Advent
One of the very last things written in the New Testament is Maranatha! It is the Latin version of the Greek phrase "erchomai kyrios Iēsous" which literally means "Come Lord Jesus!" The author of The Apocalypse of John, also called the Book of Revelation ends his account of divine visions about the end of the age with a cry for Jesus to come. It is a cry for the completion of all things in God's redemptive plan to finally come!
He who testifies (That's the risen Lord Jesus) to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
Advent is a four week period at the beginning of the Christian year in which disciples of Jesus choose to prepare their hearts for the annual celebration of His birth. But it's also a time to long for the peace that was promised at His birth. You might remember the angel proclaimed peace to the shepherds.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)
I look around our world and I'm not seeing great joy for all the people. I'm not seeing peace on earth. I'm not seeing goodwill. Oh, it's there, I assure you! It's just not publicized. It's not newsworthy when things are peaceful and appropriate. Our anxieties as a society are greatly embellished by our consumption of media. Let's be honest. Newscasters distort our view of reality.
I didn't start this blog with the intention of trying to convince you to unplug from media. You wouldn't be reading this blog if you did. I am hoping to encourage you to prepare your heart and your world for the coming of Christ.
Advent, for me, is about longing for the completion of all things. God has promised that a new heaven and earth will take this place of this broken and burdened one. There's nothing more beautiful than John's vision of the New Jerusalem. It gives voice to our deepest longings.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:2-5)
The promise of peace on earth you will notice is offered to those upon whom God's favor rests, that is God's goodwill and benevolence. The RSV translates that God's favor is for those who please Him. The NIV states that God's peace is to those on whom God's favor rests. It seems a difficult passage to translate. The King James renders the Greek to say that peace and goodwill are to men, presumably all of us. This fits well with the earlier pronouncement of good news that will bring great joy to all people.
The news is that messiah is born. I'm not sure that would've given joy to all people. The hope in messiah comes through Israel, although there are hopes in a divinely empowered leader to bring peace and justice in many religions beyond Judaism. Most would not even know what a messiah was. But we all understand the desire for peace. We all can agree on the need for healing this broken world with all of its problems and suffering. Hope in messiah is hope in deliverance from this fallen age into a new age of freedom from evil, suffering, and death.
The apostle Paul probably best describes Christian hope in his letter to the Romans.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. (Romans :18-24a)
Our hope in messiah, in the completion of all things, is bound up in the resurrection of Jesus! Jesus came down from His lofty position in heaven to this world, lived in human flesh, died a sacrificial death, and redeemed humanity. That which alienated us from God was conquered in His cross. And with His resurrection a new creation has begun. He is the first of a new way of being, everlasting in nature. We share in this new creation through the transformative presence of Christ's Spirit dwelling within. We get a foretaste of the future through experiencing the Spirit. Not every heart knows the presence of the Holy Spirit. Mostly only those who believe and trust in the name of Jesus have experienced His presence. There are those whom God awakens who have not had faith. The Spirit of God is working on all flesh. God is wooing all hearts to Christ. God offers deliverance to all from our bondage to decay in this broken world.
I've been ill with a sinus infection going now for 6 weeks. My body aches. My energy is low. It's depressing. I'm so done with it, yet I continue to suffer the symptoms. I long for the restoration of my health, that I might feel well again. "How long, O Lord?" the psalmist cries.
Perhaps this will be the best Advent season ever for me, for I feel that deep longing for everything to be made right. I long to be made well. I long for my neighbors to know peace and joy. I long for our cities and homes to be safe. I long for children to live without fear or want. I long for every poor person to find resources to rebuild their lives. I long for God to finally bring salvation to everyone! I join the church is praying, "Come Lord Jesus!"
Until that day, I will remain hopeful, trusting in God to fulfill His promises, and enjoy that peace which passes all understanding through the presence of Christ.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!
 |
| John exiled upon Patmos sees a vision of the end |
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
Advent is a four week period at the beginning of the Christian year in which disciples of Jesus choose to prepare their hearts for the annual celebration of His birth. But it's also a time to long for the peace that was promised at His birth. You might remember the angel proclaimed peace to the shepherds.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)
I look around our world and I'm not seeing great joy for all the people. I'm not seeing peace on earth. I'm not seeing goodwill. Oh, it's there, I assure you! It's just not publicized. It's not newsworthy when things are peaceful and appropriate. Our anxieties as a society are greatly embellished by our consumption of media. Let's be honest. Newscasters distort our view of reality.
I didn't start this blog with the intention of trying to convince you to unplug from media. You wouldn't be reading this blog if you did. I am hoping to encourage you to prepare your heart and your world for the coming of Christ.
Advent, for me, is about longing for the completion of all things. God has promised that a new heaven and earth will take this place of this broken and burdened one. There's nothing more beautiful than John's vision of the New Jerusalem. It gives voice to our deepest longings.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:2-5)
The promise of peace on earth you will notice is offered to those upon whom God's favor rests, that is God's goodwill and benevolence. The RSV translates that God's favor is for those who please Him. The NIV states that God's peace is to those on whom God's favor rests. It seems a difficult passage to translate. The King James renders the Greek to say that peace and goodwill are to men, presumably all of us. This fits well with the earlier pronouncement of good news that will bring great joy to all people.
The news is that messiah is born. I'm not sure that would've given joy to all people. The hope in messiah comes through Israel, although there are hopes in a divinely empowered leader to bring peace and justice in many religions beyond Judaism. Most would not even know what a messiah was. But we all understand the desire for peace. We all can agree on the need for healing this broken world with all of its problems and suffering. Hope in messiah is hope in deliverance from this fallen age into a new age of freedom from evil, suffering, and death.
The apostle Paul probably best describes Christian hope in his letter to the Romans.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. (Romans :18-24a)
Our hope in messiah, in the completion of all things, is bound up in the resurrection of Jesus! Jesus came down from His lofty position in heaven to this world, lived in human flesh, died a sacrificial death, and redeemed humanity. That which alienated us from God was conquered in His cross. And with His resurrection a new creation has begun. He is the first of a new way of being, everlasting in nature. We share in this new creation through the transformative presence of Christ's Spirit dwelling within. We get a foretaste of the future through experiencing the Spirit. Not every heart knows the presence of the Holy Spirit. Mostly only those who believe and trust in the name of Jesus have experienced His presence. There are those whom God awakens who have not had faith. The Spirit of God is working on all flesh. God is wooing all hearts to Christ. God offers deliverance to all from our bondage to decay in this broken world.
I've been ill with a sinus infection going now for 6 weeks. My body aches. My energy is low. It's depressing. I'm so done with it, yet I continue to suffer the symptoms. I long for the restoration of my health, that I might feel well again. "How long, O Lord?" the psalmist cries.
Perhaps this will be the best Advent season ever for me, for I feel that deep longing for everything to be made right. I long to be made well. I long for my neighbors to know peace and joy. I long for our cities and homes to be safe. I long for children to live without fear or want. I long for every poor person to find resources to rebuild their lives. I long for God to finally bring salvation to everyone! I join the church is praying, "Come Lord Jesus!"
Until that day, I will remain hopeful, trusting in God to fulfill His promises, and enjoy that peace which passes all understanding through the presence of Christ.
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!
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