A natural meal with a supernatural family
Scripture tells us that on the day of Pentecost three thousand people were added to the church. As they began to learn what it meant to be God’s people, some things about their lives changed, while other things remained the same. They continued to eat normal food; but the context of those meals changed:
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts… (Acts 2:46 ESV)
Every day, or at least regularly, the believers met together in their homes to share their food with other people. Family meals were very normal. The meal itself had not changed. But, the family was now completely different.
Of course, this relationship change had be described earlier by Jesus. His disciples were simply following his lead:
While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50 ESV)
Jesus instituted a new family – not created by bonds of flesh and blood, but created by bonds of Spirit and faith. The new followers of Jesus did not merely accept this theoretically and then go on with their lives as usual. Instead, their new brothers and sisters became part of their lives, sharing everything with them – from the most extraordinary to the most ordinary. They shared their possessions, their meals, their time, their very lives. The meals that they shared were quite ordinary – natural meals. But, the family with whom they shared these meals was extraordinary – a supernatural family.
To do this, we have to be willing to open up time in our busy schedules for other people – to be willing to spend time with brothers and sisters that we may not know very well so that God can bind us together through his Spirit. It means that we will need to go to baseball games and dance reviews and award nights and picnics and vacations that are important to our brothers and sisters. We will need to consider them before we consider ourselves – which is almost impossible to do. It means we may need to turn off the TV or put down the book or open up our “family night” in order to invite in our true family – brothers and sisters who have been adopted into God’s family together with us.
During this time of Christmas, it is normal for us to spend time with our natural families. But, what about your supernatural family? Share your time and some meals with your supernatural families as well. And, when you do, share some of your experiences with us here. Let’s celebrate natural meals with supernatural families together!
Remembering the Incarnation
This post is part of a synchroblog on the topic “Redeeming the Season”. A few weeks ago, when this topic was introduced, I thought through several options for this post. However, as December rolled along and we came close to Christmas, I started thinking about the incarnation, and specifically how all of my Christmas preparations reminded me of the incarnation – or how they did not remind me of the incarnation. These are personal reflections. I am not intending to suggest that everyone reflects on these things in the same way.
The incarnation is one of the most remarkable doctrines of the Christian faith. God became man and dwelled among us – it is almost incomprehensible! There are many exciting and life-changing truths that can be explored by beginning with the incarnation such as the love of God, the mercy and compassion of God, redemption, relationship, unity, etc. Perhaps the most exciting corollary (if it can be called a corollary) to the incarnation for me is the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus came, and lived, and died, and rose, and ascended, and promised to send “another helper” – the Holy Spirit. Thus, because of the incarnation, God not only dwelled with us, he now dwells in us.
But, I’ve realized this “Christmas season” that very little of what I do or think or say actually reminds me of the incarnation. Christmas trees and decorations and Christmas cards do not remind me of the incarnation. I think they’re supposed to, but they don’t. As much as I love to sing Christmas carols, they remind me of a baby, but not the incarnation. Christmas candy and fruit cakes and eggnog do not remind me of the incarnation, although I love them. Christmas gifts and wish lists and shopping do not remind me of the incarnation. Yes, I know that God gave his son, but perhaps I’m too focused on myself, but Christmas gifts do not remind me of the incarnation. Parades and craft sales do not remind me of the incarnation.
Like I said, I love these things. They make me feel festive and joyous and giving and grateful and happy. But, they do not remind me of the incarnation. I love to decorate our house and look at the decorations at other houses. I love Christmas carols and songs – both singing them and listening to them. I love the festivities and activities that surround Christmas. I love giving and getting Christmas. But, I cannot say that these activities have reminded me of the incarnation this year.
However, I have been reminded of the incarnation. When I met with a small group of students and learned about people who were being forced into prostitution or sold into slavery or forced to work for very little money, I was reminded of the incarnation.
When I sat down with some friends and heard what God was doing in their lives and listened to their struggles and victories, I was reminded of the incarnation.
When I saw some adults sit down on the floor to play with and talk to underprivileged children, I was reminded of the incarnation.
When I read emails from people who are struggling to determine God’s will for them and their family but recognizing the hope and promise that they have in him, I was reminded of the incarnation.
There’s nothing wrong with nativity scenes and carols. But they remind me of a baby in a manger, not the God of the universe who dwells within me. There’s nothing wrong with Santa and Rudolph and Frosty and Jack Frost. But they remind me of gifts and fun and happiness and winter, not that I should abide in Christ as he abides in me. There’s nothing wrong with hanging the greens and decking the halls and sleighing the bells. But they remind me of festivities and parties and fun times, not the indwelling power that is within me – the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
As I’ve thought about the Christmas season this year, more than anything I’ve realized that it does little to help me in my walk with Christ. Remember, this is my conclusion, not yours. Perhaps celebrating Christmas helps you in your walk with Christ and helps you grow in maturity toward Christ-likeness. I will continue to celebrate Christmas, because my family, friends, and I all enjoy the festivities. But, I recognize that Christmas is not really about the incarnation – at least not in the sense that I need to remember and meditate on the incarnation.
In fact, as I’ve thought about the Christmas season, I’ve also realized that I need to remember and meditate on the incarnation throughout the year – possibly every day, every hour, every moment.
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Redeeming the Season is the Topic for this month’s SynchroBlog. Now there are a variety of seasons being celebrated at the end of each year from Christmas to Hannukah to Eid al-Adha and Muharram, from the Winter Solstice to Kwanzaa and Yule. Some people celebrate none of these seasonal holydays, and do so for good reason. Below is a variety of responses to the subject of redeeming the season. From the discipline of simplicity, to uninhibited celebration, to refraining from celebrating, to celebrating another’s holyday for the purpose of identificational evangelism the subject is explored. Follow the links below to “Redeeming the Season.” For more holidays to consider see here
Recapturing the Spirit of Christmas at Sonja Andrew’s Calacirian
Fanning the Flickering Flame of Advent at Paul Walker’s Out of the Cocoon
Lainie Petersen at Headspace
Eager Longing at Elizaphanian
The Battle Rages at Bryan Riley’s Charis Shalom
Secularizing Christmas at JohnSmulo.com
There’s Something About Mary at Hello Said Jenelle
Geocentric Versus Anthropocentric Holydays at Phil Wyman’s Square No More
Celebrating Christmas in a Pluralistic Society at Matt Stone’s Journeys in Between
The Ghost of Christmas Past at Erin Word’s Decompressing Faith
Redeeming the season — season of redemption by Steve Hayes
Remembering the Incarnation at Alan Knox’ The Assembling of the Church
A Biblical Response to a Secular Christmas by Glenn Ansley’s Bad Theology
Happy Life Day at The Agent B Files
What’s So Bad About Christmas? at Julie Clawson’s One Hand Clapping
Advent 2 – Waiting With Jesus
Advent is traditionally the beginning of the church calendar. I’m not interested in church calendars, but I am interested in the themes of Advent, which include expectation, hope, anticipation, etc. In this series, I plan to examine these themes in the time before Jesus’ physical incarnation, while Jesus lived on earth, in modern times, and in eternity. This will probably be quite different from other meditations on Advent. That’s okay. I only hope that God uses my thoughts to encourage you as he has encouraged me.
For this post, I am thinking through the concept of expectation, waiting, and hope during the thirty (plus or minus) years that Jesus lived on this earth.
Sometime around two thousand years ago, a baby was born. But, this was not just any baby; this was God incarnate – God become flesh – God as a man. The world changed from the point. God could now relate to man as man, and man could relate to God as man. God was now with man – Emmanuel. As we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come”. And, as Jesus said repeatedly, “The kingdom of God is near”.
And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles- the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:13-17 ESV)
The long-awaited day was finally here. The great light was shining in the darkness. Hope had been fulfilled. Or had it?
As Jesus walked the earth, and as he taught, and as he made disciples, and as he healed, people continued to hurt. People were still oppressed. People still died. The fatherless, the widow, and the stranger still struggled to survive. Joy may have come to the world, but that joy did not completely replace the heartache and pain and suffering and oppression and loss and despair. There was still room for hope.
The small band that followed Jesus from place to place recognized the concern and compassion of their master toward the hurting and the oppressed. They saw him touch the leper and embrace the adulteress. They heard him speak life into the ears of the deaf and sing along with the newly restored tongues of the mute. They all danced as legs were given strength and life was returned to the dead. But, they also saw others who were sick, blind, deaf, mute, lame, dead – others who went without healing, without a touch. Life and death and suffering continued even as Jesus walked the earth.
Yes, this small band saw that the oppression continued, but they didn’t understand it. They knew that Jesus was the King that had been anticipated for so long. They understood that Jesus was ushering in the kingdom of God. They knew of the benefits of the kingdom – they had read the prophets. But, why did the pain and suffering and hunger and weariness and hopelessness remain when the King and the kingdom had come?
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21-23 ESV)
It was not only those who were physically and spiritually far away from Jesus who continued to be stained by the pain of life. Even those who were closest to the God-man had reason to hope, because their hope had not been fulfilled. They recognized the King and the kingdom, but they continued to long for more. They continued to hope.
They had much to learn about the ways of God and the ways of the kingdom. As they walked the dusty roads of Palestine, they heard Jesus tell stories about mustard seeds and mountains and pearls and fields and coins and sons and vineyards and talents. And, as they heard these stories, their hearts pounded within their chest. Yes! This is what they wanted! This is what they have hoped for; in fact, this is what everyone had hoped for and longed for and expected. Bring it on, Jesus!
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” (Matthew 20:20-21 ESV)
But, instead of instituting an earthly reign, Jesus warned of more troubles. He told his followers that things would get much worse. This is not what they wanted to hear! They were ready to reign with Jesus, but he was telling them to suffer for him. They wanted a release from pain, but he was telling them to embrace the pain of this world.
They finally started to understand that in Jesus they were witnessing the beginning of the kingdom, but not its final fulfillment. There was more to come. There was more suffering to come, but there was also more joy to come. There was more pain to come, but there was also more peace to come. So, there was more room for hope – expectation – anticipation.
As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:3-8 ESV)
All these are but the beginning of birth pains… This was not exactly what they wanted to hear. They were ready for the end of pain, and Jesus said it was just beginning. But, Jesus’ message was not a message of despair. Instead, his message was one of hope. The followers of Jesus finally understood that they could hope because of Jesus. In him they found another glimpse into the reality that God was creating. In fact, God was creating that reality through Jesus himself, just has God had created the world through Jesus.
While the prophets and the saints of old found hope in symbols and words, these simple followers of Jesus found hope in a person – the person of God himself. They found hope in his words and actions. They found hope in his concern and compassion. But, most of all, they found hope in his death and resurrection. Because he lives, they found hope for eternity.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20b ESV)
In much the same way, Jesus is with us today – perhaps even closer than he was to those early followers. In the same way, God often heals our hurts, soothes our pains, eases our discomfort. But, in other ways, we continue to struggle with the oppressions and evils of this world. Like those early disciples, we are learning that the kingdom of God is here, but it is still coming. In the midst of the suffering of this world, we have reason to hope. We have more to expect. We anticipate the fulfillment of God’s plan and the final coming of his kingdom.
Examples and Models
I love the latest post by a new blogger, Trey from “One Man’s Journey“. The title of the post is “Walk Away for the Love of Christ?” I love his honest reflection and life-changing questions. I also see in his questions many of the questions that I started asking myself a few years ago. Here is an excerpt from Trey’s excellent post:
As my family and I sunk into a financial pit of despair, I began to read much in the realm of finance, investing, financial planning, and biblical financial stewardship. I grew to love this and can see many ways in which the average Christian and also the average church misuses the resources provided by God. I began to see myself as doing this sort of consultation work to families, small businesses, churches, and parachurch ministries once I gained the proper training. But what about seminary? What about my calling? What will my family think?
As previously, most issues discussed here have not been settled in my mind completely. I have been reminded in my prayer times that God certainly does not need me. He has managed eternity just fine before me and will do so long after I become one of saints on high. Also, why do I need the spotlight of an official pastor-elder of a local congregation? Can I not teach and serve in other ways just an important to the kingdom?
Several years ago, I also had this “calling”. Looking back, I think that God was calling me to a more committed life of serving himself and others – he was calling me to full-time ministry, although I don’t think he was calling me to “full-time ministry”. At the time, though, I only saw two options: 1) become a vocational pastor, or 2) become a missionary.
Why did I only see these two options? Well, those were the only two options that I saw modelled. These were the only examples that I saw of what it meant to serve God full-time. So, I picked one – vocational pastor – and did what I was supposed to do: I went to seminary. But, as my family will tell you, I struggled with the idea of being a full-time vocational pastor from day one. I did not think that this accurately reflected what God wanted from me, but I did not have any other categories, models, or examples to compare to.
I knew what God wanted from me: he wanted me to serve him and serve others in everything that I said and everything that I did. But, this couldn’t happen if I worked a regular job, right? I mean, regular people are distracted by work and commuting and co-workers and business trips and office parties. But, God didn’t want me to be distracted by these “secular” things, so I needed to give all of that up, go to seminary, get hired by a church in order that I could concentrate on “spiritual” things.
As Trey expressed in his blog post, I thought that the real work of God was done by those people who prominently stood before me each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, etc. These were the people who knew God and what God wanted from me and others and how to teach the Bible and how to put on Bible studies and where to find the lost people and when to schedule the Children’s program.
A strange thing happened on the way though. As I was happily preparing myself for just this type of “spiritual” vocation, I took my professors seriously, and I read Scripture to find the answers to my questions. It began with recognizing that Scripture does not call the Sunday morning routine “worship”. I asked myself, “If that’s not worship, then what is worship?” Again, I turned to Scripture for answers. From those answers, I was forced to ask other questions and search for more answers.
In fact, the more I studied and read and asked questions, the more I realized that the type of “spotlight servants” which Trey mentions – and to which I was aspiring – was not described in Scripture at all. In fact, I would suggest that “spotlight servants” are antithetical to the teachings of Jesus, Paul, Peter – in fact, all the books of the New Testament. Instead, Jesus calls all believers to be servants – not “spotlight servants”, but servants.
And, slowly, I began to understand that “vocational pastors” may be necessary to carry out what we typically see associated with church today. However, when we examine church in Scripture, we see that “vocational pastors” seem out of place. Instead, we see people shepherding as they work, and discipling wherever they are, and teaching in any context, and caring and comforting wherever they find people who are hurting. We find leaders who lead by example, not from the spotlight. We find elders who are mature and wise and known, not hired for their education and speaking abilities. We find prophets and teachers and apostles who are willing to dialog instead of monologue. We find disciples who are constantly and consistently attempting to live for Christ with the help of other brothers and sisters. We find that there is no secular and sacred divide. Through the indwelling Spirit, all things become sacred – every place becomes a sanctuary – every believer becomes a priest and a temple.
In other words, God can use me as his full-time servant when I am selling cars, or writing code, or running a business, or seeing patients. I can pastor while I am teaching in a school or college, or taking care of the home, or packing boxes, or delivering mail, or selling clothes. I can meet with other believers as the church in a church building, or in a restaurant, or in a park, or in a home, or in a car, or in an office. God was calling me – and he is calling others – into full-time service, wherever we are and whatever we’re doing.
It is my desire to live the rest of my life as an example of following God and serving him full-time in whatever vocation he provides for me. I hope that the believers who come along after me will see my example as another option when God calls them also.
International Justice Mission
Tuesday night, I had the opportunity to attend the first meeting of a new campus chapter of International Justice Mission. When I arrived, I was excited to see that Rebbecca, a friend of ours, was responsible for starting this chapter on our campus.
According to their website, “IJM exists to protect people from violent forms of injustice by securing rescue and restoration for victims and accountability for perpetrators, ensuring that public justice systems work for the poor.” Apparently, IJM works within the laws of each country to restore those who are in bondage and to hold their captors responsible. Again, they do not force American law on foreign countries, but instead work within already existing laws of those countries.
I’m excited to see this type of group started on our campus. We know from Scripture that God cares about the oppressed, the fatherless, the widow, the alien, the poor, etc. We know from Scripture that one of the reasons that Jesus came was to give hope to those who were hurting, and much of his physical ministry included healing and caring for the oppressed and the hurting. As we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, we should also recognize that part of that ministry is found in helping those who are hurting and in need. There is certainly a spiritual dimension to our ministry of reconciliation – and arguably the spiritual dimension is more important than the physical – this does not negate our responsibilities to meet the physical needs of those around us who are hurting and oppressed.
This IJM campus chapter, and other similar organizations, are good ways of helping people get involved in the lives of those who need physical help and the spiritual healing that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Learning to live together
A few months ago, I wrote an article for “Life in the Journey” called “Walking through difficulty… together“. In that post, I primarily was thanking God for the many brothers and sisters that he has placed in our lives, and acknowledging that I need these people in my life to help me walk with God. God places us together to live together, in both the good times and the bad times, to rejoice with one another and to mourn with one another, to encourage and to comfort.
Over the last few weeks especially, we’ve seen more and more friends struggling through life. It seems, in fact, that the number of struggles has increased exponentially over the last few months and years. As I think about these struggles and the seeming increase of struggles, I wonder if the increase is real, or if I simply know about more of the struggles because there are more people who have chosen to share their lives with us.
In reality, I realize that over the last couple of years especially, my family has begun to learn what it means to live together with other people. This means that we are learning not only to bear the other person’s burden, but also to share our own burdens. I think, sometimes, sharing my burdens is more difficult than helping someone else bear their burden. But, both – give and take – is important and necessary as we learn to live in community with one another – with Jesus Christ as the one who creates and maintains our fellowship, with him alone being our common identity.
I said, “My family has begun to learn what it means to live together with other people”. I want to say that we HAVE learned, but that would not be true. This process is ongoing, and since we are not complete yet, we have a long way to go and much more to learn. We are still learning to trust and to be trustworthy, to care and to allow others to care, to speak and to listen, to accept and to be real/authentic, to give grace and to accept grace, and most of all, to hope and to offer hope to others.
Since we are still learning, we are also still making mistakes. And, since our brothers and sisters are not perfect yet either – sorry to burst your bubble – they make mistakes as well. Besides being hurt by life, we hurt one another. Thus, forgiveness must be a huge part of learning to live together. Of course, this includes asking for forgiveness and offering forgiveness. We who have been given much, who have been forgiven greatly, and who have been loved unconditionally give, forgive, and love others in response… imperfectly though.
So, as our friends struggle with sickness, death, relationship problems, financial problems, job issues, emotional stresses, etc. and as our family struggles with the same issues, we learn to live together, in spite of these struggles and through these struggles. We learn to depend upon God as we depend upon one another. We learn that God cares as we see others care. As we give and receive, offer and accept, in strength and in weakness, we learn to live together… living the life of a traveller, yearning for our true home, rejoicing in the fellow travellers that God places in our path.
Meeting another new friend
Monday, we had the opportunity to meet David Rogers who publishes the blog “Love Each Stone“. David and I are not sure when we first “met” one another online, but I know that we have been commenting on one another’s blogs for over a year.
Anyway, David was coming to town for a couple of days, so we had several opportunities to spend time together on Monday. First, David and I had lunch at The Court, which is a small cafe on campus. That night, Margaret and I took him to dinner. After dinner, we took David back to our house where a few friends joined us to talk for a couple of hours.
For those who may have read David’s blog, I want you to know that he is as gracious and kind in person as he is on his blog. Our family and our friends all enjoyed spending time with David, getting to know him better, hearing about what God has been doing in Spain, and listening to some possible plans for the future. David and I have often discussed the church, and especially unity between believers. We’ve agreed more times than we’ve disagreed, but I’ve even enjoyed the interaction when we disagree. He’s always very respectful and thought-provoking.
I’m thinking through several conversations that we had – conversations that will probably lead to blog posts after I have more time to think through them. (If I get these stories wrong, then I hope David or someone who was with us will help me out.)
David told us that in some Spanish towns of 50-100,000 people, there may only be 70 or so followers of Jesus Christ. Whenever these believers meet one another on the street, they are very excited to see one another. This makes me wonder why we do not have the same excitement when we see one another. Is the excitement a work of the Spirit? If so, we have the same Spirit. Is the excitement something other than the Spirit? If so, what is it?
David also mentioned that while they were in Spain, there were two groups of believers who met together regularly. One group was charismatic, including speaking in tongues. The other group was not charismatic – they did not speak in tongues. When they met together, the charismatic group chose not to speak in tongues in deference to the other believers. I think this is a wonderful example of preferring others as more important than ourselves. I think this showed amazing maturity for the charismatic group. I wonder if the believers that I know and meet with regularly would show the same maturity if we met with a group who differed in some ways.
I may discuss these two issues again later. But, for now, I’ll say that my family and our friends are hoping to spend time with David Rogers again. Perhaps we will be able to meet his family this time.
To see a few pictures, visit the post “Meeting another new friend” on our family blog.
Decorations and conversations
Last Christmas (2006) was our first Christmas in our house. Unfortunately, Margaret had ankle surgery the Monday before Thanksgiving, so we did not decorate much for Christmas. This year, Margaret is very excited about finally being able to decorate the house for Christmas.
Saturday, we walked out into the front yard to think through some various decorating ideas: lights, garland, bows, wreaths, etc. After we decided on a course of action and had prioritized our various ideas (we can’t afford everything at once), I noticed that our neighbors across the road were decorating their house. I walked across the road and struck up a conversation.
I have talked with them a couple of times before. Our son and their son were in the same football league this fall, although they were in different age brackets. Also, the wife coached cheerleading, and our daughter is interested in cheerleading next year. So, we started our conversation talking about decorations, and football, and cheerleading.
From there the conversation moved to hometowns, and families, and more children’s sports, and Christmas, and other topics. We talked about carolling for Christmas, and I invited them to join us this week as some friends come over to sing Christmas carols in our neighborhood. (We also found out that someone in our neighborhood is sponsoring a neighborhood-wide carolling this weekend, and our family is planning to take part in that as well.)
Anyway, the conversation did not go much further this time. But, I was very excited about this conversation. First, we have talked to these neighbors a couples of times before, but never for an extended time. This time, I was able to talk to them longer than all of the other times combined. Second, we have been asking God to allow us to get to know our neighbors. Here was a chance that he gave us to get to know them in a way that was fun and interesting to all of us. Third, we were able to make some connections with these neighbors – not in major areas, but in little things. But, we will be able to build on these connections the next time we meet with them.
Meanwhile, in a few days, some of our friends are coming over to help us sing Christmas carols for these neighbors and others. Margaret, the kids, and I have been busy preparing candy and other goodies to give to our neighbors as Christmas gifts when we go carolling. We’re praying that this will be fun, that they will enjoy the singing and the goodies, and that we will have more opportunities to get to know them and to shine the light of Christ into their lives.
Advent 1 – Waiting Before Jesus
Advent is traditionally the beginning of the church calendar. I’m not interested in church calendars, but I am interested in the themes of Advent, which include expectation, hope, anticipation, etc. In this series, I plan to examine these themes in the time before Jesus’ physical incarnation, while Jesus lived on earth, in modern times, and in eternity. This will probably be quite different from other meditations on Advent. That’s okay. I only hope that God uses my thoughts to encourage you as he has encouraged me.
For this post, I am thinking through the concept of expectation, waiting, and hope in the years between Creation and Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.
When God created Adam and Eve, he created them in his image and he created them to live in intimate relationship with him. Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. But, sin changed all of that. Their relationship with God was twisted and damaged along with many other things, including their relationships with one another and the world around them.
The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15 ESV)
However, even though God kicked them out of the garden, he did not leave them without hope. In spite of the curses and difficulties that came about because of their sin, God told them and the serpent that a descendant of the woman would one day overcome the works of the serpent and the curses of sin. Here, for the first time in Scripture, God gives man a glimpse, a shadow, a hope of returning to that for which man was created – intimate relationship with God.
This was the first, but certainly not the last, glimpses that God would give man. He gave another glimpse to Abraham. He told Abraham that he was going to create a people and bless the world through him. As Abraham walked past the land, God had him stop for a moment and look at the “Promised Land”. Here was another glimpse, another shadow, another offering of hope. The promise was not yet fulfilled, but there was hope planted in Abraham’s heart, and Abraham had to choose whether to live according to that hope or according to what he saw around him. Abraham learned that God’s promises – Abraham’s hope – always came true, although sometimes man has to wait much longer than he or she would choose. Abraham had to wait 25 years before his first promised offspring was born, and he never saw either the nation of people or the nation of land. But, he had hope, and he lived according to that hope.
Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6 ESV)
When the Torah was completed, there was another glimmer of hope given to God’s people: there was another prophet coming, and that prophet had not yet come. Hope… expectancy… waiting… But, as the prophets cried out continually, “How long, Oh Lord?” Man has a tendency to wait for a short time and remember for a long time. Yet, God was merciful and forgiving and gracious, and he continually told them, “Wait… a little longer… at the right time… you can trust me… remember how I heard your parents in slavery in Egypt… remember how I answered their cry… remember how I brought them through the wilderness… remember how I brought them into the land… remember… and wait… and hope.”
During this time of waiting, God provided prophets, and miracles, and kings, and angels, and words, and signs, and priests, and tabernacles, and temples, and altars, and sacrifices, and laws. All of these gave glimpses and shadows of things to come. All of these were designed to foster the hope of God’s people.
What were they waiting for? Yes, they were waiting for a prophet, and a king, and a priest, and a servant. But why? They were anticipating forgiveness, relationship, kingdom, wisdom, liberation, provision, protection, knowledge, health, longevity, riches, intimacy, strength, wholeness. They expected God to correct everything that had gone wrong at the Fall.
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” (Psalm 94:1-7 ESV)
Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.” (Jeremiah 12:1-4 ESV)
The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:1-4 ESV)
So, the people of God waited. They waited four hundred years to be released from slavery in Egypt. They waited for a king. They waited for the divided kingdom to be reunited. They waited for the approaching armies. They waited while they were in exile. They waited hundreds, thousands of years for the Messiah.
Some waited. Some gave up. Some hoped. Some despaired. Some trusted God. Some took things into their own hands. Some expected God to work. Some thought that God had forsaken them. Some anticipated God to move again. Some decided they were on their own.
On this first Sunday of Advent, as I consider how the people of God waited before the incarnation, I’m reminded that waiting is not easy. Sometimes the wait is long, much longer than we expect and longer than we would like. Sometimes, the wait is so long that we forget what we’re waiting for, and we decide to latch onto what we have. Sometimes, the wait is so long that we stop hoping altogether.
But, we must remember those glimpses and shadows that God gives us, perhaps through a passage of Scripture or through a friend or through an experience – when we know the love of God and live the mercy of God. God gives us these glimpses to remind us that we have hope in him. He shows us shadows so that we can anticipate the reality behind the shadows. And so, through these glimpses and shadows, we live in anticipation, in expectancy, in hope.
Then the angel of the LORD said, ‘O LORD of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ And the LORD answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’ (Zechariah 1:12-17 ESV)
Which Jesus will you give?
If you enjoy sarcasm and wit that causes you to think, you will love a new post by Joel at “the double edged sword” called “Jesus’s For Every Season“. He are a few of the “Jesus’s” that Joel says we “give” at Christmas:
Gift Card Jesus – Here’s a novel idea – give Jesus! YOU choose the amount of Jesus that you want to give to that special someone this year. The recipient can use Him whenever they get around to it. (* Sorry, no cash value or exchanges. Expires within 30 seconds of purchase.)
Gold Level Partner Jesus (Also known as “Seed Sower” Jesus) – Now this is an exclusive Jesus! The holidays are always the perfect time to pledge your support of Rev. Dolorznsenz. Jesus will arrive wearing a beautiful lace robe with a 24K gold sash. (* Will ship with your choice of a prayer hanky, Bible on CD-ROM or vial of miracle water, FREE!)
SuperHero Action Figure Jesus – A super-fun guy, full of gadgets and plastic weapons. He’s arrayed with super powers! Upgrade to the deluxe edition figure that performs simulated miracles, signs and wonders! (* This figure is completely fictional and does not represent or condone the belief in a “real” or “tangible” Jesus.)
The best thing about this post is that Joel uses the humor to point us to the real Jesus and to remind us to meditate on and demonstrate him to the world. Thank you, Joel!