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Advent Wreath Resolution at Easter

As we celebrate Easter 2017 are you still keeping up with your Advent Wreath Resolutions? In this reminder post, I return to consider two candles. The first is obviously the Christ candle, while the second is the Peace candle.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/license/by-sa/3.0/

Advent and Easter bookend the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, God’s son. They celebrate two commonalities that the incarnate Christ shared with all humanity: birth and death. Without going through both birth and death, Christ could not have been fully human. One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that Jesus is at the same time fully God and fully human. Without being fully God, he could not have been without sin. Without being fully human, he could not have been the perfect sacrifice in order to be the propitiation for the sins of all mankind, so that he could satisfy the penalty for sin.

As an indication of Christ’s humanity he was born of a woman; grew up in the traditions of the first-century Jewish culture; and was nurtured, nourished, and cherished by an earthly mother.

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 1 -7, JKV)

Image courtesy of WIkimedia Commons and Giovanni Dall’Orto. This photograph contains details from a Nativity scene, painted on paper sheets glued on wood panels, made by Francesco Londonio (1723-1783) around 1750. It is on display in the Cappella del Presepe in san Marco church at Milan. This kind of presepe was rather common in the past, but very few such specimens have survived until today. This one is remarkably well preserved, and it was carefully restored a few years ago. The photograph is by Giovanni Dall’Orto, April 14, 2007.

21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (Luke 2: 21 & 22, JKV)

Constable’s Chapel – Presentation of Christ and Purification of Mary – Cathedral of Burgos. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 3.0. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him…51 And he went down with them, … , and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2, 40 & 51-52, JKV)

Ivory Madonna with Child. The original artist is unknown. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the photographer “3dnatureguy.” It is licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;

In order to fulfill his mission on earth, it was necessary for Jesus to be born. Although it was necessary, it wasn’t sufficient. He had to be subjected to all the temptations that we face. Yet in spite of those temptations, he had to live a sinless life and then sacrifice His life as a ransom for mankind.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 12: 17 & 18, JKV)

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  (Mark 10:45, KJV)

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2: 7 – 9, KJV))

The Disposition by Rembrandt. When the Romans were assured that Jesus was dead. They allowed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to take the body of Jesus down, get it prepared for burial and to take it to the tomb. This photograph by Jan Arkesteijn is a faithful reproduction of a two-dimension work of art that is in the public domain and hence is in the public domain. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Jan Arkesteijn.

But the Easter story doesn’t end at the tomb. On that first Easter Sunday morning, as Robert Lowery’s song says,

 Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Rembrandt’s Christ and St. Mary Magdalen at the tomb, painted in 1638. The original oil painting is a two-dimension work of art that is in the public domain. This is a faithful reproduction of that work and hence is also in the public domain. The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the photographer. It is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Thus, there is an obvious connection between the Christ candle in the Advent Wreath and the Christ of Easter. What’s the connection of the Peace candle of the Advent Wreath and Easter? In the two posts concerning the Peace candle, Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace and Advent Wreath Resolutions; Peace – Part II I mentioned that the word “peace” is used more than 400 times in the King James Version of the Bible. In 10 of those times, the idea being conveyed is that of silence,  using something like the phrase “held his peace.”  Two of those references occur during the trial of Jesus.

57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. (Matthew 26: 57 – 65, KJV)

57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, 58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. 59 But neither so did their witness agree together. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? (Mark 14: 57 – 63, KJV)

Wood cut by 17th-century artist Wencelas Hollar. This two-dimensional artwork is in the public domain and thus this image as a faithful reproduction is also in the public domain. This image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, teh University of Toronto Wenceslaus Hollar Digital Collection, and the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.

The references in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 to Christ holding his peace (keeping silent) reminds us of the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:

 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53: 6 -8, KJV)

Christ was the lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice. He “held his peace” before being led off to the slaughter. The Jewish high priest used the passage from Isaiah to build a false case against Christ so that they could be rid of him. The same passage was later used to bring an Ethiopian official to a saving knowledge of Christ.

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.  34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8: 26 – 39, KJV)

16th Century painting “the Baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch by Deacon Philip” painted by Lambert Sustris. The original work is in the public domain in the United States. As a faith reproduction of this two-dimension work of art, the photograph is also in the public domain. The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the Web Gallary of Art.

In this Easter season, are you prepared to let the light of the Christ candle be reflected in your life? Are you prepared to “not hold your peace” but speak boldly about the sacrificial lamb of God that stoically held his peace, and died in your place?

 

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Advent Resolutions: The Christ Candle – Light

We are into the second week into February.  More than 10% of 2017 is gone and we will never get it back. Where are you in your New Year’s Advent Wreath Resolution?

mage used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The large white candle in the center represents Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, the Light of the world. Jesus knocks on the door of our heart and invites us to follow Him. There are two types of light in this world: physical and spiritual. I believe Jesus is speaking of spiritual light here in John 8:12.  He is claiming to be the only source of spiritual truth. Since He is the light of the world, he will enable us to see where we are going. If we follow in His footsteps we will stay on the path of righteousness.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12, JKV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. It is a 2D photograph (by unknown photographer) of an original oil painting entitled Light of the World by William Holman Hunt. The painting is housed in the Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, England. This image is in Public Domain because the artist died in 1910.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, JKV)

Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Lighthouses are an international symbol of a beacon of safety and guidance. Some of them indicated the entrance into a harbor. Others showed sailors where dangerous cliffs and reefs lurked. Lighthouses kept sailors off the rocks in calm, as well as stormy weather. Christ, the living word and light of the world can keep us from running aground on the rocky shores of life or the shallows of a sandy beach. The light from a lighthouse can keep us safe amidst life’s storms and tempests. If Christ is on our side and guiding us, of whom or what should we be afraid? After all, he calmed the storm using just his words.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4: 38-41, KJV)

A photograph of Rembrandt’s oil painting Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee, from 1632. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. Therefore it is also in public domain.

God guided His people with His light throughout the whole Bible. In the wilderness, as the Hebrews fled Egypt, God used a pillar of a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night to guide the steps of the Hebrews as they fled Egypt.

 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13: 21 & 22, KJV)

With Christ guiding us, what is our final destination?

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Rev 21:22-24, JKV)

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” Revelations 21: 22 & 23 (KJV).  “A new heaven and new earth”, an etching by Pieter van der Borcht from the Phillip Medhurst Collection. The date of the print is most likely 1650 to 1660. The image is available under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.

Are you glorifying and honoring God as the light of the world, as well as your life and world?

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2: 2-5, KJV)

Is it ironic that the United Nations is man’s attempt to eliminate wars? How has that worked? Since the UN was founded after 1945, there have been more than 140 wars somewhere in the world. That’s an average of slightly more than two wars per year. Man’s only hope for peace is God, and walking in His way and in the light he provides us.

In 2017, are you walking in God’s light and working toward His peace?  Are you helping others to find this path?

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Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace

The end of January is in sight. How are you doing with your Advent Resolutions? This week we come to the fourth candle of the Advent Wreath. The third blue candle of the Wreath has traditionally represented peace. We find the mention of God’s peace throughout scripture. In the King James Version, the word “peace” is used 311 times in the Old Testament and 109 times in the New Testament.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Between the multitude of meanings of our English word peace and the 400 scriptural references to peace, I came to the immediate conclusion that one posting will not be sufficient to do justice to the concept of peace and our New Year’s Resolution related to the Advent Wreath. In this first peace posting, I will deal with just three phrases that use the word peace. They are “Prince of Peace,” “peace of God,” and “peace with God.” In future postings I will attempt to deal with at least eight more concepts associated with the word “peace.” The majority of those concepts are directly referenced in scriptures, while some are only alluded to in the KJV version and some are even more tangential.

The one and only mention in the KJV of the phrase “Prince of Peace” is from the prophet Isaiah:

5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. (Isaiah 9: 5-8, JKV)

This passage is obviously a Messianic reference. It begins with a reference to a warrior and a fierce battle. However, it switches immediately to talk about a baby, that will eventually rule all nations. The Hebrew people held onto this promise for hundreds of years, looking forward to a visit from God in human form, who would save them from their trials and tribulations. They were looking for a savior that would provide peace from human wars and injustice, peace and freedom in their souls from the stress and strains of everyday human life, and the peace of mind that comes from knowledge and the light.  When the angels appeared to the shepherds, the shepherds knew the significance of the angels’ message. The Savior, the Prince of Peace, had finally come. They had to go to Bethlehem immediately to see and worship this baby who would be their Messiah and future King.

This image is entitled “The Angels Appear.” It is from “The Prince of Peace” by Isabella Macdonald Alden c. 1890 Author Unsigned. It is in the Public Domain in the United States.
from Presenter Media
from Presenter Media
from Presenter Media

The phrase “peace of God” is generally associated with the personal peace given to individuals by God to face the turmoils of their daily lives. These storms can be minor or major squabbles within families, churches and work relationships.

The storms can be real storms or calamities that can cause great physical and environment damage as well as inflict real bodily and psychological harm.  Remember Hurrican Katrina, miracle of U.S. Air flight 1549 landing on the Hudson river, and the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster,

Damaged church on Florida Avenue in flood devastated section of the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. In this area waters from the Industrial Canal smashed many buildings. Photo by Infrogmation, April 2006. Image presented under Creative Commons license 3.0
Passengers on the wings of the Airbus 320 in January 2009, after Captain Chesley Sullenberger made an emergency landing of U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson river in January 2009. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Damage to the Dai Ichi power plant in Fukushima, Japan after the 2011Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This picture is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

How can some people survive such terrible disasters while others do not? The world usually attributes it to “Luck.” The world says “Some people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, while others are in the right place at the wrong time.”  God’s answer is found in Psalm 29.

1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. 11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29: 1 – 11, JKV)

What can we give a God who owns everything? The word translated “give” in the first two verses of Psalm 29 is actually the Hebrew word yahab (יָהַב) which is translated “ascribe” ( which means to accredit or impute) in other places. Thus this verse is telling us to acknowledge God as all-powerful and the most glorious.  In verse 3, this all powerful God speaks out of the midst of the storm. We should be able to hear it if we are listening. If we do listen and obey Him, then He will give us strength to weather the storm and bless us with peace. God will place us in the center of His Peace, a place of rest and spiritual well-being. This is the peace of God. Paul reminds us that “… the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, KJV)

Paul also provides us the completest treatise on the concept of peace with God in Romans, chapter 5.

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (Romans 5: 1 – 16, KJV)

In verse 1, Paul tells us that we can obtain peace with God through Christ. In verse 2, we see that we have access to peace with God through faith by God’s grace. This peace has at least five different aspects. Verse 9 details our justification by Christ’s blood and thereby saved from His wrath. Verse 10 speaks to our reconciliation with God by Christ’s death and salvation through His life. Verse 11 encourages us to rejoice in God’s atonement through Jesus Christ. Verses 12 through 16 is a delineation of God’s free gift through Christ which is an escape from God’s judgment to condemnation. 

In John 14, just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke with His disciples about what He was leaving them.   26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14: 26 & 27, KJV)

How are you doing with your Advent Wreath resolutions? Have you made the Prince of Peace the King of your life? Are you living in the peace of God? Have you made your peace with God?

 

 

 

 

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Advent Wreath Lesson Three: Joy

Can you believe we’re more than halfway through January and more than 5% of 2017 is already in the books? How are you doing with your Advent Wreath Resolution? Are you still reflecting on the Advent Wreath Lessons? This week we’ve come to the third candle lit during Advent, which is the pink “Joy” candle. What is the significance of this candle?

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

When many people think of Christmas joy, the first two things that come to their minds are the angelic greeting given to the shepherds and some very familiar Christmas music.

By Govert Flinck, 17th Century Dutch painter; Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=480149In terms of

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  

In terms of Christmas music, possibly the second best known Christmas carol is “Joy to the World” written by Isaac Watts. This is ironic since Watts didn’t write this piece to be an Advent hymn. Watts claimed Psalm 98 as his inspiration for this hymn.

The Last Judgment by Jean Cousin the Younger, also called Jehan Cousin Le Jeune (lived c. 1522–1595). – Blunt, Anthony. Art and Architecture in France: 1500–1700. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press, [1957] 1999 edition. ISBN 0300077483. Page 99., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2874303

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.  The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together. Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. (Psalm 98: 1-9; KJV)

With the possible exception of the first verse Watts was obviously not celebrating the Messiah’s nativity, or first coming to earth, but rather His triumphant return to judge and reign.

Verse 1

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Verse 2

Joy to the earth! the savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Verse 3

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Verse 4

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders, wonders, of his love.

(Lyrics by Isaac Watts, published in 1719; copyright status is public domain.)

In 1739, Charles Wesley wrote a Christmas poem based on the angelic message of joy to the shepherds. To use it as a Christmas hymn, the words were put to the same music as his Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” Wesley’s version begins with the lines “HARK how all the Welkin rings. Glory to the King of Kings” In 1751, George Whitefield tweaked the lines closer to what we sing today: “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” Over the next century, a chorus of sorts was added to the end of each verse, repeating Whitefield’s opening lines, “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!” In 1840, William Cummings adapted music from a Mendelssohn cantata. This is music with which we are most familiar today. Because “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” uses the same meter, we sometimes sing that tune to the Mendelssohn music.

Hark the herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
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
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”

As we wind down the month of January, are you preparing your heart to receive the heaven-born prince when He comes as King to judge and reign over this world? Are you spreading this message of joy to everyone with whom you come into contact?

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Advent Wreath Lesson Two: Love

As we approach the end of the second week and the beginning of the third week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, it’s time to consider the second blue candle of the Advent Wreath.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the second blue candle represents love. Advent and Christmas tell the story of God’s unfailing love for mankind. From the dawn of creation, mankind has held a special place in God’s world.

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:27 – 31, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; originally published in 1906 a Bible card published 1906 as a Bible Card Illustration by the Providence Lithograph Company

God looked and saw that everything He had created was good. He enjoyed His creation. Genesis 3 seems to imply that God would visit his Creation and spend time in the Garden. During these visits, it seems that God spent time visiting and talking with Adam and Eve.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (Genesis 3: 8 & 9, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; Adam and Eve hiding from God and covering their nakedness in the Garden of Eden. Etching by J.E. Ridinger after himself, c. 1750. In Public Domain

By disobeying one simple command “Don’t eat of the fruit of one specified tree!” Adam and Eve separated themselves from fellowship with God and participation in the benefits of God’s mercy and love.

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3: 2 & 3, KJV)

Image by Ludela (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Because of their sin of disobeying God and eating of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden. Because of one man’s sin, all men became separated from God. The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden is a picture of the expulsion of all sinful men from the presence of God.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, under open content license. Illustration from Bible Picture by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, with brief descriptions by Charles Foster, published in 1897

A holy, righteous God could not condone sin. However, because of His love for creation, He had a plan to redeem mankind.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 5: 1-21, KJV)

One major step in this plan was the Advent, the appearance of Jesus Christ as a sinless baby, born of a virgin.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under open content license. It is a photograph of the painting Madonna with child and angels is a picture painted in the 17th century by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato and kept at Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica di Palazzo Corsini.

Christ, coming to earth in human form was not enough to satisfy the penalty of sin that all men are under. Jesus had to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, and then be resurrected in glory.

Image from Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. Released under new license, CC-BY-SA 3.0

The death and resurrection of Christ satisfied the punishment for our sin and sealed our pardon from God. With such a great show of love from God, we should be willing to show our love for God by obeying Him and telling others about this wonderful love gift. Philip in the middle of an evangelistic crusade was willing to drop everything and go to the Judean desert where he wasn’t sure who he would possibly run into. But God had a plan for him that would eventually lead to millions of people coming to know and accept God’s great love gift.

And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  (Acts 8: 30-38, KJV)

Philip and the eunuch, from Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. Released under new license, CC-BY-SA 3.0

During 2017, are you under the conviction of God’s love? Are you ready to be a Philip and run to the side of any seeker and explain the gospel message?

 

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Advent Wreath Lesson One: Hope

 

As we approach the end of the first week and the beginning of the second week of 2017, in the spirit of my New Year’s Resolution post A Different Kind of New Year’s Resolution: Instead of Packing Away the Advent Wreath for Another Year, Reflect on Its Lessons During All of 2017, let’s consider the first blue candle of the Advent Wreath.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

In many Christian traditions that use the Advent Wreath, the first blue candle represents hope. In modern English, the word hope has become a wishy-washy word of desire and uncertainty. It implies the desire of a specific result but uncertainty as to whether it will occur.  In the English Bible, the word “hope” is used both as a verb and a noun. Used as a verb the word “hope” means to trust in someone or something or to expectantly wait for a beneficial result. The Hebrew word that is translated most often as “hope” in the King James Version is yachal  ( יָחַל).  This word and its variations occur 40 times in the Old Testament and are translated 27 times as “hope.”  In the other 13 occasions, the words are translated as variations of “wait” and “trust.” In the Old Testament time “hope” carried the connotation of resting securely in the certain knowledge that an event will occur.  

In the King James New Testament, the word “hope” is used as a noun or a verb. Most of these occurrences were derived from the Greek noun elpis (ἐλπίς) or its verb relative elpizo (ἐλπίζω). In total, elpis and elpizo or their variants occur 84 times in the Greek New Testament. Of the 11 times that “hope” appears as a verb in the KJV, all of them were variations of elpizo. Of the 20 times elpizo is not translated “hope” it is translated with a variation of the verb “trust.” Thus, we see in the NT the same message as we saw in the OT. Whether it is used as a noun or a verb, “hope” carries the connotation of assured expectation of fulfillment.

In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” This use of the word “hope” is generally archaic today.

“Hope” as a noun refers to the activity of hoping, or to the object hoped for—the content of one’s hope. By its very nature, hope stresses two things: (a) a time yet to come, and (b) something not yet seen. It deals with things we can’t see or haven’t received or both.

For centuries the world looked forward with a steadfast hope for the coming Messiah. The following passages speak of that unwavering trust without using the terms “hope” or “trust.”

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..” (Galatians 4:4, KJV).

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. (Isaiah 7:14, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Annuciation by Salomon Koninck, 1655. In public domain.

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. (Micah 5:2, KJV)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23),

When it was time for Mary and Joseph to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, they were met by an elderly man, who was kept alive by the hope of the coming of the Messiah.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Simeon in the Temple by Rembrandt, 1631. In public domain

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:25 -32, KJV)

Jesus during his ministry raised up a small band of disciples who were convinced that He was the Messiah, the anointed one. They were dismayed and heartbroken when He was arrested and crucified. Even though He had told them that He would have to suffer and die, they didn’t understand this part of His message. Even when He appeared to them after the resurrection, they were still looking for an earthly kingdom. They didn’t know what to do or believe when He ascended into heaven right in front of their eyes. Angels which had announced His first coming reassured His disciples that He would be coming again. The disciples and the rest of the world had to settle back into the sure hope of His second coming.

 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1: 6-11, KJV)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Jesus ascending to heaven by John Singleton Copley, 1775. In public domain

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  (I Peter 1:3-4, KJV)

In this Christmas season, are you reflecting the light of Christ’s salvation to a world trapped in darkness? Are you spreading the gospel of hope of God’s salvation?