Christmas 2015

"Therefore, when the time came for the eternal Son of God to be sent by his Father into the world, the work of the Holy Spirit was a quiet, unobtrusive work in the service of the Father and the Son. Through him the Father caused the Son to be conceived in Mary the virgin. So from the very beginning of Christ’s incarnation the Holy Spirit was quietly doing what needed to be done to put forward Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of man." (John Piper)

"Infinite, and an infant.
Eternal, and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

"How shall we deal with such a child? Have our hands, soiled with daily toil, become too hard and too proud to fold in prayer at the sight of this child? Has our head become too full of serious thoughts … that we cannot bow our head in humility at the wonder of this child? Can we not forget all our stress and struggles, our sense of importance, and for once worship the child, as did the shepherds and the wise men from the East, bowing before the divine child in the manger like children?" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

"The enemy is not going to win. Christmas is but the beginning of the story. The baby brought light into the darkness, and He would break the back of the powers through His later death and resurrection. If you’re struggling this Christmas season, don’t forget the rest of the story!" (Thomas Rainer)

Prior posts:

Day 26 | Day 25 | Day 24 | Day 23 | Day 22 | Day 21 | Day 20 | Day 19 | Day 18 | Day 17 | Day 16 | Day 15
Day 14 | Day 13 | Day 12 | Day 11 | Day 10 | Day 9 | Day 8 | Day 7 | Day 6 | Day 5 | Day 4 | Day 3 | Day 2
Day 1

Advent 2015 - Day 7

"The golden name, Immanuel, is inexpressibly delightful. It is a word fit for the lips of cherubim for its majesty, but, because of its marvelous condescension, none but men can utter it. He is not so with seraphs as He is with us. Immanuel, “God with us” (Matt. 1: 23)—in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather, we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor." (Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

Christmas Thoughts 2015

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). - Matthew 1:23

This passage, from one of the biblical accounts of Jesus birth, is fairly common and most of us have probably heard it or read it or sung it dozens, if not hundreds, of times over the years. In fact, one of the classic Christmas carols is "Come, O Come, Emmanuel". However, despite our familiarity with this statement of an angel to Jesus' step dad, if you're like me, you may have missed the stunning promise being made to all who would love and follow Jesus.

The promise spoken to Joseph, but in reality made to all who would align themselves with Jesus, is that through Jesus God would be with us. Now, most of us would acknowledge that if God is really God, he is everywhere all the time. That's simply part of being God. Since this is true, what's so special about Jesus coming to live among us so that God could be with us?  Here are just a couple of simple thoughts.

First the fact that God is everywhere doesn't guarantee his closeness or his favor. Have you ever been to a college or NFL football game? How about a concert or a Broadway show? How about shopping on Black Friday? In all of these situations you are physically close to a lot of people. But how many are you relationally close to? How many of the 70,000 people at the football game "have your back"? Very, very few, if any. But Immanuel means the God who is everywhere is now here for you. As we follow and trust in Jesus, he is on our side in ways we can't even imagine. And, looking forward to Good Friday, we can honestly say, Jesus has our back.

Second, there is an elephant in the room when it comes to our relationship with God. Most of us would rather not talk about it (thus the elephant in the room metaphor) but that doesn't change the reality. We would prefer to just wish it away or hope that somehow God might develop Alzheimer's. But ignoring or wishing away our problem with God doesn't remove it or resolve it. In fact it makes it worse. The problem is this: since the moment we were born, we have wanted to do things our way. We have offended, rejected, ridiculed and rebelled against God day after day for our entire lives. Even the "best" of us have done our good deeds in self directed ways, thus doubling down on the problem. 

Because of all of this, God really has no reason to come to be with us, much less to be on our side. And yet the promise is that he will. However, in order to do this, our problem must be resolved. We don't have the resources or the ability to fix the problem, but Jesus does.  So, implicit in the promise that Jesus will be God with us is an even deeper promise. Jesus will solve the problem that every man, woman and child on this planet has. We are sinners and rebels while God is holy and just. Jesus has come to take the just punishment owed to us so we can receive the gracious blessing of God being with us and for us.

And finally, while this may seem obvious, it is quite easily missed or minimized when we think about Jesus, especially at Christmas. If Jesus is to be Immanuel, which means God with us, he must be God. Why is this so important? Consider some of the additional promises made to those who trust in Jesus: We will one day be with him, Jesus is praying for us right now, We will have new bodies just like his, Nothing can take away God's love for us, and so many more. How can any of these promises be true, much less realized, if Jesus is not God?

So, as we celebrate and enjoy this great and glorious Christmas season, remember that Jesus is Immanuel for those who love him, follow him and trust him. May this Christmas be the one where we truly worship the savior king who is God with us. Immanuel.

Its Friday...

but Sunday's coming!

Thanks to Justin Taylor: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2014/04/18/its-fridaybut-sundays-comin

The audio is from Easter meditation S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000), pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego from 1953 to 1993.

http://vimeo.com/39886827

It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’

It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning

It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals

It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’

It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit

It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’

It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place

But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!

Because it was not possible

This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. -- Acts 2:23-24

For all the times I've read Acts 2, a certain aspect of verses 23 and 24 have escaped me until now. Read it again. Slowly. Soak it in.

Oh, there is so much there, but what struck me out of the blue when I heard it read yesterday was this reality: It was not possible for Jesus to stay dead.

Part of why this struck me hard is that I have often viewed Jesus as the participant in the resurrection. In other words, the resurrection happened to Him. And while this may be partially accurate, I think it misses the point. Peter's point here is that the resurrection had to happen, because the grave simply could not hold Jesus.

Kevin DeYoung recently used the illustration of childbirth -- tied to the word pangs -- to describe Jesus in the grave. Was he dead? Yes? Could he have stayed dead? Not a chance. Just like a baby cannot -- will not -- stay in the womb, Jesus could not stay in the grave. It could not contain Him. It could not hold Him. Add to that the imagery associated with labor, a baby needing to be born and mother needing to deliver her child and we begin to glimpse the heaven reality -- death could not hold on to Jesus.

This is important for at least two reasons. First and probably foremost is that the resurrection is the lynch pin of our faith. If Jesus didn't rise, we are still in our sins. Everything we believe, every hope we have is tied to this one historic fact.

Secondarily, but no less important for our daily walk with Christ is that Jesus has defeated death. We may not see all of the implications of this victory yet, but Jesus' resurrection proves that the victory has occurred. And because Christ has conquered  sin and death, he can -- and will -- rescue us from our sin and death. Spiritually speaking, we are safe and secure in Christ. Romans 8:33-34 say it best:

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

So, if you are believer in Christ know this: the grave that couldn't hold Jesus, can't hold you either. Your eternity is certain and Jesus' resurrection is the guarantee.

However, if you do not believe that Jesus' life, death and resurrection have anything to do with you, know that you are taking an awful risk. And yet, even in this moment, as you read these words, you can give your life, your future, your eternity into the hands of the One who made you, who loves you and was willing to die so that you might live.

To God Alone be the Glory

1 Corinthians 15 challenge

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Cor 15:1-4)

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:56-58)

The 1 Corinthians 15 challenge is simple really. Well, simple to articulate. Set aside 15-20 minutes (or more, if you wish) and prayerfully, reflectively read through 1 Cor 15. While reading (or maybe on a second pass), note (feel free to write in your Bible) all that hangs on Jesus' death and resurrection. Note all the positive, forward looking, hope filled promises that are ours, because Jesus died and rose again. Look at the whole Bible themes that Paul lays out as being fulfilled in Christ. And see anything else that Spirit desires to bring to your mind through this chapter. When this is done, spend whatever amount of time seems appropriate simply thanking and praising God for all that He has accomplished on your behalf.

This chapter is too majestic and deserves better treatment than to be summed up in a few paragraphs. So my challenge to you is allow the Spirit to be your teacher today as you reflect on 1 Cor 15, as you consider (again) the gospel in which you stand and by which you are being saved, and as you rejoice and rest in the reality that death itself will soon be defeated, because death will be swallowed up in Victory!

To God Alone be the Glory

related posts: The Gospel in 1 Cor 15

I Will Rise

Chris Tomlin

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
[x2]

Damnation, and he took it lovingly.

 Thanks to Michael Johnson on the Desiring God blog.  Read the full post here.

Rabbi Duncan was a great old Reformed teacher in New College, Edinburgh, a hundred and more years ago. In one of his famous excursions in his classes, where he would move off from the Hebrew he was supposed to be teaching to theological reflections on this or that, he threw out the following question: “Do you know what Calvary was? What? What? What? Do you know what Calvary was?” Then, having waited a little and having walked up and down in front of them in silence, he looked at them again and said, “I’ll tell you what Calvary was. It was damnation, and he took it lovingly.” The students in his class reported that there were tears on his face as he said this. And well there might be. “Damnation, and he took it lovingly.” - J.I. Packer, Knowing Christianity

The Cross and the Resurrection. They go hand in hand. You can't have a risen Savior without a dead one and a crucified Messiah is powerless if he is still in the grave. Yet somehow I get the sense we tolerate the Cross to get to the Resurrection. We want the glory, but we want to avoid the shame. Skip the bad stuff, skip the hard stuff, skip the cruel stuff. Just give me the the empty grave and Jesus' resurrection power.

But isn't the glory and the power of the Resurrection found in the ugliness and brutality of the Cross? Do we really grasp the fact that the Cross was supposed be ours? The shame and torture and rejection by God really belonged to us? As Packer quoted above Calvary was damnation. Our damnation. But Jesus took it for us and he did so because he loved his Father and he loved his soon to be brothers and sisters.

So, as we rejoice one day removed from Easter, let us celebrate that Jesus is no longer in the tomb. But let us also celebrate that the tomb is empty because the cross did its job and the One who hung on the cross did so willingly and lovingly. And let us celebrate that the damnation that was ours became his and is now completely removed from the mind of God.

To God Alone be the Glory