Ghetto was to have détente with King Herod. So, they became
known as “Herod’s Party.” They were not particularly popular with the
majority of Jews who saw them as “sell-outs” to Herod and Rome.
A case can be made for the fact that one of Jesus’ disciples, “Matthew, the
tax collector,” was a proponent of this mentality of political appeasement.
He had obviously sold out to Rome and become one of their IRS agents.
This would indicate that he was at least a sympathizer with this mentality of
political compromise for the sake of economic advancement.
Tax collecting has never been a popular profession in any generation since it
can be subject to interpretation and unfairly levied. In Jesus’ day, it was
basically franchised by Rome to “independent agents” like Matthew. Rome
determined how much the taxes had to be raised in a particular city, town or
district. Anything above that was a “perk” for the tax collector. Any
wonder, then, that in the minds of most Jews, “tax collectors and sinners”
were synonymous. So, Jesus’ choice of “Matthew the tax collector” was
obviously very unpopular with the Jewish leaders who accusingly asked
Christ’s other disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
and sinners?” (Matt. 9:9-11).
At the opposite end of the political spectrum were the zealots. They were
the radical patriots of Judaism. They were the Jews who believed and
practiced what today we call: “Liberation Theology.” To them, the only
good Roman was a dead Roman! They were on a “Jewish jihad” against
Rome. These Jews were anything but passive pacifists. While they were
not strong enough to take on the powerful Roman legions head on, they
fought them through hit-and-run guerilla-warfare.
They carried small
daggers, known as sicae, under their cloaks. Thus, they were also called the
Sicarii or “dagger-men.” You might call them the “suicide battalion” of
their day!
They mingled in a crowd where there were Roman soldiers. There they
lurked, looking for a clandestine opportunity to walk up to one of them and
“stab him in the back.” After this swift assassination, they quickly melted
back into the crowd.
It is interesting that one of Jesus’ disciples was called “Simon the Zealot”
(Mk. 3:18; Lk. 6:15; Act 1:13). Can you imagine the tense “fellowship” that
he and Matthew had in the early days of their discipleship?!
While Joseph and Mary were not aligned with either of these political
groups, it is helpful to understand the political presence and posture of the
Herodians and Zealots within the Judaism of their day.
So, like most of their fellow peasants, Joseph and Mary tried to “lay low”
when it came to political activity – especially in Nazareth where there were
Roman soldiers most of the time. Experience had taught the Jews that it was
not generally healthy to antagonize these soldiers in any way. So, Joseph
stuck to his carpentry trade and stayed out of the political arena.
However, Joseph and Mary were caught up in a political intrigue they did
not go looking for. And, it was all caused by the presence of Jesus in their
lives and marriage. First of all, they were uprooted by a “…decree that a
census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” This decree was sent
out by Caesar Augustus himself from Rome and took place at the time that
“…Quirinius was governor of Syria.” When Caesar mandated a census
for the purpose of taxation, the entire Roman world had no alternative but to
obey. Therefore, “…everyone went to his own town to register.”
For Joseph and Mary, it meant an arduous journey on foot and donkey
“…from the town of Nazareth in Galilee…to Bethlehem, the town of
David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.” Because
Mary was in the last days of her pregnancy, it was the most inconvenient
time possible for such a “taxing journey!”
We all know the rest of the story. That journey gave birth to Christmas
because “…while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths
and placed Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the
inn” (Lk. 2:1-7).
Little did Joseph and Mary realize at the time that God had used this Roman
census to fulfill ancient prophecy. Hundreds of years earlier, the minor
prophet Micah made a major prediction:
“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” (Micah 5:2).
Here again, we see God’s sovereign hand directing the events of human
history to accomplish His predetermined purposes! While the Caesars,
kings, queens, presidents, dictators, tyrants and politicians of every
persuasion live under the illusion that they are in control, it is really our
sovereign God who is manipulating these events for His ultimate Kingdom
and glory.
There was one more political intrigue that Joseph and Mary were
unwittingly and unknowingly drawn into a bit later. It revolved around the
arrival in Jerusalem of “Magi from the east.” They had been led by a
sovereignly sent star to Jerusalem to find and worship “…the one who was
born king of the Jews.”
When that news reached the ears of the politically paranoid King Herod,
“…he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.” The population of
Jerusalem had learned by bitter experience that when Herod was “troubled,”
they would soon be “in trouble.” After all, Herod was the “King of the
Jews.” Rome had not only officially made him “King Herod,” they had
also given him the additional title as “King of the Jews.” He alone was
“Herod the Great” – and he would not tolerate any political challenger to
his throne!
As we have already seen, the Jewish population, with the exception of the
Herodians, especially hated that title! Herod was not from the kingly line of
David, so it was impossible for him to be the “King of the Jews.” And he
was further disqualified because he was not even a descendent from Jacob.
Herod was an Edomite, or descendent from Esau. Since the days of
antiquity, there had been hatred and hostility between the Edomites and Jews
– or the “sons of Esau” and the “sons of Jacob.” Regardless, Herod ruled
and regally reigned in Palestine from 4 B.C to 37 B.C.
Over his long reign, Herod married 10 wives who gave him many sons and
daughters. Obviously, there was much intrigue and infighting among them
for political power. The older he and they got, the more suspicious and
paranoid he became. If any of his wives or children became suspected of
trying to supplant and replace him, they were quickly eliminated. As a result
he murdered his wife, Mariamne, along with her mother. He also gave
orders for his oldest son, Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and
Aristobulus, to be assassinated.
The killing of his own sons prompted the Roman Emperor, Augustus, to
quip: “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son!” In the Greek, it’s a
play on words since the word for “pig” is hus, and the word for “son” is
huios. In Herod’s household, a pig was politically safer than a son!
In light of this political scenario, it is easy to see why Herod was “troubled”
by this unsettling question from the Magi about the birth of a new claimant
to the title “King of the Jews.” This question by the Magi was only made
more threatening by the answer that the religious leaders gave Herod about
the prophecy that stated:
“But you, Bethlehem…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.”
Any wonder that he secretly set in motion a political trap to send the Magi to
Bethlehem to find this kingly baby – so that he too could “…go and
worship him.” But, like all dictators, the only worship that Herod knew
was the worship of himself. His heart was full of murder – not worship!
As we know, the Magi were led by the star to the house where Joseph, Mary
and Jesus were staying. Their long journey to find the newly born “King of
the Jews” was completed. Having found him, they did what Herod had no
intentions of doing:
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother
Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they
opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of
incense and of myrrh.”
When they completed their time of worship and giving, they were warned by
an angel not return to Herod, but to “…return to their country by another
route.”
When Herod realized that he had been “…outwitted by the Magi, he was
furious.” In his paranoid anger, Herod “…gave orders to kill all the boys
in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in
accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.”
Once again, this massacre, promulgated by Herod’s political paranoia, was
the exact fulfillment of a prediction of Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet,”
who wrote:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel
weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because
they are no more” (Jer. 31:15; Matt. 2:18).
But, there was yet another prophecy that had to be fulfilled about the Christ
Child’s sojourn in Egypt. As God had already done several times before, He
gave specific guidance to Joseph when “…an angel of the Lord appeared
to Joseph in a dream.” This time, the angel said: “Get up, take the child
and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for
Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.”
With the instant obedience we have now come to expect from Joseph, “He
got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for
Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled
what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called My
son’” (Hosea 11:1; Matt. 2:15).
Joseph stayed in Egypt with Mary and baby Jesus until he received another
angelic visitation in a dream: “Get up,” the angel said, “take the child and
his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to
take the child’s life are dead.”
But, Joseph was “…afraid to go there” (to Bethlehem in Judea) when he
heard that Herod’s son, Archaelaus, was now reigning in Judea. That’s
when he received his final angelic guidance through another dream: “He
withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town
called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets:
‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Mk. 1:24; Matt. 2:23).
Joseph and Mary had gone “full circle.” They had left their place in
Nazareth to go to Bethlehem as a result of the census. They fled Bethlehem
for Egypt to escape the massacre of Herod. Two to three years later, they
again returned to their hometown of Nazareth where they had grown up and
married. There in Nazareth, Jesus spent the majority of His earthly life –
working in anonymity as a carpenter. He stayed there until His baptism by
John the Baptist in the Jordan River. After that He was led into the Judean
wilderness to be tempted and tested by the devil.
After John the Baptist was murdered, again by political pride and paranoia,
we read that Jesus:
“…returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, He went to live in
Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and
Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
‘Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea,
along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living
in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the
land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent for the
kingdom of heaven is near’” (Matt. 4:12-17).
Even though Joseph and Mary were not seeking to be politically proactive,
the trajectory of their lives and marriage were constantly changed by the
politics of their day.
Try as we may, we Christians today cannot be out of the crosshairs of
politics. As members of God’s Kingdom and members of Christ’s Church,
we are His “salt” and “light” in the world. It is “salt” that retards corruption
and “light” that penetrates darkness. Therefore, our presence will not be
long ignored by the world around us when we are “worth our salt” and
“worthy of our light.”
Because Joseph and Mary carried Jesus in their hearts and home, they were
often the objects of public scorn and political intrigue. It was His living
presence in their lives that changed everything. He changed their
plans…parenting…passion …place…politics.
Don’t expect Him to bring any less change to your life! After all, that’s
what Christmas is all about!
JOSEPH:
GOD’S MAN FOR MARY
AND
GOD’S MAN FOR JESUS
“A record of…Joseph, the husband of Mary,
of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
(Matthew 1:1,16)
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus is one of my favorite people in the Bible.
Partly because my name is also Joseph! That’s what the “J” in J.L. stands
for. My first born son is also named Joseph – who is now the CEO of NDI as
you know.
Understandably then, Joseph is one of my favorite characters in the Bible –
along with his Old Testament counterpart who was sold into slavery by his
brothers.
But unfortunately, Joseph is one of the most overlooked and understudied
men in the New Testament. Part of the reason is that we do not have any
record of a single word he ever spoke. Nor do we have anything recorded
that he ever wrote down. As far as we know, Joseph never wrote any letters
or books – unlike the Apostle Paul who was a prolific writer.
Perhaps his apparent silence is why he is portrayed so secondarily and
subdominantly in the Christmas Narratives. While Mary and the Baby Jesus
are always pictured as the center of the crèche and primary focus of
attention, Joseph is somewhere in the background. Leaning on his staff, he
stands quietly and motionless in the shadows. His presence almost seems
unnecessary. But after all, this was not his baby. He was a surrogate father to
someone else’s Son!
Part of this underplaying of Joseph is because of the overplaying of Mary
through the Centuries. This has especially been the case with the Catholic
Church that reveres her almost to the degree of worship, or Maryolotry.
Mary is even portrayed as a “co-redemptress” with Jesus as well as an
intercessor for us to Him. As a result, many faithful Catholics spend as much
time going through their Rosary and saying their “Hail Marys” as they do
praying to Jesus directly as our great High Priest who ever lives to make
intercession for us with the Father (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25). Sadly, this
reverence of Mary has contributed to the recession of Joseph to the periphera
of the Christmas Story. In essence, Mary has marginalized Joseph! She
becomes the dominant player in the Advent. And her dominance only
magnifies the perceived silence and inactivity of Joseph.
But this is not a balanced Biblical picture of either Mary or Joseph. This
perspective is not only a serious over-emphasis of Mary, it is a serious
under-emphasis of Joseph. As I have already said, Joseph was anything but
the “strong and silent type!” If you carefully “read between the lines”
through the Holy Spirit, you will hear his eloquence as a man … a husband
… a father.
So, if there was ever a man who seemed to deserved the description: “His
actions spoke louder than his words” – it was Joseph. While there is not a
single word or sentence in the Gospels attributed to him, his life spoke
volumes!
Since Matthew’s Gospel tells the Christmas Story from the perspective of
Joseph, that will be our focal point of attention. Because Matthew was a Jew
writing for Jews, it is only natural that he would tell the Advent Story
through the experience of Joseph. That’s because Judaism is a strongly
patriarchal religion and culture. After all, their faith began with God’s
sovereign call of the patriarch, Abraham – which is where Matthew began
his genealogy of Jesus, as we saw earlier. So in the Jewish Culture, the
husband and father is the center of the home and society.
Therefore, Matthew had to begin his Christmas Narrative with Joseph. He
could not start anywhere else as a good Jew writing to convince other Jews
about the spiritual authenticity of Jesus. In order to prove that Jesus was
indeed the Messiah, he had to directly connect Joseph with Abraham – no
small task since this spanned 42 generations! And as we saw in an earlier
study, Matthew divided this long span of time into 3 sets of fourteen
generations each: From Abraham to David … from David to the Babylonian
Exile … from Babylon to Christ.
Here then are the first and last verses of Christ’s genealogy from Matthew’s
perspective – skipping over all of those inter-generations between Abraham
and Joseph:
“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the
son of Abraham…the father of Jacob and Jacob the father of
Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is
called Christ” (Matt. 1:1, 16).
It also seems apparent from this account that Matthew had some kind of
direct personal contact with Joseph. Or, in his research for writing his
Gospel account, he interviewed someone who knew him very wall.
Otherwise, how could Matthew have recounted such intimate personal
details of Joseph’s story?
As we read his brief account in the first Gospel, it is obviously an “inside
story” from Joseph’s perspective. These few verses allow us to get inside the
very heart and mind of Joseph as an engaged man and unexpected father. He
was a simple Jewish carpenter who suddenly had all of his plans change –
literally over night. His world was turned up-side-down with the shocking
news that his wife-to-be was pregnant! In a few moments of time –
everything took a “new direction” for Joseph! His dreams turned into a
nightmare.
But in spite of this unexpected turn of events, Joseph was a man who was
still trying to do what was right before God … before man … before Mary.
That’s why I call Joseph, “God’s man for Mary and God’s man for Jesus.”
There are at least seven wonderful masculine attributes in the life of this
“silent man” who said nothing but still spoke volumes – if we have eyes to
see and ears to hear. Let’s look at them together. And as we do, I want to
remind you of the significance of his name.
As we saw in an earlier study, in the Bible name denotes nature. So the
name of a person tells us a lot about his nature. The name Joseph then,
means: “May the Lord add” or simply “the Lord adds.” Therefore, let’s ask
God to add these attributes and virtues to our lives as men. They would be
the best gifts possible for our wives and children this Christmas – and the
rest of our lives.
First of all, Joseph was a…
Romantic Man
How do I know that? Because the account begins with these words: “This is
how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged
to be married to Joseph…” (Matt. 1:18).
Many are more familiar with the word used in the older King James Version
that says Mary was “betrothed” to Joseph. Others newer translations use the
word “engaged.” But whichever word you use, it is our key to unlocking the
romance in this story.
Unless you understand something of the Jewish culture of that day, you will
read right over this word and miss its significance. The problem is this: we
have no equivalent of “betrothed” in our English language or experience.
The word “engage” comes closest, but it still does not tell the full story. And
because of time and space, I cannot do it justice at this point. But suffice it
to say, “betrothal” was more than engagement but less than marriage.
The word basically means: “To woo and win a woman and ask for her in
marriage.” Sounds like romance to me! And regardless of the word you use,
to “woo” and “win” a woman in marriage requires romance! That was
especially true in the Hebrew culture.
Without getting too linguistically technical, it is also worth pointing out that
the word “betrothed” is in the active voice. That means that the man is to be
the initiator…the suitor…the pursuer…the romancer. But we read here that
“…Mary was pledged to be married” – which is in the passive voice. So
the man was to be active and the woman passive in this romance. She was
not to be the aggressor or initiator. That kind of “brazen woman” was looked
down upon in the Jewish Culture. The man was to “woe and win” and the
woman was to “respond and submit” – all with parental guidance and
approval.
When we pick up on the story, Joseph has already “wooed and won” Mary
as his betrothed wife. And she had responded to his overtures of love by
committing herself to him as his wife “unto death.”
So again, a “betrothal” was far more than just an “engagement.” It could not
be entered into lightly – nor gotten out of easily. It was far more than a rush
of hormones or a rash decision to “get married.” You see, a Jewish betrothal
could only be broken by death or divorce. If either person died, the other
would be considered the widow or widower and receive all of his or her
inheritance. If either committed adultery with someone else, either a divorce
could be granted – or death by stoning! (Remember that for a later part of
our study). And yet, this binding marital relationship was true before they
ever slept together and had intercourse as husband and wife.
That leads us to the next laudable masculine virtue of Joseph. He was a…
Restrained Man
As far as both of their parents were concerned, Joseph and Mary were fully
married. They just had not “moved in together” or “slept together.” They
were fully betrothed to each other unto death. They just had not
consummated their marriage sexually. The “…fullness of time” had not
come for that yet.
You see, after a Jewish couple had gone through the “betrothal ceremony,”
they each went back to their parents homes. It was a time of testing to prove
that they had been sexually pure and faithful. It lasted between nine and
twelve months – for obvious reasons. This was the time to prove their
virginity. And we have a clear dual testimony from Matthew’s and Luke’s
account that both Joseph and Mary were sexual virgins.
There are two crucial areas that Joseph showed restraint that every man
struggles with. First, Joseph was a restrained man sexually. The very first
verse of the narrative says that Mary was found to be pregnant “…before
they came together.” Clearly that means that they had not had sexual
relations. Men were no different then than now. They had the same
hormones we have! They were just as tempted as we are. They struggled
with the same sexual fantasies every man struggles with today. They too
battled against the immorality that they were surrounded by in a pagan
culture where prostitution was the norm. But Joseph remained a virgin. He
was sexually restrained toward Mary.
And because Joseph was sexually restrained toward Mary before marriage,
he was also sexually restrained toward her after marriage. Even after he
“…took Mary home as his wife…he had no union with her until she gave
birth to a son” (1:24-25). Talk about sexual restraint! Now even though he
had the rights and privileges of sexual relationships with Mary, he did not
exercise them. In stead, he exercised restraint and self-control. He did not
want to in any way violate the sacredness and holiness of this Baby in
Mary’s womb.
It is worth pausing to point out that studies consistently show that sexual
promiscuity before marriage usually results in sexual promiscuity after
marriage. The vast majority of couples who commit adultery while married
were generally all sexually active before marriage. One opens the door for
the other. That’s why only Christ can cleanse the past and empower married
couples to be sexually faithful to each other for life.
But, Joseph was not only restrained sexually, he was also restrained
emotionally. You see, when he heard the horrible news that Mary was
pregnant – and he knew it was not by him, he was devastated as a man! His
love had been trampled under her feet. Mary had obviously dishonored him
beyond description. His shame before the community would know no
bounds. His masculinity had been mortally wounded! His marriage to Mary
was over – forever! How could she?! Where was God in all of this marital
mess?!
Unlike most of us as men, Joseph did not do a knee-jerk reaction. He did not
lash back at Mary. He did not immediately take things into his own hands.
He did not begin to plot revenge against her. After all, that’s the natural
thing to do. When you have been hurt – you want to hurt back. You want to
bring pain to the person who has pained you!
And remember, according to Mosaic Law, Joseph could have had Mary
stoned to death for her apparent adultery – just like the Pharisees wanted to
do with the woman caught in adultery (Lev. 20:10; Jn. 8:1-11). But he
restrained his emotion and would not let them rule the day and have the final
say in this heart-breaking situation. There was just to much at stake!
Nor did Joseph go out and have a “sexual fling” of his own to “show Mary!”
Even though she had apparently been sexually unfaithful, he was not going
to do the same thing. Men often do that at a time like this – either in their
fantasies or in reality. They feel that their spouse’s unfaithfulness justifies
their own sexual escapades – or at least their sexual fantasies through
pornography.
But not Joseph. While he must have had some of these same very human
masculine emotions, the narrative tells us that Joseph “…considered this.”
The Greek word used here means to “reflect on…to consider deeply…to
ponder.”
That tells us that Joseph “hit the pause button.” He did not immediately act
or react. He did not let his feelings take over. He did not lead with his
emotions. He did not let either his heart or his hormones control his head.
He did not let his feelings dominate his thinking. He “backed off.” He
prayerfully pondered the situation. He gave God time to act. As we often
say: “He slept on it.”
It’s a good thing he did because it was while he was “sleeping on it,” that
God spoke. He gave Joseph the supernatural insight and wisdom he needed
– all because he was restrained emotionally.
Again, Joseph is so relevant for all of us as married men today. If we cannot
control our emotions, we usually will not control our sex lives. The two are
always related.
This brings up another timely masculine virtue we see in Joseph. He was
a…
Righteous Man
Note how clearly this comes out in the story. We are specifically told that:
“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to
expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (v.
19).
The King James Version calls Joseph a “just man.” The Greek word here is
dikaios. When it refers to God it means “without prejudice or partiality.”
When it refers to man – as here about Joseph, it means “righteous,
straightway.” In other words, a righteous person is one who is committed to
“doing the right thing … behaving the right way … walking on the right
way” – which the Bible calls the “…path of righteousness” (Ps. 23:3).
Their behavior is not going to be based on what someone else does – right or
wrong. They are committed to “walking the right way” when others have
“turned away.”
Because Joseph was a “righteous man,” he was committed to doing the right
thing – even though Mary had apparently done the wrong thing! Because he
was a “just man” he was not going to let apparent injustice rule his behavior.
That’s true behavioral righteousness – that’s only made possible by Spirit of
God in a person.
Joseph, then, had made up his mind that he was going to do what was right
and best for Mary and the infant in her womb – even though all of the
evidence seemed to prove that she had not “done right by him.” What an
incredible example of righteous behavior on a man’s part!
Where did this kind of righteousness come from? What caused Joseph to be
a just or righteous man? Was this just some kind of pious behavior on his
part? Was this incredible righteous behavior on his part nothing more than
some innate humanistic virtue that he had worked up over time? I don’t
think so! The answer to that question is found in the next characteristic of
Joseph. He was a…
Religious Man
I think it is clear from the text that Joseph’s righteousness was the result of
his religion. Not all religions promote righteousness. But Judaism does.
Because God revealed Himself to the Jews as a holy and righteous God, He
commanded them to walk and behave accordingly. And while they
constantly fell short of God’s perfect standards of righteousness and
holiness, their religion constantly held up this standard before them. In every
area of life, the laws of Moses taught them the “right ways” to live and
behave.
Since Joseph was a good practicing Jew, his religion was not something
secondary. It was primary in his life. He did not try and separate his beliefs
from his behavior. The public practice of his religion was not separated from
his private life as a man.
Interestingly, the Greek word for religion means: “to pay heed to.” As we
can clearly see from the Christmas narratives, Joseph “paid heed to” the
practices of Judaism. Similarly, the Latin word religio – means “to bind
back.” So as a good practicing Jew, Joseph had been “bound by” the laws of
God. And he sought to “give heed” to them in every of his life. He also
passed them on to Jesus, as we saw in an earlier study (Lk. 2:21, 41; 4:16,
etc).
The very thing that made this a “religious story” is the name and nature of
the Son that was going to be born to them. As you will recall, the angel said
this to Joseph:
“Joseph, son of David, do no be afraid to take Mary home as your
wife because what has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name
Jesus because He will save his people from heir sin” (Matt. 1:2021).
As the earthly father, Joseph was given the spiritual and religious duty to
name the child. This was the normal responsibility of every Jewish father.
The father did the naming, not the mother.
In the Bible, to name someone was to exercise spiritual authority over them.
You do not give a name to someone else’s child. That would be
presumptuous. It would be assuming an authority that is not yours. But
Joseph was clearly given the spiritual and religious duty to name the child to
be born. However, the name to be given would not be his to choose.
Because this Son had been specifically prophesied by God … conceived by
the Holy Spirit … born in the “…fullness of time,” Joseph would not give
the name. The angel specifically told Joseph in advance of the birth that it
would be a boy and that His name was to be Jesus, or “Jehovah is salvation.”
The purpose of this Son’s birth would be spiritual and religious to the core –
not political, social or cultural. He was being born to save.
Understandably, then, God sovereignly chose Joseph to be the earthly father
of Jesus because of his deep religious commitment. It would take a man with
a deep spiritual perspective to even begin to grasp the religious significance
of the birth and destiny of this Boy! Joseph obviously had that kind of
spiritual sensitivity and religious perspective.
Lest our own Biblical perspective and spiritual understanding be lacking,
Matthew gives us the reader, this brief commentary:
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the
prophet that a virgin will be with child and will give birth to a
son, and they will call Him ‘Immanuel,’ which means ‘God with
us.’”
In the very best sense of the word, Joseph was a very religious man. And not
just generally generic religious. His faith was the religion of Judaism –
which is the only religion revealed by God to man. All other religions are
either conceived by man or revealed by the devil.
As we saw in an earlier point, Joseph was a righteous man because he was a
religious man. That’s because the God of Judaism is a Righteous God.
That fact brings us to another characteristic of this man. He was a…
Responsive Man
Because Joseph was a religious and righteous man, he was a restrained man
as we saw earlier. And because he was a man who was restrained by the
Spirit of God rather than controlled by his feelings and emotions, he gave
God time to act in his behalf. In fact, the Lord sent an angel to Joseph in a
dream. Read again this familiar account of that heaven sent dream:
“But after he (Joseph) 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” (v. 20-21).
What was Joseph’s response to this dream? Even though it came from an
angel of God, it was not an easy dream to believe or follow! True heaven
sent dreams seldom are. God was not only asking Joseph to act contrary to
his feelings, He was asking him to act contrary to his culture. On the one
hand, God was asking Joseph to go against the religious norm and neither
divorce or destroy Mary. At the same time God was telling him to go against
the cultural norm of his society and “…take Mary home as his wife.”
Do you see the social significance of that? In taking Mary as his wife to live
with him before the prescribed time of the betrothal was up – he was going
against tradition. And to take her under his roof when she was obviously
pregnant and already “showing” – would mean that he was taking her stigma
of immorality upon himself. There would be nothing that either Joseph or
Mary could say that would convince their family and friends that they had
not been sexually immoral during their betrothal period. After all, the Holy
Spirit does not produce babies – men do!
Everyone would conclude that either she had been immoral and gotten
pregnant by another man – and which case Joseph would be a fool for taking
her in; or he was the real father of the child and an adulterer himself! For
Joseph, either way was a “no win” situation. For him to cut the betrothal
time short and take Mary home as his wife was religious and social suicide.
It was a “lose-lose” proposition for Joseph any way you looked at it!
But Joseph still did it…
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him, and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no
union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the
name Jesus” (v. 24-25).
Joseph was a responsive man. First, he was responsive to God and “…did
what the angel of the Lord had commanded.” Secondly, he was responsive
to Mary and “…took her home as his wife.” Thirdly, he was responsive to
Jesus and “…gave Him the name Jesus.” As Joseph’s firstborn son, the
norm would have been to give him his own name. Not to do so would case a
lot of questions. Why this different name? What was Joseph hiding doing
this? Was it the name of the boy’s real father? But in obedience to the angel,
Joseph “…gave Him the name Jesus.”
Joseph, then, was responsive to God spiritually…responsive to Mary
emotionally and socially…responsive to Jesus legally.
Joseph was also a…
Responsible Man
We know from the Gospels that Joseph was a carpenter by trade and was
probably a stone mason too since that region of Nazareth was noted more for
stones than for trees. Like most carpenters, Joseph did both.
We know from Jewish culture that it was the responsibility of the father to
teach his sons a trade. In fact, there was a Jewish proverb that said: “The
father who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to be a thief.”
So, Joseph taught Jesus the carpenter’s trade. He was what we would call a
“blue collar worker.” Both Joseph and Jesus worked with their hands. Joseph
was called “the carpenter” and Jesus was called the “carpenter’s son.” And
he apparently became so good at His trade that he moved from being the
“carpenter’s son” to just being called “the carpenter” (Mk. 6:5). This lets
us know that Jesus had moved from apprentice to Master Carpenter.”
This is especially interesting because we know that after Jesus was born,
Joseph and Mary went on to have four sons – James, Joseph, Simon and
Judas, plus several daughters (Matt. 13:55). And yet, none of the other sons
are referred to as the “carpenter” or even as the “carpenter’s sons.” If you
couple this with the fact that Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry until
the age of thirty (Lk. 3:23), you see why many scholars think that Joseph
died in middle age.
However, Joseph would still have had to live with Mary for a minimum of
eight to ten years in order to have six to seven children – in addition to Jesus,
their first-born. So after these early accounts of him in the Christmas
narratives, Joseph passes off the pages of Biblical history. We never see or
hear from him again – except through the life and ministry of Jesus.
Mary, on the other hand, was with Jesus when He performed His first
miracle of turning water into wine (Jn. 2). She was also with Him at the end
of His earthly ministry when He was crucified (Jn. 19:25). If Joseph would
have been alive during this time, surely there would be some clear reference
to him. But there is not.
Joseph’s death left Jesus as the first-born son the responsibility of being the
head of the family. He had to “step in His father’s shoes” – or sandals, and
provide for the family.
Finally and briefly, this brings us to the last characteristic of Joseph. He was
a…
Respected Man
Joseph was obviously respected by Mary because she submitted to him and
followed him. In response to his loving invitation, she put herself under his
spiritual headship as her husband and “moved in” with him before the
betrothal time was up – gossip and all.
Mary also demonstrated her respect for Joseph in hearing God’s voice
through him. All during the weeks and months before the birth of Jesus –
and for years afterwards, God guided the family through Joseph. It was his
spiritual headship that guided them and his bold leadership that protected
them. We can especially see this protection and provision of Mary and the
Baby when Herod was trying to find them and kill them. And in the process
of her submitting to him, she became a refugee in Egypt in order to save the
Baby’s life (Matt. 2:13-18).
What incredible trust Mary demonstrated in following Joseph from Nazareth
to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Then, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem a
month later for Mary’s rite of purification. Then, down into Egypt in a late
night escape to elude Herod’s death squads. And finally back to Nazareth
after Herod’s death to settle down and raise their Son and subsequent
children there to escape further political danger from Archelaus, son of King
Herod (Lk. 2:19-23). It took a lot of trust on her part to believe that Joseph
was correctly hearing from God in all of this moving around – especially
when Mary wanted to settle down and raise her Son like any young mother
would.
Mary continued to show her respect and submission to Joseph’s spiritual
leadership in the home. It is clear that Joseph led his family in all of the
religious customs of Judaism because Jesus continued them in His adult life
– especially going up to Jerusalem every year for the celebration of the
Passover (Lk. 2:41).
Clearly, then, Joseph was the spiritual leader of this family – not Mary. For
all of us as husbands and fathers, it is crucial to see that God was giving
Joseph the guidance for the family – often times through dreams and visions.
It was not the “Sacred Heart of Mary” that was guiding the family
spiritually. It was “Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth.”
Joseph was not only respected by Mary who submitted to him and followed
him, he was respected by Jesus because He obeyed Him. It is obvious from
the text that Jesus obeyed Joseph spiritually and vocationally. As I have
already pointed out, Jesus learned and celebrated the Jewish Feasts and
Pilgrim Festivals by obeying and following Joseph’s spiritual example in the
home as well as on the annual trips to Jerusalem at Passover. This would be
a religious custom that Jesus would keep all of his life – and the last one He
would celebrate with disciples before going to the cross.
As we have already seen, Jesus obviously obeyed Joseph vocationally to the
degree that he too became known as “the Carpenter,” just like His earthly
father. As a result, He would spend far more years in “Joseph’s Carpentry
Shop” than He would as an itinerant prophet and teacher – which would last
just three short years. Finally, his community respected Joseph socially and
acknowledged his presence among them for years as Jesus grew up there.
That’s why when Jesus went back to Nazareth to announce His Messianic
Mission, the people said:
“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?...Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his
mother’s name Mary and aren’t his brothers…and sisters with
us” (Lk. 4:22; Matt. 13:55)?
One of the main reasons why Jesus’ home town people could not accept Him
as the Messiah was that they were so familiar with Him as the “…son of
Joseph the carpenter,” who was so well known among them.
In conclusion, then, Joseph was anything but the “silent type.” While we do
not have in the Gospels a single word he spoke, his life spoke volumes – and
is still speaking to us men today!
It is my prayer for my own life that I will emulate more deeply these
characteristics we have studied in the life of Joseph. He was a simple
common man with uncommon virtues. As Christian men, let’s ask God
during this Advent Season to make us more like Joseph in his relationship
with God…with Mary…with Jesus…with our community.
Joseph was definitely “God’s Man for Mary and God’s Man for Jesus!”
That’s because he was a…
! Romantic Man
! Restrained Man
! Righteous Man
! Religious Man
! Responsive Man
! Responsible Man
! Respected Man
God help each of us men to be a man like Joseph! Then we too will bring
greater glory and honor to the Lord Jesus.
MARY:
GOD’S WOMAN FOR JOSEPH
AND
GOD’S WOMAN FOR JESUS
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph,
but before they came together, she was found to be with child
through the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 1:18)
In our last study we saw in great detail why Joseph was God’s Man for
Mary and Jesus. In this study we will look at the other side of the marital
coin and see why Mary was God’s Woman for Joseph and Jesus. You could
not have one without the other. That’s why Joseph and Mary were a perfect
compliment to each other as husband and wife and as father and mother – as
all good marriages are. But since we have already looked at Mary in some
detail through her Magnificat, we will not go into as much depth and detail
with her in this study as we did with Joseph. However, there are still seven
things I want us to see about her that made Mary the perfect wife for Joseph
and perfect mother for Jesus.
In this Christmas Devotional I want us to look at Mary’s…
Place
It is sometimes said that a “woman needs to know her place” – which
usually means in the home. The implication is that she should “know her
place” and “stay in her place” – and not get involved the “man’s place.” And
while some of that may be true when properly understood and
communicated, the “place” I am talking about here concerning Mary is the
“place where she was born and grew up.” For Mary that was Nazareth, just
as it was for Joseph. Nazareth was the home town for both of them (Lk.
2:39).
“In the sixth month, God send the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a
town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named
Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary” (Lk.
1:26).
While Nazareth is now world famous because the “First Family of the
Bible” lived there, that was obviously not the case then. It was a rather outof-the-way town without a lot of historical, cultural or political significance.
Nazareth was not a town known for great religious institutions, educational
institutions or economic institutions. There were no famous religious
temples or shrines there. Nor were there any great centers of learning or
commercial institutions. It was just a sleepy town without a lot of
significance. Just a good quiet place to raise a family and run a carpenter
shop.
Both Mary and Joseph had to be born and raised there. That’s because it was
a fulfillment of the prophecy which said: “He will be called a Nazarene”
(Matt. 2:23; Mk. 14:57; 16:6). So the very place where Jesus the Messiah
was to be born was not insignificant or random. It was precisely prescribed
hundreds of years in advance of His coming in the “…fullness of time.”
Therefore, while Nazareth was the hometown of Joseph, Mary and Jesus in
fulfillment of prophecy, that very fact made it hard for some of the first
disciples to believe in Him. If he would have been born in Jerusalem, the
spiritual and geographical center of Judaism, that would have been more
appropriate – but not Nazareth! You will recall that when Phillip found
Nathanael and told him:
“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and about
whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph.”
In utter disbelief to that news, Nathanael exclaimed: “Nazareth! Can
anything good come out of there?” (Jn. 1:44-46). His popular perception
about Nazareth was crystal clear. No person of import has ever come out of
Nazareth – and certainly the Messiah would not come from that Podunk
town! Impossible!
Because Nazareth was the geographical place for both Joseph and Mary, it
also became the place for Jesus to grow up in fulfillment of prophecy.
Purity
Secondly, we know from every Gospel reference to her that Mary was a
virgin. She was a young woman of sexual purity. We are told specifically
by both Matthew and Luke that Mary was a virgin:
“…God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth…to a virgin pledged to
be married to a man named Joseph” (Lk. 1:27).
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has said through the
prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a
son” (Matt. 1:23)
The ancient prophecy being fulfilled here is found in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him
Immanuel.”
About 50 years ago when I was in Graduate School, I did one of my
Master’s Degree thesis on this subject of the “Virgin Birth of Christ.” I did
so because I was attending a liberal university where the subject of the
Virgin Birth of Christ was not believed or taught. Basically, it was
anathema because of their anti-supernatural bias. So in writing to defend
this position, I was attacking one of the theological “sacred cows” of
liberalism! Needless to say, this thesis did not endear me to my professors
or fellow students.
While I believe that a person can be saved and go to heaven without
believing this doctrine, I don’t think they can have a Systematic Theology
and consistent Christology without believing it. The virgin conception of
Jesus by the Holy Spirit was spiritually essential in order for Him to be the
sinless Messiah who would “…save His people from their sins” (Matt.
1:21).
Therefore, a sinless Savior required a virgin conception – and Mary was that
virgin. In addition to the spiritual importance of this doctrine, it also has
great practical significance for every young woman – and man, to live a life
of sexual purity. Whether in the First Century or Twenty-First Century,
purity is not a popular virtue. But it has always been so with God and His
choice of Mary as the one to bear the Christ Child proves that.
Patience
Mary was also a woman of patience. As we saw in our study of Joseph, both
had been betrothed…pledged…engaged to the other. They were now living
in the nine to twelve months of “sanctified separation” to verify their purity.
And it has never been easy for a woman to wait patiently for her wedding
day! Every bride-to-be wants to hurry things along! They want to speed the
day of his coming – that is, the bridegroom’s.
We are specifically told that Gabriel came to Mary in the “sixth month” of
her cousin’s Elizabeth’s pregnancy – another supernatural conception in that
she had become pregnant after many years of barrenness, just like Sarah in
the Old Testament. While Elizabeth’s conception was not while she was a
virgin like Mary, it too was the fulfillment of prophecy about the birth of the
one who would be the “forerunner of the Messiah.” Therefore we read this
prophetic announcement to Zechariah, her husband:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the
name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will
rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the
Lord…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many
of the people of Israel will he bring back 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 fathers to their children and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord” (Lk. 1:13-17).
We know that this person who came in the “power of Elijah” was John the
Baptist. The prophecy about his coming is where the Old Testament ends
(Mal. 4:6). After that prophecy was spoken, here was hundreds of years of
prophetic silence – until John the Baptist started his public ministry of
preparing the way for the Messiah.
It took great patience for the people of Israel to wait for this fulfillment…it
took great patience for Zechariah and Elizabeth to wait to become pregnant
in their old age...it took great patience for Mary to wait until the day of her
marriage. God never rushes His schedule for our convenience! He works out
everything in His perfect time and way. That required patience for Mary just
like it will take patience on your part to receive all that God has planned for
you.
Perplexity
During our times of “waiting on the Lord,” we all struggle with perplexity
…doubt…confusion…uncertainty in our relationship with the Lord. Mary
had the same problem. When the “…fullness of time did come for her,” she
was not sure how God would be able to fulfill His promise about giving her
the Messiah. After all, she was a virgin. How can a virgin become pregnant?
Note something of her perplexity at this angelic announcement:
“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind
of greeting this might be…‘How will his be,’ Mary asked the
angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’”
God oftentimes makes promises to us that only He can fulfill. And this
promise about a supernatural pregnancy was a “God-size promise” that only
a sovereign supernatural God could fulfill! And He did in His time…in His
place…with His person. But it still created great perplexity for Mary.
Perhaps right now you are also struggling with a big “How?” in your life. It
does not matter what it is – but if your dream is from God, He can and will
fulfill it in His time and way – in spite of your perplexity. Remember, our
doubts…uncertainties… perplexities never surprise God. Nor do they nullify
His promises! His power is always greater than our perplexities!
Promise
In spite of Mary’s perplexity over how God was going to fulfill what Gabriel
had told her, she clung on to the promise of God. Here was her promise:
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will
be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give Him the
name Jesus. 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” (Lk. 1:30-33).
The first thing God had to do with Mary is to deal with the “fear factor.” So
He began with her the same way He began every divine-encounter recorded
in the Bible: “Do not be afraid…fear not.” That’s because fear is our oldest
emotional enemy – going back to the Garden of Eden. All of us – including
Mary, have struggled with fear ever since. That’s why fear is the greatest
thing standing between us and the fulfillment of God’s promises in our life.
So God dealt with the “fear factor” first with Mary.
Next, God dealt with the “favor factor.” Angel emphasized to her what she
could not believe – and what we all struggle with: that she had found “favor”
with God. As incredulous as it might seem, God has set His undeserved and
unmerited favor upon us. Now because of any merit on our part. Mary did
nothing to earn or gain that divine favor. Neither can we. We can only
accept it by faith.
Then, God assured Mary that even though she did not – and could not, fully
understand the mystery of what was about to take place, God would fulfill
His promise to her. Remember, a God-size dream can only be fulfilled by a
God who is greater than the vision He gives:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called
the Son of God…For nothing is impossible with God” (1:35).
This promise reminds us that the flesh can never fulfill the promises of God.
The fulfillment of God’s promise to Mary could only take place because of
the “power of the Holy Spirit.” The same is true in your life and mind.
I remind you that this is where we today who are living in the post-Pentecost
age have an advantage. In the Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit would
come upon a person for a specific time and task. Then He would depart. But
now after Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and sending of the Holy
Spirit at Pentecost, we all have equal access to the Holy Spirit all the time!
And His coming into our lives is to accomplish the promises of God.
Remember: “Nothing is impossible with God!” Christmas proves it!
Purpose
God’s promises all have a purpose. They are ultimately for our blessing and
benefit only – but for others. Gabriel reminded Mary that this Son she would
bear was not just for her. He would be for the world. He was being given to
“save his people from their sins. He was coming into the world to set up his
own throne – not to reinforce her’s. God’s promise and purpose have never
changed. He has on purpose: “To establish His throne over the entire
universe – and in the heart of ever person. But no throne room can have two
thrones. There can only be one monarch – and that is the Messiah!
So, Mary found her highest purpose being fulfilled in life by fully
surrendering to God’s will. I love her response:
“I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered, ‘May it be to me as
you have said” (1:38).
I love it! Her response was not one of reluctance or resistance. She humbly
bowed before the mystery of God’s will. She assumed the only role that God
can bless – that of a servant. A servant exists for one purpose: to do the will
of his or her master. Mary found her highest and most holy purpose by being
a servant.
Remember: the only way God can totally fulfill His promises in our life is
for us to humbly say with Mary: “Lord, may it be to me as you have said.”
Or as other translations say: “Lord, be it unto me according to Your
word!”
That’s the spirit that made Christmas possible. And if you want to
experience the true meaning of Christmas, pray that prayer that Mary
prayed.
Praise
As we have already seen in our study of the Magnificat, Mary ended her
encounter with God through a wonderful Song of Praise. It is one of the
most beautiful songs in the New Testament – and it is literally pregnant with
promise and praise! Please take time to thoughtfully and prayerfully read it
again. And as you do, make Mary’s prayer and praise your own.
It is easy to see then from this study why Mary was “God’s Woman for
Joseph and Jesus.” Even though she was a very humble person whom the
world would have totally overlooked, she “found favor with God.” He
sovereignly chose her because of His love and grace to be His servant to
accomplish His perfect plan in the “…fullness of time.”
Let me remind you in closing that you too have found “favor with God.” But
it is not based on anything you have done – but only on what Jesus has done
for you. Accept it by faith. Pray Mary’s prayer of surrender: “Lord, be it
unto me according to Your Word.” Then you will really celebrate the real
meaning of Christmas!
MARY’S SONG
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for
He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on
all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great
things for me – holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear
Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds
with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost
thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted
up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent
the rich away empty...”
(Luke 1:46-53)
During this Advent Season I hope you will take some time to reflect on this
beautiful Magnificat, or “Mary’s Song.” Unfortunately it is usually skipped
over or superficially read during the Christmas Season – especially by us
men. But it is a vital part of the divinely inspired Christmas Narratives that
need to be prayerfully read and pondered.
Let me share some thoughts with you from her magnificent prayer that Mary
sang in her heart to the Lord. There are several wonderful timely truths I
would like to share with you from her magnificent prayerful song.
First, Mary’s Happiness: Her prayer reminds us that we are only truly happy
when “...our spirit rejoices in God our Savior.” How hard it is in America
and the Western world to “rejoice in His presence” rather than “rejoice in
the world’s presents!” Like Mary, I hope you will find true happiness this
Christmas in Him and in Him alone. Christmas joy is not Jesus plus
something. Christmas happiness is Jesus plus nothing.
Secondly, Mary’s Humility: God makes His habitation with the humble, not
the haughty. He is always “...mindful of the humble state of His servant.”
Christmas reminds us that God delights in “exalting the humble.” That we,
like Mary, are called to be “servants.” This song is especially timely because
women all over the world are often forced into the lowliest and most humble
of circumstances – just like Mary. But Christmas assures them that “...God is
mindful of their humble state.” That He is a God who delights in “...lifting
up the humble” (Matt. 23:12) and especially showers them with His grace (I
Pet. 5:5). Jesus is especially sensitive to the humble because He came in the
most humble of circumstances. And He described His own life and ministry
by saying that He was “…gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29).
Thirdly, Mary’s Heritage: She said: “From now on all generations will call
me blessed…His mercy extends to those who fear Him from generation
to generation.” This reminds us that God wants to pass on, through us, a
Godly, rather than an ungodly heritage. And He does not want that Godly
inheritance to stop with us. He wants His Godly heritage to go on “...from
generation to generation.” Christmas is a great time to build and pass on
Godly Biblical heritages to our children. Don’t miss the opportunity this
Advent to continue what Mary started.
Fourthly, Mary’s Holiness: She exclaimed: “The Mighty One has done
great things for me – holy is His name.” Mary reminds us that our highest
purpose is to acknowledge God’s holiness, and live our lives accordingly.
And holiness is simply wholeness. That’s because all of us arrive in this life
as damaged merchandise…broken goods…fragmented people. As such we
can only be made whole and holy when we have made “God my Savior” –
just like Mary.
Fifthly, Mary’s Humiliation: God will ultimately “...scatter those who
are proud in their hearts. He has brought down rulers from their
thrones.” As we have already seen from Mary’s prayer, humility rather than
haughtiness is the heart attitude that God seeks. Therefore, humility before
Him is the only escape from humiliation by Him! God hates pride and
prejudice in the heart of any and all rulers who reign through injustice.
Sixthly, Mary’s Hunger: In her prayer she reminds us of this spiritual
principle about God: “He has filled the hungry with good things but has
sent the rich away empty.” God’s heart is always toward those who truly
“...hunger and thirst after righteousness”(Matt. 5:6) rather than those who
“...hunger and thirst after riches!” God always loves to “...fill the hungry
with good things” and “...send the rich away empty-handed.” Sadly,
there will be millions of people this Christmas who will walk away from
their Christmas tree “empty” and “still hungry” because they did not receive
the most satisfying gift of all! To paraphrase C.S. Lewis: “Only the Lord
Jesus is that heavenly gift who can bring that permanent satisfaction that we
are all seeking.” No Christmas gift can bring that other than the Lord Jesus.
Lastly, Mary’s Hope: She concludes her prayer in the confident hope of
God’s faithful fulfillment of His promises to Israel – going back to His
covenant with Abraham: “He has helped His servant Israel, remembering
to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He said
to our fathers.” Even this simple Jewish maiden fully understood God’s
prophecies and promises to the Jews. She had a strong sense of history. As a
result, she saw God’s mysterious and miraculous work in her as a direct
fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. While she began by rejoicing over
God’s personal blessing to her, she concluded by rejoicing in His corporate
blessing on His people. That’s the way the Spirit of God always works. His
personal work in us is because He plans to do a great work through us. That
was Mary’s hope.
In summary, then, Mary’s Song reminds us that Christmas is about “lifting
up the humble” and “filling up the hungry.” It reminds us of the “happiness
of humility,” and the “humiliation of the haughty.” It is about the “heritage
of holiness” from “…generation to generation” to those who love and serve
Him. Hallelujah!
The great missionary statesman, Dr. E. Stanley Jones, pointed out that the
Magnificat of Mary is really one of the most “Revolutionary Songs” ever
sung. That’s because it has three stanzas that exalt…
1. Moral Revolution (vs. 47-51)
2. Social Revolution (vs. 52)
3. Economic Revolution (vs. 53)
What a magnificent Magnificat! Mary’s Song is certainly worth singing
during Christmas – as well as all year long!
Patt and I pray that you will each continue to have a blessed Christmas
Season. And may the spiritual themes of Mary’s Song reverberate through
your life this Christmas and all year long!
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
JOSEPH AND MARY GAVE TO JESUS
“And Jesus grew and became strong;
He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him…
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
men”
(Luke 2:40, 52).
In the last several studies, we have looked at giving and gifts from several
different perspectives. Since Christmas is primarily about “gift giving” in
most people’s minds, let’s pause in our Christmas shopping frenzy and look
at some of the unique and timely gifts that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus.
And if the earthly parents of the Messiah gave these gifts to their Son,
perhaps we should consider giving the same kinds of gifts as parents to our
children.
As I study that very first Christmas and the months and years that followed, I
see at least 7 gifts that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus. First, there was the
gift of…
Inheritance
Obviously I am not speaking of a financial or material inheritance here.
Unfortunately, that is usually how we narrowly define inheritance today in
our hyper-materialistic society. After a patriarch or parent dies, we often ask:
“What size of inheritance did they leave? How much did the children get?”
I am certainly not belittling the importance of a financial inheritance that a
parent may leave to his or her children or grandchildren. I am just saying
that a financial inheritance is not the most important kind of inheritance
from a Biblical perspective. From God’s vantage point, a spiritual
inheritance is far more important than a financial inheritance. While a
financial inheritance can bring blessings in this life, a spiritual inheritance
can bring blessing in this life and in the next. A spiritual inheritance blesses
for both time and eternity. While a financial inheritance may result in riches,
a spiritual inheritance results in righteousness.
How many times all of us have seen or read about how some wealthy parent
or business entrepreneur left a great financial inheritance to their children –
which only led to their downfall. The financial blessing proved to be a curse!
So remember this principle: “Riches without righteousness results in
ruin.” On the other hand: “Riches with righteousness results in responsible
living.”
God defines riches in terms of relationships. The person who is “rich in
relationships” is truly a wealthy person. That’s the kind of inheritance that
Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus. As a “blue collar worker” who was a lifelong carpenter, Joseph did not have a large financial estate to pass along to
his first-born Son. Neither did Mary from her humble up-bringing. But
because of the strong Jewish emphasis on family as the center of religious
education and worship, they blessed Jesus with rich relationships.
When you go back to the Book of Genesis and God’s sovereign call of
Abraham, you clearly see God’s emphasis on the priority of spiritual
inheritance. In fact, that was the primary reason that God called Abraham.
Even though God blessed Abraham with great financial and material wealth
(Gen. 13:1-2), He wanted Abraham to pass along a spiritual inheritance to
his heirs. Read again this familiar verse…
“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and
all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen
him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him
to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that
the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him”
(Gen. 18:18-19).
God chose and appointed Abraham for the specific purpose of “…directing
his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by
doing what is right and just.” That is a spiritual inheritance.
We see this same emphasis in the wisdom of Proverbs where a wise father
“…leaves an inheritance for his children’s children” (Prov. 13:22). So
the spiritual inheritance was to be intergenerational. It was to go from one
generation to the next – to a father and mother’s “…children’s children.”
As parents then, we either pass along a Godly or an ungodly inheritance to
our children. Note again these sobering words from the very lips of the Lord:
“…I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children
for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those
who hate Me…” (Ex. 20:5-6).
I trust that you will commit yourself as a parent to give the gift of spiritual
inheritance to your children this Christmas. Regardless of your past lack of
giving in this area, it is never too late to begin to building a spiritual
inheritance to pass along to your children. And with the current recession
and financial melt-down in the American economy, this may be a better time
than ever to shift your emphasis from physical gifts to spiritual gifts!
But there was a second important gift that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus.
They gave Him the gift of…
Integrity
Basically, the word integrity has to do with honest consistency. And who of
us as spouses or parents who does not have struggles in this area? I know
that I certainly do.
Integrity is a much-needed character trait that is needed in our world at every
level – beginning in the home. Unfortunately, most Americans have bought
into the moral lie that says we can separate “public performance” from
“private behavior.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It matters not
where it is a parent or a president, you just cannot separate your beliefs from
your behavior. The space then, between how we behave “behind closed
doors” and what we say publicly we believe – is called the integrity gap.
We parents often manifest this integrity gap when we say to our children:
“Do what I say – not what I do! That just doesn’t wash with either children
or teenagers. They see through that kind of moral hypocrisy. When that is
our real MO as people and parents, we will not pass on real spiritual
inheritance to our children. At the end of the day, they copy
our behavior more than our beliefs. How we live and act impacts their
character development far more than what we say we believe. So there must
be consistency between our lips and life if we are going to be parents of
integrity and raise children of integrity.
As we ponder this spiritual “gift of integrity,” let me share some relevant
verses about this character trait from the Bible.
! David made this commitment to God: “I will be careful to lead a
blameless life…I will walk in my house with blameless heart
[Integrity]. I will set before my eyes no vile thing [Talk about a
verse that challenges much of our TV watching and movie going!].
The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me” (Ps.
101:2-3).
! King David’s reign was summarized this way: “And David
shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led
them” (Ps. 78:72).
! The wise man of Proverbs observed: “The man of integrity walks
securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Prov.
10:9).
! Even Jesus’ enemies said this about Him: “They sent their disciples
to Him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know
You are a man of integrity and that You teach the way of God in
accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by man, because
You pay no attention to who they are.’” (Matt. 22:16).
Nothing could be more important from the perspective of a Holy and
Righteous God than that His people reflect His moral character. That
because He is a God of integrity – as Jesus demonstrated as the Messiah, that
we are to be people and parents of integrity. Not perfect parents – that’s
impossible. But parents who are striving through the power of the Holy
Spirit to live lives of integrity – beginning in our marriage and in our family.
From what we can in the lines and “in between the lines,” of the Christmas
narratives, Joseph and Mary were people of integrity. They had parental
character. And the word character means to “engrave” or “imprint.” So
while Joseph and Mary were sinners just like all of the rest of us as parents,
they had spiritual character. They had a religious and moral framework for
their marriage and family – which they “engraved” on the human nature of
Jesus
as
He
was
growing
up.
So character rather
than convention or convenience was the goal of their home.
But there was a wonderful third gift that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus as
His earthly parents. They gave Him the gift of…
Instruction
As Patt and I have often pointed out in parenting seminars, everything in the
Jewish Religion was a “visual aid” to help the father and mother pass on
a spiritual inheritance to their children. All of the Feasts and Festivals were
created by God as very practical ways of giving spiritual instruction to their
children.
God revealed to the Jews that the home was to be the primary place of
spiritual instruction – not the Tabernacle, Temple or Synagogue. Any
instruction that took place in those “houses of worship” was to be secondary,
not primary. God knew well that the locus of all lasting spiritual instruction
is the home. That’s because we spend far more of our lives there than we do
in “religious buildings.”
It is important to remember then, that God designed the home to be the first
“Shabbat School” or “Sunday School” – not the Temple, Synagogue or
Church. And Christmas reminds us of this crucial principle. It was in
the home that all of the “7 Feasts of Judaism” were celebrated – with the
father and mother being the priest and priestess of the home. Since each of
these Feasts and Festivals are agriculturally based, the home and family was
the logical locus for the commemoration and celebration of them. In this
way, God used the natural realm to teach about the supernatural realm.
Within Judaism, the parents were in charge of the primary spiritual
instruction of the children – not the temple priests or rabbis.
Note a few very clear Biblical words of instruction about this…
! Concerning the annual telling of the Exodus story through the Feast
of Passover, God instructed the parents that they should “…tell your
children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians
and how I performed My signs among them, and that you may
know that I am the Lord” (Ex. 10:2).
! God emphasized this same principle of parental instruction through
Moses: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you
do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from
your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to
their children after them” (Deut. 4:9).
! The closest thing to a “religious creed” for the Jews is the Shema. It
is the Hebrew word for “hear” or “listen” or “pay attention.” Every
faithful Jew recites it daily – and often multiple times a day. Note how
it is centered around spiritual instruction in the home rather than in the
Tabernacle or Temple: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments
that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on
your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie
them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates”
(Deut. 6:4-9).
! The Psalmist reflected this Jewish instruction in the home when he
wrote: “Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust
in You even at my mother’s breast” (Ps. 22:9).
! The wise man of Proverbs emphasized this spiritual teaching in the
home from the mother and father: “My son, keep your father’s
commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them
upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When
you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch
over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these
commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections
of discipline are the way to life” (Prov. 6:20-23).
! It was because of this consistent spiritual teaching in the home that
the Psalmist could recount: “…what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their
children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of
the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done” (Ps. 78:3-4).
As parents this Christmas Season, let’s do as Joseph and Mary did and give
the gift of instruction to our children and grandchildren. But let’s not stop
there. Like them, let’s also give the gift of…
Imitation
I don’t mean that we should be imitations – but that we would give our
children something spiritual to imitate in our lives. We can clearly see from
the Christmas Narratives that Joseph and Mary were deeply religious
parents. And by this I do not mean that they were just caught up
in religiosity – or the external commemoration of religious ritual, rules and
regulations. The word religion means “to bind back.” So through parental
teaching the child is “bound back” to the laws of God.
Therefore, while Joseph and Mary did indeed keep the very “letter of the
law” when it came to their practice of Judaism, their hearts were also intent
on keeping the “spirit of the law.” For them, their religion revolved around
a relationship with the Jehovah God of the Scriptures.
How do we know that? First we are told that Joseph and Mary “…did
everything the law of Moses required” (Lk. 2:39). Secondly, we can see that
they “engraved” this spiritual character in Jesus because we read that in His
adult life and ministry He did three things “…according to His custom.” We
are specifically told that He…
! “…went to the synagogue according to His custom” (Lk. 4:16)
! “…prayed according to His custom” (Lk. 22:39)
! “…taught according to His custom” (Mk. 10:1)
Where did He develop these “customs? Where did He acquire these spiritual
disciplines? Who engraved this character on His nature as a young child?
The answer is obvious. Joseph and Mary did.
As I noted in an earlier point, children are imitators. They learn by example.
God created them to learn by watching and imitating the behavior of their
parents. This was the first stage of non-verbal learning long before a child
could talk or walk. Gradually this visual learning was enhanced
through verbal learning. So Jewish parents were to teach by
both precept and example. As good observant Jews, Joseph and Mary
obviously did both.
While there is certainly a great spiritual mystery here as to why and how the
very incarnation of divine omniscience could be “taught,” His perfect human
nature would not have been real without this need and ability. If He could
not have grown, developed and matured in both “…wisdom and stature,”
than the Incarnation was a hoax. He was not fully human – but rather God
masquerading in humanity. But that was not the case. The Incarnation was
no “divine charade.” This was the Messiah who was both fully divine and
yet fully human. As we saw in an earlier study, Jesus was the unique GodMan of history. One perfect Person with two perfect natures – one
human and one divine. And the wonder of this “divine humility” was that
God voluntarily chose to live with all of the limitations of our full humanity.
The only thing He did not have like us was sin.
Just as the infant Jesus grew physically, He also grew in wisdom and
knowledge. And Joseph and Mary were a vital part of that spiritual, mental
and emotional growth through their spiritual instruction and moral example
as His earthly parents. Just like every Jewish boy, Jesus grew
up imitating His parents.
Later, the Apostle Paul, another Jewish leader who became a follower of
Christ, made this same emphasis to the young Christians in Corinth. Since
they were spiritually “babes in Christ” (I Cor. 3:1), he wrote and instructed
them as their spiritual parent: “Follow my example, as I follow the example
of Christ” (I Cor. 11:1).
Using the same words of parental instruction, Paul wrote to the more mature
Christians in Ephesus: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children” (Eph. 5:1). This shows us that when we do a good job of
either physical parenting or spiritual parenting, our children will grow more
and more independent of us and more dependent upon God. That’s when
you know that spiritual integrity and moral character has moved from
the external to
the internal.
From external
observance to internal
obedience – whether in private or public. That’s why it has often been said:
“True character is who you are when no one is looking!” That’s why the
goal of parenting is to get our children to “behave their beliefs” – regardless
of where they are. That’s true character development.
When it came to Christ, His character was perfect. There was never a time
when He spoke or acted contrary to His beliefs. It mattered not whether “any
one was looking” or whether “everyone was looking,” Jesus lived a
consistent life of spiritual and moral integrity – thanks in part to the
instruction of Joseph and Mary.
But there was a fifth gift that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus. It was the gift
of…
Innocence
When children are born, they are born mentally, emotionally and sexually
innocent and pure. This does not mean that they are sinless. The Bible
teaches just the opposite. As David acknowledged: “In sin my mother
conceived me” or “I was sinful from birth” (Ps. 51:5). And contrary to
what some believe, the sin being talked about here has nothing to do with
sex or conception. This was a graphic Hebrew idiom meaning that he was
“sinful from his mother’s womb.” He had an innate sin nature that he was
born with. In other words, David was not a sinner because he sinned; he
sinned because he was a sinner. The sinful character was the cause of his
sinful conduct. When he sinned – as with Bathsheba, he was only “doing
what was natural.” Not to sin would have been “doing what was
supernatural.”
Therefore, every child is born with that innate sin nature dominant in their
spiritual DNA. Every one of these “little darlings” are still members of
Adam’s fallen race. As such, they have an incurable sin nature that they can
never master or control. That’s why Patt and I never had to teach any of our
four children to sin or be selfish. That was as natural for them as it was for
us as their parents.
While every child is born with a sinful DNA, the type of parenting and
exposure they receive will either check and control that nature through law
and discipline, or it will allow it to rule and reign in their lives and in the
home. So part of our parental instruction is to do all we can to protect the
spiritual, mental, emotional and sexual innocence of our children and not
prematurely expose them to the world and inflame their passions by foolish
and fleshly example of our own carnality – much less that of Hollywood!
Obviously, Jesus was “virgin conceived” as we saw in an earlier study.
That’s the only reason He was born with a sinless human nature. The Holy
Father supernaturally conceived Him in he womb of the virgin Mary. That’s
why the angel Gabriel told her: “The Holy spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy One to be
born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).
But, because Joseph and Mary were people who showed sexual restraint in
their marriage until Jesus was born, that example had to have impacted Jesus
in some way growing up. I can’t help but believe that Joseph would have
shared his story with Jesus, and his other sons somewhere along the way
growing up. Why would I think that? Because he obviously shared it with
other trusted friends to the degree that Matthew wrote it down for us (Matt.
1:25). No doubt Mary would have also explained to Him the fact of her
virgin conception – even though she did not fully understand it. Jesus then,
would have been positively impacted by the moral model of purity
demonstrated by both of His earthly parents – but especially by His father,
Joseph.
Studies show that sexual restraint and discipline in parents tends to produce
the same moral character and commitment in their children. But parents who
can’t and don’t control their own passions – usually produce children who
act the same way.
That’s why one of my favorite verses to teach to teenagers about the rewards
of sexual innocence and moral purity is Paul’s exhortation to the Roman
Christians. And I don’t need to remind you that Rome was not a very easy
city to live a pure life in!
“Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy
over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and
innocent about what is evil” (Rom. 16:19).
When we are experientially “wise in good” and “innocent in evil,” then we
have a great advantage in living a pure life – both before and after marriage.
Tragically, the world has reversed the moral price tags. They incite young
people to be experientially “wise in evil” and “innocent in good.” The
world’s mottos sound like this: “You are only young once…Grab for all the
gusto you can…Let it all hang out…If it feels good, do it!” Etc, etc., etc…
But, Jesus gave a stern warning to anyone who would tempt and entice the
young this way. He sternly said, “If anyone causes one ofthese little ones
who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the
sea with a large millstone tied around his neck” (Mark 9:42).
So, my dear friend, please start where you are and do all you can this
Christmas to give your children and grandchildren gifts that will enhance
their spiritual and moral innocence. Don’t give them any gifts that will
inflame their passions and open their vulnerable spirits to the enticements of
the world! They will have enough struggles with the “dark side” without you
feeding it with worldly gifts.
There is another wonderful gift that I believe Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus.
Even though we have hinted at it before, I want to emphasize it more. It was
the gift of…
Imagination
God created all of us with wonderful imaginations. And children are such
exciting and refreshing examples of that innocent, creative, adventuresome,
unbounded, ever-changing imagination! In a childish second their
imaginations can take them into any and every situation imaginable – and
many we parents and grandparents can’t imagine!
In their childish innocence, their imaginations are mostly good and
wonderful. The fantasies they create in their minds are beautiful and idyllic.
And if those imaginations are fed with wonderful spiritual fantasies like
the Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, their fantasies will incline their
heart toward the things of God and the nobler things of life.
But, if their childish innocence is dashed by verbal, physical and sexual
abuse, their minds and emotions will be poisoned and polluted. Or if they are
exposed to the perverted passions of the world, their imaginations will
become a cesspool of the world’s filth.
Apparently, this had happened in the early history of mankind to an almost
unimaginable degree. Do you remember these words of judgment that came
before God sent the flood to wipe out mankind:
“The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had
become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was
only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that He had made
man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain. So the Lord
said, ‘I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of
the earth…for I am grieved that I have made them” (Gen. 6:5-7).
So, the unbridled and unrestrained wicked imaginations led to the
destruction of mankind by the flood! What a timely warning to us today!
Sadly, much of Christmas activities and many Christmas gifts do not feed
and fuel Godly thinking and behavior. It does not create holy imaginations in
our children and grandchildren – but worldly, fleshly, carnal ones.
As we saw earlier in this particular study, all of the Feasts and Festivals of
Judaism were designed to create positive images and imaginations in the
minds and fantasies of their children. They were spiritual dramas designed to
capture the child’s imagination and focus it on the wonder of their God who
had created them, called them and delivered them as a people. Note this
wonderful example found in the book of Exodus about their annual
celebration and commemoration of the Passover:
“And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean
to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord,
Who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared
our homes when He struck down the Egyptians’” (Ex. 12:26-27).
Everything in the Passover Meal was designed to capture the imaginations of
the children through a dramatic telling of the Exodus Story. And observant
Jews to this day continue to tell this story to their children and grandchildren
– as they remind themselves.
Obviously, Joseph and Mary had done this with Jesus. We are specifically
told that: “Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the
Passover” (Lk. 2:41). And it was on one of these annual trips when “…they
went up to the Feast, according to the custom” (v. 42) that Jesus amazed
the Jewish scholars with His Biblical knowledge and spiritual insight – when
he was twelve years old. No doubt this was the occasion of His Bar Mitzvah,
or coming of age as a “son of the Law.” And you remember how His parents
had traveled a long way toward home before they realized that Jesus was not
with them.
While this seems strange to us, it would not be strange at all when you
realize that this annual “going up to Jerusalem” and “returning home” was
with a rather large crowd of family and friends – all neighbors and fellow
Jewish worshipers. And adolescent boys are the same in any century. They
love to be together…play together…run off on their own…begin some
adventure – and totally forget their parents. That’s why it is so hard to call
them in from play! They don’t want to have to stop their adventure…reign
in their fantasies…come back to reality.
The men would also tend to walk together – just as the women would. Each
caught up in their own little world of discussion. So it would have been easy
for both Joseph and Mary to assume that Jesus was with the other.
What was Jesus doing when they found Him after three days of searching in
Jerusalem? He was in the Temple “blowing the minds” of the religious
scholars who were “…amazed at His understanding and His answers” (v.
47). When His parents asked Him for an explanation for this seeming
insensitive behavior, He said: “…didn’t you know that I had to be in My
Father’s house?” (v. 49).
You see, Jesus’ imagination had been totally captivated with His Father’s
business. And whether or not they realized it through the years, their faithful
commemoration of these annual Passovers captivated Jesus’ imagination.
More and more He would come to realize that He was the fulfillment of
everything that the Passover pointed to! He had come to be that “spotless
Passover Lamb” who would die to liberate mankind.
One of the primary reasons we know that Jesus’ earthly ministry was
approximately 3 years long was because we read of His celebration of 3
Passovers in the Gospels. And it is also important to remember that the night
before He was crucified, He celebrated the Passover with His disciples. As
you know, He transformed that Passover into what we now
call Communion or the “Lord’s Table.”
You see, just like the Passover used physical symbols to capture the
attention and imagination of Jewish children and focus them on the Exodus,
Jesus related those same symbols to Himself. The unleavened bread was His
body and the wine was His blood. That’s why He said they should
regularly “Do this in remembrance of Me” (I Cor. 11:25). These basic
physical symbols of bread and wine were to re-capture the hearts and minds
of His disciples and focus them on Him. And we disciples today so need to
regularly partake of those symbols because our minds, imaginations and
affections so quickly and easily wander from Him! As the song writer said:
“Prone to wonder, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”
Like Joseph and Mary, give some spiritual gifts this Christmas that will
capture the minds and imaginations of your children and grandchildren for
the Lord Jesus. That’s the role and responsibility of good spiritual parents
and grandparents. Remember: If you don’t capture the imagination of your
children and grandchildren – the world will!
Christmas is a wonderful time to excite their imaginations for the Christ of
Christmas and His forever Kingdom!
Now, one final wonderful Christmas gift that Joseph and Mary gave to
Jesus. The gift of…
Intercession
We can clearly see in the Christmas Narratives that both Joseph and Mary
were people of prayer. When we first meet Joseph in Matthew’s Gospel, we
find Joseph praying and pondering what his response should be to the
angel’s message to him. And it was while he was prayerfully pondering
what to do, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with further revelation.
When the same angel appeared to Mary with the announcement that she was
to bear the Messiah, her natural response was one of prayer and praise. We
have already looked at her prayer in some detail, known as the Magnificant
(Luke 1:46-55).
It is also interesting that when Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them back
to Jerusalem for Mary’s “…purification according to the Law of Moses”
(Lk. 2:22), they encountered some other elderly praying saints – Simeon and
Anna (2:25-38). It’s amazing how praying people always seem to find each
other! It seems that the Holy Spirit just draws them together through their
common band of intercession. Both of these “senior saints” had been told by
the Spirit that they would not die until they saw the Messiah. What a great
challenge this kind of prayer life and persevering intercession is to me
personally as I grow older.
Simeon and Anna remind us that as our physical strength wanes, our
spiritual strength should increase. During our “sunset years” when our
physical activity decreases – our spiritual activity through prayer should
increase. I am sure that the prayers and blessings of Simeon and Anna were
a great encouragement and example to the young couple, Joseph and Mary,
who had been entrusted with the Christ Child.
So, Jesus was literally conceived, birthed and reared in an atmosphere of
prayer and intercession. Is it any wonder then, that we find Him praying so
often during His public ministry (Matt. 14:23; Mk. 1:35; 6:46; Lk. 3:21;
5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 11:1; 22:39-45, etc)? And while the “Disciple’s
Prayer” or “Lord’s Prayer,” is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, His greatest
time of intercession was His “High Priestly Prayer” recorded in John 17.
To me, it is also interesting to read about how Jesus “…took the children in
His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). Where
did He learn this kind of prayerful interaction with young children? Where
did He learn the importance of “taking children in His arms” and “laying His
hands on them” for the purpose of “blessing them” in the Father’s Name? I
believe He often experienced this very prayerful blessing from His own
earthly father, Joseph, as He was growing up – which is totally consistent
with what we know of the role of a father in Jewish homes.
That’s why we too as parents and grandparents should often take our
children and grandchildren in our arms…lay our hands on them…and bless
them in His Name! You can’t give better Christmas presents than that!
So, Jesus grew up with praying parents. That’s where He learned by
example the importance of prayer and intercession for every area of life. For
a Jew, there is absolutely nothing that is outside the pale of prayer. That’s
why they pray many times a day – which is why the Apostle Paul exhorts us
to “…pray without ceasing” or “pray continually” (I Thess. 5:17).
Jesus continues to do just that for you and me as our High Priest. That’s why
He is able to “…save completely those who come to God through Him,
because He always lives to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25). What a
Christmas present! And one that never ceases.
But, Christ’s gift of prayer and intercession in our behalf does not stop there.
Listen to these wonderful words of assurance about the Holy Spirit’s
intercession for us:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes
for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who
searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will”
(Rom. 8:26-27).
What greater Christmas gift could you get this Christmas than that
assurance?! Open it…apply it…revel in it…rest in it…rejoice in it – or
rather in Him!
If we want our children and grandchildren to model the Lord Jesus and
“…grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” then
as parents and grand parents we must give the kinds of gifts that Joseph and
Mary gave. We must give them the gifts of…
! A Godly Inheritance
! Parental Integrity
! Biblical Instruction
! Spiritual Imitation
! Emotional Innocence
! Sanctified Imagination
! Prayerful Intercession
But, you can’t buy any of those gifts in local stores – not even the priciest
ones. These gifts of parental love can only be found in God’s Word through
His Spirit. So I hope you will go spiritually shopping often at His “Divine
Department Store.” It has everything you need to give the same gifts to your
children that Joseph and Mary gave to Jesus. And wonder of wonders, they
are all free! Jesus has already paid the full purchase price for every one of
His heavenly gifts (Eph. 1:3). Happy shopping!
MEETING GOD IN THE ORDINARY
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.
Not many of you were wise by human standards;
not many of you 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.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things…
so that no one may boast before Him.”
(I Corinthians 1:26-29)
My friends, Christmas is about an extra-ordinary God who delights in
working through ordinary people like you and me. He loves to call into His
divine drama simple people like the ones in the Christmas Narratives.
People who were not at the top of the “Whose Who?” list of their day.
Ordinary people who would not deserve a second glance by the nobility of
their day.
This is another of the “divine surprises” in the Christmas Story that brings a
sense of awe and wonder to the open-hearted reader. Christmas is a divine
drama about how our extra-ordinary God chooses to work through very
ordinary people. That’s what makes His love and grace so extra-ordinary…
extravagant… unthinkable…incomprehensible!
That God would meet man at all is a mind-blow! But that He would meet
ordinary people is even more mind-blowing! But that’s what makes
Christmas Christmas! It is not about meeting God in the supra-normal…the
super-natural…the spectacular. Christmas is about meeting God in the
ordinary. That’s His rendezvous point with mankind.
However, the true and living God is extra-ordinary in every sense of the
word. There is nothing about Him that is ordinary. According to Webster’s
Dictionary, the adjective form of the word “ordinary” means: “customary,
usual, regular, normal, familiar, unexceptional, common.”
Obviously, none of those adjectives describe the God of the Bible! He
seldom does what is “customary or “usual.” He is always full of surprises!
It is religion that is “regular” – not God. He is not “normal” – He is supranormal in every way. Nor is He “common” or “ordinary,” because there is
none like Him. That’s why God asked through the prophet Isaiah:
“To whom will you compare Me or count Me equal? To whom
will you liken Me that we may be compared?” (Isa. 46:5).
God cannot be compared to anything or anyone because nothing or no one is
like Him. All attempts at comparison are pagan idolatry!
Also, there is nothing “unexceptional” about the Triune God who is
“exceptional” in His Person and works. While we are totally “unfamiliar”
with Him, He is intimately “familiar” with us through creation and the
incarnation.
But while God is “extra-ordinary” in every way, He almost always meets us
in the “ordinary.” That’s one of the BIGGEST surprises of the Biblical
revelation.
He
doesn’t
normally
meet
man
in
the
heavenly…ethereal…mystical…transcendental – but in the ordinary. He
always shows up in the most unexpected places!
The Bible also reveals that God dwells in the “…highest heavens” (Deut.
10:14; I Kings 8:27; II Cor. 12:2, etc). That’s why He is often referred to as
the “…the Most High God” (Gen. 14:20; Ps. 47:2; 83:18; 92:8; Isa. 14:14;
Dan. 4:2; Acts. 7:48, etc). His heavenly dwelling place is both spiritual and
spatial. But since we cannot go “up” to where He is – heaven – He comes
“down” to where we are – earth. But in reality, this is not an “up & down”
situation. When it comes to revealing Himself, God just “steps through the
veil” separating the spiritual world from the physical world and manifests
Himself. These appearances of God in human form are what theologians
call theophanies, or a “God appearance.”
Wonder of wonders, when these theophanies take place, they are usually in
the most ordinary of situations. While most people look for God in the
spectacular… miraculous… extraordinary – He surprisingly shows up in
very ordinary places. That’s another of the wonders of Christmas!
I am stating the obvious when I say that most people live out their lives in
the ordinary…mundane…routine. While they may secretly long for an
epiphany…a theophany…a revelation – few really expect to have one. And
the last person they expect to “show up at their job site” is God. In their
minds, it’s the last place on earth they would expect to meet God!
While most people secretly yearn for a personal theophany, most gave up
that expectation somewhere between childhood and adolescence. As they
grew up, parents, educators, scientists, naturalists and humanists gradually
shattered their “fantasy world” where the supernatural was natural and the
supernormal was normal. As a child, there was no veil of separation
between these two worlds. They were intertwined and inseparable. Doors
and windows abounded between the world of reality around them and
fantasy world in their mind. Movement from one to the other was as natural
as breathing – until “reality” set in! Over time they were forced to abandon
their “fantasy world” of wonder and awe where super-heroes performed the
spectacular and miraculous with ease. It was a real world of supernatural
wonder until their innocence was lost!
So, over time, the “real world” of the physical replaced the “fantasy world”
of the ethereal they had so often retreated to as children. And in the process,
something special died in their spirits. They no longer believed in the
realities that those fantasies represented…and the wonder and awe of life
faded away. Their expectations were killed and their hopes of a supernatural
encounter were dashed to pieces. Their dreams were shattered. The
adventures of life died. Like everyone around them, they settled down into
the ordinary…routine…mundane… mediocre.
Life lost its color.
Everything became grey and bland.
However, their longings for the supernatural lingered in the secret recesses
of their souls. In their heart of hearts, they both longed for, and feared, a
theophany. So, they settled down to the “ordinary” – hoping that God
would one day show up – but never really expecting Him to do so.
Many people, in their longing to “escape the ordinary,” are drawn to
spiritual retreats…exotic natural settings…“Miracle Meetings” – where
promises of the paranormal and supernatural are made. People all over the
world flock by the thousands to such gatherings – all in the hope of meeting
God through some miraculous event or supernatural encounter. But to their
disappointment, the true God seldom shows up and manifests Himself in
those settings. And because of this misdirected focus and expectation of
experiencing God in the extraordinary, they miss Him in the ordinary.
And then Christmas comes around! All of the lights, music and festivities
awaken us from the slumber of the routine and mundane. It fans the embers
in us that long for a supernatural visitation – a real Epiphany. The Christmas
star re-ignites a sense of childish awe and wonder! For a few days or weeks,
the “make-believe world” seems to break back in upon us.
But, quite to our surprise, this annual Christmas commemoration and
celebration reminds us that we usually experience God in the ordinary…
common… usual… mundane… routine… everyday situations of life. That’s
what the Christmas Story is all about. It is about the transcendent God
becoming imminent and intimate in the ordinary situations of life!
In this chapter we will see afresh that God met the participants of the first
Christmas in the ordinary. And in doing so, He forever transformed the
ordinary into the extra ordinary!
Let’s look at them individually – each in their own ordinary
circumstances…
Religious Duties
Zachariah and Elizabeth
“In the time of Herod King of Judea there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, his wife
Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in
the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and
regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth
was barren; and they were both well along in years.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as
priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the
priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And
when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled
worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared
to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When
Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the
angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been
heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him
the name John.” (Luke 1:5-13)
Here were two “senior citizens” faithfully going through the religious
routines of their lives. We are assured that they were both “…upright in
the sight of God” and faithfully “…observing all the Lord’s
commandments and regulations blamelessly.” But God had not showed
up in their lives – at least as they had hoped and prayed. He had not given
them the desires of their heart – children. And now it was too late. Because
they were both “…well along in years,” all hope of children had died.
There would be no personal progeny or legacy they would leave behind.
They would live and die with the stigma of “barrenness.”
As a result of this unfulfilled desire, they could have become bitter. They
could have cease going to the temple. Stopped their religious duties. Quit
obeying the commandments of the Lord. They could have redirected their
“blamelessness” into the “blame game.” Like so many of us, they could
have
blamed
God…
blamed
their
religion…blamed
their
circumstances…blamed each other.
But they didn’t. They continued to be faithful at their appointed post.
Zechariah carried out his “duties” like he had done so many times before.
Even though his turn at “burning incense” in the temple was randomly
chosen by lot, he faithfully fulfilled his responsibilities. Maybe he thought
to himself, “How could a priestly duty so capriciously gained by casting
dice result in anything significant?!”
So, perhaps with low expectations, Zechariah, carried out his priestly duty
that day. He went to the temple. He put on his priestly robes and vestments.
He said his prayers. He did his ablutions. He entered the Holy Place. He
burned the incense. It was all rote religious routine.
No one else was allowed to enter the Holy Place with him. The worshipers
were on the outside praying. Was God even present? Did this religious
routine that had been going on for centuries mean anything? Would the
promises they represented ever be fulfilled? Would these religious shadows
ever be replaced by the real living presence of God? Would God ever really
send His Messiah?
With these and other thoughts and questions in his mind, Zechariah said his
prayers and burned the incense. Prayers and the smoke of fragrant incense
ascended from the Holy Place. But, Zechariah was still alone in the Holy
Place. This time of worship would end like all the rest – with no
manifestation from God.
Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, there was a theophany! God showed up!
Doctor Luke records: “Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him.” And
the angel of the Lord drew very close to Zechariah “…at the right side of
the altar.” He was literally at Zechariah’s side. Close enough to whisper in
his ear!
And what did the angel say? “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has
been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give
him the name John.” For years Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed to God for a
child. But no positive answer. No conception. Only silence. Barrenness.
The heavens seemed like impenetrable brass deflecting their prayers. As the
years wore on, the passion was drained from their prayers. All expectation
was destroyed by the biological realities of their age.
Like everyone who experiences what seems like the deafening silence of
God, they wondered if their prayers were heard? Why pray if there was no
positive answer? Even more haunting was the persistent thought of whether
or not there was even a God who was listening? And if He did exist – did
He care?
Regardless, the time had long since passed when they were capable of
producing children. Hope was lost. Eternal barrenness had won. Their
shame could not be removed. They would die childless.
But then God!
You see, if Zechariah had not shown up, God would not have shown up. If
Zechariah would not have been faithful at his duties, God could not have
rewarded him with this theophany. Have you connected the dots in this preChristmas Story? “Zechariah’s division was on duty…he was serving as
priest before God…he was chosen by lot…WHEN the time had
come…THEN an angel of the Lord appeared to him…”
My friend, it is only WHEN we are at our post faithfully carrying out our
duties “…before God” – whatever those duties are – that there can be a
THEN in our lives. It was only when Zechariah was faithfully at his post
that God showed up and turned the ordinary into the extraordinary – and
changed everything for them forever.
As a result of the faithfulness and steadfastness of both Zechariah and
Elizabeth, God did indeed blessed them with a son – even in their old age.
And his name was “John the Baptist!” Because they were faithful in the
ordinary, God blessed them, and the world, with a very extra-ordinary son!
He would be the forerunner of the Messiah.
On the eighth day when their son was circumcised and named “John,”
Zechariah prophesied these words over him:
“You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you
will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His
people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their
sins” (Lk. 1:76).
Many years later, John did just that. And he had the joy of baptizing Jesus
and ushering Him into His public ministry. Early in His own ministry, Jesus
paid John the highest compliment any human could ever be paid: “I tell you
the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone
greater than John the Baptist…” (Matt. 11:11).
And all this happened because Zechariah and Elizabeth were faithful in the
ordinary until God transformed it into the extra-ordinary through His
personal theophany!
Teenage Duties
Mary
When Doctor Luke introduced us to Mary, she was a teenage Jewish girl in
the village of Nazareth in Galilee. She was probably no more than 16 years
of age. Perhaps even younger. Marriages took place earlier in her world.
Women generally did not go to school or have careers outside the home.
Marriage was their greatest desire and highest calling. So, the first thing we
are told about Mary is that she was “…a virgin pledged to be married to a
man named Joseph” (Lk. 1:27).
The first thing that Doctor Luke pointed out in his introduction of Mary was
that she was “…a virgin.” That means she was sexually pure. She had not
defiled herself through any form of sexual fornication. She had “kept
herself” for her husband. Mary had determined to be sexuality sanctified so
she could one day give herself to her husband in the passion of purity.
While we know nothing about Mary’s parents and very little about her
family background from the narrative, this brief description of her as “…a
virgin” is very revealing. She was obviously raised with strong spiritual and
sexual convictions that safeguarded her during her adolescent years.
You see, it matters not the age we are born in or the temptations around us –
hormones create the same results in every person. They produce a physical
and sexual maturation of the body that more clearly distinguishes them as
“male and female” (Gen. 1:27). These God-given hormones create within
every normal person the desire to be with the opposite sex and enjoy sexual
expression and pleasure. The ultimate purpose of this sexual relationship
between a man and woman is to fulfill God’s first command to, “Be fruitful
and increase in number and fill the earth…” (Gen. 1:28).
So as a normal teenage girl, Mary would have had all of these passions and
desires. But because of her spiritual and moral convictions, she kept herself
a “virgin.”
Mary’s temptation toward sexual fornication would have been even stronger
because she was “…pledged to be married to a man named Joseph” (Lk.
1:27). Other translations describe her as “betrothed” or “engaged” to
Joseph. Since I have explained in earlier chapters the Jewish tradition of
“betrothal,” I will not do so again here. Suffice it to say, whenever any
couple moves from a more casual friendship into an “engagement” – the
sexual temptations heat up! While the circumstances would not have been
as conducive for Joseph and Mary because of their cultural conditioning and
constraints – the temptation would still have been there. But she kept herself
pure spiritually and sexually (they stand or fall together). Spiritual
compromise always precedes sexual infidelity.
In keeping herself pure, little did Mary realize that she was fulfilling an
ancient prophecy about the coming of the Messiah:
“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14).
While we do not know all of the details of Mary’s daily activities as a young
virgin – we do know that they were fairly ordinary. Like every Jewish girl
her age, she would have had a number of regular duties and responsibilities
to help with the housekeeping and cooking.
In addition, she would have had the added responsibilities to make all the
preparations for her up-coming marriage to Joseph. While they were
“betrothed” or “engaged,” they had not yet moved in with each other.
They were in the period of “sanctified separation” required by their Jewish
custom. This “waiting period” of around 9 months was a time of
preparation and verification.
During these months, Mary would be making her wedding dress and
preparing for all of the festivities of her marriage ceremony – helped by her
mother, extended female family members and girlfriends. And it was also a
time in which her sexual fidelity and purity would be tested and proven.
So, Mary’s days would be full of ordinary activities – intensified by her
extra-ordinary anticipation and preparation for her wedding day! No doubt
her nights were filled with dreams about Joseph and the coming
consummation of their love.
But then she experienced a theophany. God interrupted her dreams and
plans through an angelic visitation. Doctor Luke records this account –
which must have been told to him later by Mary herself:
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth…to a
virgin pledged to be married…The angel went to her and said:
‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
While we are not told exactly where in Nazareth that “…the angel went to
her,” tradition says it was at the local well. Across the years, I have been to
Nazareth many times. And one of the first places you are always taken is to
“Mary’s Well.” It is not called that because it belonged to her. It was the
public well from which everyone in Nazareth drew water on a daily basis.
Archaeologists assure us that it was there in Mary’s day and has
continuously flowed since that time.
Unquestionably, then, it is the well that Mary would have gone to many
times as a young girl to draw water for her family and home. But whether or
not this was the place where Gabriel “…went to her,” we do not know for
sure. The important thing for our focus is to see that Mary was faithfully
going about her duties and responsibilities as a young Jewish girl preparing
for her wedding day – when she experienced a theophany that changed
everything. And even though Gabriel’s message shook the foundations of
her dreams, she ultimately said: “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to
me as You have said” (Lk. 1:38).
From the moment she made that affirmation to God’s will, life would never
again be ordinary for Mary! In spite of her fears, questions and
uncertainties, Mary recommitted herself to be the “…Lord’s servant.” As a
result, the divine Incarnation in her womb would change everything –
forever! From the moment that “…the Most High overshadowed her” and
impregnated her with the Messiah, life would never be the same again.
While in the coming years, Mary would continue to carry out many ordinary
activities in her life as a woman, wife and mother – they would be forever
infused with the presence of Christ. From that moment forward, her life
could never be separated from the transforming presence of the Lord Jesus!
Life would never be ordinary again. That’s what Christmas is really all
about – for Mary and for all of us. Christmas is about letting Jesus
transform every moment and experience of our lives with His presence,
purpose, power and peace!
Apprentice Duties
Joseph
While Mary was faithfully preparing herself for the fulfillment of her
engagement to Joseph, he was doing the same from the husband’s
perspective. Just like their Jewish faith and culture had very clear
expectations for young girls, it had even higher expectations for boys.
Since the Christmas narrative in Luke’s Gospel is written from Mary’s
perspective, we have to turn back to Matthew’s account for Joseph’s side of
the story. Just as Doctor Luke lets us get inside the heart and mind of Mary
through his narrative, Matthew lets us do the same with Joseph. Putting the
two together, we have very succinct, personal and poignant accounts of the
first Christmas.
It is fitting that the first Gospel account in our Bibles starts with Matthew’s
recounting of the Christmas story from Joseph’s experience. After all, in
Judaism, it was the man who was the priest and spiritual head of the home.
So, we see all through Matthew’s narrative that God gave the majority of the
revelations about the birth of Jesus to Joseph. It also reveals how God gave
clear guidance to Mary and Jesus through Joseph from the birth narrative
onward. It was God’s leading through Joseph that took them from Nazareth
to Bethlehem…to their flight into Egypt…to their return to Nazareth…to
their early life as a family…to their annual trips to Jerusalem for the Jewish
Passover.
But, for Joseph, all of this started in a very ordinary way. Just as was the
case with Mary, we know few details about his background. From
Matthew’s genealogy, we only know that his grandfather was named
Matthan and his father was named Jacob who was “…the father of
Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is call
Christ” (Matt. 1:16).
Since sons usually were mentored spiritually and apprenticed vocationally
by their fathers in their family trade, it is quite possible that Jacob was a
carpenter. That is a safe deduction since Jesus is referred to as “…Joseph’s
son…the carpenter’s son” and just as “…the carpenter” (Lk. 4:22; Matt.
13:55; Mk. 6:3). In the Greek, the word for “carpenter” is tekton. Today
we tend to think of a “carpenter” as someone who primarily works with
wood. But in that time and place, it was a broader term for anyone who was
a general builder. And in a land where rocks are abundant and trees are
scarce, a good builder had to be adept at working with both. Most of the
houses in Nazareth then and now are built of stone. Wood is only used for
door and window frames and for the roof beams.
Jesus, then, was a “carpenter” – a tekton, who worked with both wood and
stone. Growing up in a home with an attached carpenter’s shop, He would
have been very familiar and comfortable in working with the ordinary tools
of His trade: a work table, hammers, saws, axes, chisels, planes, plumb lines,
pegs and nails. And he would have known how to build from scratch all of
the items people needed for their homes and lives: door and window frames,
tables, chairs, plows, threshing sledges, pitchforks, yokes and carts.
While Joseph had grown up working with these tools as a builder, he was
now more focused than ever on developing his trade since he was engaged to
be married! He needed to make extra money for their wedding – plus build
a place where Mary and he could live when the time of their betrothal was
completed in a few months of time.
For both Mary and Joseph, Jewish life was very routine, predictable and
ordinary. But their separate theophanies changed everything! Life is never
the same when you have a personal encounter with God! Their ordinary
lives, marriage and vocation were transformed by this divine interruption –
in the “…fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10). While it was an
unexpected interruption for them – it was the latest revelation that God had
been planning from before the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34; Rev.
13:8).
Unknowingly, Joseph and Mary were caught up in the consummation of
revelations God had been giving across the centuries to Moses, the prophets
and other Jewish kings and patriarchs. These were prophecies and promises
they had learned from their childhood from the Jewish scriptures. They
heard them read weekly in their local synagogue in Nazareth. Never could
they have dreamed or imagined that they would be the ones chosen by God
as the primary participants in this salvation drama! After all, their
background and lives were so ordinary! Surely God would chose someone
more worthy, lofty, educated, cultured, qualified to be His partners in this
historic event!
But, God is full of surprises! He delights in doing the unexpected. He
sovereignly chose two of the most unlikely candidates in all of Israel to be
His partners in the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. And it would
change everything in their lives.
However, obedience to these theophanies would cost them dearly! As we
saw in an earlier chapter, they were submitting to the “God who changes
everything!” Nothing would ever be the same again for them as husband
and wife and as father and mother. The word “ordinary” could never again
be used to describe their lives! There would always be a “divine difference”
in their marriage and home. Never again could plans be made selfishly or
independently. Their lives were no longer their own – nor were their
marriage, home and vocation. Everything was radically changed through
this “divine interruption.” From the moment both of them separately said
“yes” to God, everything was transformed. The presence of Jesus in their
lives and marriage altered the course of their lives and colored every
decision. How can life ever be ordinary again with the presence of Christ
with you? He changes everything!
Regardless of the cost, Joseph and Mary did ultimately submit to the
message of their theophany – even though it was by faith in spite of their
fears, doubts, uncertainties and trepidations. For both of them, it meant
going against their Jewish culture and tradition. It meant that they would
“move in together” before the required days of sanctified separation were
completed. No one would understand. No one would believe their stories
about an angelic visitation. And for sure no one would accept the
explanation
about
a
virgin
conception!
Not
their
parents…siblings…friends…or rabbi. They would be seen as “guilty as
sin!” Nothing could prove them otherwise in the eyes of the people they
loved and respected. They would never again be seen or talked about in
Nazareth as “ordinary” members of the community.
It is insightful to note that the angel Gabriel told Joseph: “Do not be afraid
to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from
the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). Obviously Joseph was very much “afraid”
of what this was going to cost him socially in Nazareth. Would his parents
reject him? Would he lose all of their friends? Would he be able to find
building jobs to support Mary and the baby? Would they be tried,
condemned and excommunicated from the local synagogue? Worst of all,
would Mary be stoned to death as an adulteress?!
It was while Joseph was “tossing and turning” in his bed over these haunting
thoughts that the angel appeared to him in a dream. He did not want to run
the risk of “…exposing Mary to public disgrace.” That could not only lead
to her excommunication – but to her execution! The only other alternative
was to “…divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19).
So, Joseph resolved to do what was best for Mary and the unborn baby in
her womb – even though he would live the rest of his life with the stigma of
divorce. He could handle that better than the thought of her death by
stoning! Just as he reached this resolve, another theophany took place.
Gabriel appeared in Joseph’s dream and told him to “…take Mary home as
your wife…”
Normally, this would have been to Joseph’s father’s house. Few young
couples starting out in life at that time could afford to build or buy their own
home. Besides, the Jewish tradition then and now is the “extended family”
where multiple generations share the same house. As the family increases,
additional rooms are built for the new married family members. So, it is
highly unlikely that Joseph would have had his own home to take Mary into.
Perhaps this was what was in Jesus mind when He later told His disciples:
“In My Father’s house there are many rooms…I am going there to
prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:2). Joseph was preparing to do that for
Mary.
But whether it was to his father’s house, or his own, we know for sure that
Joseph obeyed the command of the Lord through Gabriel:
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matt. 1:24).
While it may have seemed just an ordinary Jewish home in Nazareth, it
would never truly be ordinary again. That’s impossible when Jesus is in
residence there!
It is my prayer that your life, marriage and home will experience a fresh
theophany this Christmas. That God would give you a fresh revelation of
His presence to the degree that it would lift you from the ordinary to the
extraordinary. If He did it for Joseph and Mary, He can and will do it for
you!
Shepherding Duties
The Shepherds
If there were ever ordinary people in the days of Christ, it was the
shepherds! No one lived more ordinary lives than they did. While they
fulfilled a very important role for the people of Israel, nothing was less
glamorous or less prosperous than tending sheep! Although some of the
greatest patriarchs and kings of Israel had been shepherds – like Moses and
David – shepherding was not considered a very high calling by that first
Christmas.
It mattered not that God often revealed Himself in Scriptures as the Great
Shepherd of Israel (Gen. 48:15; 49:24; Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11, etc). Most
people did not consider shepherding a “Godly calling.” After all, sheep are
some of the dumbest, most vulnerable and dependent animals on earth! And
since you are known and judged by the company you keep, shepherds were
considered a lowly lot. They were anything but at the top of the socioeconomic strata of the day.
Shepherding was pretty much an around-the-clock job. You could never
take your eyes off your sheep. The moment you did, they would either
wander off…get lost…eat the wrong food…drink the wrong water…fight
among themselves…or be attacked by predators. Without the constant
attention of the shepherd – along with the provision and protection of his
“rod and staff” – the sheep would never make it to maturity. They would
never live long enough to mature, reproduce, give milk, produce wool and
provide meat. Nor would they ever qualify for sacrifice at the temple.
But, while these shepherds were a pretty ordinary lot, the sheep they were
tending were not totally ordinary in the traditional sense of the word.
Because of Bethlehem’s close proximity to Jerusalem, there is good
probability that at least some of these lambs and sheep were destined for
sacrifice in the temple. As such, they had to be without spot or blemish and
had to be carefully tended to keep them that way.
I work with a number of pastoral people who live just like these ancient
Israelites. As pastoralists, their lives revolve around their animals – whether
those animals are camels, cows, sheep, goats or pigs. They are constantly on
the move looking for green pastures and good water for their animals. From
daybreak to sundown, their livestock have to be watched as they graze from
place to place. And then at night, they have to be brought back into a safe
fold or pen where they can be protected from wolves, bears, panthers, lions
and wild dogs. They also have to be protected from thieves and rustlers who
will come in and steal the animals under the cover of darkness.
Pastoralists can never put down permanent roots anywhere. They are
constantly on the move with their cattle. They must live outside most of the
time – enduring the heat of the days and the cold of the nights. It’s the
ordinary, everyday life of shepherding. That life-style is so totally removed
from our urban living that we find it hard to relate to.
But God intimately understands shepherding. It reveals His heart and His
nature. Any wonder, then, that the lowly, humble, ordinary shepherds were
the very first people to experience a theophany after the birth of the Christ
child!
Even though we’ve all read or heard the story all of our lives, let’s look at it
again with fresh eyes and ears:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping
watch over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to
them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said to them: ‘Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is
Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a Baby
wrapped in clothes and laying in a manger.’
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying:
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom
His favor rests.’”
I love to preach on this story among pastoral people. Most of them do not
see themselves as special in any way. That’s because most of the people
around them don’t see them as special. As a result, they feel very ordinary.
And they can’t imagine that the true and living God would reveal Himself to
shepherds like themselves! So, I love to preach from this part of the
Christmas story and tell them that shepherds are so special and important to
God that they were the very first people God told about the birth of the
Christ child! And, I also emphasize to them the positive response that those
shepherds made to their theophany.
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another: ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby
who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they
spread the word concerning what had been told them about this
Child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds
said to them…The shepherds returned glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as
they had been told” (Lk. 2:8-20).
These lowly, humble, ordinary shepherds were the very first people to be
told about the birth of Christ! The angel of the Lord went neither to the
kings or priests – nor to the educated and wealthy. The angelic host did not
sing in palaces, palatial mansions, temples or synagogues. They revealed
themselves to “…shepherds living out in the fields by night.” What an
unexpected place for God to show up! And what ordinary people for Him to
give a theophany!
Imagine...the shepherds were the only people in all of Israel or Bethlehem
that night that had a special angelic choir sing to them and praise God!
Everyone else slept through the whole theophany – totally unaware of what
God was doing. God was revealing Himself. History was being split in two.
Prophecies were being fulfilled. The fulfillment of the ages was taking
place, and the majority of the population was fast asleep!
But the shepherds were “wide awake.” They had to be because the
nighttime was an especially dangerous time for the sheep. The shadowy
darkness gave covering for ravenous animals that would attack and carry off
sheep. So, the shepherds had to be especially alert and vigilant. Their eyes
would look back and forth from their grazing and resting sheep around them
to the skies above them. They ears and eyes were especially alert to any
unusual movement or sounds.
Suddenly their world was interrupted with a theophany – something they
never anticipated or expected. It was something totally “out of the ordinary”
for them. It was not something their senses were trained for. Any wonder
then that “…they were terrified” when “an angel of the Lord appeared
to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.” When a real
angel appears to you and you are suddenly immersed all around with the
“…glory of the Lord,” it is terrifying because we have no conditioning for
it!
But God’s angel quickly assured them that he had not come in judgment. He
calmed their fears with the assuring words: “Do not be afraid. I bring you
good news of great joy!”
Gradually, they regained their senses. Their terror subsided. Their fears
were replaced by awe and wonder. They began to be filled with the joy of
the angelic host. But, as suddenly as they came, the angels left. The music
stopped. The glory dissipated. Silence surrounded them.
What should they do now? Should they stay or go? The answer was
obvious to them. So, we read: “When the angels had left them and gone
into heaven, the shepherds said to one another: ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about.’”
After receiving the message and hearing the worship, they were immediately
obedient to what the angels told them to do. As people of action, they said
to each other: “Let’s go…and see.” And they did.
It is very interesting that the angels gave them a clue that would be
unmistakable for finding this baby. He would be “…wrapped in clothes
and lying in a manger.” One thing’s for sure, mangers for feeding their
sheep was something with which they were very familiar. They had built
them and used them for fodder for their sheep all of their lives. Nothing
could have been more ordinary to them than a manger. The search for a
baby “…lying in a manger” would be hard to miss! And since a manger
was not found in a house or an inn, that narrowed the location to where other
sheep and animals were sheltered. The caves outside Bethlehem would be
the logical place to look first.
And found Him they did! As a result, they were the very first human beings,
other than Joseph and Mary, to see God’s Messiah in the flesh! Their lives
as shepherds would never be ordinary or the same again! The Great
Shepherd of Israel had come in the flesh.
But they did not stop with going and seeing for themselves. When you have
had a theophany, you just can’t sit still and keep quiet! Any wonder, then,
that we read: “When they had seen Him, they spread the word…”
These humble shepherds became the very first evangelists of the Christmas
story! But it all started out so ordinary. Their calling was ordinary…their
duties were ordinary…their sheep were ordinary…the fields were
ordinary…that night was ordinary.
Then totally unexpected – the extra-ordinary – broke in! And they did not
miss it because they were faithfully at their post “…living out in the
fields…keeping watch over their flocks at night.”
God always shows up in the most unexpected places…to the most
unexpected people…at the most unexpected times – and forever transforms
our ordinary into His super-ordinary!
Don’t miss him this Christmas! Be alert, faithful and watching at your post
– whatever it is and wherever it is. God just loves giving theophanies to
ordinary people like shepherds, like you and me!
Scientific Duties
The Wise Men
This group of men were polar opposites to the shepherds we have just visited
out in the fields surrounding Bethlehem. These men were anything but the
low socio-economic class of their world. As the scientists of the day, they
were educated…
influential.
privileged…
wealthy…
dignified…
respected…
These Magi, or astronomers, constantly watched the heavens for any unusual
signs that might be an omen or portent of earthly significance. Like most of
the ancient world, these men believed that nothing happened on earth that
was not first announced in some way through the heavenly bodies. Theirs
was the world of astrology with the “signs of the Zodiac” that dictated life
here on earth. Whatever “star” a person was born under determined the
course of his life.
Since Matthew recorded that they were from the “east”, they could have
come from the area of Babylon or ancient Persia, where astrology and
astronomy were prominent preoccupations. Some Bible scholars believe
that these Magi might have somehow heard the prophecy of Balaam: “A star
will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17).
From that prophecy alone, they could easily have concluded that a certain
“star” would one day appear that would announce the birth of one who
would wield a “scepter” – which signified that someone of royalty would
rule and reign.
It is also possible that, during one of the Jewish Diaspora in Egypt, Babylon
or Assyria, these Magi could have come in contact with some of the
Scriptures and read about the Jewish God. Certainly someone who had the
impact that Daniel did on the rulers of Babylon would have left a memory
and legacy that would have endured across the years of the exile. After all,
Daniel had interpreted a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar that none of his
“…magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers” could interpret
(Dan. 2:1). After the king’s astrologers could not interpret his dream, Daniel
said to him:
“Praise be to the Name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and
power are His. He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings
and disposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to
the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows
what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him…No wise man,
enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the
mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who
reveals mysteries” (Dan. 2:20-23, 28).
The renown that Daniel gained from correctly interpreting
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, as well as Belteshazzar’s after him, would have
been recorded in the memory and annals of Babylonian history. Or, God
could have just given the Magi a direct revelation about this star.
Regardless, somehow they knew about a “star” that would announce the
birth of the “King of the Jews”.
While their status in life was polar opposites from the lowly shepherds, there
was one thing they did have in common with them – they were also
especially vigilant at night. After all, it is after dark that astronomers do
their primary work of observing the heavens. These Magi from the east
were looking into the night sky with their ancient telescopes. Obviously,
that’s when anyone can observe the stars and heavenly bodies at their best.
Like scientists in every generation, they wanted to be the first to observe
something that no one else had ever seen.
However, unlike the shepherds, the Magi were not “…out in the fields”
surrounded by sheep. They were in their lofty observatory surrounded by
maps, globes, astrological charts and ancient documents. Their eyes
searched the heavens for any unusual movement. Any unusually bright
light. Any significant alignment of the planets. Any shifting of the heavenly
bodies.
We may never know for sure what heavenly activity alerted them that night,
but see something highly unusual they did. It was so out-of-the-ordinary
that it caught their attention. The more they studied that particular star, the
more they were convinced that it had great political significance. And,
somehow, they related it to the Jewish people. Motivating them to action,
they could not remain aloof in their observatory. They must “follow their
star” to see where it would lead them. One thing’s for sure, it led them out
of the ordinary into the supernatural and into the fulfillment of Biblical
prophecy!
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of
King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,
‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw
His star in the east and have come to worship him’” (Matt. 2:1-2).
The presence in Jerusalem of such distinguished Gentile gentlemen from the
east could not be ignored. The word spread rapidly – all the way to the court
of King Herod. Upon hearing their request, Herod quickly convened a
meeting with the “…chief priests and teachers of the Law.” If anyone
should know where such a “King of the Jews” was to be born – they would
be the ones. After all, it was their religious duty to know such things
because the answer was clear from their Scriptures. It was prophesied that
this “ruler” would be born in “…Bethlehem of Judea.” They knew the
prophecy of Micah well:
“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” (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:6).
So, the Jewish religious leaders gave the right answer – but made the wrong
response. After they were dismissed from their meeting with Herod, they
apparently went back to their theological libraries…Biblical parchments…
synagogues…temple precinct…homes.
They chose theology over a
theophany – knowledge about God instead of a personal encounter with
God! They didn’t care enough to even go the short 5 miles from Jerusalem
to Bethlehem to see for themselves if this prophecy had indeed been
fulfilled. They simply went back to their ordinary religiosity – and missed
God’s incarnation!
On the other hand, the Magi had waited too long not to “go the distance.”
They had traveled too far to turn back now. They must follow the star until
it led them to this newly born “…King of the Jews.”
We know from the Bible about the intrigue that followed and the plot that
King Herod made to try and find the Christ child through the Magi – only so
he could kill Him. As we saw in an earlier study, King Herod was a very
paranoid ruler who would not tolerate any rivalry to his rule – whether it was
a wife, a son, or a Jewish child of prophecy. But Herod’s savagery was no
match for God’s sovereignty. So we read…
“After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the
star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped
over the place where the child was.”
It is interesting to note that the “star” that they had seen in the east again
“…went ahead of them…” Planetary bodies naturally travel from east to
west. Not the reverse. Nor do they move from north to south. The great
question through the centuries has been: “What was that star?” All kinds of
theological and scientific explanations have been suggested.
Some
astronomers have conjectured that it was an unusual alignment of Jupiter,
Saturn and Mars. Others have said it was some kind of comet or supernova.
On the other hand, some Bible scholars have related this star to the
“Shekinah Glory” of God that led the children of Israel for 40 years in the
wilderness. As you read these verses, you can see clear similarities:
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide
them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them
light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar
of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front
of the people” (Ex. 13:21-22).
In both cases, it was the Lord who “…went ahead of them…to guide them
on their way.” The Bible reveals that “God is light” and “…lives in
unapproachable light” (I Jn. 1:5; I Tim. 6:16). He is called “…the Father
of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows” (Ja. 1:17).
So while this guidance for the Magi came through a star – or the Shekinah –
it was God who was clearly leading them.
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the
house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed
down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and
presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh”
(Matt. 2:10-11).
It is important to note that this visit by the Magi was sometime later than the
earlier visit by the shepherds. When the shepherds came, it was shortly after
the birth of Christ because He was still a “…babe lying in a manger.” The
word here that Doctor Luke used for “baby” was brephos, meaning a
“newborn infant.”
When the Magi arrived, he was no longer an infant in a manger but a
“child” in a “house.” Again, the word for “child” is very specific. It is
paidion for a “young child.” While the Magi found Mary, Joseph and Jesus
in Bethlehem, it was sometime later and the new family had relocated to a
house. That’s why the Easter Orthodox Church celebrates Epiphany, or the
coming of the Magi, as a separate event in early January.
Having successfully led the Magi to the Christ child, the star disappeared
from the heavens – faded from view. Regardless, it had fulfilled its purpose.
It had been God’s guiding star to bring the Magi to Christ. However, God
still needed to give them guidance not to go back and report to Herod so he
could carry out his diabolical plot to kill the Child – rather than “worship
Him.” Therefore, we read:
“And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they
returned to their country by another route” (v. 12)
In another chapter I will develop this verse more about how the Magi
“…returned to their country by another route.” Suffice it to say, at this
point, once we see Christ, we can never be the same. We can never “go
back the way we came.” Life is forever different. God always gives us a
“new direction” in life through our Epiphany. It was true for the Magi…it
was true for the shepherds…it is true for you and me.
Before concluding this journey with them, we must go back to our theme of
“Meeting God in the Ordinary.” Again we see how God revealed Himself
to the Magi as they were going about their daily and nightly duties as
astronomers. How many hours had they peered into the heavens? How
many sleepless nights had they spent? How many months had they studied
the skies? How many years had they looked and longed to see something
cosmically cataclysmic? How many sunrises had they watched without a
new sighting? Most of their adult lives had been spent “looking in vain.”
But it was all necessary to prepare them for that one moment when God
would give them an epiphany. This reminds us that if we are not faithful in
the ordinary, we will never experience the extra-ordinary!
And so it happened one night, after years of watching and waiting! They
had a theophany. An epiphany. There was a new star they had never seen
before – brighter than any other! It was unmistakable. The trained eye
could not miss it. Its light broke through the dark heavens more brightly
than any other. Surely this was some kind of heavenly announcement! And
it was!
What if they had slept in that night and not seen the star? What if they had
ignored it? What if they had rationalized it as not that important? What if
they had said:
“Hmmm, to follow that star we will have to go westward. We don’t
know how far it will take us or how long our journey will take? That
star may lead us into other countries where we are strangers and
unwelcomed. It might be a hard and dangerous journey! It might
cost us a lot of time and money. We just better ignore it and stay
home where it is safe and comfortable.”
But they did not stay in the known…the familiar…the comfortable…the safe
– the ordinary! They packed their bags, loaded their “…gold, incense and
myrrh,” mounted their camels and started west following the star. They
must find this one who was recently born “King of the Jews.” They could
not and would not rest until they found Him. And, when they were
ultimately and sovereignly led to Him, they “…bowed down and
worshiped Him” (v. 11).
What a sight that must have been that night! In all of their pomp and
circumstance the sight of this Child awed them. With all of their silk robes,
turbans, rings, jewelry and eastern finery, they were humbled in His
presence. They “bowed down” before Him. What a cultural contradiction!
Nobility bowing before Royalty wrapped in simple clothing. Aged ones
bowing before a child. Scholars bowing before wisdom incarnate. Wealth
bowing before poverty. Power bowing before weakness. Men bowing
before God who had come as a little child! True men are always humbled in
the presence of the true God.
At that point, their journey was complete. That’s because to “…worship
Him” is the ultimate goal and purpose of life – whether you are Magi or
shepherds… prophets or plumbers… preachers or politicians... presidents or
peasants. And when the Magi (or you and I) discover Christ and truly
“…worship Him,” we always “…return a different way.” Life can never
be the same again. We can never settle back down into the ordinary! An
extra-ordinary God produces extra-ordinary living.
Retirement
Simeon & Anna
Before we close this study on “Meeting God in the Ordinary,” we must look
at two “senior citizens.” It is interesting that this study began with the story
of two “senior saints” named Zechariah and Elizabeth. It ends with two
more “senior saints and both of their stories revolve around the temple.
The players in this part of the Christmas narrative are especially important
because we have an aging population in America. People are living longer
than ever before. For many, the “retirement years” have either become some
of the loneliest, empty and meaningless season of their lives – or the fullest,
richest and most rewarding. Simeon and Anna teach us that no one is ever
too old for a theophany. Let’s look at their interrelated stories.
After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, we are introduced to a series of events
that Joseph and Mary carried out in obedience to the Law of Moses. As we
will see in a future study, these ceremonies give us great insight into the
depth of the spiritual commitment of Joseph and Mary. It is also because of
their obedience to these Jewish laws and customs that we are introduced to
two very special “senior saints.” As you already know from this chapter
title, their names are Simeon and Anna.
The event right before this, that Doctor Luke recorded, was the visit of the
shepherds to Bethlehem where they found the newborn Christ child
‘’…lying in a manger.” For the 7 days immediately after the birth of a
child, the mother was considered “ceremonially unclean” – because of the
loss of blood that occurred in the birthing process. The same law applied to
her monthly period (Lev. 12:2; 15:19; 18:19, etc) “…the flow of blood”.
During either time, she could not go to the temple or into the sanctuary to
participate in religious activities or ceremonies – thus the term ceremonially
unclean.
The first spiritual event was 8 days after the birth of the Christ child.
According to the Law of Moses, the eighth day was the time when all male
children were to be circumcised (Lev. 12:3). It was also the usual time when
the child was officially named. In this case, He was given the name Gabriel
announced, “Jeshua” or “Jesus.” Because it was only a week after the
birth of Jesus, His circumcision and naming most probably took place in
Bethlehem, where they were temporarily dwelling. So, we read this succinct
account from Doctor Luke:
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, He was
named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had
been conceived” (Lk. 2:21; c.f. Lk. 1:31; Matt. 1:21).
Then, around a month later – 33 days to be specific – we find Joseph and
Mary fulfilling another very specific Law of Moses. It was the end of this
“time of purification” that a woman who had given birth was required to go
through after “…her bleeding.” After that period was over, she was no
longer “ceremonially unclean” and was required to go to the temple and
make a sacrifice through which she was officially pronounced “Levitically
clean.” As such, she could fully participate in temple sacrifices and worship.
When Mary carried out this “rite of purification” in the temple, she entered
the “Court of the Women,” probably through the “Gate of the Women” on
the northern side of the temple. She would have deposited her monetary
offering into one of the “Trumpets” that the women put their offerings in.
“When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over,
she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting
a year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove
for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the Lord to make
atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from
her flow of blood…If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two
doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the
other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make
atonement for her, and she will be clean” (Lev. 12:1-8).
Once again, we see the obedience of Joseph and Mary to the “Law of
Moses” which was clearly equated with the “Law of the Lord.” Because
Jesus was their “firstborn,” they also had to make special sacrifices to
“redeem” Him back as their own Son at the price of 5 shekels (Num.
18:16). At the same time, He was “…consecrate to the Lord” (Ex. 13:2,
12) and as a result of this ceremony, the Baby Jesus was given up to the
Lord and then received back again.
While we are not under these ceremonial laws today, it is important that we
pause to remind ourselves of them in order to better understand the
background of the Christmas narrative:
“When the time of their purification according to the Law of
Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took Him to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, (as it is written in the Law
of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’)
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of
the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’” (Lk. 2:24).
It is also important in passing to note the type of sacrifice Joseph and Mary
made. They did not sacrifice “a year old lamb,” but rather “a pair of
doves” or “two young pigeons” – which was all they could afford. In other
words, they made the sacrifice of the poor, showing their lowly humble
status at this time in their marriage. Apparently they could not even afford
to buy a “…year old lamb.”
So, it was this rite of purification and dedication that took Joseph and Mary
to the temple a little over a month after the birth and circumcision of Jesus.
And it was there that they unexpectedly encountered the aged Simeon. He
stepped into the Christmas narrative – seemingly out of nowhere. Prior to
this brief appearance, we know little or nothing about him. But his
encounter with Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus was profound! Read afresh
this account:
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was
righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to
him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen
the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple
courts. When the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for
Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in
his arms and praised God saying:
‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your
servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You
have prepared in the sight of all people. A light for revelation to
the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’”
As we would expect, this rather presumptuous encounter “blew their
minds!” It was not at all what they were expecting. They were prepared to
place their baby Son into the arms of a priest for consecration – but who was
this man who presumptuously “…took Him in his arms” and began
praising God?
Luke’s Gospel tells us that Simeon was “…righteous…devout…waiting
for the consolation of Israel…the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Pretty
impressive spiritual credentials! Joseph and Mary must have quickly sensed
Simeon’s spiritual maturity. And like Joseph and Mary, Simeon had had his
own theophany through the Holy Spirit. God had revealed to him, “…he
would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” And, through that
same Holy Spirit, Simeon sensed that this was the day and hour that he
would see God’s long-awaited Messiah. This would be no ordinary visit to
the temple – which he had apparently done all of his life. This would be the
beginning of the “…consolation of Israel,” or comfort, encouragement,
help to God’s people through the promised Messiah.
“Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts” at precisely the
right time and place and encountered Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. It was a
divine appointment he had waited for all of his life! He had now “seen” and
held in his arms God’s “…salvation…prepared in the sight of all people”
for a “light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory…to Israel.”
Any wonder that Joseph and Mary “…marveled at what was said about
Him.” With just a few words, Simeon gave the sweeping summary of the
life and ministry of the Christ child – which he would never live to see. He
would bring “salvation” to all people – Jew and Gentile alike.
But the Spirit was not through speaking to them through Simeon because,
after he “blessed them,” Simeon had a special word of prophecy for Mary:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in
Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce
your own soul too” (Lk. 2:25-35).
With those words, Simeon stepped out of the Christmas narrative. He
departed as abruptly as he came. But, after his theophany, Simeon was
ready to “…die in peace.” His life was fulfilled! “His eyes had seen
God’s salvation!”
It is my prayer that your eyes will see the same thing this Christmas!
As Simeon stepped out of Doctor Luke’s Christmas narrative, another
“senior saint” by the name of Anna, stepped into the picture. She was a
“widow prophetess” in her Jewish faith. Like Simeon, she met Joseph,
Mary and the Christ child in the temple precinct. Here is her brief
encounter:
“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her
husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow
until she was eighty-four.”
Life had not been easy or kind to Anna. First, she was from the tribe of
Asher, one of the lesser-known tribes who had done little to distinguish
themselves. They were basically marginalized in Palestine. They were not
normal residents of Jerusalem and so were seen as “outsiders.” Anna’s tribal
and social pedigree was unimpressive.
Nor was her marriage distinguished. After a relative short marriage of seven
years, she was widowed by the death of her husband – whose name we do
not even know. Apparently she and her husband never had children since
there is no mention of them. When we briefly meet her, she is 84 years old
and had lived the majority of her adult years as a widow.
Like many in her condition, Anna could have become disillusioned and
depressed. She could have become bitter and angry with God. She could
have given up on her faith. She could have walked away from the temple
and ceased using her prophetic gift.
But Anna didn’t become bitter – she became better! She didn’t walk away
from God and the temple. She spent more time there than ever. It became
her “second home.” No, it became her permanent home. Luke records that
“She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and
praying.”
Anna did not fall away from God – but drew closer to Him. She didn’t move
away from the temple – she moved into the temple. She didn’t stop
attending worship – but “…worshiped night and day.” And the fervency
of her faith was demonstrated that she “prayed with fasting.” Even though
she was “very old,” she was still very passionate in her faith as we read:
“Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God
and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the
redemption of Jerusalem” (Lk. 2:36-38).
While Simeon rejoiced in the “consolation,” or “comfort” of Israel, Anna
prophesied about the “redemption of Jerusalem.” She realized that this
Christ child was the one who would not just bring “comfort”, He would
“redeem” those who would believe in Him.
Both Simeon and Anna remind me of one of my favorite verses about
“senior saints” recorded in Psalm 92:
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a
cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will
flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old
age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming: ‘The Lord is
upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him’”
(92:12-15).
I love those verses probably because I am now a “senior saint” myself – like
Simeon and Anna! l also love those verses because both of those seniors
were firmly “…planted in the house of the Lord.” As a result of their
spiritual connectedness to the temple, they “flourished.” Unlike so many,
they did not just “grow old.” They were “old and growing!” Because of
their spiritual lives and the indwelling Holy Spirit, they remained “fresh
and green.” Like an evergreen tree, the spiritual sap was still surging
through their old veins! Both of their lives were living testimonies that
“The Lord is upright,” that He alone is the secure “Rock” that you can
build your life firmly upon. And, regardless of the ageless assaults of the
evil one through disappointment, depression, disease and death – “There is
no wickedness in God.”
What incredible stories! What profound testimonies. Two very ordinary
“senior saints” who refused to live the last days of their lives in an ordinary
way. They were determined to be very active in the Lord’s work for them
until He called them home. And they were.
Whatever your age or station in life, my Christmas prayer for you is that
you, too – like Simeon and Anna – will remain faithful to the Lord all the
days of your life. If your age and physical health causes you to slow down
your pace – intensify your worship, prayers, Bible study, fasting and praise!
Don’t allow yourself to become just another anonymous, innocuous,
ordinary, aging “senior citizen” going through the motions of life! Ask God
to keep you “fresh and green” on the inside – regardless of what is
happening on the outside!
May Simeon and Anna inspire you this Christmas season with their
examples of spiritual vitality to the very end of their lives!
Conclusions
In this study, we have seen how God met people recorded in the Christmas
narratives in very ordinary places. Most were just going about their daily
routines – living rather ordinary lives. None of them were really expecting a
theophany or an epiphany. They were not expecting God to show up
through one of His angels or through some divine manifestation.
But, each one or each group was faithfully engaged in the task to which God
had sovereignly called them. None of them were inactive or indigent. They
were each busy at their jobs – whether they were “sacred” or “secular.” For
each of them, it was part of the ordinary routine of their lives. Yet,
unexpectedly, God met them in the ordinary and transformed it into the
extra-ordinary. And He did so because they were each faithful where they
were. Life was never the same for any of them again.
It is my prayer that during this Christmas Season, we too will be faithful in
the ordinary, that we will learn to expect His presence in the mundane
routines of life.
There was an early monk by the name of “Brother Lawrence.” His job in
the monastery was washing dishes – which he hated! It did not seem very
“spiritual.” After all, working in the kitchen and washing dishes was not
what drew him to the ascetic life of a monastery. So, he began to pray that
God would change his attitude about this dirty, mundane task. Over time,
God gave him the victory to the degree that he said: “I have learned to
experience His presence in washing dishes as much as in the celebration of
the Eucharist!” Now that’s the testimony of a person who learned how to
let God transform the ordinary into the extra-ordinary!
Each of us have ordinary, routine, mundane things we have to do regularly
that do not necessarily “turn us on.” It may be cooking…washing
clothes…cleaning
the
house…doing
homework…balancing
our
checkbook…grading papers…mowing the lawn – the list is infinite. If we
are responsible, we continue to do these ordinary things with little
expectation of a theophany. But one of the great messages of Christmas is
that we most often “Meet God in the Ordinary” when we are not expecting
Him to show up. Because He is omnipresent, He was there all the time. We
just needed His help to recognize His presence.
Starting this Christmas season, begin to look for God in the ordinary. Like
Brother Lawrence, if you will discipline yourself to “Practice His Presence”
– life will never be ordinary for you again! That’s what Christmas is all
about!
GIVING CHRIST
THE MANGERS OF YOUR LIFE
“And she gave birth to her first-born son;
and she wrapped Him in clothes, and laid Him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.”
(Luke 2:7)
The verse that you have just read is one of the most revealing verses in the
Bible! It unveils worlds of information about both God and man. This verse
painfully reminds us that we generally only give God the insignificant and
inconsequential stables and mangers of our lives. We keep Christ discretely
marginalized in the out-of-the-way places of our lives.
But this verse also tells us – to our utter amazement – that in His divine
humility God will condescend to our stables and mangers! Because of His
indescribable love, God literally “stoops to conquer.”
However, because of our familiarity with the Christmas story from our
earliest childhood, it is difficult, if not impossible, for the full impact of the
indignity and ignominy of that story to impact our thinking. As we annually
view the familiar manger scenes and crèche – beautifully carved in wood or
molded from ceramic, and so delicately painted – we see the contented,
serene faces of Mary and Joseph …the adoring shepherds…the worshiping
wise men…the hovering angels…the shining star. It all looks so idyllic…so
tranquil…so peaceful…so right…somehow so appropriate!
It is all so familiar to us that we often fully miss the impact of this part of the
Christmas Story. In reality, our thinking is so artificial…so unreal…so
inappropriate!
Let’s make a crude comparison. Many years ago there was the fairy-tale
marriage of the twentieth century. It was between Prince Charles and Lady
Diana. In time they had a son, Prince William. The moment he was born, he
became the “crown prince” who would ultimately be king after the death of
his father. When Lady Diana announced her pregnancy, all of the British
Commonwealth was thrilled with expectancy over the arrival of that royal
baby!
Because Prince Charles and Lady Diana were considered “human royalty,”
they lived in a style and dwelled in surroundings that were befitting their
position in life. They lived in royal palaces…rode in royal coaches…sailed
in royal yachts… dressed in royal attire…and were surrounded by royal
“pomp-and-circumstance.”
How very inappropriate it would have seemed to our senses for Lady Diana
to leave the palace and have her royal baby born in a stable. It would be
ignominy beyond description for her to give birth to her son in a stable – and
not even one of the elegantly furnished and attended royal stables of
Buckingham Palace with all its thoroughbred horses. Imagine Prince
William being born in a broken-down barn or shed in the tenement section
of London! A run-down shabby animal shelter filled with loose
animals…dirt…cobwebs…manure…and stench.
A place that was
cold…drafty…dark…and musty. A crowded and cramped stable that was
unsanitary and inappropriate for any human birth – much less one of royalty!
And yet, that is a crude human comparison of what God did in that first
Christmas! Here was the very Lord of Glory becoming incarnate as the child
of a peasant girl…the omnipotent God of the universe becoming a helpless
babe…the very Light of the world born in a dark stable…that One who
dwelt in unapproachable light becoming approachable by the lowliest of
men…the One who had been previously surrounded by majesty and
resplendent glory that exceeds our comprehension, now surrounded by the
auras of a stable. It doesn’t even compute!
This is the very God of the universe who had previously been adored and
worshipped by angels, archangels and seraphim with the unending
doxology: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty! Heaven and earth are
full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3). And yet, when He came to His own creation,
“His own received Him not” (Jn. 1:11).
This very God of glory willingly exchanged the worship of heaven for the
womb of an insignificant peasant girl. And this young girl, both through the
necessity of circumstances and the hardness of men’s hearts, gave Him birth
in a cave carved in a hillside in Bethlehem for sheep – where she then laid
Him in a manger where the animals fed!
No longer was He surrounded by the praises of angels, archangels and
seraphim, but the bleating of sheep and the lowing of cattle – no longer
worshipped and adored by angelic host – but surrounded by the indifference
of busy, preoccupied humans – save his parents and a handful of shepherd
outcasts. He was no longer worshipped in majesty by the fragrant perfumed
praises of the heavenly hosts, but engulfed by the stench of an animal
shelter! What incredible divine humility!
Paul expressed this divine condescension so aptly:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through
His poverty might become rich” (II Cor. 8:9).
He further expressed this divine humility when he wrote:
“Although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard
equality with God a thing to be grasped (clung to), but emptied
Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the
likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He
humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).
We tend to look back at that first Christmas with the feeling that if we had
been there we would have made it all different. We would not have been like
the innkeeper, but would have gladly opened the door of our home to Him.
We would have “rolled out the red carpet” with the very best we had to
offer to this peasant couple pregnant with deity!
Yet, this is not only an event of history –THE event of history – it is also a
contemporary parable of most of our lives! Do we not continue to offer
Christ the stables and mangers of our lives? When He is finally able to gain
entrance into our lives after relentlessly pursuing us with His love, isn’t it
usually
through
the
stable,
or
manger
of
circumstances…necessity…disappointment…tragedy…or crisis, rather than
through the door of desire? Isn’t it usually through a will that reluctantly
submits and often grudgingly opens the backdoor – or stable door – rather
than the joyful, willful abandonment of eager love opening wide the front
door of our lives?
But even in the face of such reluctance and indifference – wonder of
wonders – in His divine humility, God enters our lives at that point – the
stables of our lives. How unfathomable that He will allow you and me to
place Him in those out-of-the-way mangers because of the overcrowded
conditions that exist in the primary places of our lives!
Let me ask you: “Where is Christ in your life right now?” Is He still seeking
to be incarnate in your life through the New Birth? Is He still on the outside
seeking entrance? Have you even made a stable or manger available to Him
yet?
Where is Christ in your priorities? If you previously invited Him in, where
does He rate in your time…in your values…in your expenditures of
money…in your relationships? Are you still forcing Him to take a
secondary place? Is He still in the guest room, rather than the throne room?
Is He only allowed a place in the insignificant, secondary manger of your
life? Why not invite Him to move from the manger to the throne room of
your life right now?!
You, see, you can keep a baby in a manger – but not a grown man! Most
people have at least some love and affection for the “baby Jesus” around
Christmas time. He appears so innocent…so helpless…so undemanding…so
safe…so manageable …so non-threatening!
But the “Man, Christ Jesus” is another story! The total allegiance He
demands as Lord challenges our unsurrendered will. He will not allow you
to forever keep Him tucked away in the backroom stable and manger of your
life! He demands your best…your love and allegiance…your all.
So, during this Christmas Season, I challenge you to not only let Him be
your Savior, but also the absolute Lord of your life! Only then can you sing
with the real conviction and freedom:
“O Come let us adore Him, CHRIST THE LORD!”
THE PEOPLE
WHO MISSED CHRISTMAS
“And while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”
(I Kings 20:40)
Few things in life could be more tragic than missing some important event.
That’s what happened to the man described in the brief verse above. He was
not bad – just busy. And as a result, he missed the most important thing in
his life at the time. That’s the story of Christmas for so many people.
Sadly, so many of us miss the best in life because of busyness. It is certainly
one of my besetting sins! Since I tend to be a doer, it is so easy for me to
over-extend and get too busy with good things – all for the Lord and for
others in need. But in the process, I sometimes miss the best that God has
for me at that time. I am sure that most of you have experienced the same
thing – at least in retrospect.
It is bad enough to miss a not-so-important-event. But to miss a once-in-alifetime event – that’s tragic beyond repair. Think about it. What would it
be like to miss an unrepeatable event like a marriage…the birth of a baby…a
baptism…a graduation…a funeral. Each of these is a top priority family
event with heavy relational overtones. How tragic it would be to miss one of
these significant events – especially if there was no valid reason for doing
so!
Almost all college students have had the experience of oversleeping and
missing some important class or exam. Every workingman has had the rather
embarrassing experience of sleeping through the alarm clock and being late
for work or for some important business meeting. Most all mothers have
experienced sleeping too late – due to being up in the night with a baby or an
awakened child – and therefore getting up too late the next morning to get
the kids dressed, fed and off to school on time. We could go on and on with
other examples – but the point is this: We have all had the experience of
missing some important event for a less-than-valid reason!
Some years ago, President-elect Barack Obama was re-elected as the fortyfourth president of the United States. What a tragedy it would be if, through
some series of capricious circumstances, he had slept through his
inauguration ceremony! Now, of course that did not happen – especially
with a supportive wife and two excited daughters who were eager to see him
inaugurated – not to mention scores of attendants, assistants and the Secret
Service.
But many people slept through or missed a far greater event than the
inauguration of an American president. They did not miss an inauguration –
but the Incarnation. It happened almost 2,000 years ago – and it is still
happening to this very day. In fact, it will happen again for many people this
month. There will be millions of people in America and around the world
who will totally miss Christmas. And many of them will do so while
celebrating it!
Look with me at several people who missed that first and most unique of all
Christmases…
Perhaps the first person to miss Christmas was the Innkeeper. Now, I don’t
think for a moment that he missed Christmas because he was a bad person.
No. He missed Christmas because he was a busy person! It was just that this
was an especially busy time of year because of the decree of Caesar
Augustus requiring everyone to be enrolled in the government census. It was
just too important an opportunity to let pass for making some extra revenue!
He was going to seize the moment to the fullest for the sake of his hotel
business.
As a shrewd businessman, this Innkeeper was going to make sure he got his
“piece of the pie!” Caesar Augustus was not going to be the only one to
profit by this census. Since the Roman Government was conducting this
census for the purpose of taxation, he was going to capitalize on this mass
movement of humanity for his own advantage.
So, in the process of preparing the rooms…making use of every possible
available space – even the storage room…making the beds…buying the food
to feed his guests…equipping the stable for an overflow of donkeys, horses,
oxen, and camels…hiring the extra workers to care for the extra hotel guests
and to care for their beasts of burden. Perhaps he even hired some
performers to entertain and amuse his guests in the evening to make their
stay more pleasant – and possibly insure their staying with him again on
their next business or pleasure trip to Bethlehem. In the midst of all this
unusually increased activity, the Innkeeper – like most merchants today –
just missed Christmas because he was too heavily engrossed in cashing-in on
this unique business opportunity!
The innkeeper was so close to Christmas – yet so far away! It was literally
right in front of him – but he still missed it. The decree of the Emperor had
brought the parents of Jesus to his town, Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph stood
on his doorstep.
They
entered his waiting
room
and
stood
before his registration desk. The child was born in his stable – almost
under his nose – and yet he missed it all! His preoccupation with business
caused him to miss, for all practical purposes, the greatest event in human
history! The greatest birth of all time was taking place and he missed the
whole thing. He wasn’t bad – he was just busy.
The innkeeper’s ancestors are still with us today. Most merchants and
businessmen end up becoming so busy in “cashing-in on Christmas” that
they miss Christmas altogether! After all, extra stock has to be ordered and
the inventory increased; the display windows dressed in their newest and
most appealing fashions; the necessary additional holiday employees hired
and trained. If he is going to boost those sagging profit margins – especially
in this negative economy – now is the time to do it! He, just like his brother
the innkeeper, can’t afford to miss this economic opportunity!
So, business caused him to miss Christmas.
The second person to miss Christmas was Herod. He was king of this little
far-flung province of the Roman Empire. Personally he was a sly, crafty, old
politician who had somewhat earned his title of “Herod the Great” by
maintaining some semblance of order in this otherwise troublesome country.
He was unpredictably capricious! One day he could be benevolent and
generous – and the next, heartless and cruel! He was almost insanely jealous
– and would stop at nothing to maintain his political security (sounds rather
familiar, doesn’t it?)
History tells us that he murdered his wife, his mother-in-law, and three of his
sons. The Roman Emperor Augustus said of him that it was safer to be
Herod’s pig than Herod’s son! So the massacre of the children in the wake
of the realization that the wise men had tricked him, and had not come back
to report to him where the baby was who was “born King of the Jews,” was
totally in keeping with his paranoid character! So, Herod missed Christmas
because he was totally imprisoned in greed and self-interest. Like so many
self-seeking people today, Herod was so interested in maintaining and
extending his own little kingdom that he not only missed – but actually
worked against – the entrance and establishment of God’s Kingdom!
The world is still filled with little “Herod the Greats” who are seeking to
establish by any and every means possible, their own little empires! It may
be a political one, an economic one, a social one, a religious one – but they
can all make you and me miss Christmas!
The last group of people to miss that first Christmas was the chief
priests and scribes. They were the top Jewish authorities and religious
leaders of their day. As we saw in an earlier study, Herod was a half-Jew and
as such knew a little about the Jewish religion. Even though he himself was
not a religious man, he was like most partially religious people – he had just
enough religious knowledge to be dangerous, especially to other people!
Herod knew about this Jewish Messiah who was supposed to come. So,
he “…assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and
inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In
Bethlehem of Judea’” (Matt. 2:4-5). These men were well versed in the
scriptures and could give the correct answer to any religious question.
Religiously, ceremonially and ecclesiastically they dotted every “i” and
carefully crossed every “t.” They knew the prophecy – but not the Person!
The religious leaders were like many college and seminary professors who
“know” the Bible – but their knowledge has led them to become cold and
religiously academic. They are impersonal scholars who are aloof and
detached from real life. They are only too glad to be a part of a religious
council to answer academic questions – but that is about as far as it goes!
Those chief priests and scribes were so unconcerned that, after they
answered Herod’s questions as to the location of the birth of the Messiah,
they did not even go and investigate personally! They preferred the safe,
detached, intellectual stimulation of a good religious discussion or debate to
a personal quest for the Savior! Many church people today are likewise so
caught up in the pomp, the rituals, the tradition, the formalism and the
ceremony of religion that they are missing a personal relationship with the
very Christ that all of this activity is supposed to be about!
We can see at least three groups of people who were, and still are, prone to
miss Christmas: those who are caught up in what we could call economicmania, ego-mania, and religious-mania. I pray that you will not get caught
up and swept along by these popular “anti-Christmas tides” this year. Don’t
miss Christmas! But more importantly: Don’t celebrate Christmas and miss
Christ!
“Oh, Come let us adore Him!”
“FEAR NOT”…
THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
“Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people.”
(Luke 2:10)
As you read through the two primary Christmas narratives, there is one
phrase that keeps being repeated over and over again. It’s the phrase: “Fear
not!” But these two words do not just appear in the Christmas story. Every
time there is a theophany in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, they are
spoken by God’s messenger.
That’s because fear is man’s oldest emotional enemy. It was the first
negative emotion recorded in the Bible. I’m sure you remember the story.
Prior to the willful intrusion of sin into the Garden of Eden, fear did not exist
in the heart and mind of our spiritual parents. There was only perfect peace
of heart and mind. No fear…no anxiety…no tension…no foreboding…no
sense of dread. Only absolute tranquility on the inside and outside. Theirs
was a life of blissful innocence! But, after they willfully sinned, fear was
the first manifestation of Adam and Eve’s broken relationship with God.
But, fear was not just an internal experience. It quickly had external
manifestations.
Fear immediately caused them to try to hide from
themselves, from each other and from God. Sensing their personal and
marital estrangement and their broken fellowship with God, they went into
hiding. First, they sewed large fig leaves together for garments to hide from
each other because now, for the first time, they felt naked and ashamed. It
was the birth of negative self-consciousness. Their perfect self-image was
lost. The human game of “cover up” began. Then, while wearing their fresh
wardrobe of “fig leaf clothing,” they tried to hide from God behind the trees
in the garden (Gen. 3:7-10).
Because of the universality of sin, mankind has been fearfully hiding from
God ever since. As the emotionally damaged spiritual children of Adam and
Eve, all of us are driven by fear – consciously or unconsciously. One of the
very first games we learn to play as children was “Hide & Seek.” And like
Adam and Eve, we play it with God first. We hide and hope that He will not
seek. But seek He does! While we hide from Him, He always comes
seeking us. He always finds us because there is nowhere we can
successfully hide in His backyard! As King David found out, because of
God’s omniscience and omnipresence, there is no place in heaven…on
earth…or in the grave that we can hide in God’s cosmos (Ps. 139:7)!
The reality of all of our sinfulness…fearfulness…hiding makes the
Christmas story very personal and relevant. Any wonder that each of the
Christmas characters who had a personal theophany was greeted by, “Fear
not…Don’t be afraid.”
• Zechariah and Elizabeth………..“Fear not!” (Lk. 1:13)
• Joseph……………………………“Fear not!” (Matt. 1:20)
• Mary………………………………“Fear not!” (Lk. 1:30)
• The Shepherds..…………………“Fear not!” (Lk. 1:10)
Why?
The answer is simple. God always comes to us at our point of greatest need.
So, He confronts us first at our point of fear. Because of His perfect
knowledge of us and unconditional love for us, He knows that He must deal
with the “fear factor” before He can take us forward to where He wants us to
go and grow. Ultimately, He has to help us replace fear with faith. That’s
because they are mutually exclusive attitudes. To be motivated by one is to
exclude the other. Either fear cancels out faith or faith cancels out fear. As
the writer of Hebrews reminds us: “Without faith it is impossible to please
God” (11:6). God honors faith because faith honors Him.
However, we all face several kinds of fear. Fear comes in many forms and
wears many faces. We must clearly understand the difference between
them. There is “good fear” and “bad fear.” Let’s look at the different fears.
(I have expounded them more in my book: Faithing Down Your Fears,
which you can download and read on line at: www.jlwilliams.org).
1. Reverential Fear: This is the positive, healthy, spiritual fear we are
to have toward God. It is the positive spiritual response to His revelation
of Himself to us. It produces a sense of awe, wonder, respect and
humility in God’s presence. This kind of respectful fear causes us to
“bow down” rather than “bow up” before God. It causes us to prostrate
ourselves before God rather than be puffed up in pride. It acknowledges
that God is God and we are not.
The Bible is filled with these kinds of positive exhortations to “fear
God” (Deut. 6:11-13; Josh. 4:24; 24:14; I Sam. 12:14, 24; II Chron.
19:7; 26:5; Job 1:9; Ps. 2:11; 33:8; 34:7; Prov. 8:13; 19:23; Isa. 33:6; Lk.
12:5; II Cor. 5:11; Phil. 2:12; Rev. 14:7, etc).
We could summarize these many positive exhortations to reverential
fear with verses like:
• “Fear the Lord, you His saints” (Ps. 34:9)
• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10;
Prov. 1:7; 9:10;)
• “The fear of the Lord leads to life” (Prov. 19:23)
Reverential fear is spiritual by nature and totally positive and healthy for
our spirit, soul, mind, emotions, will and body.
2. Rational Fear: Whereas reverential fear is spiritual by nature,
rational fear is more mental. It is both an innate and learned attitude
that protects us from danger. This kind of fear keeps us safe. It protects
us and helps guard our lives. It keeps us alive.
When certain boundaries are crossed, mental and emotional “fear
alarms” go off to warn us and nudge us back to safety. Some of these
are born instincts that we have from birth. Written into our emotional
DNA is the fear of being alone, cold, hot, hungry, thirsty, wet, etc. Our
emotional or physical pain provokes these fears.
Other fears need to be learned and developed as we grow. The fear of
exposure, nakedness, darkness, fire, of heights, of falling, of speed, etc.
There is a rational basis for such fears. Uncontrolled, unchecked and
unbalanced, these things can bring pain, hurt, harm and death.
3. Robbing Fear: I call them this because these are the kinds of
irrational fears that rob you of your spiritual, mental and emotional
peace of mind. Studies show that these are the overwhelming majority
of fears that motivate and victimize our lives. It results in a “fear
psychosis” that permeates all of life. These fears run the emotional
gamut from mild to acute:
• Free-floating anxiety
• Acute anxiety
• Perpetual worrying
• Constant self-analysis
• Hand-wringing
• An ominous sense of dread
• The blues and blahs
• Perpetual crying
• Phobias
• Loss of will power
• Suicidal thoughts
• Clinical Depression
Obviously, any and all of these fears can and will immobilizes us over time.
They color our emotions and cripple our will. And they will for sure
negatively impact all of our relationships. That’s because all of these fears
are self-focused. And relationships can only grow when we are otherfocused.
Whereas rational fears are anchored in reason, irrational fears are not.
These are the acquired “phobic fears” that we learned from others as we
grew up. The list of these “sick fears” is almost endless: fear of dirt, germs,
blood, broken mirrors, black cats, mice, spiders, insects, snakes, etc. (Again,
my book on Faithing Down Your Fears expounds on this kind of fear.)
Sadly, these kinds of irrational fears cause us to hide from life and rob us of
much of the richness of living for which God created us. These fears limit
our freedom and restrict our boundaries. They stifle our adventurous spirit
and cause us to hide from life in an ever shrinking “comfort zone.”
Because of the universality of fear, Christmas is especially relevant to all of
us. We don’t know for sure what type of fear the various people in the
Christmas narrative experienced. When each of them had an angelic
encounter, their fears probably ran the full gamut of spiritual, mental and
emotional responses. Let’s face it, none of us are really prepared for an
authentic theophany! Neither our senses nor expectations are prepared to
encounter the true and living God through one of His angelic emissaries.
After all, God reminded Moses: “No one can see Me and live” (Ex. 33:20).
In this life, God can only let us “…see His glory” (Ex. 33:22). But, in
heaven, we will see Him “…face to face” (I Cor. 13:12; Jn. 17:24; II Cor.
3:18; I Jn. 3:2; Ps. 17:15, etc).
Undoubtedly, each of the people in the Christmas narratives experienced this
kind of reverential fear of God because of the conditioning of their Judaic
background. Their Jewish faith sensitized them to the high and holy
presence of Jehovah. Their worship revolved around the temple and the
“Holy of Holies” where the shekinah presence and glory of God hovered
over the Ark of the Covenant. Since only the High Priest could enter there
once a year on the Day of Atonement, they clearly understood the
reverential fear of God. If only the High Priest, who was properly cleansed
and attired in holy garments, could enter God’s presence and live – then who
were they as common people to “…see God and live?!”
No doubt each of our Christmas characters struggled with the “self-fears”
that you and I struggle with. These are the “normal fears” that all of us have
when we focus on ourselves rather than on God and others. These are the
fears that we constantly listen to in our minds that tell us…
• “I am too sinful!”
• “I have made too many mistakes!”
• “I am unworthy!”
• “I am not adequate!”
• “I am dumb!”
• “I don’t have what it takes!”
• “I am a failure!”
• “People will not accept me!”
• “I’m not spiritual enough!”
These are the self-focused-fears that arise out of our low self-esteem,
insecurities and inferiority complexes. And these are the primary motivating
fears that the majority of the human family live by and die with. It matters
not whether we live in the first century or the twenty-first century – fear is
still our greatest emotional enemy.
Jesus said that one of the characteristics of mankind in the last ages of
human history would be that “…men’s hearts would be failing with fear”
(Luke 21:26). With all of the rational and irrational reasons for fear today, it
is hard not to conclude that you and I are living in those days!
But note where the fear would be manifest – in the “heart.” That reminds
us that the “heart of man” is the “heart of fear.” Fear is always a heart issue
more than anything else. That’s why irrational fears motivate and victimize
us far more than rational fears. Fear is always a “battle of the heart” more
than it is a “battle of the mind.” That’s why the wise man of Proverbs
admonished his son: “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the
wellspring of life” (4:23).
So, if our heart is the wellspring that waters every other area of our lives, if
that water is polluted by fear, our lives will be permeated with insecurity,
anxiety, worrying, depression and defeat. If that water is the pure “…water
of the Word” (Eph. 5:26; Ja. 3:17), our hearts will not condemn us (I Jn.
3:20).
As a result, we will have peace with God…peace with
ourselves…peace with others.
Is it any wonder, then, that Paul reminded a young, insecure Christian named
Timothy: “God has not given us the spirit of fear…” (II Tim 1:7). It is
either the devil or other people who give us the ‘spirit of fear”, while God
gives us His Holy Spirit who produces “peace of mind.”
There is only one permanent cure for the fears that lurk just beneath the
surface of your life. And contrary to man’s usual recourse, the “antidote to
fear” is not narcotics, the psychiatric couch, prescription drugs, alcohol,
promiscuous or perverted sex, money or materialism. It is not through
“popping pills” or “snorting coke.”
The only permanent cure for fear is a growing relationship with God through
His Spirit and Word – nurtured through faithful involvement in His church.
The Bible gives us a clear spiritual prescription for all of our fears by
reminding us: “Perfect love casts out fear.” (Jn. 4:8). You see, the more
we mature in the unconditional love of God, the less we will be motivated by
fear. Even as Christians, we often fear that we will do something…think
something…say something – that will cause God to stop loving us. Both the
devil and our sick conscience tell us that there is some boundary beyond
which God’s love will not go. There is some spiritual point past which there
is no love and forgiveness – only eternal rejection.
But that is a lie out of the pit of hell! Jesus assures us: “I will never leave
you; never will I forsake you.” And what is our response to that promise?
As the writer of Hebrews says:
“We say with confidence: ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be
afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6)
The very worse thing the world can do to us is to kill us. While each of us
has a normal fear of death, or the dying process, death cannot really kill us.
That’s because Jesus already killed death. He did that through His
resurrection from the grave. The evil one and the world can throw a lot at us
in this life that can evoke fear, but Jesus reassures us:
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).
How this message of peace is needed in our fear-ridden, anxiety-filled age
when men’s hearts are “…failing them because of fear!” You see, the
opposite of a “fearful heart” is a “peaceful heart” –a heart that is increasingly
permeated with the peace of God that comes from the assurance of His
unmerited grace and unconditional love.
How relevant is this Christmas message of “Fear not!” How assuring is the
angelic message that Jesus came to bring “Peace on Earth…” (Luke 2:14)
That’s really what Christmas is all about. It is not just God dealing with the
fears of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds – it’s about
God dealing with your fears.
I hope, then, that you will face up to your own fears by looking at the fears
that the people in the Christmas story experienced. They were normal
people just like you and me. They struggled with both rational and
irrational fears. But, ultimately, each of them faced-down their fears
through faith. It was their spirit of faith over fear that ultimately made
Christmas possible.
In spite of their natural fears, each of them ultimately said, “Yes” to God.
By faith, each of them affirmed and embraced what God asked them to do.
While none of them fully understood the whole story, they still said, “Yes.”
Even though they each had fears, doubts and perplexities, they still said,
“Yes.” Even though each of them struggled and faltered, they still said,
“Yes.” Ultimately, faith won the day for each of them – not fear!
Each of them heard and heeded the same words: “Fear not!” Just as faith
conquered their fears on that first Christmas, it can do the same for you this
Christmas. If you will focus on God’s unmerited grace…unconditional
love…unqualified forgiveness – you too can “faith down your fears” this
Christmas season.
There’s a song we often sing at the church that I attend. While it is not a
Christmas Carol, the theme is certainly consistent with this Christmas
message of “Fear not.” The song is entitled: “One Thing Remains” by
Jesus Culture. Here are a few of the lyrics:
Higher than the mountains that I face,
stronger than the power of the grave,
constant in the trial and the change,
one thing...remains. (repeat)
On and on and on and on it goes.
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul.
And I never, ever, have to be afraid.
One thing…remains.
Your love never fails,
it never gives up,
it never runs out on me! (3x)
In death, in life, I'm confident and
covered by the power of Your great love!
My debt is paid, there's nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love!
I hope that song will become your Christmas Carol this season! Because His
love for you goes “on and on”, you “never, ever, have to be afraid!” That’s
because one thing remains forever – His unmerited, unconditional,
unqualified, undying love for you!
Have a fearless Christmas!
SIMEON’S PRAYER
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,
You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to Your people Israel.”
(Luke 2:29-32).
As I have been reflecting with you in this Advent Series over the different
aspects of the Christmas story, I have again prayerfully pondered the words
of the aged saint Simeon. Perhaps that’s because at 72 I am getting older
myself! As he held the mystery of the Incarnate God in his arms, he prayed
the profound prayer above.
There are several truths that impress me about Simeon’s prayer. Let me
share them with you.
First, the sovereignty of God: His prayer begins where all true prayer should
begin – with an acknowledgement of the nature of God: “Sovereign
Lord…” Simeon’s time, just like our time, was marked by turmoil and
intrigue. Rome ruled the world and in the process repressed his people, the
Jews.
In addition, the Jewish religion that he lived by had become corrupt and
divided. His life was nearly over, yet, he rested in the sovereignty of God.
The heart of the word sovereignty is the word, “reign.” In spite of what he
saw all around him, Simeon knew that God was sovereignly in control.
Nothing in all these political or religious events had caught God off guard.
He was still “Lord of heaven and earth.” He was still reigning over both the
power of Rome and the perversions of Judaism. We need that same reminder
this Christmas, don’t we?
Secondly, we see the serenity of Simeon: His whole life had one focus: “He
was waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Lk. 2:25). The word here for
“consolation” is the word, paraklesis. It means “to comfort or to console”.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God had said: “Comfort, comfort my people”
(Isa. 40:1). Simeon had lived his whole life waiting for God to comfort His
people through the coming of the Messiah. In some way we are not told
about, the Holy Spirit had assured him “…that he would not die before he
had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Lk. 2:26). When almost everyone else had
lost their hope in the Messiah, Simeon never gave up. God’s Word was sure.
That one promise focused his whole life! That was the one thing that he
lived for. Indeed, it was the one thing that kept him alive! Once he held the
baby Jesus in his arms, he serenely prayed: “…now dismiss your servant
in peace” (Lk. 2:29).
A good question to ponder this Christmas is this: “Do I have such a promise
from God that focuses and prioritizes my life? Do I have that same peace for
living – and for dying?”
Thirdly, the salvation of the world: Simeon realized that this tiny Messianic
miracle that he held in his arms was not just for Mary and Joseph. Nor was
He just for his own fulfillment. God’s Messiah was not just for a select few
nor just a parochial Savior for those living in Jerusalem. As incredible as his
own personal encounter was with the Christ Child, this could not be
understood as a “private spiritual experience” to be enjoyed only by himself
along with Mary and Joseph. Simeon rightly understood that this Child was
the salvation for the whole world: “For my eyes have seen your salvation,”
he prayed, “which you have prepared in the sight of all people.” This
salvation was for ALL PEOPLE. Through the years Simeon had come to
realize that Jesus had come not just for the Jews but as “…a light for
revelation to the Gentiles.”
This revelation to Simeon reminds us afresh that it is impossible to separate
Christmas from missions! God sent His Son into the world as a missionary
to save both Jews and Gentiles. You and I are celebrating Christmas because
of that fact!
Therefore, another timely question for the holidays might be: “What part is
world missions playing in my Christmas giving this year?”
Fourthly, the significance of Israel: Simeon also understood the spiritual
significance of this Christ Child for the nation of Israel. In addition to being
the “…salvation for…all people, a light…to the Gentiles.” He was also
“…for glory to your people Israel.” As he held the baby in his arms, he
prophesied:
“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many
in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
As Paul later wrote:
“…the Gospel…is the power of God for the salvation of everyone
who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles” (Rom.
1:16).
But almost from Paul’s time until now, the Jews have largely rejected their
Messiah. The Bible says: “Israel has experienced a hardening n part
until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” After that time, known
only to God, Paul assures us that “…all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:2526). That’s why throughout the world Christmas continues to be more of a
“Gentile Celebration” than a “Jewish Celebration.” However, because many
successful merchants are of Jewish descent, it is often said that the day after
Christmas they gather around the overflowing cash register and sing: “What
a friend we have in Jesus!” Not!
But as Simeon’s prayer reveals, the real “glory of Christmas” is the “glory of
Christ.” He knew that this Child was the “…glory to your people Israel.”
So, my final question to you in this devotional study is the same one I ask
myself: “Is Christ being glorified in our Christmas celebration?”
Join me in thoughtfully pondering Simeon’s prayer over the holidays. I find
his prayer so relevant to our own current American political and religious
situation – as well as to world conditions. As we think about the political
corruptness of King Herod who killed innocent children to secure his
political position and power, we cannot help but draw parallels between
what is happening within the American presidency today. Our President and
liberal politicians sanction the annual murder of millions of babies – not
fetuses, to maintain political favor with leftest ideology and “women’s
rights” advocates. But like Simeon, we must find peace and serenity in
God’s sovereignty in the midst of murderous political correctness.
As we continue to watch escalating terrorism around the world – like the ongoing fighting between the Israelites and Palestinians in the Holy Land, we
are again reminded of the unique part Israel and the Middle East play in the
history of the world! Just as God’s Spirit revealed to Simeon, Jesus is still
the cause of “…the rising and falling of many in Israel.” But it’s not only
happening in Israel, but in many other countries and cultures of the world
where the Christ of Christmas is not welcome. But through it all, we
Christians must stay focused on our primary task of sharing God’s salvation
with “…all people.” That’s the “Christmas Commission” for every believer.
GOD’S CHRISTMAS TREE
“O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!
How lovely are your branches…”
(O Tannenbaum, German Folk Song)
For hundreds of years the Christmas tree has played a central part in the
Christmas celebration of millions of people the world over. Just as the
Crèche with Baby Jesus as the central spiritual focus of Christmas for
Christians, the Christmas tree increasingly has become the secular symbol of
Christmas. After all, without the Christmas tree there would be no place to
put all of the presents – and giving is what Christmas is all about!
The Origin of the Christmas Tree
The exact origin of the Christmas tree is lost in historical uncertainty. Some
see its roots in the primitive tree worship of the ancient Druids that inhabited
the British Isles. Others believe that its seeds are in the soil of the Roman
Empire. During their festival of Saturnalia, they used evergreen branches
over their doors – probably as a symbol of eternal life – a practice bitterly
denounced and opposed by the early church.
However, one of our earliest written records of the Christmas tree is in 1604
from Strassburg, Germany. In Medieval Germany, evergreen trees were
decorated with cookies fruit, and later, candles. It was then introduced into
England in 1841, and was ultimately brought to America by immigrants
from Europe. American advertising and commercialism in turn popularized
it and gave the Christmas tree world-wide exposure. Today, the Christmas
tree is almost synonymous with Christmas! Few people in America could
envision a Christmas without a Christmas tree!
Trees and Ancient Idolatry
Whether or not our modern Christmas tree is rooted in paganism may be
open for discussion and debate. However, it is beyond question that trees
have always played an important symbolic role in idolatry – both ancient
and contemporary! It is something the Bible speaks about in a number of
places.
Upon their possession of the Promised Land, God made this command to the
children of Israel:
“Destroy completely all the places on high mountains and on the
hills and under every spreading tree where the nations…worship
their gods” (Deut. 12:2).
In spite of this warning, ancient Israel often fell into the paganism of their
neighbors. Of Judah, God lamented:
“They set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and
Asherah (a female fertility goddess) on every hill and under every
spreading tree” (I Kings 14:23, II Kings 17:10).
Again He said of them:
“You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading
tree” (Isa. 57:5).
“You have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every
spreading tree” (Jer. 3:13, c.f. 2:20; 3:6; 17:2).
So, it was “under their spreading trees” that “they offered fragrant
incense to all their idols” (Ezek. 6:13). Across the years as I have traveled
throughout the country of India, I have seen people in village after village
doing the exact same thing. Trees also play a central role in the practice of
voodoo in Haiti and witchcraft in Africa.
Man has not only carved many of his idols from trees (Isa. 2:8; 44:9-10; Ps.
115:3-8), he has worshipped his gods and practiced his pagan rituals
“…under the spreading trees.”
On the other hand, the Jewish Festival of Booths – one of their seven annual
“holy convocations” – was celebrated in arbors made of the “…foliage of
beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows”
(Lev. 23:40). God had instructed them to celebrate this yearly and to…
“Live in booths for seven days…so that your generations may
know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought
them out from the land of Egypt” (Lev. 23:42-43).
Let’s look at some of the positive roles of trees in the Bible.
The Biblical Significance of Trees
No doubt one of the reasons trees have played such a long and continuous
role in paganism and idolatry, is because trees play such a significant role in
God’s economy. In the very first chapter of Genesis, God uses a tree to teach
one of the foundational principles of His universe: the “seed principle.” On
the third day of creation, God said:
“Let the land produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various
kinds” (Gen. 1:11).
This “seed principle” teaches us that every seed reproduces “…after its own
kind.” It is one of the inviolate principles that govern our natural world. So
just as trees reproduce after their own kind, so does every other species in
the universe – including man. Because of the poisonous seed of sin in every
human heart, there is death. But through Jesus Christ, we can be “..born
again by the imperishable seed of the word of God” (I Pet. 1:23). It was
that “spiritual seed” that Jesus came at Christmas to bring to mankind. And
as we will see in this study, that life-giving seed was made available because
Jesus was crucified “…on a tree” (I Pet. 2:24).
Literally, from Genesis to Revelation, trees are central to God’s plan of
salvation. In Genesis, we read of God’s original Garden called Eden. It was
filled with “…every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food.”
And how in the midst of that Garden there were two special trees: the “tree
of life” and the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gen. 2:9).
The primal temptation was associated with that second tree. In spite of
God’s prohibition not to eat of it, the woman succumbed to Satan’s
temptation:
“The woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food, and
that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to
make one wise, she took…and ate; and she gave also to her
husband…and he ate” (Gen. 3:6).
As a result of that first act of sinful disobedience, “God sent them out from
the Garden of Eden” and “He stationed the cherubim and a flaming
sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Gen.
3:23-24). Down through the centuries, man has continued to refer the
forbidden fruit from the “…tree of the knowledge of good and evil”, all
the while thinking that it was, in reality, the “tree of life!”
However, from that time until now, spiritual death and a loss of paradise
have continued to be the results of eating from the wrong tree! And, there is
only one way back to the “tree of life” and that is through the benefits of
another tree – God’s real Christmas tree – the CROSS!
God’s Christmas Tree
What the first Adam lost through eating of the “tree of the knowledge of
good and evil”, the Last Adam, Jesus Christ, paid the penalty for on another
tree – the Cross of Calvary!
Hundreds of years before that first Christmas, Moses wrote: “Any one who
is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deut. 21:23). The Apostle Paul
related this judgment to Christ’s death on the cross:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a
curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a
tree’” (Gal. 3:13).
After Christ’s resurrection from the dead, the Apostles witnessed the same
thing to the Jews:
“The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you
had killed by hanging Him on a tree” (Acts 5:30).
Peter also wrote of the spiritual significance of Christ’s atoning death:
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (I Pet. 2:24).
The Bible is unmistakably clear in referring to the cross of Christ as a tree! I
think we are justified than in referring to it as “God’s Christmas tree!”
As hard as it is for us to understand or imagine, the “ol’ ragged tree” that
was erected on the brow of Calvary’s hill was no accident! Nor did it
surprise God. It was all part of His redemptive plan. As Peter preached on
the Day of Pentecost:
“Men of Israel, listen to this; Jesus of Nazareth…was handed over
to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the
help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross”
(Acts 2:22-23).
Jesus was the “…Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world”
(Rev. 13:8).
God’s Christmas tree was not a pretty sight to the eyes of anyone except
those who hated Christ! Unlike our modern Christmas trees with all of their
bright lights, tinsel and ornaments, God’s tree was not a tree of beauty.
Instead of ornaments and lights, there were thorns…nails…blood…tears!
However, even in the midst of history’s darkest hour, the eye of faith could
see the light of salvation’s story being focused on what was taking place on
Calvary’s tree! At the foot of that tree the greatest gifts of all were being
offered to mankind. They were the only gifts that could once again provide
a “…new and living way” (Heb. 10:20) back to the “tree of life.” And that
eternal tree is not in the Garden of Eden but in the “Paradise of God” (Rev.
2:7). And John assures us that the “…leaves…are for the healing of the
nations” (Rev. 22:2).
Is it any wonder then, that God likens His everlasting love and faithfulness
to a tree. “I am like a green pine tree,” God assured Israel (Hosea 14:8).
That means that His love and faithfulness never ceases. His love for them –
and us, is evergreen. It never dies!
The Gifts Under God’s Christmas Tree
There were many costly gifts at the base of God’s Christmas tree, the cross.
They were not from man but from God. “Every good and perfect gift,”
wrote James, “is from above, coming down from the Father” (Ja. 1:17).
Likewise, the Psalmist exclaimed:
“He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor” (Ps. 112:9; II Cor
9:9).
These saving gifts from God can never be bought with “…silver or gold…”
They were paid for “…by the precious blood of Christ” (I Pet. 1:18-19).
Nor can you purchased them “on line.” God’s gifts are “…heavenly gifts!”
(Heb. 6:4). As Paul wrote:
“Let us give thanks to God…for in our union with Christ, God
has greatly blessed us with every spiritual gift in the heavenly
world” (Eph. 1:3; TEV).
Neither can God’s gifts be earned by good behavior or good works. They
can only be received by faith. And, to receive them, we must humbly kneel
at the foot of God’s Christmas tree and receive His gifts through Jesus
Christ!
But, what exactly are these “spiritual gifts” that God has given us? Paul
exhorted a group of Christians: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers,
I do not want you to be ignorant” (I Cor. 12:1). There are many people
today who are still living in ignorance concerning the gifts God has made
available to them. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, they do not know
“…the gift of God” (Jn. 4:10).
So, that there can be no doubt, confusion or ignorance about God’s gracious
gifts to you, let’s unwrap them one at time!
The Gift of Salvation Through Jesus Christ
The very heart of Christmas is the cross. While the salvation story began in
a cradle – it ended on a cross. That’s why you cannot separate the cradle
from the cross…Christmas from Easter…Christ’s birth from His death! He
made it clear that it was for that very reason He had been born: “For the
Son of Man came…to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45).
The Gospel story can be summarized in verses like these:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten
Son…” (Jn. 3:16).
“God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
“This is how God showed His love among us; He sent His one and
only Son into the world that we might live through Him” (I Jn.
4:9).
“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made
us alive with Christ” (Eph. 2:4).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
There are many people who wrongly believe that we cannot be sure in this
life of our salvation. They believe that this mysterious “gift of salvation”
from God is sealed and marked: “Do not open until eternity!” But the Bible
clearly teaches otherwise! Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him
who sent Me, has eternal life” (Jn. 5:24).
Likewise, Jesus prayed for His disciples to the Father:
“This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (Jn. 17:3).
So, beloved, “the gift of God is eternal life” (Rom. 6:23). The moment you
receive Christ as your personal Savior, eternal life is God’s gift to you. And
I also remind you that “God’s gifts…are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29). That
simply means that God will never change His mind and take back the gift of
salvation He has given you! When that truth finally penetrates your heart
you will cry out in praise with Paul: “THANKS BE TO GOD FOR HIS
INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!” (II Cor. 9:15).
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
God sent the greatest Christmas Gift of all into the world through Jesus
Christ. However, before Christ went back to heaven, He promised another
gift – the Holy Spirit – whom He called the “Helper” and “Comforter.”
Jesus promised that both He and the Father would “…send Him to you”
(Jn. 14:26; 16:7). Before His ascension, He again told His disciples:
“Wait for the gift My Father promised…you shall be baptized with
the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4).
But was the gift of the Holy Spirit just for the disciples? No! Peter said on
the day of Pentecost:
“Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the
Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
And he further said:
“For this promise is for you and your children, and for all who are
far off” (Acts 2:39).
How tragic at this time of year that people use so many artificial means to
try to work up some “Christmas spirit” – or become filled with liquid
“holiday spirits” – when there is a true Christmas Spirit! It was the Holy
Spirit that made that first Christmas possible for Mary and Joseph. He was
the Source of Christ’s coming.
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; so the Holy One to be born will be
called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35).
That same Holy Spirit is still God’s gift to you – with all of His power to
meet your needs. Receive that precious and powerful gift today. Jesus said
that the heavenly Father was ready and eager to “…give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask Him” (Lk. 11:13).
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
God gave the gift of His Son; the Father and the Son together gave the gift
of the Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit continues to give His gifts to
Christians. That is why we are exhorted in Scriptures to “…eagerly desire
spiritual gifts” (I Cor. 14:1).
The Holy Spirit has a “variety of gifts” (I Cor. 12:4) to give God’s people.
Some of His gifts listed in the Bible are the…
“…message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, gifts of
healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits,
speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, helps,
administration, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading,
mercy, hospitality (I Cor. 12:8-9; 28-30; Rom. 12:6-8; I Pet. 4:9-11).
Bur remember, it is not up to us to decide what gifts we receive. God gives
His gifts “…according to His will” (Rom. 12:6). Nor are we ever to use
these gifts to glorify self. “As each has received a spiritual gift,” instructed
Peter, “use it to serve one another” (I Pet. 4:10).
How tragic that many Christians are trying to live their Christian lives
without the blessing and benefit of God’s wonderful spiritual gifts. Many
churches languish in mediocrity, purposelessness and ineffectiveness
because they are trying to live and minister without the Holy Spirit’s gifts
being discovered, developed and deployed for God’s glory and for the good
of others.
Please remember this principle about the gifts of the Holy Spirit: Unless the
Holy Spirit fills, the human spirit fails! That’s why Christ said to His
disciples:
“Behold, I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but
stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on
high” (Lk. 24:49).
Let me ask you: Have you been clothed with power from on high? Have you
neglected your spiritual gifts? Are your gifts still “under the tree?”
Perhaps God’s message to you this Christmas is this:
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you” (I Tim. 4:14).
Just as little children long for their gifts under the Christmas tree, I pray that
you will “…eagerly desire your spiritual gifts” from the Holy Spirit!
Other Gifts Under God’s Christmas Tree
After you receive the gift of the Lord Jesus, and His Holy Spirit and His
gifts, there are many other wonderful spiritual gifts God has for you. Let me
just share three other precious ones with you. They are gift-wrapped for you
from God with your name on them! However, you can only receive them by
faith and allow them to bless your life!
The Gift of Love
• “In love He predestined us to be adopted as His Sons, through
Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:4).
• “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you” (Jn. 15:9).
• “…the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me
and have believed that I came from God” (John 16:27)
• “God poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit
whom He has given us” (Rom. 5:5).
• “…the fruit of the Spirit is love…” (Gal. 5:22).
• “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him – but God has
revealed it to us by His Spirit…” (I Cor. 2:9-10).
• “…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
may…grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of
Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…” (Eph.
3:17-19).
• “…For I am convinced that…(nothing) will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.
8:38-39).
The Gift of Peace
• “For to us a child is born…And He will be called…Prince of
Peace” (Isa. 9:6).
• “But you, Bethlehem…out of you will come for me one who will
be ruler over Israel…And He will be their peace” (Mic. 5:2-5).
• “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on
whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
• “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
• “For He Himself is our peace…” (Eph. 2:14).
• “God was pleased…through Him to reconcile to Himself all
things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through His blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20).
• “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you…” (John 14:27).
• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have
overcome the world” (John 16:33).
• “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his
people with peace” (Ps. 29:11).
• “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
• “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains
and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the
field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12).
• “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and
in every way” (II Thess. 3:16).
The Gift of Joy
• “Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will
be for all people” (Lk. 2:10).
• “Jesus…was full of joy through the Holy Spirit” (Lk. 10:21).
• “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you…I have told
you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be
complete” (Jn. 15:9, 11).
• “We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
we have now received reconciliation” (Rom. 5:11).
• “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isa.
12:3).
• “You will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (Jn.
16:22).
• “He…fills your hearts with joy” (Acts 14:17).
• “For the Kingdom of God is…righteous, peace and joy in the
Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
• “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him…and are filled
with inexpressible and glorious joy” (I Pet. 1:8).
• “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of
the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
Those are some of the precious gifts God has placed under His Christmas
tree for you. He has put your name on them and signed them with the blood
of Christ! I trust you will receive each one by faith. There cannot be any
true Christmas celebration without opening and enjoying these “heavenly
gifts.” Heed the voice of the resurrected and reigning Christ:
“The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’…whoever wished, let him
come and take the free gift…” (Rev. 22:17).
It is Patt and my prayer for you this Christmas that you will receive by faith
all of the gifts God has given you through Jesus Christ. Don’t leave any of
His marvelous life-saving, life-giving, life-changing gifts under His
Christmas Tree – the cross. Open your heart as you open His gifts! Your
life will be enriched beyond description.
GOD’S GIFT WRAPPING
“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16)
During this special time of year, we see many beautifully wrapped presents
displayed in store windows and under Christmas trees. If you have not done
so already, you will soon be buying and wrapping gifts for your family
members and friends. As we have seen over and over again in this special
Christmas Devotional Study, God is the greatest giver of all because of His
extravagant love! He gave the greatest gift to the world when He gave His
only begotten Son.
In this study, I want you to consider with us the unique wrapping around
God’s Gift. And as you do, please remember that God’s great Messianic
Gift to the world came as the direct fulfillment of over 2,500 prophecies!
The perfect fulfillment of these prophecies in precise detail is one of the
greatest proofs for the supernatural origin of the Bible. No other religious
book in history can make this claim. In His First Advent, Jesus fulfilled
some 2,000 of these prophecies. The other 500 are being fulfilled in this very
“End of the Age” that you and I are living in.
It has been computed by scientist and statistician, Dr. Peter Stoner, that the
possibility that all of these prophecies being fulfilled by chance are 1 in 10
to the 2,000th power! That’s a lot of coincidences. Not a chance! It takes
more “blind faith” to believe that these prophecies were randomly fulfilled
by Jesus than it does to believe that He was indeed God’s Messiah who had
come in the exact “…fullness of time” to fulfill every one of God’s
promises.
With that in mind, let’s turn to God’s special gift-wrapping for this
Messianic Gift He gave to the world. First of all…
Jesus was wrapped in Hope
Through prophecy God had been pointing to the coming of His Messiah.
These hundreds of prophecies given over thousands of years all pointed to
Jesus. They were the hope of the Old Testament saints who were called
“…prisoners of hope.”
“Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I
announce that I will restore twice as much to you” (Zechariah
9:12).
The fact that Jesus perfectly fulfilled these prophecies proves that He was
the long-awaited and hoped-for Messiah of God!
Jesus was wrapped in History
As we have seen in detail in earlier studies, God’s gift was given at exactly
the perfect time in human history. As Paul said: “In the fullness of
time God sent forth His Son…” (Gal. 4:4). Doctor Luke, as an accurate
historian, recorded that Jesus was born “…in the days of Caesar
Augustus…while Quirinius was governor of Syria” (Lk. 2:1-2). Unlike
other religions that are partly or wholly based in mythology, God’s gift is
securely wrapped in history! The Christian faith is firmly anchored in fact –
indisputable historic facts.
Next…
Jesus was wrapped in Humanity
As John records: “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (Jn.
1:14). Jesus was neither God masquerading as man nor man feigning to be
God. He was the unique God-Man of history. “In Him all the fullness of
Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). Belief in Him as the One Mediator
between God and Man (I Tim. 2:5) is essential for our salvation. And, the
unique confession that “…Jesus Christ has come in the flesh from God”
(I Jn. 4:2) is the dividing point between religions and the point of
discernment between the “spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (I Jn. 4:6).
But the Incarnation did not end with Jesus. God wants to continue to clothe
Him in our humanity. Through His indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s intention
is to continue to incarnate Himself in the lives of people like you and me.
That’s the good news of Christmas!
There is a wonderful example of this from the famous “Passion Play” that
takes place every decade in Oberammergau, Germany. This portrayal of the
life, death and resurrection of Christ has been going on since 1633. The
most interesting thing about this play is that there are no professional actors.
The local people of the town play all of the parts – including Jesus. Every
day Jesus and all of the participants of the Advent can be seen in the local
stores and shops of this little German town. And that’s the way it should be!
God wants to continue the Incarnational Story of Christ in your life…your
family…your business…your job. That’s what Christmas is really all about.
Finally…
Jesus was wrapped in Humility
Even though prior to His incarnation Jesus “…existed in the form of God”
because He was and is God, He did not hold onto His glory and majesty as
God. He laid aside heaven’s splendor and “emptied Himself, taking the
form of a bond-servant, and…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to
the point of…death on a cross” (Phil. 1:5-8). And in the spirit of
Christmas, the Bible exhorts us to imitate Jesus and “…put on humility”
(Col. 3:12). If we want to really celebrate Christmas and be Christ-like – we
too must be wrapped in humility.
Jesus Christ, therefore, was distinctively and uniquely wrapped
in hope…history… humanity…and humility. By this all men could know that
He was indeed “Immanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:28). And just like God
was wrapped in the humanity of Jesus, so Jesus wants to be wrapped in your
humanity! Or, to quote the Apostle Paul: “Christ in you, the hope of
glory.” That happens when “…your life is hidden with Christ in
God” (Col. 1:28; 3:3).
Just as God wrapped Jesus up and gave Him to the world, let Him also wrap
you in Christ and present you to the world as an on-going incarnation of His
love and compassion! That’s how to make Christmas a 365 day a year
experience – 24/7!
GOD’S GIFT CATALOGUE
“Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father…”
(James 1:17)
“What shall I give this Christmas?” That’s a question we all think about
this time of year – especially as December 25th draws closer! We all have a
list of family members and friends we want to give special gifts to during the
holidays. True love always prompts a spirit of giving. That’s why Jesus
could summarize the Gospel through His own life with these very familiar
words to Nicodemus:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:16-17).
What was our need that prompted so great a Gift? We were perishing –
living under the just condemnation of a holy God. Enslaved by
sin…imprisoned by fear…dominated by the flesh…doomed by the law – in
other words, eternally lost. There has never been a single person born of the
human race that did not fully deserve hell – eternal separation from the
presence of a holy God.
But God’s love prompted an “indescribable gift” (II Cor. 9:15) – the Lord
Jesus. Therefore, God gave to save! He did not give a seraphim…an
angel…or even an archangel. A gift of a holy member of His heavenly host
would not be sufficient. Heavenly love operates by the principle: “The
greater the need, the greater the sacrifice.” The eternal gravity of our
condition required nothing but heaven’s best …heaven’s highest…heaven’s
holiest! A member of the triune Godhead would have to be sent to deal with
man’s sinful, lost, rebellious condition. So, in the triune heart of holy love,
Christmas was conceived!
God conceived this gift of salvation, not spontaneously, nor at the last
moment but “…before the foundations of the world” (Eph. 1:4, Rev.
13:8). As a result, “in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born
of a woman” (Gal. 4:4).
The gift that God gave to the world on that first Christmas is
still unthinkable…
unfathomable…incomprehensible…indescribable
–
almost unbelievable!
As members of the human family we can neither fully grasp the gravity of
our need, nor the pricelessness of God’s gift. It will take the eons of eternity
for us just to begin to grasp “…how wide and long and high and deep is
the love of Christ” (Eph. 3:18)! And all that it takes for anyone to receive
this “free gift of grace” is to believe…to have faith…to cease trying and start
trusting. Then, as a result of our faith in God’s grace, we receive eternal life
– a gift for both time and eternity.
Because of that eternal gift, we also have the assurance that we will not be
condemned because we have “…passed from death unto life” (Jn. 5:24).
While we can be sure that “…the wages of sin is death,” we can be equally
sure that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.
6:23).
That’s the Good News of both Christmas and Easter! They can’t be
separated. The Christmas Advent cannot be separated from the Easter Event.
They are both one inter-connected spiritual drama. As we have seen
throughout these studies, the cradle cannot be separated from the cross any
more than the cross can be separated from the crown. They are all a part of
God’s “…great salvation” (Heb. 2:3) – His all-inclusive gift that expresses
His all-encompassing love!
If God never gave us another gift, we would still be eternally indebted and
eternally grateful. However, God’s giving does not stop with the gift of His
Son. The Father also continues to give the “gift of the Holy Spirit.”
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11:13).
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
“The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out
even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:45).
Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as the “…gift My Father promised” (Acts
1:4). This gift of the Spirit was predicated on the resurrection and
glorification of the Son. As Paul said: “When He ascended on high…He
gave gifts to men.”
“When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and
gave gifts to men” (Eph. 4:8, Ps. 68:18).
“By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him
were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been
given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (Jn. 7:39).
This gift of the Holy Spirit is truly the Gift that keeps on giving! In a world
of counterfeits, the Spirit continues to give us the gift of truth. As the
“Spirit of truth” (Jn. 14:17), He reveals the Lord Jesus, and gives ever
deeper understandings of Him. As Jesus promised His disciples: “The
Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you” (Jn.
16:15).
Tragically, most people’s understanding of Jesus is still a simple, infantile
belief – the kind of immature faith that so many superficially celebrate at
Christmas. With almost naïve sentimentality, millions celebrate the birthday
of the “babe in a manger.” Most have never begun to comprehend the real
spiritual truth of Bethlehem’s Baby – much less the Son of Man on the
cross…the resurrected Jesus…the ascended Christ…the reigning Lord…the
soon-coming King! Those are the gifts of revelation from the Holy Spirit.
He is only able to give those deeper gifts of understandings to those who are
serious disciples, whom He can lead into the truth of the Lord Jesus.
Finally, the Holy Spirit gives us His own supernatural gifts. Those are
the spiritual charisma…divine endowment…supernatural inducement, that
are from the Spirit of God. We can’t purchase them…coerce
them…manipulate them. They are gifts that we can’t “work up” – we must
“pray them down.” That’s why James reminds us that “…every good
and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (Jas. 1:17).
These gifts, like all of God’s other gifts, are sovereignly “…distributed
according to His will” (Heb. 2:4). And the Spirit’s gifts have a specific
purpose. They are to meet needs, not greeds!
Most often, the gifts we receive from family and friends at Christmas are
primarily for our own enjoyment. However, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are
“…to serve others” (I Pet. 4:10). That’s why we are especially encouraged
to “…excel in gifts that build up the church” (I Cor. 14:12).
Christmas, then, is not about us, it is about Him. The real Christmas gifts are
to glorify Him – not to satisfy us. So while God can only give His gifts, let’s
at least do some giving this Christmas that shares the love of the Lord Jesus
– who is God’s greatest Gift to us!
LESSONS FROM THE WISE MEN
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea…
Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked:
‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?’”
(Matthew 2:1-2)
We have looked in depth at the various Christmas Narratives. In doing so,
we related them to many other Scriptures since the Advent Story is a
seamless spiritual continuum leading right up to this present time. And
Epiphany is a vital part of the Christmas journey. While most Christians in
the West combine the celebration of the visit of the Magi on Christmas, most
of the Eastern Church celebrates it on January 6th because the coming of the
Magi definitely took place after the other Christmas events, possibly up to
two years after the birth of Christ.
In the last couple of devotional studies before Christmas, we looked at the
gift that God gave the world and how He uniquely “wrapped Christ” as His
great gift of love to the world. Now I want to change focus to the only other
people in the Christmas Narrative who actually gave gifts to the Christ Child
– the “Magi from the east.” Their visit to Bethlehem changed their lives
forever. I believe a study of their journey and giving will do the same for us
if we learn several “lessons from the wise men.”
They Were Not Discouraged by the Pilgrimage
Theirs was a long, arduous, costly trip—an intentional journey. They were
not just aimlessly wandering around, like so many people live their
lives. They were neither driven nor drifting—but divinely directed! The
Bible says they were motivated by a desire to find and “…worship Him”
(Mt. 2:2). They were not motivated by curiosity, selfishness, guilt or gain –
but by the desire to find and worship Christ.
The same motivation must be true for us today. Any lesser motivation other
than worship will always ultimately lead to discouragement and
disillusionment on our Christian pilgrimage. There are far too many detours,
difficulties, delays and defeats to be motivated by anything less than
worship. That’s why Paul said: “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all
to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).
Chronic discouragement is one of the most widespread spiritual diseases
among Christians today. If you are struggling with lingering
discouragement, check your motivation as a Christian. Are you really living
to “…worship Him?”
They Were Not Distracted by the Palace
Their spiritual pilgrimage providentially led them to Herod’s palace. King
Herod was both a shrewd politician and master builder. So successful was
this half-Jew, half-Idumaean in maintaining order in the perpetually
troublesome Jewish province of Palestine, that the Roman Emperor, Marcus
Antonius, honored him in 40 BC with the title “King of the Jews.” Herod’s
acceptance of that title only further inflamed Jewish hatred.
History attributes to him the building of great palaces and fortresses, some of
which are still standing in Israel today (The December, 2008 issue of
National Geographic has a timely feature on this master builder of the Holy
Land). He is perhaps most remembered by both Jews and Christians for
building the Third Temple in Jerusalem, preceded by the ones built by
Solomon and Zerubbabel. Herod was powerful, prosperous and pretentious!
His palace was a marvel to behold! How easy it would have been for the
Magi to become distracted by the grandeur and opulence of his palace – and
the attention it temporarily afforded them!
When our pilgrimage likewise sovereignly leads us temporarily to the
“palace” of financial success and social position, how easy it is to become
distracted and intoxicated by the splendor and trappings of power and
prosperity! How quick we are to rationalize and justify luxuries, excesses
and extravagances. How very easy it is for all of us to compromise, to
become comfortable and complacent. Could it be that this is one of the
reasons that God “burst our financial bubble” as a nation?
Perhaps we had become too preoccupied with building our own little palaces
rather than His Kingdom.
So, my friend, beware of the palaces in your pilgrimage! They can so easily
distract us from His will and detour us from His glory. All of us “adjust
upwardly” far better than we “adjust downwardly.” But so often the call of
the Gospel is to do what Jesus did and “go down” to the lowest places in life
with the love and compassion of God! Jesus came “down to earth…down to
humanity…down to servanthood…down to death…down to the grave (Phil.
2:6-10). The palaces of life make it so hard to follow in His steps on this
“downward journey” to the lowest, lonely and lost of life.
They Were Not Defrauded by the Priests
The word “defraud” is a Biblical term, especially in the King James Version
of the Bible. But we don’t use it much today in our contemporary
English. In the Hebrew and Greek it variously means: “To rob…to spoil…to
deceive…to violate…to use.” Jesus reminded the Rich Young Ruler of the
Commandment which said: “Do not defraud” (Mk. 10:19).
Likewise, Paul warned about false religious teachers of depraved minds who
are deprived have been “…defrauded” or “robbed of the truth.” He says
that they suffer such spiritual darkness because they “…do not agree with
the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine
conforming to godliness” (I Tim. 6:3-5).
How easy it would have been for the wise men to be defrauded by the
priests who were consulted by King Herod concerning the prophesied
birthplace of Christ. They were theologically trained and religiously active.
They knew by heart all of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They
could recite them back to Herod in a heart-beat. However, they were not
even willing to follow the wise men the short distance to Bethlehem to see
the promised Christ Child. Apparently they had become infatuated with
Herod’s palace they had been invited into. Their spiritual complacency and
lukewarm religiosity defrauded them of the joy of seeing the long-awaited
Messiah.
Like the majority of their contemporaries on the Sanhedrin, they had become
so committed to perpetuating their Jewish religious traditions that they could
not afford to personally become involved in something that might turn their
little religious world upside down. It was fine to have a detached theological
discussion on prophecy in answer to Herod’s questions – but that was all the
further they dared to become involved. They liked their little “religious
palaces” too much to let them be turned up-side-down by some new Jewish
king!
How tragic it is that so many of the religious professionals today who should
be leading the search for Biblical truths, are the very ones who are so often
suppressing it! Just note on any documentary on the History Channel or
National Geographic, how these “religious scholars” call into question every
revelation of the Bible. There were a number of them during the month of
December to call into question almost every aspect of the Christmas
narrative. And they do so in the name of objective “science,” “history” and
“archaeology.” But their biases are blatantly obvious. Objective they are
not!
Sadly, many of the very preachers and priests who should be totally
committed to the person of Christ are defrauding so many in their
congregations from the truth through liberalism, humanism and sexual
perversion. So little has changed in the religious realm from the First to the
Twenty-First Century.
The wise men, however, were neither distracted by the dazzling opulence of
Herod’s palace; nor were they defrauded by the dead orthodoxy of the
priests.
They Were Not Disappointed by the Place
As is so often the case, the guiding star from God led the wise men to a
humble, lowly place. It directed them from splendor to simplicity…from a
place of prosperity to a place of poverty…from a high place to a humble
place.
Their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh would have seemed so
appropriate in the splendor of Herod’s palace – but so out of place in the
simplicity of Joseph’s temporary home!
How like the true God that is. He is so extravagant in the most unexpected
places. He lavishes His love on the most unlikely of people. And He so
often calls us to give our best – just as He has done – in the most unlikely,
unpromising places! To those places of poverty and ignorance we do not
mind giving our leftovers…our unneeded excess…our worn-out and “used”
– but not our best! We save our best for the “high and mighty,” not the “low
and powerless.” But remember, the motivation of the wise men was to
“…worship Him.”
Therefore, “…opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold
and frankincense and myrrh” (Mtt. 2:11). Remember this great liberating
principle: When our gifts of time and money are first and foremost being
presented to Him, the place is relatively unimportant! Ministering to Him
through others in need transforms the most humble circumstance into the
heavenly. That motivation lifts every gift, regardless of how great or small,
to a place of eternal significance. How the life of Mother Teresa
demonstrated that truth in the slums of the world.
If you find yourself disappointed by the place you are living, working or
ministering in, begin to look for His presence there. As the Fifteenth Century
Christian monk and mystic, Brother Lawrence found, you can “practice His
presence” in any situation. Even though he greatly disliked kitchen work,
Brother Lawrence learned the discipline of practicing the presence of Christ
there to the degree that he ultimately experienced the Lord no less in the
kitchen than in the sanctuary! He learned to commune to the same degree
with the Lord in washing dishes or in celebrating the Mass. That’s the
testimony of a heart set on worship.
The presence of Christ lifts any act of love from the mundane to the
miraculous!
They Were Not Disobedient to the Plan
After their pilgrimage had led them from the palace to the priests to the
place of Christ’s birth, God appeared to them in a dream, and gave them
a new plan. That plan was to “…return home by a different route” (Mt.
2:12). God literally gave them a “new direction!” To take a new way home
other than the now more familiar one they came by, was an added
inconvenience. It would no doubt take more time, energy and money.
However, in obedience to God, they went home “another way” – even
though it inconvenienced them and enraged King Herod.
Without overly spiritualizing that phrase: “…they returned home another
way,” I want to emphasize an important truth. When we have truly met
Christ, we are invariably changed. We always return to our homes and
businesses differently than the way we were before we met Him. When the
direction and priorities of our lives are unchanged, we have not really met
the Messiah. Also, when we go home a “different way” – that difference
always produces difficulties and divisions. But we, like the wise men, must
not be disobedient to the heavenly plan – whatever the cost.
I trust that these “Lessons from the Wise Men” will help guide you in your
journey through this New Year. And just as they gave their best to the Lord
Jesus, I pray that you will do the same in the year ahead. I know that from a
human perspective the economy may not look very positive and promising
right now. But it was costly for the wise men to “…open their
treasures and present Him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh” – just
as it will be costly for you to give your best to Christ in the New Year. But I
challenge you to begin the New Year with new “bold faith” in
you living and giving!
GIVING LIKE WISE MEN
“When they…saw the Child…
they presented to Him gifts…”
(Matthew 2:11)
If there was ever a time we needed an extra portion of wisdom, it is during
the Christmas season. Everything we see, hear or read motivates us to throw
restraint to the wind, and give into the excessive materialism of Christmas –
even if it is on credit!
It is only natural for us to want to give some giftful expression of love to our
family and friends. I love to surprise my wife and family with gifts! But I
have to battle to keep some sense of balance and priority – without seeming
like an ol’ Scrooge!
Each year I am challenged afresh by the giving of the wise men. When they
found the long sought after Christ Child, what did they do? They did not
exchange their gifts with each other! No. We find this simple and telling
account:
“When they…saw the Child…they fell down and worshiped Him;
and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold (gift
for king) and frankincense (gift for priest – used in Temple
sacrifices) and myrrh (gift for one who is going to die – it was used
to embalm)” (Matt. 2:11).
They first gave themselves to Christ in worship, and then gave Him their
treasures, because Christmas is a time of giving ourselves in greater measure
to Him through worship. Then, as an expression of our love and devotion to
Him, we give some of our material treasures to Him for the extension of His
Kingdom in the lives of others.
Paul praised that same type of two-fold giving that the Christians at
Macedonia demonstrated. “They gave themselves first to Lord and then to
us, in keeping with God’s will.” And, Paul reminded the more prosperous
Corinthians, that the Macedonian saints were doing so “…in their extreme
poverty.” He was deeply moved that “…they gave as much as they were
able, and even beyond their ability” (II Cor. 8:1-6).
Many of you reading this Christmas book may be able to relate to the poor
saints in Macedonia. For you the current “recession” is very real – and
perhaps even a “depression!” For you, the market has not been favorable. If
you are a business owner, your business may have been drastically down this
past year. From your perspective, the Bull Market has been savagely
attacked by a vicious Bear – and he has brought you great economic
carnage! Giving for you this Christmas will be like the Macedonians who
gave “…out of their poverty.” But in His own time and way, I know that
God will reward you, as He did the Macedonians.
Others of you are in a place of economic blessing and security like the
Corinthian Christians. Because of God’s past blessings, coupled with wise
savings and investments, you are in a position to be able to give liberally.
“At the present time your plenty will supply what they need…Then
there will be equality.” Perhaps God has blessed and prospered you for
such a time as this. You are in a position to give a substantial gift to His
work during this special time of year.
Whichever category we are in, Paul assures us that “…the gift is acceptable
according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” (II
Cor. 8:12-14). So God’s concern is never what we might do with what we
do not have; but what we are doing by faith with what we do have.
May that spirit inspire and motivate you this Christmas to “Give Like the
Wise Men.”
POST 9/11 CHRISTMAS
“God with us?” or “Allah against us?”
This holiday season, I hope you are pondering afresh the great message of
our Christmas Faith: “Immanuel…God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Never
before in American history has that central truth of Christianity been more
relevant. In our post 9/11 world of global terrorism, the contrast between
our faith and other faiths – especially Islam – could not be more pronounced.
You see, Christmas clearly puts the reality of the nature of God on center
stage. And we are not just talking about the “Baby Jesus in the manger” –
but the sovereign God who sits firmly on the throne of the universe.
Christmas confronts us with the unavoidable question of: “What is the
nature of God?”
Is He aloof and transcendent? Is He a part of the spirit world as primitive
animists believe. Is He one with nature, as Hinduism and Buddhism teach?
Is He impersonal and uninvolved as the deists think? Does He not even
exist, as the atheists believe? For Christians, Christmas clearly answers the
question as to the nature of the true and living God. He is both transcendent
and imminent.
But what Christmas is for Christians, Hanukkah is for Jews and Ramadan is
for Muslims. While Christmas and Hanukkah (“Festival of Lights”) fall
close together in the November and December months, Ramadan varies.
That’s because Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar and shifts some each
year – by 11 days approximately. But, while their dates differ from year to
year, there are interesting parallels between Christmas and Ramadan. In
fact, in the past few decades, there has been a “Christmas-izing” of Ramadan
in many parts of the world. They have adapted many of the lights,
decorations and festivities of Christmas for Ramadan.
However, both commemorate very different views of God. Both celebrate
very different world-views. Both attribute their revelations to different
books – the Bible and Quran. Ramadan commemorates the reputed
revelation of the Quran to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel. Christmas
celebrates the message of the Incarnation to Joseph and Mary by Gabriel.
Obviously, both cannot be right. The choice is clear. We either believe in
the “God of Christmas,” Jesus the Christ or in the “god of Ramadan, Allah.
It is impossible to equally embrace both. To believe in one is to disbelieve
in the other. Let me explain…
You see, Islam does not believe in the Incarnation. Allah would never take
on human flesh! The Quran teaches that Jesus is a great and revered prophet
– but certainly not “God incarnate!” This is a unique Christian truth that
the Muslim religion does not believe in. That believe is an anathema to
Muslims and is totally repugnant to Islam. It is nothing short of blasphemy!
Contrary to the Biblical revelation about Jehovah God, the Quran teaches
that Allah is a totally transcendent being. He remains hidden in the heavens
behind an impenetrable veil. While Muslims believe that Allah has revealed
something of his nature, he has never revealed himself personally. While
Christians speak of their “personal relationship” with God” through Jesus
Christ, no Muslim would ever speak of that kind of “personal relationship
with Allah” through the prophet, Mohammed. Allah is a totally transcendent
deity who would never become incarnate in human flesh. That would be far
beneath his divine majesty and dignity. While Allah will reveal his will, he
will not personally reveal himself. He is too transcendent…too lofty…too
high and mighty…too far removed to become “one with man.”
In contrast to the Allah of the Quran, the God of the Bible is both
transcendent and imminent. You see, it is the imminence, or nearness of
God, that makes the incarnation possible. If God is not imminent, then there
can be no incarnation. And if there was no incarnation – then Jesus is not
“Immanuel…God with us.” It is only the reality of the incarnation that
makes it possible for God to be “…with us.” However, He is not just “with
us” in some spiritual, abstract, theological or philosophical way. No! He is
“with us” in a very personal, experiential, existential way through His
indwelling Holy Spirit!
Therefore, it is only the revelation of the incarnation that makes it possible
for God to be both imminent and intimate.
Christmas, then, reminds any thinking, Biblically informed person that the
“Allah of Islam” and the “God of Christianity” are not the same. In spite of
the heresy of the “Chrislam” movement that seeks to merge Christ and
Islam, Jesus and Mohammed are not compatible. They are not spiritual
equals. The Bible and the Quran are not comparable books. The Quran
teaches that Mohammed was a prophet – Allah’s last prophetic word to the
world. By contrast, the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the
world. That’s why the angel Gabriel told Joseph: “You are to give Him the
name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
Therefore, Christmas reminds us of two things: the heart of God and the
heart of man. Simply put, God is Holy and man is sinful. That’s why
Gabriel specifically told Joseph that Jesus would “…save His people from
their sins.” But Islam does not teach the “fall of man…depravity of man…
sinfulness of man. If man is not a sinner by birth and choice, he does not
need a “Savior.”
Contrary to what the Quran teaches about Jesus, the angel Gabriel told the
Virgin Mary:
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give
Him the name Jesus…The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one
to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:31-35).
Muslims, like orthodox Christians, believe in the virgin birth of Christ – but
for different reasons. From the Christian perspective, the virgin conception
was absolutely necessary because of the universal sinfulness of man. If
Jesus had been conceived naturally – rather than supernaturally – He would
have been called the “son of Joseph.” However, over and over again the
Bible refers to Him as the “Son of God.” (But again, this central and
cardinal Biblical teaching of Jesus as the “Son of God” is repugnant to
Islam – and is totally distained in the Quran!)
Therefore, if Jesus had been conceived naturally as the “son of Joseph” –
then the sin nature of Joseph would have been transmitted to Him – just as it
was to all other members of Adam’s race. Thus He too would have needed
a Savior to die for His sins. Unless Jesus was sinless, He could not qualify
to be the “Savior of the world.” But, as the sinless “Son of God,” Jesus
came as the “Savior” who would “…save His people from their sins.”
This was the long-awaited “Good News” that mankind was literally dying to
hear! It was the wondrous news of redemption that the angels heralded to
the shepherds on that first Christmas night: “Today in the town of David a
Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11).
The Apostle Paul expressed this universality of sin and death – as well as the
unlimited and unmerited grace of Christ, this way:
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man
(Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all
men, because all sinned…death reigned from the time of Adam to
the time of Moses…if the many died by the trespass of the one
man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by
the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin:
The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but
the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if,
by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one
man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant
provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the
result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the
result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life
for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the
one man the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:12-19; c.f. I Cor.
15:45).
Sadly, Islam does not believe any of that – especially the innate sinfulness of
man. The Quran therefore contradicts the Biblical doctrine of original sin.
Let me say it again: Islam teaches that man is basically good – not innately
sinful. But the Bible clearly teaches what all of our hearts subjectively
confirm what our conduct objectively demonstrates: “There is no one
righteous, not even one…All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God” (Rom. 3:10, 23).
Therefore, if Islam is true, the Christmas message that a “Savior has been
born” – is totally irrelevant! According to Islam, we are not sinners who
need to be “…saved from our sins.” We are misguided souls who need the
revelations of the prophet Mohammed to help us live better. All that we
need to lead us out of ignorance is submission to the 5-fold pillars of Islam:
• Kalima, or Creed: “There is no deity except Allah, Mohammed is
the messenger of Allah.”
• Salat, or Prayer 5 times a day facing Mecca
• Sawm = Fasting during Ramadan, the 9th month in the Islamic
calendar
• Zakat = Alms giving to the poor (2 1/2% of earnings)
• Hajj = Pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime
And there is a “6th pillar of Islam” – which is Jihad, or holy war. September
11th was an infamous manifestation of that Islamic belief and practice.
Therefore, I am glad that the angels did not say to the shepherds on the
Bethlehem hillside:
“Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that shall be to all the
people. Today the prophet Mohammed has been born in Arabia!
Submit to him and he will teach you 5 virtues which you can try – and
possibly work your way to paradise! However, you will never be able
to know for sure that you will make paradise unless you die in jihad
for Allah!”
Little assurance that would have been! That would not have been “good
news” – but very bad news! Christmas reminds us that we didn’t need
another religious form of “works righteousness.” When Christ came, the
world was full of religion – just as it is today. Mankind didn’t need a new
religion. The world needed a new relationship with the true and living God
through His Son, Jesus Christ. We didn’t need another prophet – we needed
a “Savior” who would “…save His people from their sins.” It is that
“Good News” that caused the angelic choir to break out in heavenly song:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom
His favor rests” (Lk 2:14).
The Bible assures us that “God’s favor” only rests upon those who accept
His Son. He alone is the “Savior of the world!” Therefore, it is
Christianity – not Islam – that is the authentic “religion of peace.” Only
Christianity reveals to man God’s way to peace – which is through Jesus
Christ. Peace is through a Person – and not through a religion. It is only
experienced through Christ alone:
• “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
(Rom. 5:1).
• “He Himself is our peace…” (Eph. 2:14).
• “Peace I leave with you…so that in Me you may have peace”
(Jn. 14:27; 16:33).
• “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him (Jesus),
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things…by making
peace through His blood shed on the cross” (Col. 1:19-20).
Is it any wonder that the God of the Bible is called the “God of peace”
(Heb. 13:20) – and that Jesus Christ is called the “Prince of peace” (Isa.
9:6)? Therefore, it is the Christian message – not the message of Islam –
that is the “Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15).
However, in spite of these clear contradictions between Christianity and
Islam, we are being constantly told, “Islam is a religion of peace.” They
tell us: “Terrorists like Al-Quaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, alShabaab, the Muslim Brotherhood – and scores of other fundamental Islamic
groups – have just hijacked a peaceful religion! Just like they hijacked the
airplanes that they used as missiles against the Twin Towers and Pentagon –
they have hijacked Islam and twisted it into a terrorist religion of jihadists…
extremism …intifadas …death squads… martyrs’ Brigades…suicide
bombers!
We are constantly told that the suicidal hijackers were “radical extremists” –
and not true representatives of Islam. Muslim clerics, the media pundits,
and even the White House, are all singing a chorus of unity. With one voice
they are proclaiming the peaceful nature of Islam. They often remind us
that the word Islam, meaning submission, is closely akin to the Arabic word
for “peace.” Therefore, Islam is really synonymous with peace.
I beg to differ! At this point, Islam is like many counterfeit Christian cults
about which I used to write and speak. While Muslims often use much of
our vocabulary – they do not use our dictionary! What they mean by
“peace” and what we Christians mean by “peace” are two very different
realities. In their belief system, Islam means a very specific kind of peace.
It is a peace that only comes through a total “submission” – or unconditional
“surrender” – to Islam.
As the late Chuck Colson rightly pointed out: “The peace of Islam is the
kind of peace that a soldier finds when he lays down his arms in surrender
and submission before a superior power.” But that’s not the kind of peace
that the Bible talks about.
Authentic Biblical peace comes only when mankind accepts God’s diagnosis
of the problem – which is man’s sinful nature. A person only experiences
that “…peace that passes understanding” (Phil. 4:7) when he has first
made “…peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
So, peace only comes when we repent of our sins – and submit by faith to
the One whom God sent as the “Savior of the world.”
Therefore, there can be no personal or political peace until the sinful nature
of the human heart has been dealt with. And that can only take place
through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ!
An oft-seen bumper sticker almost sounds trite, but it is true: “No Jesus, no
peace; know Jesus, know peace!” That cannot be said of Allah.
Certainly many of the Muslims living in America are peaceful people. Not
all Muslims in America, or in other Islamic countries, are extremists or
terrorists. They are not motivated by violent jihad. Most just want to
quietly live out their lives in peace and prosperity.
However, history has shown that Muslims tend to be more peaceful in
countries and contexts where they are in the minority. But once they are in
the majority, there is little or no peace for anyone outside Dar-Al-Salam, or
the “House of Islam” – especially Christians and Jews! We compose those
whom the Quran defines as “infidels” because we do not believe in Allah or
the prophet Mohammed. In any country where Islam is the majority
religion, there is little or no religious freedom. Shari’a, or Islamic law, is
increasingly imposed upon the population – as we saw in Afghanistan under
the Taliban, as well as in every other fundamentalist Muslim country.
That’s also why the Islamic Khartoum government of Northern Sudan has
killed over 2 million people living in the South – most of whom are
Christians. They have reduced another 4 million to homeless refugees in
order to Islamacize the South. And all the while the majority of American
Christians turned a blind eye and deaf ear! But, then, the “wake up call” of
September 11th sounded a clarion call to battle that could not be ignored!
While freedom, individuality, pluralism and toleration are highly esteemed
in America, Islamic leaders disdain them in most Muslim countries.
Everyone must “submit” to Islam. They are not free to choose their own
course in life. There is only one acceptable belief and lifestyle – and that is
Islamic.
While we give Muslims living in America total freedom to practice and
propagate their faith – they allow Christians little or no religious freedom in
their countries. That’s why our “ally,” Saudi Arabia, is one of the most
repressive countries toward Christians in the entire world! In virtually every
Muslim country across the globe, Christian worship and evangelism are
absolutely forbidden. Bibles are totally taboo. Any Christian caught
witnessing of his faith in Christ is punishable by beatings, imprisonment or
death!
Again, Islamic peace means a strict submission to the will of Allah.
Everyone in society is either Islamicized – or they are ostracized! They
either bow their head in submission to Allah – or they bare their neck to the
sword of Mohammed! Therefore, for any dissidents or unbelievers in
Islamic countries, there is no peace – only pieces!
Conclusions
Any astute observer can see that there is a growing tide of religious
pluralism in America. We especially see it during the Christmas Season
when people try to combine a number of religious observances together.
While Christmas used to exclusively commemorate and celebrate Jesus
Christ, it is increasingly a homogenized season that seeks to celebrate
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Ramadan!
Through this
multiculturalism and universalism, the leftist and media pundits are trying to
convince us that the essence of all world religions is the same. They can be
combined into one big compatible celebration. “If you cut away the nonessentials,” we are told, “all religious roads lead to the top of the mountain
for a sure and certain rendezvous with the same God.”
On Fridays, this one universal cosmic god is prayed to in Arabic….on
Saturdays he is prayed to in Hebrew…and on Sunday he is prayed to in the
same vernacular! This growing new syncretistic religion teaches the cosmic
“fatherhood of god” and the universal “brotherhood of man.”
However, the Bible does not teach that at all! Nor does Christmas
commemorate that kind of spiritual universalism. Like it or not, both Jesus
and the Bible make exclusive claims! But, so do Mohammed and the Quran.
Both cannot be right. This Christmas – as never before in recent history –
confronts us with the necessity to decide. To paraphrase Joshua in the Old
Testament: “Choose for yourselves this Christmas whom you will serve,
God or Allah” (Josh. 24:15)!
So, contrary to the current stream of “political correctness” flowing out of
the media and the White House, American Christians have to make a clear
stand. Do we believe the Christmas message or the message of Ramadan?
Do we believe in the message of the crèche or the crescent?
The Immanuel God who is “with us” that we Christians celebrate at
Christmas – is very different from the Allah of the Quran that Muslims
commemorate during Ramadan. As I pointed out earlier, Muslims believe
that it was during the month of Ramadan that Mohammed received his
revelations from the angel Gabriel in the cave in Arabia.
By contrast, we Christians believe that it was at Christmas that “The Word
became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (Jn. 1:14).
The
transcendent God who should have been against us for our sins – became
“Immanuel…God with us.” While the holy Creator God should have been
against us for our sins – and destroyed mankind forever – He redeemed us!
Through Jesus Christ, He became “Immanuel… God with us” – and God
“for us” – against our sins! That’s why Paul exclaimed: “If God is for us,
who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
Let’s not be confused this Christmas. There is an eternity of difference
between the “God of the Bible” and the “Allah of the Quran!” We cannot
simultaneously commemorate the “Incarnation of Christmas and the
“revelations of Ramadan”!” They are mutually exclusive. One follows the
star that led to Jesus Christ. The other one follows the crescent of Allah.
Both revelations lead in opposite spiritual directions.
The Apostle Paul warns us: “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and
the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table
and the table of demons” (I Cor. 10:20-21).
Nothing could be clearer than that!
As every rational logician knows: Things that are not equal to the same
thing are not equal to each other. To say that all religions are true – means
that no religion is true! Therefore, God and Allah are not equal…Jesus and
Mohammed are not equal…the Bible and Quran are not equal…the Ten
Commandments and Shari’a law are not equal…Christianity and Islam are
not equal. One is right; one is wrong. One is a revelation from God; the
other a counterfeit from the evil one. One brings true peace; the other
imposes false peace. One gives freedom; the other results in bondage. One
freely offers salvation through grace; the other propagates salvation by
works. One leads to heaven; the other leads to hell.
So, at Christmas we Christians celebrate God’s full and final revelation to
humanity – not through another prophet – but through the “Son of God”
who alone is the “Savior of the world.” I could never make a better
summary of the absolute uniqueness of Jesus Christ than the writer of
Hebrews did. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he compared Jesus with
all previous – and future – “religious revelations”:
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at
many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has
spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and
through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of
God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining
all things by His powerful word. After He had provided
purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
in heaven” (Heb. 1:1-3).
Beloved, that’s what Christmas is all about! Nothing more, nothing less.
“Immanuel… God with us!” That’s “Good News” worth living for – and
dying for! Only the God of Christmas is…
“Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will
be no end” (Isa. 9:6).
As Gabriel assured Mary, “…His kingdom will never end” (Lk. 1:33).
May that assurance be yours this Christmas Season!
Let me close this study with another cogent quote to ponder this Christmas.
It warns us not to ignore the ominous events of 9-11 to the degree that we
are again seduced back into the ordinary:
“If we survive the present national convulsions, and if we then retreat
into the ‘warm fuzzies’ of a Currier and Ives Christmas, after all that
we have seen of man – Auschwitz, the Gulag, the ‘killing fields’ of
Cambodia, the blood bath of Rwanda, al-Qaeda – a greater tragedy is
yet to come, as when a man escapes from a bear and runs into a
shelter, only to be bitten by a scorpion” (Andree Seu, World,
December 22, 2001).
Well said! Just like Joseph and Mary faced dark and difficult religious,
political and economic times on that very first Christmas – we face the same
today. This is no time for a “business as usual” attitude. Extreme times
require extreme measures! Remember: Radical Islam requires radical
Christianity!
Tragically, Muslims worldwide are surpassing most Christians in their
passion and zeal. While we have been spiritually sleeping, they have been
extending the shadow of the crescent over vast areas of our world!
It is my prayer this Christmas Season that we Christians will shake off our
lethargy – and “…redeem the time” (Eph. 5:16) for God’s Kingdom and
glory! And while Allah is against us, “God is with us…in us…for us!”
That’s the assurance of Christmas and “Immanuel…God with us!”
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”
FAMILY LIFE AFTER CHRISTMAS
For most Americans, Christmas is increasingly the focus of attention from
before Thanksgiving until December 25th. It is the event that is never far
from people’s minds. The Christmas shopping and party momentum
continually builds until Christmas Day. But soon after the presents are
exchanged and Christmas dinner is over, so is Christmas – until next year.
Once December 25th is past, Christmas is history. All of the presents were
opened…the parties and festivities are over…the Christmas tree is taken
down…the decorations are packed up and put away for another year…New
Year is celebrated…life goes on…little is changed.
As our Christmas spirit fades, life begins to revert back to normal… daily
schedules… business as usual…ordinary living…mundane routines…the
rut…the “rat race.”
Sadly, after weeks and months of planning and preparation, this festive
Season has become yet another Christmas Past, to quote Dicken’s
Christmas Carol. Like all others before it, Christmas is also celebrated in
the midst of the “…best of times and worst of times.”
But what happened after that first Christmas over two thousand years ago?
What took place after the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem? What
happened after the angels, shepherds and magi left? What did Mary and
Joseph do then? What was family life like for them after Christmas?
Great questions! Let’s see if we can find the answers from the Christmas
narratives.
Like most of us today, Joseph and Mary also wanted to “get on with their
lives.” They too had responsibilities pressing in on them. Joseph had
carpentry work that needed to be done to provide for Mary and Jesus. As a
new young mother, Mary had all of the daily duties of a “housewife” that
she needed to attend to – without any of our “modern conveniences.” There
was adapting their small home for the presence of a new baby, cooking for
Joseph, the daily cleaning of the house and going to the local well to bring
back water for cooking and cleaning. Joseph and Mary had to become
reacquainted with their family and friends after their sojourn in Bethlehem
and Egypt for a couple of years. They attended their synagogue on the
Sabbath and followed all of the requirements of Jewish law. In their own
way, their lives would have been just as busy as ours.
But what would have been the “normal” and “natural” things for Joseph
and Mary to do after Christmas? While we don’t know nearly all of the
details of their daily lives after Christmas, we do know a lot by studying the
Scriptural narratives more closely. One thing for sure about them, it would
have been totally impossible to live “normal” and “natural” lives when they
had been entrusted with the “supernatural” and “supernormal.” Eternity
had invaded time. A theophany had changed everything for them. The
Incarnation had occurred.
God’s long-awaited “Word had become flesh” had taken place in their
lives…their marriage…their home…their vocation! It would be impossible
for them to live a “normal life” when they had been entrusted with the very
“Son of God!” Although it was incomprehensible, God had become a man
in the form of a baby – and this baby had been entrusted to them. Normality
was out the window! From their theophany onward, their lives would be a
unique combination of the natural and supernatural.
As we read about the life of Joseph and Mary after the Christmas events that
so totally changed their lives, we are once again indebted to Dr. Luke in his
Gospel – who was such a careful historian. He is the only Gospel writer
who gives us brief insights into Joseph and Mary’s “Family Life After
Christmas.”
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the
Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of
Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; He was filled
with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
“Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of
Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the
Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while
His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking He was in their
company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for
Him among relatives and friends. When they did not find Him,
they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him. After three days
they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard
Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. When
His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to
Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I
have been anxiously searching for You.’
‘Why were you searching for Me?’ He asked. ‘Didn’t you know I
had to be in My Father’s house?’ But they did not understand
what He was saying to them.
Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to
them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
men” (Lk. 2:39-52).
While this brief account does not give us all the details we would like to
have, properly understood and interpreted, it does reveal to us a great deal
about their “Family Life After Christmas” that we often overlook.
There are three primary things we learn about Jesus from this passage:
• His Humanity
• His Deity
• His Jewishness
When we look at the Humanity and the Deity of Jesus, we come face-to-face
with the Mystery of the Incarnation. In doing so, we have nothing to
compare it with. It is totally unique in human history. Nothing like it has
ever occurred – before or after. That’s why it split history wide open into
B.C. and A.D. In seeking understanding, comparative religions are useless
since there is nothing or no one with whom to compare Jesus! He has no
religious peer. He has no contemporary. He is like none other in human
history. He alone is the theanthropic, Incarnate, God-Man of history. As
such, He has no equal – in heaven or on earth. So, in studying this mystery,
we are seeking to comprehend the incomprehensible and understand the
unfathomable! Both are human impossibilities. These are truths that we
know only through revelation – not through reason.
As we study this Christmas mystery, we must remember that Jesus came into
the world as a “Divine Infant.” But He grew up and developed as a “Human
Child” who was “normal” in every other way. While He preexisted in
Heaven as the Second Member of the eternal Triune Godhead, He lived on
earth the life of a normal human being. But He did so as One who was
simultaneously “fully God and fully Man.” Theologians have summarized
Christ this way: “One Person; two natures.” In other words, in the One
Person known as “Jesus the Christ,” there were Two Natures: One fully
Divine; One fully Human.” Jesus is His human name; Christ is His divine
name. Again, One Person with two natures.
Therefore, Jesus was neither “God acting as man” or “Man acting as God.”
Both natures were fully natural for Jesus Christ. He was eternally
comfortable with His deity and humanity.
And all of this is inseparably connected to the “Virgin Birth.” But while we
often speak of the “virgin birth,” we are really meaning the “virgin
conception.” While Mary was a virgin when she miraculously conceived,
the birth of Jesus was normal in every other way. The only “abnormal”
aspect of Jesus birth from our perspective would have been the fact that it
took place in a cattle stable – after which He was laid in a manger where
animals ate! That’s not very “normal” for us!
So, while the context would have been very unnatural for us Americans and
Westerners, the birthing process was natural and normal in every other way.
Mary would have had contractions and birth pains like every other woman.
Her water would have broken signaling that the birth was near. But her
natural physical discomfort and pain from being nine months pregnant
would have been greatly exacerbated by walking or riding a donkey for
many miles prior to giving birth. And her physical pain would have been
intensified by the emotional uncertainty of not having a safe and private
place to give birth since there was “…no room in the inn” (Lk. 2:7).
The birth of Jesus, then, was “abnormally normal!” Let me state it again:
while His conception in Mary’s womb was supernatural, His birth was
natural in every other way. And His “natural birth” led to a “supernaturally
natural” life! He was not Incarnated for the purpose of living as a “GodBaby.” He was not born with a halo around His head! Nor did He have
wings under the “swaddling clothes” He was wrapped in. And He did not
start quoting Scriptures or singing psalms while in the manger! When Mary,
Joseph, the shepherds and magi looked at Him, they saw a normal baby in
every sense of the word. While the “…Word had become flesh,” Jesus’
“flesh” was normal in every way.
So, it is important to remember that Jesus’ primary reason for coming to
earth was not to “live as God.” He first and foremost came to “live as man.”
That’s why He most often referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” (Matt.
8:20; 12:8, 32, 40-41; 16:27; 19:28; 20:18; 24:30, 44; 25:31, etc). God
referred to Him as “My Son” (Matt. 3:17; 17:5). Others referred to Him as
the “Son of God” (Matt. 4:3; 14:33; 16:16; 26:63; 27:54). However, while
never doubting or denying that He was indeed the “Son of God,” Jesus
normally referred to Himself as the “Son of Man” – which when properly
understood was a clear Messianic title (Dan. 7:13).
While we Christians focus on Christ’s Deity at Christmas, and the verses I
quoted above from Luke’s focus on His Humanity, both truths must be kept
in spiritual and theological balance. Sadly, that has not always happened
down throughout human history since that first Christmas.
A brief study of Church History shows us that there have been two primary
Christological Heresies when it comes to the nature of Jesus Christ. They
were opposite extremes. One group emphasized one nature while the other
side emphasized the other nature.
• Denial of Christ's Divinity: Ebonism, Arianism (Jehovah's
Witnesses), Nestorianism, Socinianism, Liberalism, Humanism,
Unitarianism.
• Denial of Christ's Humanity: Docetism, Marcionism, Gnosticism,
Apollinarianism, Monarchianism, Patripassianism, Sabellianism,
Adoptionism, Dynamic Monarchianism.
Both extremes in all of their variations and nuances are wrong. When
anyone emphasizes one of the natures of Christ to the neglect of the other,
they fall into the realm of the cultic. They are outside the realm of Orthodox
Christianity. Once again, we must always hold in theological balance the
truth of this revelation about Jesus Christ: One Person with two Natures. As
the Incarnation of “Immanuel, God with us,” Jesus was simultaneously
“Perfect God” and “Perfect Man.”
As I stated earlier, Jesus came to earth to “live as man” – not to “live as
God.” That’s why most often His Deity was veiled and submissive to His
Humanity. It was only when He performed the supernatural that His Deity
manifested itself through His Humanity. The only real glimpse that several
of His disciples had of His unveiled Deity was on the Mount of
Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-2). At all other times, Jesus lived and acted as a
normal Man in every way – yet “…without sin” (Heb. 4:15; 7:21; II Cor.
5:21; I Pet. 2:22-24; I Jn. 3:5). Every other member of the human family
lives “with sin” while Jesus lived “without sin.” It was His sinlessness that
qualified Him to be the “Savior of the world.”
But, this heaven-sent Savior came into the world to live a perfectly normal
life – at least from God’s perspective. As the “Last Adam” (I Cor. 15:45),
Jesus came to live the “normal human life” that the first Adam failed to live.
What the world needed to see was a perfect human life. Mankind did not
need to see God walking around in human form. They could not identify
with that. That would have been an example to which they could not have
related. They did not need to see authentic deity – but authentic humanity.
And when you think about it, Jesus’ perfect humanity proved His perfect
deity! Only the one true Creator God could reveal what He originally
created man to be.
So, Jesus came into this world to live as a perfect man…one who was like us
in every way – yet without sin. He was holiness incarnate. He had no “sin
nature.” Human depravity was not a part of His nature. He had no natural
bent toward sin. But He was still “…tempted in every way, just as we are
– yet without sin.” That’s why Jesus can fully “…sympathize with our
weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15).
As you will recall, the very first thing the Spirit led Jesus into after His
baptism was the “wilderness of temptation.” For 40 days and nights in the
harsh Judean desert, Jesus faced every temptation with which the devil
would seek to seduce Him. Satan had successfully seduced every other
human being who had ever lived through one or more of the 3 temptations
He put into Christ’s mind. But Jesus never succumbed. He never gave in.
He never “took the bait.” He always turned to God and turned away from
the “natural desires” of His flesh. Though He was severely tempted, Jesus
always put His faith in God and His Word. And He emerged from the
wilderness to begin His public ministry totally sinless. And because of His
perfect holiness and absolute sinlessness, He alone was qualified to be the
“Savior of the world.”
But, before He would die for the sins of the world, Jesus would “fleshed
out” a normal life under all of the normal conditions that every other human
being had to face. Jesus would live out His perfect life “in the flesh” – “in
the Spirit.” As a result, for the first time since the Garden of Eden, the
human race of fallen creatures would be able to see – “alive and in living
color” – life as God originally created man to live. Normal people like you
and me would be able to see…hear…touch…eat with…walk with…pray with
a person of Perfect Humanity – not Perfect Deity. The beatific vision of
Perfect Deity could wait until heaven!
Seeing the Perfect Humanity of Jesus is exactly what “Family Life After
Christmas” is all about. That’s why God gave us this little glimpse through
Doctor Luke. These verses, then, show us the early life of the “…last
Adam” (I Cor. 15:45) – not in the Garden, but in Galilee; not in Eden but in
Israel; not in a sinless world, but in a fallen world; not in a divine home, but
in a human home. Thankfully, the gospel of Luke gives us that revelation.
While the majority of the Christmas Story focuses on the birth of Jesus…His
Heavenly Father…His Holy Spirit…His Heavenly Home”, Luke gives us our
only view of the growth of Jesus…His earthly father…His earthly
family…His earthly Home…His earthly job.
Again, we must remind ourselves that we are looking into a Great Mystery,
as Paul described it. He wrote a “Christmas Card” to his young friend
Timothy, and said that the Incarnation was indeed incomprehensible:
“Beyond all question,” Paul wrote, “the Mystery of godliness is great!”
Then he tried to describe the indescribable. And in doing so, he had to use
poetry rather than pros to even come close:
“He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory”
(I Tim. 3:16).
By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul gave that summary of the earthly life
of the Lord Jesus from His Incarnation in “…a body” until he was
“…taken up in glory.” By the same Holy Spirit, Luke gives us his
summary of Christ’s early life after Christmas: “And Jesus grew in
wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men” (Lk. 2:52).
Once again, any thoughtful reader is struck with the question: “How?!” How
in the world can:
• Omniscience grow in knowledge?
• Omnipotence expand in power?
• Immutability change forms?
• Wisdom increase in understanding?
• Immeasurable grow in stature?
“How” in heaven’s name can the…
• Eternal One become temporal?
• The Ancient of Days add years to His life?
“How” on earth can the…
• One who sustains the universe be sustained by Mary’s milk?
• One who hold world in His hands be held in the arms of Mary?
Is it any wonder then, that Mary asked the angel at her theophany: “How
can these things be…?” (Luke 1:34)
The Apostle Paul later gave us an answer through the revelation of the Holy
Spirit about Christ’s preexistence. While still incomprehensible to our finite
minds, Paul assures us that Christmas was not an after-thought to God.
Jesus did not have His beginning at Christmas. He reminds us that prior to
Christmas, Jesus was pre-existing in what we refer to as “eternity past.” He
did not come into being at His conception or birth.
A number of cults, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, believe that Jesus was the
first “created being.” They believe that God created Him first and then all
other angelic and human beings were created after Him. However, if Jesus
“had a beginning,” He was and is not God because God is eternal. God has
no beginning. Nor will He have an ending. He alone is the “Alpha and
Omega” (Rev. 1:17-18).
These cultic groups get their false doctrine from their misinterpretation of
Paul’s words about Christ to the saints at Colossae when He says that Jesus
was “…the firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:15). But in using the term
“firstborn,” Paul is saying that Jesus is “first” in order of priority – not in
order of time. It means that Jesus was above every other creature in
prominence and preeminence because He is God – the Second Member of
the Trinity. So, these heretical groups are also anti-Trinitarian.
No, says Paul, prior to the Incarnation Jesus “…existed in the form of
God.” That was His eternal, preexistent state as the Second Member of the
Godhead. While He could have continued to exist in that eternal state in
heaven, He chose not to do so. Paul explains that Jesus “…did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped,” or clung to. That
means that Jesus did not cling to His rights, privileges and prerogatives as
God. He did not stay in heaven surrounded by the worship and adoration of
angels, archangels and seraphs. No, says Paul. Rather than hold onto His
heavenly glory, Jesus:
“…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, being made
in human likeness. And being found in appearance as man, He
humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a
cross” (Phil. 2:6-8).
In coming to the earth through the Incarnation, Jesus did not “empty
Himself” of any of His deity. That would have been a complete
impossibility. Deity cannot cease being deity. As the Second Member of
the Godhead, Jesus could never “empty Himself” of any of His deity. To
do so would be to cease to be God – and God can never cease to be who He
is! But God could clothe His deity in our humanity – which He did at
Christmas. That’s when “God Became a Man.” Again, we are confronted
with the Mystery of “One Person with Two Natures.” One fully God; the
other fully Man.
We do know that the Heavenly Father prepared the Heavenly Son from all
eternity as the “…Lamb slain before the foundations of the world” (Rev.
13:8; c.f. Matt. 25:34; Heb. 4:3; 9:26). In the council of the eternal
Godhead, there was always the plan for the Incarnation. That’s why in
eternity, the Incarnation preceded creation. Since God is omniscient and
knows all things, He knew that these humans He would create “…in His
image after His likeness” (Gen. 1:27-28), would rebel, sin and fall from
their state of pristine innocence. He knew they would be seduced by that
ancient serpent who had already rebelled in heaven. He knew Adam and
Eve would break fellowship with Him. So they would need a Savior. They
would need someone who would come into the world to redeem and rescue
them from their fallenness and bondage to sin. And since there could be
“…no forgiveness without the shedding of blood” (Heb. 9:22; Ex. 12:13;
Lev.17:11), this Savior would die for the sins of others. It would be “Life
for life” – His perfect life for their sinful life.
So, God would come through His Son as the “…Lamb slain before the
foundation of the world.” And that is exactly how John the Baptist
introduced Him when he said of Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1: 29). That’s what Christmas is really
all about. It is about God giving His gift of unconditional love and
unconditional forgiveness to the world – wrapped in the humanity of Jesus!
From the passages I have quoted, we see how the Heavenly Father prepared
His Son from all eternity for Christmas. And in the verses by Luke, we see
how God used Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, to prepare his Son for that
mission. The two fathers were working together in perfect unity. While the
Heavenly Father perfectly understood the plan He was sovereignly carrying
out, Joseph did not! Nor did Mary.
It is also crucial that we read these verses by Luke, the “Gentile Doctor,”
with the mind-set of Judaism. Without that background and understanding,
you will miss much of the truth of what Luke reveals. As I said at the
beginning of this study, we see in these verses the Humanity of Jesus…the
Deity of Jesus…and the Jewishness of Jesus. He was not Incarnate as a
Gentile, Roman, Greek, Egyptian, European, American – but as a Jew.
Never forget that truth.
All of the revelations of the Old Testament were preparations for this
Incarnation within the culture and context of Judaism. That’s why Judaism
alone is the only truly revealed religion. God gave that religious revelation
alone through Moses, the patriarchs, prophets and poets to prepare the way
for the coming of Christ. Everything in what we call the “Old Testament”
looked forward to Him. And everything in what we call the “New
Testament” looks back to Him.
Therefore, the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation is about one Person –
Jesus Christ! He was God and is God. He alone can bring mankind back to
God. All other religious leaders are counterfeits and imposters – as well
intended as they might be! Jesus alone is the “…way, the truth and the
life.” As such, no one can come to God except through Him (Jn. 14:6).
That’s really what Christmas is all about. Nothing more, nothing less.
We must read these few brief verses by Luke through the light of the Old
Testament…through the Jewish Religion…Jewish Culture…Jewish
Marriage…Jewish Family Life. And in our day and age when there is an
unprecedented breakdown of the “traditional marriage” and “traditional
family,” the Christmas Story has never been more relevant! In our time
when the dysfunctional and fragmented family has become the “new norm,”
how we need to clearly see a “normal marriage and family!” And we can do
just that as we carefully look at the “First Family of Christmas.”
But, as we seek to clearly see and understand Luke’s revelation, most of us
Gentiles need some help. We need to take off our “foreign glasses” through
which we read the Scriptures – whether they were made in America, Europe,
Africa or Asia. We need to take off our “designer glasses” and put on
“Jewish Glasses” in order to better understand “Family Life After
Christmas.”
To help us, I have invited the German-Jewish-Christian Scholar, Alfred
Edersheim, to help us understand better the “Jewishness of Jesus.” Through
the years, I have found his writings and commentary very helpful in this
area. So, let’s look at “Jewish Family Life” before and during the time of
Christ as a backdrop for Luke’s brief verses about the early life of Jesus
from the time of His birth to His baptism. Here is Edersheim’s brief
description:
These conditions were…for that time, the happiest conceivable, and
such as only centuries of Old Testament life training could have made
them. The Gentile world presented terrible contrast in regard to the
relation of parents and children, and the character and moral object of
their upbringing. Education begins in the home, and there were not
homes like those in Israel; it is imparted by influence and example,
before it comes by teaching; it is acquired by what is seen and heard,
before it is laboriously learned from books; its real object becomes
instinctively felt, before its goal is consciously sought. What Jewish
fathers and mothers were; what they felt towards their children; and
with what reverence, affection and care the latter returned, is known
to every reader of the Old Testament”…From the first days of its
existence, a religious atmosphere surrounded the child of Jewish
parents…from its very inception, life in Israel became religious…the
Jews from their swaddling-clothes were trained to recognize God as
their Father, and as the Maker of the world.” (The Life & Times of
Jesus the Messiah, pp. 157-159)
Edersheim then goes into great detail to help us understand the various
stages of development that a Jewish child went through. For most
Americans and Westerners, we summarize a child’s life something like this:
birth…infancy… childhood…adolescence …adulthood. Not so in Judaism.
The stage of a child are much more segmented and detailed. In classical
Judaism, there were “8 Stages of Development.” They were…
1. Yeled = “Newborn babe” (Isa. 9:6)
2. Yoneq = “a suckling” (Isa 11:8)
3. Olel = “suckling asking for food (Lam 4:4)
4. Gamul = “a weaned child” (Isa. 28:9)
5. Taph = “triping gait; child clinging to its mother” (Jer. 40:7)
6. Elem = “A child becoming firm”
7. Naar = “a lad; one who shakes himself free”
8. Bachur = “the ripened one”
Edersheim also teaches us that within Judaism there is an appropriate
Biblical Study, emphasis and expectation for each stage of life. They are:
1. Age 5 = Study of Torah
2. Age 10 = Study of Oral Law
3. Age 15 = Study of Sages
4. Age 18 = Marriage
5. Age 20 = Vocation
6. Age 41 = Understanding
7. Age 50 = Counselor
It was during this time that Luke recorded that the Child Jesus went through
these various stages, with their various emphases. And He did so through
the tutelage of Joseph and Mary – without public schooling…written
textbooks…TV…video games!
In Judaism, both religion and education were centered in the home – not in
the synagogue or temple. The father was the “head of the home” and the
mother was the “heart of the home.” The father was the priest and the
mother was the priestess of the home. Both had clearly defined roles in the
education and mentoring of their children spiritually, mentally and
vocationally – beginning with the mother first. To help in that process, God
ordained the “7 Feasts of Judaism” – each of which is celebrated in the home
first and foremost. Only the 3 “Pilgrim Feasts” required, if possible, a trip to
the temple.
While the temple had an important role to play, Judaism was first and
foremost anchored in the home. That’s why Jesus would have received the
vast majority of His spiritual education in the home under Joseph and Mary
– augmented by his weekly attendance at their local synagogue in Nazareth.
While Jesus may have visited the temple in Jerusalem at least annually, He
did not refer to it as the “temple” but as “My Father’s house” – another
very important designation. That name showed that His “Father’s House”
was nothing more or less than a spiritual extension of their family home. As
such, the temple was never a replacement for the home – only an extension
of it to augment the spiritual training in the home.
How we need to learn from that Jewish model again! We have strayed so
far from God’s revelation about “normal family life.” Today, too many
Christians have allowed the church to become the locus and focus of
spiritual training. Most parents have capitulated their spiritual authority and
responsibility to the school and church. They have handed off their parental
responsibilities to teachers and preachers. They have transferred to the
public school and Sunday School the primary responsibility of impacting
and training their children and teenagers. And then we wonder why they are
confused and have lost their way in life!
Not so in Judaism. As dedicated Jews, Joseph and Mary would have clearly
understood and fulfilled their roles as the primary spiritual mentors for
Jesus. It mattered not that they would have been considered simple,
“uncredentaled common people,” they still clearly understood their roles as
the primary priest and priestess of their home. And we certainly see them
fulfilling these roles and responsibilities in their “Family Life After
Christmas,” as revealed in the gospel of Luke.
Look with me at several very special, costly, irreplaceable gifts that Joseph
and Mary gave to Jesus – after Christmas.
1. Joseph and Mary gave Jesus PROTECTION PHYSICALLY:
We first see this spirit of masculine protection in Joseph when he found
out that Mary was pregnant before their betrothal was completed. When
any woman is pregnant, it is a very difficult time physically and
emotionally. They are very vulnerable with all of the hormonal and
physiological changes taking place in their bodies. That would have
been even more the case with Mary since she was pregnant as a young
virgin.
As we saw in earlier studies in this series, Joseph went against his
Jewish culture and protected Mary from physical harm – even though it
would have meant certain criticism and condemnation from family and
friends. But we still read the incredible words:
“When Joseph woke up…He did what the angel of the Lord
had commanded…he took Mary home as his wife…” (Matt.
1:24-25).
Joseph not only protected Mary physically, he did the same for Jesus.
To protect one was to protect the other. When Joseph learned from an
angel in a dream that King Herod sought to find and kill the baby Jesus,
Joseph took proactive, protective action. In obedience to the angel, he
escaped with Mary and Jesus in the night to Egypt. And this so-called
“Flight to Egypt” would not have been an easy task. Even though it
meant a total geographical change for Joseph – leaving their temporary
home in Bethlehem and their permanent home and business in Nazareth,
he still was obedient. A new country…need for a new house…a
job…surrounded by total strangers and a completely different culture.
But regardless of the inconveniences to him, Joseph did whatever was
necessary to protect and provide physically for his little family.
Then, after the old wicked and paranoid King Herod died, the angel
again appeared to Joseph in a dream. Through this we again see God
giving Joseph the guidance with which he was, in turn, to guide his
family as the spiritual head of his home. Matthew gives us these brief
insights:
“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream in Egypt, saying: ‘Get up, take this child and His mother
and go to the land of Israel. For those who were seeking to take
the child’s life are dead.’
“So he got up, took the child and His mother and went to the land
of Israel…having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the
district of Galilee, and went and lived in a town called Nazareth.
So was fulfilled what was told by the prophets: ‘He will be called a
Nazarene’” (Matt. 2:19-23)
We can see in the life of Joseph, the clear spiritual leadership as the head
of his marriage and home. God gave guidance and protection to Jesus –
not through Mary – but through Joseph. While the angel Gabriel
appeared to Mary once at the annunciation, he appeared again and again
to Joseph to give the guidance he needed for himself and his family.
God’s order has not changed.
Sadly, in much of our world today, men have capitulated their spiritual
headship. They have continued the “silence of Adam” when it comes to
communicating with their wives and giving leadership to their children.
When there is a crisis in the marriage or home, too many husbands and
fathers go limp…become passive… remain silent…do nothing…walk
away – give no leadership. As a result, their wives and children are
confused…do their own thing…make wrong choices…go astray…are
snared by the world and the evil one – and in the process become
confused, angry, resentful and bitter.
As Jesus warned in another context, the husbands and fathers are the
“strong men” of the home. And if they are bound by insecurity… fear…
uncertainty… ambiguity… their jobs… success…materialism – then
their entire household is vulnerable.
“…how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his
possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can
rob his house” (Matt 12:29).
All over the world the “world, flesh and the devil” are binding husbands
and fathers spiritually, mentally, emotionally and vocationally. As a
result, they are not hearing or heeding God’s wisdom and guidance for
themselves or for their wives and families.
Not so with Joseph. He took and gave clear leadership in his home. In
doing so, he gave Mary and Jesus this first priceless Christmas present!
2. Joseph and Mary gave Jesus a PATTERN SPIRITUALLY:
As we have seen in these studies, Judaism had no separation between
the “sacred” and “secular.” There was no division between “religion”
and “life.” All of life was sacred. All of life was spiritual. Their
religion was totally intertwined with every aspect of their lives. To
again quote Edersheim: From the first days of its existence, a religious
atmosphere surrounded the child of Jewish parents…from its very
inception, life in Israel became religious.”
As a theocracy, then, life and religion were inseparable for the Jew –
even under Roman occupation. There was no separation between what
we would call “Church and State.” Nor was there a separation between
religion and marriage, family life, business life, community life. Their
faith was the foundation of the whole of life. Their worldview was
Jewish and spiritual.
As we have seen before, marriage and family in Judaism were the center
of everything. There was nothing more wonderful than marriage and
nothing more fulfilling than family. And the home was where both were
celebrated. For orthodox Jews, then and now, their home was a
“miniature temple” and a ”small sanctuary.” For a Jewish man, his
home was not his castle – but his sanctuary. It was where he was the
“high priest” who presided over family instruction and worship. It was
in his “Holy of Holies” where Jehovah was present and worshiped. It
was in his home that the Passover was annually celebrated – along with
the other Jewish feasts and festivals. It was in his home where the Torah
was taught – first by his wife while the children were infants being
nurtured with physical and spiritual milk at her breast. That’s why the
rabbis taught: “…knowledge of the Law may be looked for in those who
have sucked it in at their mother’s breast.”
Then Torah would continue to be taught by the father after the suckling
stage, from infancy to about 3 years of age.
Any wonder then why Judaism teaches that the home is more important
than the Synagogue. Because it is the home – not the temple or
synagogue – that is the center of Jewish life. And it all goes back to the
Shema, or the creed of Judaism:
“Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the Lord is One. Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are
to be upon your hearts.”
It is easy to see that this command was first and foremost directed to the
parents. The love of God was first of all to be their all-consuming
passion
to
the
degree
that
they
loved
Him
with
“…heart…soul…strength.”
But, then, they were to be just as passionate about teaching their children
to love God the same way by precept and example:
“Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and
when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind
them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your
houses and on your gates” (Deut. 6:4-9).
It is clear that this formal and informal teaching by precept and example
was not to take place in the temple or synagogue. It was to be focused in
the home. It was there that the mother and father were to “…talk about
them when you sit…walk along the road…lie down…get up.” As
visual aids, they were to also, “Tie them as symbols on your
hands…bind them on your foreheads…write them on the
doorframes of your house and on your gate.”
All orthodox Jewish men to this day still “bind the phylacteries” on their
arms and foreheads in prayer. And all faithful Jewish homes still post
the Mezuzah on the “doorframes” and on the “gates” of their homes. It
contains the Name of the Most High God on a small folded parchment of
vellum, or sheep skin. These are touched and a brief prayer of blessing
is prayed upon exiting and entering the home. This is a part of God’s
promise to bless their “…going out and coming in” (Deut. 28:6; Ps.
121:8).
Through Joseph and Mary, we can clearly see this Jewish emphasis on
dedicating every child to God – especially firstborn boys, at the
dedication and circumcision of Jesus when He was a newly born infant:
“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise Him, He was
named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had
been conceived” (Lk. 2:21).
This brought Him under the “Covenant of Abraham,” through which
God said:
“…I have chosen him (Abraham) so that he will direct his children
and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing
what is right and just so that the Lord will bring about for
Abraham what He has promised him” (Gen. 18:19).
Note these further words of explanation by Edersheim who says this
about the circumcision of Jesus:
“…when his name was first spoken in the accents of prayer, and he
was ‘henceforth separated unto God.’ And the first wish expressed
for him was that, ‘…as he had been joined to the covenant…that he
might live godly, soberly, and righteously in this present world – a
holy, happy and God-devoted life” (Edersheim, p. 227).
We hear this same spirit of early spiritual nurture in Paul’s letter to
young Timothy – who came from a mixed marriage of a Gentile father
and a Jewish mother and grandmother. We do not know for sure
whether it was through death, divorce or desertion that Timothy’s father
was absent in his life. But apparently his mother and grandmother
picked up the slack – in good Jewish fashion. So Paul wrote:
“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which lived in your
grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded,
now lives in you also” (II Tim 1:5).
A bit later Paul reminded Timothy, “…from infancy you have know
the holy scriptures…” (II Tim. 3:15).
Apparently young Timothy, just like the Lord Jesus, was nurtured in the
Jewish faith from his “infancy” onward. And while Joseph and Mary
gave this spiritual nurture to Jesus together, Timothy received it only
from his Jewish mother and grandmother.
So, whether by a husband and wife like Joseph and Mary, or by a “single
mom” like Eunice, it is the primary responsibility of the parent to
instruct the children in the things of the Lord. I pray for myself and for
other parents that we would follow this clear Biblical pattern for
“Rearing Children for the Kingdom of God” (which is the title of
another study I have done that is available on line). May it be said of us
what was said of Joseph and Mary after Christmas:
“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law
of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of
Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; He was filled
with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him” (Lk. 2:39-40).
After those words, the so-called “silent years” of Jesus began. Between
His childhood in Nazareth and the beginning of His public ministry at
His baptism around 30 years of age (Lk. 3:23), we know very few
specific details. The silence was broken only once when He visited
Jerusalem during the Passover when He was 13 years old -- which would
have been His first Passover after his 12th birthday. Most probably, the
date for His first visit to the temple was in the spring of AD 9. We
looked at that account earlier in this chapter. But because of most of our
lack of understanding of the “Jewishness of Jesus,” it is helpful to
remember several things.
According to Edersheim, by the age of 13, observance of all of the
Jewish Feasts was required. That was obviously taking place in the life
of Jesus. As Luke clearly points out, “Every year His parents went to
Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.” And as they walked up to
Jerusalem, they would have recited the “Psalms of Ascent” (120-134),
which Jews had recited since the days of King David. Here again we see
in this annual observance a reflection of their commitment to their faith.
As devout and faithful Jews, they continued to do “…everything
required by the Law of the Lord” (Lk. 2:39).
In case you have not recently read and studied the Law of the Lord
concerning the annual Feasts of Judaism, let me summarize what they
are – remembering that they were based on the Lunar Calendar.
1. Passover (March/April) = Deliverance from Egypt
2. Unleavened Bread (March/April) = Separation and Sanctification
3. First Fruits (Barley Harvest in the Spring) = Consecration
4. Weeks/Harvest/Pentecost (May/June) = God’s Word & God’s
Power
5. Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) (Sept/Oct) = Rest & Rejoicing
6. Atonement (Yom Kippur) (Sept/Oct) = Repentance & Purification
7. Feast of Tabernacles (Autumn Festival) = Celebration &
Anticipation
But there are two other special Festivals that Jews celebrate:
• Purim/Esther (Feb/Mar) = Deliverance of Jewish people
• Dedication/Lights (Hanukkah) (Nov/Dec) = Purification of temple
by Judas Maccabaeus (164 BC)
Note: You can study all of these Jewish Feasts and Festivals in much
more detail in my book: “Understanding Your Jewish Roots.”
These would have been the yearly feasts and festivals Jesus would have
annually participated in during all of the “silent years” in Nazareth.
While they may have been “silent years” when it comes to the New
Testament record, they were anything but “inactive years.” They were a
crucial part of His Jewish training as a child growing into manhood.
Anyone familiar with the culture and customs of Judaism knows that
around the age of 13, a Jewish boy has his Bar Mitzvah, and a young girl
her Bat Mitzvah. The words basically means: “Son of Duty.” In one
sense, it is their official “coming out party” that they would have been
preparing for since their early childhood though the study and
memorization of the Torah. They would also have been learning,
observing and participating in the “7 Feasts of Judaism” mentioned
above. So, by the time they were teenagers, they were ready for their
public “profession of faith” in all of the commands of the Lord. At that
time they would read a portion of the Torah in the synagogue or temple.
From that point on, they would be called a “son of the Commandment,”
or a “daughter of the Law.” This was what we would call the “Age of
Accountability” or “Age of Responsibility. Once they reached this age
and fulfilled this ceremony, they were considered “adults” with all of the
rights and responsibilities thereof. They were now fully “of age” as far
as the Law was concerned.
So, it was at the age of 13 when the silence surrounding Jesus’ childhood
years was broken. It was during His family’s annual participation in the
Passover in Jerusalem. During that time we read that Jesus was found
“…in the temple courts sitting among the teachers, listening to them
and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed
at His understanding and His answers” (Lk. 2:46-47).
While we would loved to have sat in on those prolonged theological
discussions, we are left to our own imaginations as to their content. But
we can surmise with some degree of certainty that part of their
discussion revolved around the significance of Passover and the
sacrificial lamb. Whatever the content of their discussion, it so engaged
the teenage Jesus that He “…stayed behind in Jerusalem” – apparently
unaware that His parents had left on their homeward journey back to
Nazareth.
After Joseph and Mary’s rather frantic day’s journey back to the temple
to find Him, His response revealed a growing Messianic selfconsciousness: “Why were you searching for Me?” Jesus asked
Joseph and Mary. “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s
House?” (Lk. 2:49). Jesus’ very personal use of the phrase: “in My
Father’s House” seems to indicate a growing sense of intimacy with
His Heavenly Father that superseded His relationship with His earthly
father, Joseph. We also sense in His response a strong sense of selfawareness that revolved around the temple and the Passover that was
taking place around Him.
So, this first visit to the temple and Passover since His dedication as a
new-born, was highly significant for Jesus. It sparked in Him His
Messianic identity. And while He desire to stay behind “…in His
Father’s House,” He submitted to Joseph and Mary and “…went down
to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (Lk. 2:51).
Whether or not Jesus went back up to Jerusalem with His parents and
siblings to celebrate subsequent Passovers, we do not know. But we do
know for certain that the rest of His “silent years” from 13 to 30 were
full of all of the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly commemorations and
celebrations of the various Sabbaths, feasts and festivals that marked the
Jewish calendar.
Like other Jewish boys His age, Jesus “grew up” in a God-saturated
home! Even though it was a simple Jewish carpenter’s home, it would
have had many weekly and annual sign posts reminding Him of His
Jewishness. Like the circumcision that marked Him physically, these
Jewish customs marked Him spiritually. They created in Him an
indelible Jewish worldview.
Here are a few of the normal physical and visual reminders of His
Judaism that impacted Him on a daily and weekly basis:
• Mezuzah: On the doorpost of their house with God’s Name and
God’s Word
• Menorah: Seven-branched lamp stand symbolizing God’s glory
• Sabbath Day: Weekly worship remembering God’s Work and their
own
• Sabbath Meal: With the two loaves of bread reminding them of
God’s sustaining presence
• Tileth: Prayer shawl that Joseph would have used for prayers
• Phylacteries: For prayer and reading the Torah
Is it any wonder, then, that when Jesus began His public ministry in
Nazareth, we read these words about His “customs”:
“He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the
Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. And
He stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed
to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because he has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
“Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and
sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on
Him, and He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of Him and were amazed
at the gracious words that came from His lips” (Lk. 4:16-22).
It was in growing up in Nazareth that the young man Jesus, “…grew
in wisdom and stature and in favor with God” (Lk. 2:52). That’s
what life was like for Him after Christmas.
3. Joseph and Mary gave Jesus a PREDISPOSITION SOCIALLY:
Growing up in Nazareth, Jesus not only “…grew in…favor with
God,” we are told that He also “…grew in favor with man.” That’s
because Judaism had a very holistic, balanced view of life. As a
result, a child was not only to grow and mature physically and
spiritually – they were to grow socially. The Jewish faith is a very
family-integrated, social faith. While centered in the home, it was
also celebrated in the community. It was anything but individualistic
or solitary by nature. The Jews, then and now, have very strong
family ties with a great emphasis on the “extended family.” And
hospitality was a sacred duty.
We see this extended family emphasis early in the Christmas narrative
through Mary’s relationship with her relative, Elizabeth. As we saw
in an earlier study, after her own annunciation by the angel Gabriel,
Mary went to visit her relatives – who were much her senior in age.
And it was not just a quick visit. No. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for
about three months” (Lk. 2:56).
Since both of them were
“supernaturally pregnant,” they had a lot in common – so they were a
great encouragement to each other as they sought further
understanding about their angelic visitation and supernatural
pregnancies. Theirs was indeed a unique sorority in the history of
femininity!
We also saw that Jesus’ birth took place within the context of a great
political and social event – a census that required every Jew to return
to the place of their birth to be registered. Because of the crowds in
Bethlehem, “…there was no room for them in the Inn” (Lk. 2:7).
As a result of this social upheaval, Jesus was born in a cattle manger.
But they would not long be alone socially in the city of Bethlehem
because God soon dispatched a small group of shepherds to visit
them.
Eight days later, Jesus was circumcised – which was both a spiritual
and social event. It commemorated His membership in the ancient
covenant of Abraham. And it was also the time when He was
officially named in obedience to the words of Gabriel: “You are to
give Him the name, Jesus, because He will save His people from
their sins” (Matt. 1:21; Lk. 1:31).
33 days later – after Mary’s days of purification were over – Joseph
and Mary took the baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. There they
made a public sacrifice according to the Law of Moses. And it was in
the midst of this very public spiritual and social dedication that they
were interrupted by the prophecies of both Simeon and Anna – two
“senior saints” who were in the temple at the time. Their rather
spontaneous involvement with Joseph, Mary and Jesus shows again
how social Judaism is. Neither the circumcision of Jesus, nor Mary’s
purification, were isolated and individualistic experiences. They were
carried out in the very public and social milieu of Judaism. For them,
there was no separation between the spiritual and social. Every
spiritual event was also a social event celebrated by extended family
and friends – even strangers.
Another very social event would have been the visit of the magi from
the East. This brought Gentiles into their small family circle as a
prelude to the far-reaching impact of this baby. He would not only
“…save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), He would also be a
“…light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk. 2:32).
Later, after His first visit to Temple recorded by Luke that we
previously studied, Jesus stayed behind to continue His discussion
with the theologians. Because this annual trip to Jerusalem was such
an extended family event, Joseph and Mary did not immediately miss
Jesus. They assumed that He was with some of the extended family
and friends who had gone up to Jerusalem together with them. So, in
a bit of a panic, Joseph and Mary “…began looking for Him among
their relatives and friends” (Luke 2:44). Not finding Him among
them, they returned to Jerusalem and the temple where they finally
found Him discussing and debating with the religious scholars. This
very fact shows again how comfortable Jesus was spiritually and
socially among His “…relatives and friends” – as well as among the
theologians and scholars of Judaism in the temple precincts.
While Jesus was the firstborn child to Joseph and Mary, He was not
an “only child.” The New Testament record makes it very clear on
several occasions that Jesus grew up with other brothers and sisters.
By contrast, the Catholic Church teaches two contrary doctrines that
are a part of their Mariolatry, or veneration and worship of Mary.
The first is the Immaculate Conception of Mary, which teaches her
sinlessness from birth. In other words, unlike all other human beings
other than Jesus, Mary was also free from original sin.
The second Catholic doctrine is that of the Perpetual Virginity of
Mary. This dogma teaches that Mary was a “perpetual virgin” before
her marriage to Joseph, after her marriage to Joseph, and forever. So,
as a “perpetual virgin,” she could not have ever had sexual
relationships with Joseph. Nor could she have had other children after
the supernatural conception of Jesus. Therefore, the other children
that are mentioned and named in the New Testament as Jesus’
“…brothers and sisters,” must not be His biological siblings. They
were either children of Joseph by a former marriage, or cousins.
But neither of these dogmas are Biblical. They did not come to the
church through divine revelation but through papal pontifications.
However, the simple reading of the New Testament narratives clearly
reveals that Jesus had other biological siblings. Three of the Gospel
writers, Matthew, Mark and John clearly refer to the brothers and
sisters of Jesus. At least 4 brothers are named and several sisters are
referred to. When He came back to His hometown of Nazareth, we
read this account:
“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary,
and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t
all His sisters with us?” (Matt. 12:46; 13:55-56; Mk. 6:2-3; cf: Jn.
2:12; Acts 1:14; I Cor. 9:5).
We are also told that early in His ministry His brothers chided Him to
go up to the Feast of Tabernacles and “prove Himself” because
“…even His own brothers did not believe in Him” (Jn. 7:3-5).
So, we respect the rights of His brothers then – and skeptics now – not
to “…believe in Him.” We also respect the rights of faithful
Catholics to disbelieve in the biological brothers and sisters of Jesus
by accepting the dogma of their Mariology. But I will stick to the
simple and natural revelation of the New Testament that clearly
affirms the existence of Jesus’ “…brothers and sisters.”
I would also emphasize the importance of this as a vital part of Jesus’
humanity. That’s because He not only came to reveal to us normal
humanity as originally created by God, but also normal family. The
Bible clearly teaches the importance of family in God’s economy
(Gen. 18:19; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 68:6; Mk. 5:19; Eph. 3:15;I Tim. 3:4;
etc.). A vital part of God’s covenant with Abraham was that through
Him “…all of the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen.
12:3).
If Jesus would not have had a family that included “…brothers and
sisters,” His humanity would have been incomplete. But it wasn’t.
As we saw earlier, while He was totally unique as the “firstborn” son
of God and of Joseph and Mary – He was not an “only child.” He had
4 brothers whose names we are given along with the reference to at
least 2 to 3 sisters. From His childhood through His adulthood, Jesus
was immersed in family life.
In addition to all of the normal dynamics of family relationships, there
were the unique tensions that came with Jesus’ Messianic claims. Not
only are we told that “…His brothers did not believe in Him,” but
on one occasion “…His family…went to take charge of Him, for
they said, ‘He is out of His mind’” (Mk. 3:21). So, through Family
Life After Christmas, Jesus not only experienced the love of His
parents, He also experienced the disbelief and rejection of His
siblings!
Jesus, then, experienced and understood the emotional extremes that
families can go through. While coming from the Perfect Family of
the Trinity, Jesus fully experienced the imperfections of human family
life in a fallen world. While He was perfect, His family was not.
While He was sinless, they were not. While He knew who He was,
they did not. It was in that family dynamic that Jesus had to “flesh
out” His full humanity.
Family Life After Christmas reminds us that Jesus was not a recluse.
He was not a social isolationist. He was very active and engaged
socially – beginning in His home and community in Nazareth.
We also saw that Jesus began His ministry at the age of 30 through the
very public experience of baptism in the River Jordan by His cousin,
John the Baptist. He then made His Messianic proclamation in the
public context of the synagogue in Nazareth He had grown up
attending (Lk. 4:14-19). He called His disciples publicly (Matt. 4:1822; 9:9; Mk. 4:13-19). Women openly followed Him and supported
Him (Lk. 8:1-2). He attended social gatherings and dinner parties –
for which He was criticized and condemned (Mk. 14:3; Lk. 15:2; Jn.
12:2). Jesus loved to socialize and “hang out” with His disciples and
other close friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Lk. 10:38-42; Jn.
11-12).
Jesus was a very social person! He was anything but a social recluse,
as His ministry demonstrated. In the early years of His life, He was
immersed in family and community life. In the public ministry years
of His life, He was never aloof or untouchable. Unlike many noted
Christian leaders today, Jesus had neither body guards to protect Him
nor “handlers” to keep the people at a safe distance. No. He was
immersed in the people around Him – loving, touching, teaching,
encouraging, healing, praying, eating, laughing, weeping. For Jesus,
there was no division between His spirituality and His sociality.
That’s because the essence of true faith is relationships. Since God is
a relational God, Jesus incarnated and demonstrated this “people
priority” through a richness of relationships with people from all
walks of life.
Obviously, many of Jesus’ social skills were learned at home and
polished in the context of His Jewish faith with all of its social interreaction. As a result, Jesus was comfortable in any and all social
settings. It was only the religiosity and hypocrisy of the Jewish
leaders that made Him uncomfortable. While He was drawn socially
to the sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes and marginalized, He was
repulsed by the religious and social hypocrisy of the Scribes,
Pharisees and Sadducees who pulled their self-righteous robes around
them when in the presence of those whom they deemed spiritual
untouchables and social outcasts.
Across the years I have seen over and over again the importance of
social skills in ministry and missions. I have seen scores of people
fail in ministry and missions because of their lack of social sensitivity.
While they had good minds, good education, good degrees, good
pedigrees – they were socially inept. They couldn’t get along with
people. They were “relational porcupines” who always hurt others
around them who got too close!
Years of experience and exposure have proven to me that if these
people skills and social graces are not learned at home, a person will
suffer relationally the rest of their lives – in marriage, ministry,
business, politics, sports – everywhere. Jesus’ life and ministry
demonstrated such a beautiful social sensitivity and balance. How
many of us as Christians – especially Christian leaders – need to learn
His social graces!
How relevant then is the Christmas message! And how much we can
learn from Jesus’ Family Life After Christmas. What a wealth of
social wisdom is summarized in the brief words that Jesus not only
“…grew in favor with God,” He also “…grew…in favor with man”
(Lk. 2:52). His life after Christmas shows us a beautiful balance of
the spiritual and social.
Lastly,
4. Joseph and Mary gave Jesus PREPARATION VOCATIONALLY:
As we have seen earlier, it was the responsibility of every Jewish
father to mentor his son spiritually and vocationally. That meant he
must have some honorable trade of his own and be gainfully
employed. Otherwise, he would not have any train which to mentor
his son. That’s why the Talmud states: “He who does not teach his
son a trade is considered as having taught him thievery.”
Even those who were religious leaders, or rabbis, were also expected
to have a trade. They were not permitted to make religion their source
of livelihood. For centuries, Jewish law prohibited anyone from
earning a living through religion. Most rabbis had to have a “secular
occupation.” We see and hear this in the words of the Talmud:
“Do not make the Torah a spade to dig with…An excellent thing is to
study the Torah combined with some secular occupation, for the labor
demanded by them both puts sin out of one’s mind.”
We saw this part of Jewish family life and culture reflected in the play
and movie: Fiddler On The Roof. In it, the young boys sang: “At
three I started Hebrew school; at ten I learned a trade.” Judaism
then and now had little tolerance for indolence and laziness. Every
Jew was born to be productive – and it was the father’s responsibility
to mentor his children vocationally to that end – starting with the
example of his own life.
In Judaism, there was no concept of a division between the “sacred”
and “secular.” All of life was sacred. The spiritual was revealed in
the natural. They were inseparable. Both bore the clear fingerprints
of God. Since God was a “working God,” they were to be a “working
people.” The Jews believed and still believe in both the sanctity and
dignity of hard physical work. Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul
demonstrated that principle through their physical work.
Therefore, to the Jew, worship and work were indivisible. This
understanding is reflected in the Hebrew word abad. It means: “to
work, to serve.” But it is also translated “to worship” (Ex. 3:12; Isa.
19:21; Mal. 3:18). So, in Judaism, worship and work are partners.
One does not compete with the other. While man was not to “worship
his work,” he was created to “worship through his work.” He was to
glorify God through both worship and work.
How appropriate, then, that God sovereignly ordained His incarnate
Son to grow up in a carpenter’s home. As we have seen in earlier
studies in this series, Joseph was a builder by trade. He worked with
both wood and stone. It was not a time of “specialists” in the building
trade. A good builder had to be able to meet a wide variety of needs.
Not only must he be able to build a house from the ground up, he must
be able to build door and window frames, furniture, winnowing forks,
ox yokes, plows – anything and everything that was needed.
Because Joseph was one of the resident builders and carpenters in
Nazareth, is it any wonder that his firstborn would be called “…the
carpenter’s Son” (Matt. 13:55)? Incidentally, that is not said of any
of Jesus’ four brothers. As the firstborn and eldest son, Jesus
followed in Joseph’s footsteps. It is clear that Jesus received His
vocational identity from Joseph’s trade as a carpenter. Since Joseph
was a carpenter, he mentored his oldest son in his own trade. It would
have been Jesus’ responsibility to take over the family business.
As a young boy, Jesus was the “carpenter’s helper.” From the time he
was a young toddler, He was at his father’s side
watching…learning… listening…helping. He became familiar with
the hand tools that were almost an extension of Joseph’s strong arms
and calloused hands. Day after day He watched His father cut stones,
saw and plane lumber, build furniture from scratch and repair broken
household items for people. He became familiar with different kinds
of wood and their grain and texture. His nose knew the smells of
sawdust and fresh shavings.
Each month and year as He was mentored by Joseph, He became
more and more astute with the “tools of the trade.” Over time He
became a master craftsman in His own right. He didn’t just hold the
lumber and hand His father the tools he needed, He skillfully used
them Himself. At some point He made a transition in people’s mind
from being “…the carpenter’s son” to just being “…the
Carpenter” (Mk. 6:3). As such, Joseph’s vocational mentoring of
Jesus had succeeded.
It was Jesus’ success as “…the Carpenter” that partly led to His
rejection as the Messiah in His hometown of Nazareth. As you recall,
He went back to Nazareth to make His first public Messianic
announcement. And He did so in the local synagogue where He had
attended Sabbath worship every week from the time He was a little
boy. After reading the Messianic prophecies from Isaiah 61, He
proclaimed: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk.
4:21).
When the people heard Jesus make that claim, chaos and confusion
broke out in the synagogue! Some responded positively and
“…spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that
came from His lips.” Others, however, questioned His claims with
these words: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” (Lk. 4:22).
Mark’s account of this incident says: “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t
this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and
Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at
Him” (Mk. 6:3).
Why was it that the majority of the people in the synagogue that day
“…took offense at Him?” As Luke records:
“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard
this. They got up, drove Him out of the town and took Him to the
brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw
Him down the cliff” (Lk. 4:28-29).
Why were they so enraged? Because in their minds, the Messiah
could not possibly be a carpenter! It was a vocational contradiction!
They clearly acknowledged Jesus as “Joseph’s son” and “Mary’s
son.” They recognized Him as “…the carpenter.” They all knew
His parents. His brothers and sisters. They knew the location of His
home and carpenter’s shop in their village. Therefore, He could NOT
possibly be the long-awaited Messiah. This son of Joseph and Mary
who had grown up among them could not be the fulfillment of ancient
prophecies about the coming Anointed One. A carpenter-turnedMessiah was a delusional imposter. He was a “carpenter” – not the
Christ! In their minds the only logical conclusion was that Jesus was
a blasphemer deserving death by stoning! So, with mob mentality,
they took him to the steep cliff outside the city to “…throw Him
down.” If the fall did not kill Him, the stones they would pummel
Him with certainly would! The carpenter-blasphemer must die! His
claims of deity must be silenced
But, Jesus was indeed the Messiah. While He was the human “son of
Joseph and Mary,” He was also the incarnate “Son of God.” But
because He had grown up among them, it was impossible for them to
see Him afresh as God’s long-awaited Messiah. Indeed, familiarity
does often breed contempt! And their contempt of Jesus provoked
them to mass hysteria and attempted murder by stoning.
It didn’t matter what kind of healings, miracles and exorcisms He had
preformed in Capernaum and surrounding villages and towns of
Galilee, He would no longer be welcomed in His home town. The
doors of the synagogue would be forever closed to Him. He would be
the proverbial “…prophet who would not be accepted in His home
town” (Lk. 4:24).
Jesus, then, was a “blue collar worker.” He was reared in the proud
and pious Jewish tradition which honored manual labor. Growing up
in the carpenter’s shop helped shape Him as a “man’s man.” Months
and years of hard physical work broadened His shoulders and
hardened His muscles. It tempered His skills. Carpentry work gave
Him the resolve to do things well, of not quitting until the job was
completed. It gave Him the joy and satisfaction of a job well done. It
taught Him to work for God’s glory and the good of others –
regardless of how manual or menial the task.
During His so-called “silent years” in the carpenter’s shop, Jesus also
grew in His intimacy with His earthly father and Heavenly Father.
One was a relational bridge to the other. The better He knew one, the
better He knew the other. The more intimate His relationship with
His human father, the more intimate His relationship with His
Heavenly Father.
For a minimum of 15 years, between the age of 13 and 30, Jesus
worked in anonymity in a carpenter’s shop in the small out-of-the-way
town of Nazareth. No notoriety. Nothing spectacular. No
supernatural manifestations. No miracles. Only manual labor. But
He was faithful where His Heavenly Father put Him until the fullness
of time came for Him to lay aside His carpenter’s apron and tools for
His Messianic ministry. The hard work of building houses prepared
Him for building His Father’s Kingdom.
His head, which had often been wrapped with the carpenter’s rag,
would soon have a “crown of thorns” pressed into it. His brow, which
had so often experienced the salty sweat of honorable labor, would
soon “sweat drops of blood” in an agony unto death. His strong broad
shoulders, which had carried a lot of timber and lumber for building,
would soon carry an “ol’ rugged cross.” His hands, that had held and
driven many-a-nail into wood, would soon have nails driven in them.
His feet, that had so often walked the dusty streets and paths of
Nazareth, would be impaled to a tree. His side, that had been girded
with a carpenter’s apron, would soon be pierced with a Roman
soldier’s spear.
In sovereign ways we can never fully understand, God used those
silent years after Christmas in the carpenter’s shop to prepare Jesus
for
building
people…building
disciples…building
God’s
Kingdom…building a bridge of salvation from earth to heaven. And
that bridge was the cross! It made a way for sinful mankind to have
free access to a Holy God. But it came at such an incredible cost! It
would be the most costly free gift in human history! And that’s really
what Christmas is all about. Nothing more. Nothing less.
That’s why you cannot separate the cradle…the cross…the crown.
The crèche that the shepherds found the baby Jesus lying in was
overshadowed by a cross from the moment of birth, not from the
moment of conception. The swaddling clothes He was wrapped in
were a prelude to the linen shroud He would be wrapped in after His
death on the cross. The myrrh that the magi brought was symbolic of
the perfume the women brought to anoint Jesus body after His burial.
You see, God’s “…great salvation” that the writer of Hebrews refers
to (Heb. 2:3) is like the seamless garment Jesus wore at His
crucifixion (Jn. 19:23). God’s love, mercy and grace were woven
together in a seamless garment of righteousness to cover the
nakedness of our sin and brokenness. His Christmas Carol is an
unbroken symphony of grace that echoes from eternity past…through
time…to eternity future. And it’s a Christmas Carol we will sing for
all eternity!
So, my friend, there never was a time when Christmas did not exist.
Long before it happened in time, it had been planned in eternity.
While the Advent is an annual event for us, it is timeless to God.
That’s why on December 26th, we cannot really “pack up Christmas
for another year.” While Christmas Day is a special event, Family
Life After Christmas is equally important. It was for Joseph and
Mary. It was for Jesus. It is for you!
CONCLUSIONS
What kind of life are you going to have now that Christmas is over? What
will your family life be like after December 25th?
As a parent, what are you going to do in your home so that your children
will also “…grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with
men!” I want to encourage you to be like Joseph and Mary. They not only
gave the gifts of themselves to God in such a total way that their obedience
made Christmas possible, they continued to give the kinds of gifts to Jesus
after Christmas that helped shape His sovereignly ordained destiny as the
Savior of the world! And while you have not been entrusted with the eternal
Son of God as your child, your biological children (or step children or
adopted children) are eternal…immortal…everlasting. They will live
somewhere forever. And the gifts you give after Christmas will help shape
their eternal destiny.
Don’t just give the popular “gifts of the moment” that will soon be forgotten.
Give the “gifts of a lifetime!” Give the eternal gifts of love and grace that
keep on giving for time and eternity! Keep Jesus at the center of your
Christmas. After all, it’s His birthday.
Please remember that’s why God Became A Man. Not so that you could
become a little god or goddess. That’s the oldest lie in the universe. God
Became A Man so that you could be fully human, so you could be an
authentic man or woman. It is only by knowing who Jesus is that you can
discover and be who He created you to be. The discovery of your identity in
Christ is what Christmas is all about. That’s God’s Christmas gift to you!
Enjoy it in His love! Then, like Jesus, you will grow in “…favor with God
and man.”
POSTSCRIPT:
THE SANTA CLAUS MYTH
Dear Ministry Friends & Partners,
All of my adult life I have had an on-going battle with Santa Claus! And
because he continues to grow in popularity and influence, I have obviously
lost the fight! When it comes to Christmas, Santa Claus is gaining in
influence and I am waning!
Let me make it clear at the beginning, that I have
not engaged in this on-going battle with Santa
Claus and Christmas because I am a Scrooge.
Anyone who knows me will testify to the fact
that I do not go around with a scowl on my face
saying “Bah! Humbug!”
By nature and
temperament I am a very positive, optimistic, upbeat, enthusiastic person who loves life! Every
day is an adventure for me – and has been ever since I was a little boy. And,
even though I am in my seventh decade, I am still living the adventure of my
life – hopefully to God’s glory and the good of others.
I love Christmas because I love Christ! How can you love one without
loving the other? However, I love the Biblical Christmas – not the secular
Christmas that is such a commercial counterfeit. I believe that Santa is the
primary con-man for the counterfeit Christmas! He is the front-man for the
promotion of a Christ-less Christmas.
Every year in America, the commercial insanity begins on “Black Friday”
and intensifies through the “After Christmas Sales” from December 26th till
the end of the year. During that time there is a growing crescendo of
commercialism – all in the name of Christmas!
The True Santa Claus
But that was not always the case. “Once upon a time,” there was a really
good Santa Claus whose name was Saint Nicholas. Let’s hit the pause
button for a few moments for a historic refresher on this very real and Godly
man.
Nicholas was a Greek who lived in the fourth century in Asia
Minor, in what we know today as southern Turkey. He was born
into a very wealthy family with privilege and status. From a very
young age, he was a serious and dedicated Christian. Sadly, his
parents died in an epidemic that swept the region when he was a
young boy. By God’s providence, he was raised by a very
dedicated Christian uncle, also named Nicholas, who further
mentored and tutored the young Nicholas in the faith.
As a result of his serious commitment to Christ, young Nicholas
dedicated all of his inherited wealth to helping the poor. He was
motivated by the words of Jesus to another rich young man
several hundred years earlier: “Sell everything you have and
give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven” (Lk.
18:22).
Because of Nicholas’ radical obedience to those
words of Jesus, he used his wealth to help the poor,
needy, sick and suffering people around him –
especially children. Tradition tells us that Nicholas
saved the young daughter of a poor family who was
about to be sold into slavery. At night after the
family was asleep, Nicholas secretly tossed into the
window of their house enough gold coins to free her
from this debt unto slavery. Tradition further says
that the coins either landed in a shoe – which
resulted in the tradition in some countries of putting
out shoes for St. Nicholas to put coins into. Another
version said that the coins landed in some socks that were hung up to dry –
thus the tradition of hanging up stockings for St. Nicholas to fill on
Christmas Eve.
Whether the coins landed in a child’s shoe or stockings, we may never know
for sure. The important point was Nicholas’ generous giving to the poor.
And as a result of his giving, that poor young girl was saved from indentured
slavery.
So Nicholas had a great heart for needy children. However, his generosity
did not stop there. Because his town was on the Mediterranean Sea, he also
had a great concern and compassion for the many poor sailors who hung
around the ports, as depicted in the painting below. He reached out to them
in the love and compassion of Christ to bring them into the “Ship of Zion.”
Understandably then, Nicholas soon gained a wide reputation for his piety
and generosity. As a result of his prayers and devoted lifestyle, miracles
also reputedly took place to the degree that he gained the reputation of
“Nicholas the Wonderworker.” Apparently God expressed His gifts of
healing and miracles through Nicholas because of his dedication and
humility.
Eventually Nicholas was appointed as the “Bishop of Myra” while still a
relatively young man.
But, under the vicious persecution by the Roman Emperor, Diocletian,
Nicholas suffered greatly for his faith – like many of his contemporaries.
This savage attempt to stamp out Christianity was known as the “Diocletian
Persecution” (AD 303 - 311). It was the last and bloodiest persecution of
Christianity by the Roman Empire. During this reign of terror by Diocletian,
Nicholas was both exiled and imprisoned – along with thousands of other
Christians, pastors, bishops and church leaders.
After the fall of Diocletian, Constantine became the Roman Emperor.
History reports that Constantine was “converted” to Christianity. But
regardless of the authenticity of his conversion, Constantine did radically
reversed the politics of hostility carried out by Diocletian. As a result, in
AD 324 Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman
Empire. Historians and theologians still debate whether this was a blessing
or a curse for Christianity. A strong case can be made for both perspectives.
No doubt this political recognition of Christianity by Rome was a “twoedged sword” that brought into the church some of both.
After his release from prison, Nicholas was one of the bishops who attended
the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church known as the Council of
Nicea. It was held in AD 325 and was convened by Constantine. It is very
important to note that the primary focus of that first church council was
Christology, or the nature of Jesus Christ as the “Son of God.”
A heresy had crept into the church led by a man known as Arius of
Alexandria, Egypt. While most of the Alexandrian tradition was staunchly
orthodox, Arius thought and taught differently. He ultimately denied the
deity of Jesus. Arius came to believe that Jesus did not eternally preexist but
came into being by the act of God the Father at the conception of Jesus in
the Virgin Mary. So Arianism was one of the earliest Christological heresies
to infiltrate the church. Sadly, it is still very much alive today through the
“liberal Jesuses” who have been stripped of His full deity by groups like the
“Jesus Forum.”
As we know from the New Testament, Jesus’ claims of deity were
questioned from the very beginning of His public ministry in Nazareth. And
He was ultimately condemned and crucified for blasphemy – or claiming to
be God. Even though His deity was confirmed through His signs, miracles,
healing, resurrection and ascension – skeptics continued to doubt and
disbelieve. Many false interpretations came forth that were antichrist – just
as Jesus had warned (Matt. 24:5). Some of the New Testament Epistles
were written to face and correct those wrong interpretations of the Person
and Work of Christ (John, Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, I John, etc).
As I pointed out in an earlier study in this series, Arianism was one of the
first heresies that emphasized the humanity of Jesus to the neglect of the
deity of Jesus. Therefore, the Arians were also “anti-Trinitarians.”
Constantine convened this first church council to resolve this issue about the
nature of Christ. Regardless of the validity of his conversion or depth of his
theological understanding, Constantine clearly perceived that this
controversy struck at the heart of the Christian faith. It must be resolved
once and for all. So he used his political power to convene this first
ecumenical church counsel since the one recorded in Acts 15.
At this point you may be asking yourself: “What in the world does all this
have to do with Christmas and Santa Claus?” Good question. My answer:
“Everything!” You see, Bishop Nicholas was one of the deligates and
participants in this historic Council of Nicea. He was one of those early
champions of Christology who signed this theological document
resoundingly condemning Arianism and affirming both the full humanity
and full deity of Jesus Christ. The document that came out of this first
church council is known as the Nicean Creed, which affirms that Jesus was
both “fully God” and “fully man.” Many churches in the Eastern Orthodox
tradition still read or recite this creed in their weekly services to this day.
History also tells us that during these debates over the person of Jesus Christ
at Nicea, Bishop Nicholas became so upset with Arius that he got up and
slapped him in the face! Imagine that! “Santa Claus” becoming so angry
over someone demeaning Jesus Christ that he would slap them! While
Nicholas was strongly reprimanded for this zealous outburst of anger, it
shows that the true Santa Clause was a champion of Biblical orthodoxy! He
was passionate about his love for Jesus Christ!
Eventually, Bishop Nicholas was canonized in Greek Orthodoxy as a saint –
which he would never have agreed to in life. But it is clear from church
history that Nicholas played a strategic role in the life of the early church.
He was not only a generous giver to people in need, he was also a staunch
defender of orthodoxy – especially Christology. He stood up for the historic
Jesus as revealed in the Scriptures. He did not compromise his belief in the
deity of Christ even though it was not “politically correct” – which led to his
persecution and imprisonment under Diocletian. And under Constantine, he
continued his bold stance as a lover of Jesus, believer in the Bible and
defender of orthodoxy.
So whether it was politically correct or not, Nicholas would not compromise
on the Person and Work of Christ as revealed in the Bible. He did not let
anything or anyone distort or detract from Jesus Christ. He refused to let
Christ be taken out of Christmas!
That’s why all of the early depictions of St. Nicholas show his Christian
commitment. His miter, robes and vestments all have crosses on them and
in his hand he holds the shepherd’s staff of the church. So the real Santa
Claus was a lover of Jesus…a lover of the church…a lover of the Bible…a
lover of children…a lover of the poor and needy. That’s a Santa Claus we
can believe in and be excited about at Christmas!
Any wonder then that Satan wanted to replace St. Nicholas with a colorful
counterfeit! Someone who would have some of the same spirit of generosity
and good will – but without the emphasis on Jesus and the Church.
Someone with many of the attributes of Christ but was really at heart
antichrist. In other words, someone who would shift the emphasis from
Jesus to self and from giving to receiving.
By calculated satanic deception, the modern Santa Claus has totally eclipsed
the historic St. Nicholas. As a result, Nicholas has largely been relegated to
the dustbin of history. And, in the evolution of Christmas, Santa Claus has
been completely secularized, sanitized and commercialized. He has become
the best friend that merchants ever had! Where would they be without his
salesmanship to hawk their merchandize?!
As the historic St. Nicholas was totally separated from the mythological
Santa Claus, the church increasingly lost its control over Christmas. As
Christmas has been almost totally secularized, Jesus has become politically
incorrect. The manger has been marginalized. The crèche has been banned
from public places. Christ has been increasingly excised from Christmas. It
is no longer all about Him. It is now all about us!
The true Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, died on December 6, 343. And the true
spirit of Christmas has been slowly dying ever since. Only the people in the
Greek Orthodox Church continue to commemorate the anniversary of his
death, called “St. Nicholas Day.”
Isn’t it sad that only Christians in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition remember
the life and death of St. Nicholas? Yet, even to the majority of them, St.
Nicholas has become little more than a venerated gilded icon. In reality, he
too has lost much of his connection with the historic Christ of Christmas.
Across the centuries, Nicholas has evolved into a venerated saint that is
prayed to and worship. He has become very much like the Virgin Mary in
Catholicism. Just like Mary is prayed to and through in Catholicism through
unending “Hail, Marys,” Nicholas has become another intercessors between
believers and Jesus. Therefore, he has also become an antichrist that has
eclipsed Christ.
So Christian history shows that Satan is just as deceptive within the church
as he is in the world when it comes to perpetrating the “spirit of antichrist.”
But regardless of the spiritual corruption that has taken place across the
decades, I have no criticism or conflict with the real historic Santa Claus –
St. Nicholas. He is one of the exemplary patriarchs of the early church who
deserves our attention, respect and emulation. Nicholas left us many great
examples to follow in our Christian lives – especially at Christmas time. He
was a very generous person who selflessly practiced the words of Christ: “It
is more blessed to give than receive” (Acts 20:35). And he was a staunch
defender of “…the faith once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3) –
especially in the area of Christology. To Nicholas, nothing or no one was
more important than the Lord Jesus! He clearly understood that Christmas
was about one Person and one Person alone – Jesus Christ!
Any wonder, then, that the evil one has virtually eclipsed the historic St.
Nicholas with the mythological Santa Claus? He has been so successful in
passing off this jovial commercial counterfeit that few people – even
Christians – know much about St. Nicholas today. Other than a vague
familiarity with his name, they know little of his selfless life as a champion
of Christology.
Today, the usurper, Santa Claus, has become the reality in the minds of most
people. As long as he grows in influence to the demise of St. Nicholas and
Jesus Christ, I will continue my annual combat with him! I will do all I can
to expose him as a cheap economic counterfeit of the historic St. Nicholas –
a defender of the faith…a provider for the poor…a devoted follower of Jesus
Christ.
But, once again, I don’t expect to win this battle with the majority of people
– even Christians. Santa Claus has become too entrenched in our Christmas
traditions. He is the primary source of our “buying and giving” during the
Christmas Season. Without Santa, Christmas would be an economic bust!
Since the bottom line of Christmas is the bottom line – economics can never
again be divorced from Christmas. We all know that it is between
Thanksgiving and Christmas that most merchants make their biggest profits
of the year. Christmas tips their scales toward profit or loss for the year.
Santa is their primary salesman – along with Mrs. Claus and their elves who
are busy all year preparing the “stuff” that we think will make us happy! To
question Santa’s role is to attack the economics of Christmas – which is
what Christmas is all about in today’s consumer-driven society.
Across the years I have learned that my fight with Santa Claus is not a
popular battle. To question the validity of Santa Claus is about as popular as
flag burning! It is like insulting your mother or father! After all, Santa
Claus has become as acceptable as motherhood, hot dogs, apple pie, ice
cream and the American Flag! It is considered a desecration to question any
of them! Regardless, I will continue to “…fight the good fight of the
faith” (I Tim. 1:18; 6:12) – win or lose! So far…I’m losing.
The Night Before Christmas...
Like most American children, I grew up believing in the mythological Santa
Claus. Not the one from Asia Minor – but the one who lives at the North
Pole! He was annually celebrated and welcomed in our home every
December 25th. Like other children, I left cookies and milk for him by the
chimney so he could have a quick snack as he unloaded the gifts he had
brought for my siblings and me. We were always delighted, on Christmas
morning to see that he had eaten his snack – with only a few crumbs left
behind as certain evidence of Santa’s presence!
But through the intrigue of my older brother, Eddy, a plot was set up to see
Santa personally. We wanted to see him as he squeezed down the chimney
in our front room with his bulging bag of toys. Being the shorter and
smaller of the two, I was put inside a small octagonal table my parents had
brought from Asia on a missionary trip before we were born. It had a
removable top that allowed me to get inside. It also had a series of small
horizontal openings that were just big enough for me to spy on Santa. It was
the perfect hiding place to await his secretive entrance – hopefully
announced in advance by the sound of his reindeer and sleigh on the roof of
our house. Scrunched inside the table, I would be able to see Santa – but he
would not be able to see me. Or at least that’s what I hoped. At that young
age, I was not sure if Santa had x-ray vision or not! Still, it was worth the
risk.
I think you can surmise the rest of the story. After what seemed like hours
of being squashed inside the small table, no Santa! Finally near midnight, I
saw two people enter the room in their bathrobes – which weren’t red! Nor
did the man have long white hair and a beard like Santa. Neither did either
one come down the chimney. These two Christmas intruders came from the
direction of my parents’ bedroom! Even though the room was very dark,
their forms looked very familiar as they put wrapped presents under the
Christmas tree. As I listened to them whisper to each other, their voices
sounded just like my parents!
I was both relieved and grieved. My pounding heart was relieved that the
two people were not thieves! But my heart was disappointed that they were
not Santa and Mrs. Claus!
I waited until they had finished “playing Santa Claus” and returned to their
bedroom for a “long winter’s nap.” After everything was quiet and the
“coast was clear,” I climbed out of the table – both enlightened and
bewildered! What was I now to do with this disturbing news? How was I to
break it to my older brother and younger sisters that there was really no
Santa Claus?! How was I to tell them that Santa and Mrs. Claus were none
other than Daddy and Mother?!
While I knew I had to tell my brother who had conceived this “Christmas
plot,” I knew I dare not tell my little sisters, Hannah and Judy. I feared they
would be crushed beyond consolation! So, I let them sleep on in their
naïveté with Christmas fantasies filling their dreams.
Stealthily, I lifted the top of the table and crawled out – careful not to
awaken Santa and Mrs. Claus, sleeping in their bedroom close-by, as I put
the top back on. I quietly tiptoed back to the bedroom Eddy and I shared –
careful not to step on the squeaky boards in the hallway. Though half
asleep, he was awaiting me for my report. When I told him what I had seen,
he replied with older brother confidence: “That’s what I thought! I knew
there was NO such person as Santa Claus! It’s all make-believe!”
After discussing our findings a bit more, we soon fell asleep. We were still
excited about the coming Christmas morning and unwrapping the presents
that were under the Christmas tree. At that point, it mattered little whether
they from Santa Claus or Mom and Dad! After all, the presents were the
real issue – regardless of where they came from and by that early age, we
had already imbibed the popular mentality that “getting gifts” was really
what Christmas was all about.
My parents did instill the tradition of reading the Christmas story from the
Gospel of Luke before we opened the presents. Then we would have prayer
– and every one had to pray. How much attention do you think we paid to
Doctor Luke when we could see those presents under the tree?! And how
sincere do you think our prayers were on Christmas morning? Do you think
we were really thinking about the baby Jesus? Hardly.
But like many other well-intentioned Christian parents, my parents still took
us through the motions of trying to “keep Christ in Christmas.” And I am
glad they did. At least in our young hearts and minds, we knew that Jesus
had something important to do with Christmas. But we would rather leave
that to Sunday School – and get on with opening presents from Santa Claus!
On that special “…night before Christmas”, when I was about 5 years old, I
moved from the world of fantasy to reality. Santa Claus fell from the world
of reality and moved into Fantasy Land. With his fall, I too fell from
childish innocence and naïveté. The world would never be quite the same
for me again. I would never be able to see Santa Claus the same way. My
faith in him was lost – forever.
I’m not sure my brother and I were damaged emotionally by this annual
Christmas charade that my parents played – along with the rest of society
around us. But it was a little tricky that first Christmas morning not to “let
the cat out of the bag” and tell Mom and Dad what we had found out! So we
played along and “acted surprised” – like at earlier Christmases, when they
gave us the gifts that “Santa brought.” For now, we would not divulge our
“Christmas secret” to our little sisters. We would let them find out in their
own time and way what we had discovered on that “…night before
Christmas.”
As I said, I am not sure I was damaged emotionally by the discovery that
there was no Santa Claus. In the months and years ahead, as I pondered my
“Christmas revelation,” it did not harm my relationship with my parents.
Even in my simple childlike mind, I knew that they intended no harmful
deceit. I loved and trusted them too much to ever believe that. I knew that it
had been just a game…a charade…a masquerade…a time of make-believe
that almost all parents played at Christmas time with their children.
Over the next year, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Frosty the Snowman and
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer joined Santa Claus and his elves in the land
of make-believe. So did Superman, by the way! I think all these
disappointments contributed to some of my early spiritual struggles as a
young Christian boy. As these characters fell from reality, I began to
“connect the dots” with the Bible and its main characters.
You see, my father was a preacher and my mother was a Sunday school
teacher. Both had been missionaries before any of us children were born.
Our home was a very warm Christian place where Jesus and the Bible were
the focal point of life. Like orthodox Jewish homes, ours was “Godsaturated.” Jesus was the center and circumference of our family life. Daily
devotions were a regular part of our lives – as much as our schedules
permitted.
We often had visiting missionaries in our home – whose stories intrigued us.
Revivals were annual events in all of my father’s churches. We attended
Camp Meetings for two weeks each summer. Our home was thoroughly
evangelical Christian.
But, thankfully, our home was not legalistic. Christianity was very real and
practical. We saw it lived out 24/7 by our parents. Involvement in all
church activities was the norm. And being musical, I sang in all the choirs
my mother directed – from the children’s choir on up.
But, the thought would not go away: “If Santa Claus was not real, how do I
know Jesus was real?” If people were just dressed up like Santa playing his
role, how do I know that Jesus was not also pretending to be the Son of
God? If Santa was a myth, maybe Jesus was a myth also.
After all, I had never seen Jesus physically – while I had seen a lot of Santa
Clauses every Christmas! And if the books about Santa were make-believe,
maybe the Bible was the same. If I couldn’t believe in one, how could I
believe in the other? Could I believe in the characters of the Bible any more
than I could believe in the reality of the many people from Fantasy Land!
After all, as a child I had wholeheartedly believed and put my full trust in
these now fake “people”?
So for me, the reality of Santa produced something of a crisis of faith.
While I never seriously doubted the reality of Jesus, I did often struggle in
my mind and heart to separate Him from them. After all, there were so
many similarities, which we will look at later.
But as I grew older, I left Santa Clause in Fantasy Land where he belonged.
I paid little attention to him Christmas after Christmas. But over the years, I
saw him grow to almost Christ-like statue in the world around me. He was
taking center stage from the Christ of Christmas more and more. At the
same time, the crèche was being overshadowed by the Christmas tree. The
gifts of the magi to the Christ Child were not nearly as important as the
presents we were buying and exchanging. The materialism of Christmas
grew exponentially – and it is still growing annually. Because of its
economic success, all the commercialism of Christmas is being exported to
other countries – even to the ones who have no Judeo-Christian history or
heritage. Santa Claus leads the way! You can now find him in virtually
every country and culture in the world.
But when Patt and I became parents, we were freshly confronted with the
Santa Claus dilemma. What were we going to teach our four children about
Santa Claus? Were we going to continue to “play the Christmas charade”
and perpetuate the Santa Claus myth? Or would we break tradition?
While we did not want our children to become little Scrooges to their
friends, we did want to always raise them in the full light of truth in every
area of life – including the truth about Santa Claus. As they grew in their
understanding, we shared that Santa was a fairy tale game that many adults
played at Christmas. But we tried to keep the emphasis of Christmas on the
fact that it was Jesus’ birthday. There were no gifts under the tree from
Santa because we didn’t want to mislead them or (do I even dare say it?) lie
to them? But, let me assure you, there were plenty of gifts!
I will be the first to say that Patt and I did not always agree on where the
“happy medium” was about Christmas and gift-giving. I tended to be on one
extreme and she on the other. She loves to completely decorate the house
for Christmas – which I also enjoy. And we both love to have all of the
children – and now, grandchildren – around the table for a special Christmas
feast! But, through it all, we have sought to separate the “Christmas Story”
from the “Christmas Tree.” While we want our gift giving to be an
expression of our Christian love, we do not necessarily want it connected to
Christmas – and certainly not to Santa Claus. We want all of our giving –
whether at Christmas or throughout the year – to be centered on Christ.
Patt and I realized early in our marriage and family life that this is an area
that every couple and parent must work through according to their own
conscience and convictions. To paraphrase Paul, it is another area where
you have to “…work out your own ‘Christmas salvation’ with fear and
trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
Having said that, let me share some other thoughts that I hope will be
helpful. A lot of my perspective comes out of years of Bible study and
teaching – especially in the area of spiritual warfare. In the past, I wrote
books on counterfeit Christian cults. Through those studies and books, I
tried to alert people to the fact that Satan is the “Master Counterfeiter.” As
Paul reminds us: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” (II
Cor. 11:14). That being the case, we should not be surprised that he has a
counterfeit for everything in life – especially the Christian life.
For the wheat there are tares. For the gifts of the Spirit, there are false signs
and wonders. For Christ there is antichrist. For Jesus, the Light of the
world, there is Lucifer who masquerades as an angel of light.
Also, while not pressing the illustration too far, it is intriguing to me that the
word “Santa” and “Satan” are so similar. They have the exact same letters.
And all you have to do is a slight rearrangement of the letters and you turn
“Santa” into “Satan.” While I am not saying that Satan is Santa Claus, I am
saying that this is another example of how similar antichrist is to Christ –
which is exactly the point and purpose of spiritual counterfeiting!
In a similar way, look at how Satan has also eclipsed Jesus’ death, burial and
resurrection with Easter baskets, Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and new Easter
clothes. In the very same way, Jesus the Christ has been substituted and
counterfeited by our modern day Santa Claus.
So whether at Christmas or Easter, each counterfeit is so innocent…so
cute…so huggable…so lovable – and oh, so profitable! But again, that’s
exactly what a counterfeit is designed to do. It is designed to deceive you
into believing that it is the “real thing!”
But it’s not the “real thing.” It’s a counterfeit…a copy…a look-alike…a
decoy…a knock-off – a cheap imitation! And it never brings the lasting
happiness it promises.
Say what you will, Satan has successfully co-opted Christmas for himself.
Over the decades, he has increasingly secularized Christmas with enticing
counterfeits – just as he has with Easter. Any wonder, then, that the two
highest “Holy Days” of Christendom – Christmas and Easter – have been
almost totally hijacked by Satan!
The Spirit of Antichrist
The moment you use the word antichrist, alarms go off in people’s minds!
Red flags go up. Emotions are kindled. Fears are ignited. Minds are turned
off. Confusion and division take place. To utter the word is to be deemed a
fundamental fanatic!
So we need to begin by calmly defining the term. Antichrist is simply
anything or anyone that detracts from Christ. The prefix: anti simply means
“before.” An antichrist is simply anyone who claims to rank “before” Christ
in importance, or who is overtly “against” Christ. Therefore, an antichrist is
simply a “Christ substitute” – someone who takes Christ’s place of
preeminence in your life.
Concerning Christ’s preeminence, Paul wrote that, “…in everything He
might have supremacy” (Col. 1:18). And supremacy is the one thing Satan
does not want Jesus to have! He wants that place of preeminence for
himself – which is why he tried to seduce Jesus to worship him (Lk. 4:5-8).
Every expression of antichrist is diabolically designed to detract from Jesus
and deflect the glory to Satan – who is the “prince of this world” and “god
of this age” (Jn. 14:30; II Cor. 4:4). And to anyone with spiritual
discernment, it is easy to see that our world today is filled with antichrists.
But that has always been the case. Once the true Christ came into the world
– which is what Christmas is all about – the antichrists showed up too.
As we saw above, Jesus clearly warned about the proliferation of antichrists
as one of the “signs of the times” between His First Advent and Second
Advent: “Watch out that no one deceives you,” Jesus warned His disciple,
“for many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’ and deceive
many” (Matt. 24:4-5).
Likewise, John sounded the same warning in his epistles: “Who is a liar?”
asked John: “It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a
man is the antichrist” (I Jn. 2:22). He amplified this alarm when he went
on to write:
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God…This is how we can recognize the
Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of antichrist,
which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the
world” (I Jn. 4:1-3; II Jn. 7).
So again, the “spirit of antichrist”, that is “…now already in the world,”
is anything or anyone that detracts from or distorts the person and work of
Jesus Christ. And the Bible teaches that this “spirit of antichrist” will one
day be incarnate in a person who will be “The Antichrist” who will virtually
deceive the whole world. Note these words by John:
“Dear Children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that
the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come” (I
Jn. 2:18).
Paul called this person the “lawless one” who would do the “…work of
Satan, displaying all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders,
and every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing” (II Thess.
2:9).
So this person will be the front-man for Satan and the very
personification of Antichrist. Just like Jesus was the incarnation of God, the
antichrist will be the incarnation of Satan.
It is important then, to distinguish between the “spirit of antichrist” that is
all over the world and the person of “the AntiChrist” who is yet to come.
In my mind, Santa Claus falls into the category of the “spirit of antichrist”
because he detracts people’s attention from Christ at Christmas. And he
does so in such an affable way with a twinkle in his eye and a “Ho, ho, ho”
on his lips! Satan’s best antichrist counterfeits are almost always wrapped
in what seems to be such good-natured humor and “innocent fun.” But as
both Paul and John pointed out, deception is his purpose. It is the spiritual
shell game Satan plays with people – young and old – to deceive them. It
matters not whether the deception is a “bold face lie” or a “little white lie,”
deceit and deception still take place.
When it comes to spiritual warfare, the Bible teaches that the devil has 3
primary weapons he uses against us: doubt, temptation and deception. The
last one is the most subtle and deadly! That’s because when you are
doubting, you know it. When you are being tempted, you know it. But
when you are being deceived, you don’t know it. If you were aware of the
deception, you would not be deceived! That’s what makes deception so
subtle and deadly.
Keep in mind that it is through the “spirit of antichrist” that the evil one so
subtly deceives people. And most of the time he does it as he
“…masquerades as an angel of light.” Remember that Satan is seeking to
counterfeit Jesus, the “…light of the world” (Jn. 8:12). So he will not
generally come as the “prince of darkness.” Nor does he come in a red
jump-suit with horns, a forked tail and pitch-fork in hand! No. That is
Danta’s false depiction. The real Satan will come “…masquerading as an
angel of light.” Remember that his original name was Lucifer, or “light
bearer…bright and shinning one.” That’s why his best deceptions are
always cloaked in enlightenment…half-truths…pseudo-science… popular
opinion…political correctness…humor…pleasure! Through the deception,
Satan blurs the distinction between reality and fantasy.
While there is a good Fantasy Land, there is also a bad Fantasy Land. Good
fantasies, or “Godly myths,” give us hints that lead us to God through Jesus
Christ. Writers like J.R.R. Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis were
master writers of these kinds of good spiritual mythologies. These are the
“good fantasies” that plant hints of true spirituality in the heart and mind of
the reader – especially children. They are the universal embers or sparks in
every human heart put there by God through conscience and natural
revelation. These primitive mythological sparks “…give light to every
man” (Jn. 1:9). They are the scents and hints of heaven. When these
smoldering embers are fanned into flame through “good myths” and “good
fairy tells,” they can ultimately bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.
But there are other very popular fantasies and mythology that open up the
“dark side” and the demonic – like the Harry Potter series. They entice the
heart and mind to “dabble in darkness.” Over time, its readers are deceived
and sucked more and more into the vortex of the kingdom of darkness. They
become slaves to the trinity of evil – the “world, the flesh and the devil.”
These kinds of “distorted fantasies” and “dark myths” do not turn children’s
fantasies to Christ but to antichrist.
While the authentic Christ points us to the true and living God, every form
of antichrist leads us deeper and deeper into the “kingdom of darkness”
where the “god of this age” rules and reigns. But the journey always starts
so innocently! So intriguingly. So enticingly. So fun. It is an
imperceptible journey downward into darkness.
Remember, then, spiritual, mental and emotional deception is always the end
game of antichrist in whatever form.
Here then are a few of the problems I have with the Santa Claus Myth. I
hope you will prayerfully consider them as you celebrate Christmas this year
and in the years ahead. If you are a parent or grandparent, I hope you will
seek the Lord’s wisdom about how He wants you to celebrate Christ’s
birthday – rather than the Santa Claus counterfeit.
With that thought in mind, here are a few of the obvious deceptions
perpetrated by Santa Clause Myth…
1. Santa is based on deceit. As all adults know, Santa is not really real.
But we tell our children “little white lies” that he really does exists. Further,
we tell them that he lives at the North Pole. But we never tell them that he is
just a fairy tale and comes from the land of make-believe. We justify our
deceit as a “little white lie.” But there is not such thing as a “white lie.” All
lying comes from darkness and is based on deceit. And Jesus clearly
exposed Satan as the “Father of lies” (Jn. 8:44).
2. Santa is God-like. We perpetrate the idea that Santa is eternal. He never
ages from generation to generation. Unlike their parents and grandparents,
Santa is ageless. He never gets sick. He never dies. He has existed in the
North Pole (a heaven substitute) forever and ever, and “he will be around for
your children’s children”.
But most importantly, Santa is omniscient and omnipresent. He is allknowing and all-present throughout the year. This idea is reflected in the
song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town. One verse warns the children that
Santa is all-seeing and all-knowing:
“He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He
knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”
Of course, these are attributes that only God possesses. So, Santa becomes
antichrist in his God-like nature.
3. Santa is based on the merit system. The Santa Claus myth is based on
“good works” or on “works righteousness.” This is also reflected in the
popular Christmas song that reminds children that when Santa comes to
town on Christmas Eve, he will come with a list of all of their good and bad
behavior over the past year:
“He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice
He’s gonna find out whose naughty or nice!”
And when children sit on Santa’s knee in a local store or mall, the first
question he asks is: ”Have you been a good little boy or girl this past
year?” And the answer better be “Yes” or every child knows he will not
come visit you. So, each child lies and says he or she has been good all year
long!
While God relates to us on the basis of grace, Santa related to our children
on the basis of merit. If their “good works” out-weigh their “bad behavior,”
he will give them presents. If they have been more naughty than nice, he
will pass by their house.
4. Santa Claus is a universalist. While Santa threatens to withhold his love
and favor, in the end he always comes through and equally blesses every one
– regardless of their behavior. By Christmas Eve, Santa has forgotten or
overlooked all wrong-doing. He erases or forgets the list of bad behavior he
has been recording through the year. Like a doting and indulging
grandfather, Santa freely forgives and forgets everything and universally
lavishes his gifts on everyone alike.
God, on the other hand, erases sin with the blood of Christ when we confess
our sins and trust in Him. But with Santa, even if there is no repentance,
Satan still gives the “good stuff” to everyone.
5. Santa is based on selfishness. The Santa Claus Myth fosters narcissism.
It shifts the focus of Christmas from Christ to self. It makes receiving gifts
the very essence of Christmas – rather than giving. Say what you will, on
Christmas morning, children are only interested in one thing – the presents
under the tree with their name on them! They do not rush to the tree with
the selfless motivation to give to their parents and siblings. They rush to
open their gifts to see if Santa gave them what they really wanted and had
asked for. If they don’t get what they wanted, they are disappointed and
sometimes sullen. Watch out if a brother or sister got more gifts than they
did! Talk about anger and resentment!
6. Santa is based on short-term gratification. The toys that we give our
children through the Santa Claus Myth do not give any lasting satisfaction.
Almost as soon as the pretty wrapping paper and ribbon are ripped open, the
gift loses its glamour and appeal. Before Christmas Day is over, our
children desire something else. Some even spend the rest of Christmas Day
making plans to get to the stores on the 26th so they can exchange their gifts
for better ones. With each Christmas, the insatiable appetite of instant
gratification grows stronger and stronger. Few children can remember from
one year to the next what gifts they received.
treasures become next summer’s yard sale junk!
This year’s Christmas
7. Santa is based upon inequality. Unlike God, Santa Claus is guilty of
partiality. He does not give equally to everyone. All children do not receive
the same amount. In the end, it is only the privileged children of America
and the West who receive “lots of toys.” The majority of the children of the
world receive nothing.
Is all of this Santa Claus emphasis at Christmas blatantly sinister and evil?
Are the parents who play the Santa Claus charade with their children
consciously trying to deceive them? I don’t think so. It’s just an example of
how myths over time become larger than life. But anyone with an ounce of
Biblical discernment can see the “spirit of antichrist” at work behind the
scenes in many of our Christian traditions. The antichrist spirit has become
so pervasive in our society that Jesus Christ has less and less to do with
Christmas. The Christ of Christmas has largely been eclipsed by Santa
Claus as the person of greatest notoriety and popularity to children and
adults alike. Jesus is no longer the “Reason for the Season.” And that my
friends, is exactly what the “spirit of antichrist” is all about!
Practical Suggestions
Let me close this latest round in my annual Christmas fight with Santa Claus
with a few practical suggestions. I don’t want to end this study negatively.
After all, Christmas is the most positive event in human history! It is all
about God’s love, mercy and grace for a fallen world. Christmas is about
God’s fulfillment of a wonderful prophecy:
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those
living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isa.
9:2).
That’s Good News! Incredible news! And it is all centered in Christ. That’s
why Satan has never stopped trying to hide it…distort it…detract from it.
That’s why he continues to use every deceitful trick in his diabolical game
book to “take Christ out of Christmas!” And it’s why we as parents and
grandparents must do everything in our power to keep Christ at the center of
Christmas – regardless of how politically incorrect it happens to be.
So, here are some thoughts for you to prayerfully ponder. They are not
profound or complicated. But they will take some conscious and creative
effort on your part to incorporate them into your Christmas celebration.
1. Teach about St. Nicholas. Teach your children about the real Christcentered Santa Claus – St. Nicholas. This will anchor them in history rather
than in mythology. It can help them see the real Santa Claus through his
counterfeit.
2. Separate giving from Santa Claus. Don’t associate gift giving with
some mythological character from fantasy land who neither knows nor loves
your children. Let them know that the gifts come from you as an expression
of your unconditional love for them.
3. Teach your children about God’s Christmas Tree. If you have a
Christmas tree tradition in your home, relate it to God’s Christmas Tree –
the cross. After all, the New Testament constantly refers to the cross as a
“tree” (Acts 5:30; 10:39; 13:29; Gal. 3:13; I Pet. 2:24, etc). For a fuller
understanding of this, restudy the chapter in this series entitled “God’s
Christmas Tree.”
3. Relate giving to God, not to Santa. Teach your children that God is the
greatest Giver of all – starting with John 3:16. That’s where God gave us
the free gift of salvation wrapped in the person of Jesus Christ. Teach them
that every “…good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of
heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Ja. 1:17).
So their Heavenly Father is the one who loves to give “…good gifts to His
children” – especially the Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13). On the other hand, it is
Satan who entices them with his perverted gifts designed to appeal to the
flesh. Again, for further understanding about this, read again the chapter in
this study on “God’s Gift Giving Catalogue.”
4. Make Christmas giving based on need instead of want. Far too much of
our Christmas giving is based on our greeds rather than on our needs. God
always gives His gifts to meet out needs – not our greeds. As parents, we
should seek to imitate Him in the nature of His giving. Until our children
learn the difference between “need” and “greed,” they will always be driven
by covetousness rather than by contentment. And the Bible teaches
“…godliness is a means to great gain when accompanied by
contentment” (I Tim. 6:6).
5. Give gifts that are an expression and extension of yourself. Don’t just
buy some gift off the shelf that has little or nothing of you in it. Don’t give
gifts on Christmas that are expressions of the latest fad or fashion. Save that
for their birthday if you feel it is important for your children to “keep up
with the Joneses” – or the Joneses kids!
Instead, make something…build something…write something…paint
something – that has you and your love wrapped up in it. In the long run, it
will be treasured far more than some “cheap ticky-tacky” you bought off the
shelf at the eleventh hour on Christmas Eve – which they will soon forget!
I would also suggest that you help your children give gifts like the
following…
• To Christ: Have them prayerfully and thoughtfully make gifts of love
and commitment to Jesus that would please Him:
…Read Bible through the following year
…Commit to a daily Quiet Time
…Start giving regularly from their allowance or earnings
…Do volunteer work for His Kingdom, etc.
• To Family: Encourage them to make love commitments to their
parents, grandparents, siblings that would bless them:
…Commitment of time with them
…Projects that would help them
…Things that would make family life better
• To Others: Teach your children to think about others in their
Christmas giving beyond their family and friends. Take them to a
Homeless Shelter, Soup Kitchen, Rest Home where they can see and
touch others:
…To the poor and needy
…To those who can’t give in return
…To widows and orphans
…Even give an anonymous gift to someone in need, with no thought
of being thanked.
• To Church/Missions: Since the church is God’s Family, encourage
your children to make special Christmas gifts to the Body of Christ.
Also to local and global missions:
…Service
…Time
…Money
…Gifts of the Spirit
7. Focus on Christmas as Christ’s Birthday. This is the most important
principle of all. Try to do Christ-centered, Christ-exalting, Christ-glorifying
giving. After all, it is His birthday – not ours. As you give Christmas gifts,
ask if this gift helps mature the person in Christ? Will it help them grow in
their relationship with the Lord? Can I see Christ giving this gift, knowing
His heart and mind as revealed in the Bible?
You can and should center the attention on your children at their birthdays.
That day is about them. And Patt is such a gifted birthday celebrator! She
really goes “all out” for our children and grandchildren’s birthdays. So on
their birthday, you can not only give gifts that meet needs, you can give gifts
that fulfill some of their wants.
But Christmas is not their birthday – it is Christ’s Birthday. As one
Christmas song said: “It’s the Birthday of the King!” Make the Magi your
children’s example. When they found Joseph, Mary and Jesus, they
“…worshiped Him.” For the Magi, Jesus was the focus of attention. He
was what their journey was all about. So upon finding Him, they
“…opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts…” (Matt. 2:11).
Unlike us, the Magi did not open their gifts and exchange them with each
other! No! They knew that Christmas was about Jesus – not about them.
So they “…presented Him with gifts.” We need to teach our children to do
the same – especially at Christmas!
This list is certainly not exhaustive. It is just a starting point to help get your
creative Christmas ideas flowing. I am sure that you can add some other
creative ideas to this list, ideas that will help build lasting Christ-centered
traditions with your children and grandchildren. In the process, you will
celebrate a Christ Mass – rather than a Christless Christmas. You will enjoy
a time of worship focused on Jesus Christ. Christmas will become an annual
mass celebrated in His honor.
Merry CHRIST MASS to you all, with love!
J.L. & Patt
“O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”