Month: December 2024

Check it out. The picture. Do you see what I see? What do I see, you ask? I see Jesus on the cross on my deck. I know what you’re thinking. She’s lost it. Would you expect anything less from me? Some might look at this picture and see just a stick or a twig blown in by the wind. But, if people can see Mary in a grilled cheese on a plate, I can most certainly see Jesus in a stick on my deck. They say, Jesus is where you look for Him, right?

Have we seen Him? Who, you say? Jesus. Hasn’t this Advent Season been about anticipation, preparation, expectation? Remember, the Baby? Did we miss the Reason for the Season? Have we been looking for the Baby? Well, He’s here! Glory to God!

Eight days after birth, Mary and Joseph took their baby to the Temple for the ceremonial circumcision and naming. They named Him Jesus. While at the Temple, they met up with a man named Simeon. You see, Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. The Spirit lived in him, and he was anxiously anticipating, preparing, expecting the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. In fact, the Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had actually seen the Messiah. Simeon was on the lookout. On that eighth day, the Spirit led Simeon to the Temple . There he met Mary and Joseph. He took the Baby into his arms, held Him close and softly spoke:

“Lord, now I can die in peace!
As you promised me,
I have seen the Savior
you have given to all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
And he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Luke 2:29-32

Simeon was looking for the light that would reveal God to the nations. The One that would come to console, comfort, help, rescue not just Israel, but all mankind. The Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. The One John had foretold. Upon picking up that baby, he exclaimed: “Lord, now I can die in peace! As you promised me, I have seen the Savior you have given to all people.” Can we say the same? Have we seen Him? Can we die in peace?

When we think about it, it’s so hard to fathom. A Baby is such a strange way to save the World. Isn’t it? Simeon didn’t think that though. He instantly recognized the Savior because he had been looking for the Savior. You see, he had been waiting, expecting, preparing for Him, the Savior, the Messiah, the Promised One. Simeon followed the nudge of the Holy Spirit and saw Jesus. Do we? Have we followed the nudge? Have we stepped forward when stirred to pick up the Baby, hold Him close, speak in awe – I have seen the Savior?

Moreover, do we tell others we have seen the Savior?

Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, she worshiped night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time that Simeon was praying, she showed up, and broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
Luke 2:36-38

Upon hearing Simeon’s words, Anna recognized Jesus. Upon recognizing Jesus, she broke into praise. Anna then told everyone who had been waiting for the promised King – I have seen Jesus! Anna told everyone who needed help, rescued, saved – to everyone who needed Jesus – the Savior has come!

Just like the night wind said to the little lamb – Do you see what I see? A star.
Just like the little lamb said to the shepherd boy – Do you hear what I hear? A song.
Just like the shepherd boy said to the mighty king – Do you know what I know? A child.
Just like the king said to the people everywhere – Listen to what I say! The Light.

Simeon and Anna were looking for Jesus. They found Him. We need only look too. We will find Him.

Come though long expected Jesus born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Israel’s hope and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art; Dear desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver, Born a child and yet a King, Born to reign in us forever, Now They gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone; By Thine all sufficient merit Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.
John 1:14

Today in the world about 14,708 babies will be born each hour. Now in the early days birth was not quite happening at that rate, but it was happening. Afterall, God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply. He told Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiple. He told Jacob aka Israel to be fruitful and multiple. So this is what was supposed to happen, right? Babies were to be born. Procreation was on.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18

The Word became human by being born of a woman. Mary. At first glance it looks so ordinary, doesn’t it? A woman has a baby. Happens every day. But if we really think about it, it is quite fantastic. We all pretty much know this story. It’s the Reason for the Season, right? But do we really understand how extraordinary it is? His mother found out she was pregnant by an angel not a doctor. This pregnancy was not unplanned but a planned pregnancy from the beginning of time. His parents were not married but betrothed. His mother was a not a woman but a teenaged girl. His father was not Joseph but the Holy Spirit. He was born in a manger not a hospital. There obviously were some extraordinary happenings surrounding the birth of this baby.

Here’s how Sinclair Ferguson describes it:

Christ came into the womb of a virgin and emerged from it as a new-born infant. He came to share our humanity from its beginning—an embryo cradled in the body of a teenaged virgin.

What a beautiful vision. Cradled from womb to manger. Although important, the most extraordinary part isn’t how He came or the events surrounding the birth, but why He came, that’s the most beautiful vision.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

The ordinary course of life starts with birth. If we do not see the extraordinary in this ordinary, we will have missed Jesus.

Wednesday
Read John 1:1-18. What does The Word mean? Write out your understanding of it.

Thursday
Read John 1:1-18. What do these scriptures say about Jesus being fully human and fully God?

Friday
Read Genesis 1:1. Who was there in the beginning?
Read Genesis 1:26. Who created people? In whose image were they created? Hint – look for the pronouns.

Saturday
Review your answers to the questions posed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Sunday
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal to you how extraordinary He is.

Monday
Read Luke 4:14-22. What was Jesus sent to do?

Tuesday
Spend time in prayer today praising God for sending the hope of the earth to release us from our sins and fears. Praise God for sending The Word.

Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself. (2.2.38-49)

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

So what’s in a name? Poor Romeo and Juliet, they had their issues, didn’t they? Romeo had the wrong name. He was born a Montague. He was born an enemy of the Capulets. Remember the feuding families? Kind of like the Hatfields and McCoys, West Virginia-style, right?!?! Juliet blurts out, basically, what’s the big deal, it’s just a name, your name doesn’t make you who you are, you are who you are, regardless of what you’re called. A rose, is a rose, is a rose. But the name Montague meant something to the Capulet family. The name had meaning, it had significance.

About 1500 years before Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, the most meaningful name was mentioned, before His birth. A name from the House of David.

“You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1:31-33

“For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21

So, what’s in a name? Do you think Mary and Joseph were wondering that too? Why the name Jesus? Why not Joe, Jr.? Why not after Mary’s dad? Why not after Joseph’s great uncle Earl? Did they know what that name meant? Did they know what that name would represent? Maybe. Maybe not. The Bible tells us and shows us so plainly and comprehensibly what the name Jesus means.

Baby Jesus. Savior. Messiah. Almighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Immanuel. Redeemer. Word of God. Light that Shines in Darkness. The Alpha and Omega. Shepherd. Son of Man. First and Last. Creator. Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Lamb of God. Son of Man. Hope of the World. Bread of Life. Christ Jesus. God. Holy Spirit. Father. Abba. Triumphant. Strength. Amen!

So, what’s in your name? What does your name mean? Not your given name, your newborn name, you know, child of the risen King.

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! 1 John 3:1

The Bible tells us and shows us so plainly and comprehensibly what our name means too. Humbled. Christian. Disciple. Heirs. Holy Nation. Lambs. Royal Priesthood. Loved. Forgiven. Redeemed. Righteous. Child of God. Faultless. Sinless. Chosen. Son. Daughter. Gift. Image of God.

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of the heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

Names really do mean something.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away, but there’s just something about that name.

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Matthew 10:40

I ran across this verse a while back and chewed on it quite a bit. It’s almost like a tongue twister, isn’t it? This verse has a propensity for pronouns. Jesus talk — He, who, you, Me, he, who, Me, Him, One, Me. Since Jesus lives in us, anyone who accepts us, accepts Jesus, who then, by relationship, accepts Jesus through the One who sent Him. Yikes! It’s like chasing your tail, right? Reminds me of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon only it’s the Billionth Degree of Jesus. Those who know Him, are all connected – one body, remember? That’s how it’s supposed to work. Anyway.

Receives. Welcomes. Accepts. Takes in. Gets hold of. Takes possession of. Acquires. Secures. Jesus is saying to the Disciples, we’re all in this together. If someone accepts you, they accept Me. If they accept Me, they accept God My Father. That clears it all up then. But, wait.

Receives. Welcomes. Accepts. We understand those words, don’t we? We’re consumers. We know how to receive gifts. We welcome gifts. We accept gifts. What do we do with gifts? We receive them and then open them, right? We welcome them and then open them, right? We accept them and then open them, right? We don’t open them and then accept them, right? Of course not! That would be crazy. That’s out of order. But that’s exactly what “Christian” is all about. It’s all about opening first.

Celebrating Christ-mas is about receiving and then opening the gift. Celebrating Christ-ian is about opening and then receiving the gift. It’s about opening, letting, allowing, our hearts and minds to receive, to welcome, to accept the gift, the Greatest Gift ever. Being open to receive is difficult though.

To open. To give access. To unlock. To unseal. To unshut. That makes us vulnerable, doesn’t it? Vulnerable to others. “He who receives you…” Vulnerable to Jesus. “…he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” As hard as it may be, when we open, we receive, and look what happens:

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. Colossians 3:15

When we open, we receive. Here, Brother Paul is telling the folks of Colosse, be open to receive the peace that comes from Christ. Peace. We’re all looking for peace this time of year, aren’t we? Is it so easy to just open and receive? It is. When we open, we receive and look what happens:

For no matter how much they used, there was always enough left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. 1 Kings 17:16

When we open, we receive. Elijah and the widow were open to receive God’s provision from a handful of flour and a mite of oil in a jug. Provision. We’re all looking for provisions aren’t we? We’re all looking to be cared for. Is it so easy to just open and receive? It is. When we open, we receive and look what happens:

And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he came back to life! I Kings 17:21-22

When we open, we receive. Elijah and the widow were open to receive God’s miracle. Miracles. We’re all looking for miracles aren’t we? We’re looking for someone to stretch over us and heal our diseases – mind, body, spirit. We’re all looking for the impossible to be made possible. Is it so easy to just open and receive? It is. When we open, we receive and look what happens:

They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey…When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet…They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage…The people went away to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them. Nehemiah 1:12

When we open, we receive. Ezra, Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem were open and received understanding. We’re all looking for understanding, aren’t we? Just trying to grasp the meanings. We’re all looking for answers to the questions of life. Is it so easy to just open and receive? It is. When we open, we receive and look what happens:

“I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10

When we open, we receive. We, like the Shepherds, open and received life. We’re all looking for a Savior, aren’t we? Someone to save us from our sins. Someone to save us from ourselves. A Deliverer. Someone to be Lord of our lives, because we can’t. Someone to be true to the promises made. Someone to worship. Is it so easy to just open and receive? It is. When we open, we receive and look what happens.