Just the Beginning

"Hark the Harold angel sings,

glory to the new born king.

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinner reconciled."

The second half of the third verse is my favorite: "Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth." Christmas is about more than just Christ coming to earth. The Pastor at the Christmas Eve service reminded us that the incarnation of Christ is not the end and that it is meaningless unless it is followed by a cross.

Christ was born, lived, and died in the cycle of life just as any human does. But he was "born that man no more may die", he lived perfectly, and died for the world's sins. Unlike humans, he rose again to complete his work on earth.

Isaiah said, "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). The Gospel of Luke records Mary's response to the angel's news that she would give birth to a son, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (1:31, 34). Micah wrote,

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times" (5:2).

Luke recorded that "Today in the town of David" (2:11) the Messiah had been born. In prophesy, Isaiah pronounced, "For to us a son is born, to us a son is given" (9:7). In announcement, the angels proclaimed in Luke, "A Savior has been born to you" (2:11).

The angels sang, "On earth peace to men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14b). May we never forget, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him" (Isaiah 53:5).

The crude wooden manger was where our Saviour was first laid. A crude wooden cross is where he drew his final breath, finishing the work he had begun. "Born that men no more may die"; Christ took on human flesh so I would never taste death.

Isaiah transcribed God's words which are incredible:

"And now the LORD says--

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD

and my God has been my strength--

He says:

"It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah49:5,6).

Of course Luke records the words of Simeon: "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" (2:31-32). God did not leave me, a Gentile, out. Thus, I am given life for Christmas.

Jesus made it very clear, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17b). The virgin birth, the angels' announcement, God incarnate are just the beginning. The hope of Christmas is in Christ's death and resurrection which are made all the more glorious by his birth. "Born that man no more may die". Christmas is just as much about the coming of Christ as it is about his ascension. As Christians, we were guaranteed life for Christmas.

--HM

Patience

This photo is a picture of patience. Now, you might be wondering how a picture of bread could be a symbol of patience. But before that bread was a shapely loaf it was a blob of goop overflowing the mixing machine into a soupy mess on the counter. And I, I fell apart just like that dough because it wasn't turning out. I could claim I was overly tired from getting up early and going to bed late or I could cite stress at work as an excuse for my reaction. The plain truth is I am a sinful creature and as Paul writes in Romans, "I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members" (7:23).

I speak honestly when I say that in my meltdown I deserved a swift kick in the pants, perhaps a slap on the back of the head with the phrase, "It's just bread dough!" exclaimed to me and then a command to go to my room until I mature a bit. But I speak honestly when I say that is not what I received. My mom came and prayed for me, she gave me a kiss, and told me how proud of me she was. Is this not an extreme measure of patience?

Our Heavenly Father did the same with us. In his justice he offered Christ as a sacrifice of atonement "because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished" (Romans 3:25). I deserve more than a slap for my sins yet God, in his "kindness and love...saved us, not because of righteous things we had done but because of his mercy" (Titus 3:4). He patiently changes us through the work of the Holy Spirit to become like Christ Jesus. "He does not treat us as our sins deserve" (Psalm 103:10). Verily, our sins are as far from him "as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12).

My hope is that which Peter writes: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9b). Thus, this picture of bread is a picture of patience, a reminder of my mother's and my Heavenly Father's patience with me. May I echo Paul's words: "Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24, 25).

--HM

O Come Let Us Adore Him

The Gospel of Luke is the source for what most of us know as the "Christmas Story". It records the events surrounding John the Baptist's conception and birth as well as the Virgin birth. However, the story of Christ coming to earth has been declared in Scripture since the third chapter in Genesis! Thirty-nine books of the Old Testament build to the first apex in human history: the birth of the Messiah.

In Genesis, immediately after Adam and Eve's fall into sin, God promises that the seed of the woman will redeem mankind from sin.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15, emphasis added).

Then in Deuteronomy Moses declares the Word of the Lord to the children of Israel regarding the Messiah. He would be one of the people who had God's word.

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him" (Deuteronomy 18:17, 18).

Further along God promises King David through the prophet Nathaniel that the Christ would be one of his descendants, sitting on the throne of Israel forever. He would be God's son, loved by Him.

" 'I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me and I will establish his throne forever, I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever' " (1 Chronicles 17:10b-14).

Scores of other passages point to Christ's coming and in Isaiah, the picture becomes even clearer. First, God reveals that He will be born of a Virgin and he will be called Immanuel. Next, Isaiah records in Chapter 9: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6).

Christ, the Savior of the world, was born "to us". We are the recipients of this gift! Granted, Christmas (and life in general) is not about "us" but about glorifying God and it always has been. In this passage, it was God edifying to say that Jesus was given to the race of men: "to us a child is born, to us a son is given."

Now come back to the Gospel of Luke. The Savior has been born, the time has come. On cue, with the words given to them by Christ, the angels appear to shepherds and declare: "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you" (Luke 2:11). "To you", again we see a reiteration of Isaiah's passage. Christ was born not to nature or to the angels or to the creatures of the earth but unto "men on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14).

Thus, it is to us the carol writer calls, "O come, let us adore Him." Christ was given to us, saving us from our sin and ultimately, bringing glory to Himself. This is Christmas. Joyfully and triumphantly, we come, not to an elaborate palace or a vast temple or an extravagant church building, but to a humble stable, kneeling before, not a glorious altar, but a crude manger, before a new infant, "who is Christ the Lord."

--HM

Second Sunday in Advent

"Advent: (from Webster's 1828 Dictionary) A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning of St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath next before or after it. It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judge the world."

A wonderful time of the year for many people is the Christmas season, or "holiday" season as we read in the Sunday advertisement circulars. The wonder is generated by many emotions of various origins - colored lights, decorated houses and stores, acts of kindness, Christmas caroling, home-baked cookies and goodies, traveling to relatives homes for celebrating family.

Admittedly, the "holidays" elicit mixed emotions for many. The sudden passing of a loved one, the loss of a job, the lack of money for the children's presents, an ongoing debilitating health issue, these and other situations make for a depressing time of year for many.

For Catherine and me, Advent was and is a time of family and hope. Our family memories of Advent are evening devotions, candles being lit on an Advent wreath, the singing of Christmas carols, opening of the doors on the paper Advent calendar, Christmas Eve church services, and anticipating opening gifts from those who love us. We continue these traditions with our children today.

Why the hope? Imagine your family being a part of a community that expected to hear from God through various prophets, those who spoke the words given by God. This was your tradition; it had happened for thousands of years.

Now, imagine that your family was a part of the history where God was not speaking. For the past 399 years, God had not spoken. That's a long time; many generations had passed from this earth since the last time a prophet spoke life from the Creator of the heavens and the earth. These were dark days filled with silence.

Then in the 400th year, out of God's great grace and mercy, at the perfect time to fulfill all righteousness, a child was born, God's Son was given. During the course of the next 33 years, Jesus Christ lived a perfect life of obedience because we sin and are incapable, he died the death that we were due because of our sins, and he was resurrected to his place beside His Father to show us our heavenly heritage as children of the King. In the span of a year, all darkness and all silence was ended.

These 33 years of life, death and resurrection by Christ is the only reason we hope. Otherwise, as St. Paul says, "If Christ has not been raised (from the dead), your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." I Corinthians 15:17

We also give thanks to God for His great grace and mercy that He set us here to live at this time of history when Christ has already come, the first advent is completed, and we anticipate the second advent, when Christ comes again to bring home His children.

May the genuine hope of light and the Word of God fill your heart this Advent season as you prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ and anticipate His return. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

- CFM