God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 17

Day 17 Luke Chapter 17

“Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan” {vv. 15-16 NASB}.

Leprosy was a horrible disease. There was no treatment and no cure. It was a brutal disease that met with a horrific death. Their cry, “Have mercy on us” is heart-wrenching. Such a cry of anguish that echoes through human history.
The ten lepers cry to Jesus for mercy because He is their only hope to be delivered from this agonizing existence. One with the curse of leprosy was marked as someone God Himself had cursed. There was no way out from this deadly mark. They desire to be healed because they know that only their healing can lift the pain and ostracism, allow them to enter society, and give them hope that life can return to normal life like it was before.

The narrative of the ten lepers is a lesson for us. Before entering this Advent season, we were focused on being thankful and not complaining and murmuring about what we didn’t have or want. God responds to gratefulness, not grumbling at our circumstances. These ten lepers all had faith in Jesus. They knew He was the only one to deliver them and make things right again. Every hope they had clung to who Jesus was and the power of God within Him. Jesus delivered. They cried out for mercy, and He granted it to them. He told them to show themselves to the priest {according to the Law of Moses} to declare them clean. They all went away healed!

This account is not one of a lack of faith but of a lack of gratefulness. Only one returned to worship the Lord for what He had done for them. They were in utter despair in a crisis moment in their lives, yet how quickly they forgot. As soon as the crisis was over, they went their separate ways. What they received was not taken from them. But the one who returned left with more blessings than the others who did not return to worship. Jesus told him that not only was he healed from this crippling disease, but because he came back and worshiped the Lord for the miracle, he would also be made whole. All that he had lost would be restored to him.

That is Mercy’s pen writing a new chapter for each of them. But special prose was written for the one who worshiped in gratefulness to the divine Physician. He took the time to return and let Jesus know what it meant to him to be healed.


Reflect in this season of waiting for the Christ Child upon everything the Lord has done for you. Let us remember what He has so mercifully delivered us from, how He has healed us and made us whole. Let the Lord know how His mercy has marked your life with deliverance and wholeness.

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 16

Day 16 Luke Chapter 16

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail” {vv.16-17}.

In chapter sixteen, Jesus continually rebukes the Pharisees, who believed they were more righteous. In v.v. 16-17, Jesus speaks about John the Baptist and says that the culmination of redemptive history is marked by his ministry. Jesus once again reveals the hearts of the Pharisees when He explains the Law to them. With the arrival of John the Baptist as Jesus’ forerunner came the arrival of God’s Kingdom. The Pharisees thought of themselves as the experts in the Law and the Prophets, yet they were dense and missed the very One to whom the Law and the Prophets spoke. Many people, including the Pharisees, were trying to force their way into the kingdom by other means than what John and Jesus were teaching. While the Pharisees were busy scheming and plotting against Jesus and opposing His teaching, multitudes of sinners were entering the Kingdom. The “by violent force” probably describes the zeal with which sinners sought to enter the Kingdom.[1]

Regardless of their self-justification, they were not living according to God’s Law. The fulfillment of the Law does not mean an end to the Law. Because of Jesus’ sinless, perfect, once-and-for-all sacrifice, the sacrificial requirements of the Law were no longer needed. However, the principle of the Law did not conclude, and they (and we) are required to live by the principle of the Law, to be written in our hearts (Rom. 2:15). Paul later rebukes the religious leaders for the same heart issue:

“Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it” {Acts 7:52–53 NASB}.

God’s eternal laws and principles did not cease. We must still live out love, faith, hope, loving our neighbors, and putting God first by seeking His Kingdom. 

Let’s purpose through this Advent to continue to live out the principles of God’s Law, which Christ declared should now be written on our hearts. Let’s put God first in our lives—this Advent—and beyond and give Him our very best.

 

 

[1] John F. MacArthur, ed., “Luke 16: 16–17,” The John MacArthur Study Bible: English Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2021), 1409.

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 15

Day 15 Luke Chapter 15

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing” {vv.4-5 NASB}.

The care our magnificent Creator of the universe takes in reaching the poor, lost, and wandering sinners. His sheep are important to Him. He cares so much for His sheep that even though He has one hundred, should one stray away, He will search until He finds that one lost sheep.

I find it so beautiful (and no accident) that today is the third Sunday in Advent, in which we focus on joy. {If you would like to read more on joy in Advent, I wrote several posts a few years back for Advent; you can find them here, here, here, here, here, and here}. Jesus continues within this verse to say, “I tell you…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” {v.7 NASB}. When one sinner comes to Him, there is JOY in heaven. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God! Imagine how wonderful that is, that though they cannot fathom salvation {1 Pet. 1:12}, they rejoice when one of God’s human creations receives salvation. Our salvation is one of joy; the psalmist prays, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit” {Ps. 51:12}.
I heard a minister of the Word once say that most Christians look more like they are on their way to hell rather than heaven. We should be the most joyous people on earth. Our salvation should sparkle in our eyes, exude joy on our faces, and joy in our walk; we should not cause the loss to long for what we have. If our Messiah has this much joy over finding us, should we not have joy when we find Him and walk with Him for the rest of our lives?

In chapter fifteen, Jesus teaches parables throughout on the importance of finding those who are lost. The righteous ninety-nine should take care lest they think themselves more virtuous than the lost one. We need to share the heart of the Shepherd and search for those who are lost. Pray daily for the lost—those you know and those you don’t. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Let’s search for them this Advent season and bring them into the care of the Good Shepherd. 

 

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 14

Day 14 Luke Chapter 14

“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple”

 {v. 27 NASB}.

Discipleship. It is the most important call Christians receive. The disciples have been following Jesus for some time now. Yet, He continues to speak to them in parables so that perhaps they will begin to understand what He has been teaching them—what He is teaching us—that we are to give God first place in our lives. The disciples are traveling with Him and are caught up in all the needs of the ministry, yet, Jesus still needs them to understand exactly what it means to be a disciple. To be a disciple is an act of obedience, not a declaration of faith. 

For the mighty ones, for the great ones of the world, there are only two places where their courage deserts them, which they fear in the depths of their souls, which they dodge and avoid; the manger and the cross of Jesus Christ.[1]

The Father gave us the most incredible gift that one could give—His only Son because of His love for us:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” {Jn. 3:16-17 NASB}.

The Father gave us a wonder beyond all comprehension to our finite understanding. He endured a long path to the cross to restore all that was lost. Can we not give Him back our best? Can we not follow Him with our whole hearts? Can we move beyond a confession of faith and follow Him in obedience? In this season, it is so easy to be caught up in the busyness of preparing for the holidays, just as the disciples were so busy with work that they—and we—forget about what Jesus is endeavoring to teach us; discipleship is the call, and it's going to cost us.

“Discipleship means adherence to Christ, and, because Christ is the object of the adherence, it must take the form of discipleship. An abstract Christology, a doctrinal system, a general religious knowledge on the subject of grace or on the forgiveness of sins, render discipleship superfluous.”[2]

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[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Mystery Of Holy Night (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1996), 16.

[2] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost Of Discipleship (New York: Touchstone, 1959), 58.

Sabbath Sanctuary: God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 13

Day 13 Luke Chapter 13

“Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, ‘Woman, you are freed from your sickness.’ And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God” (vv. 10-13 NASB).

I have had my share of physical sickness and hurt in my life. When I read this verse, it fills me with such hope. I have rested on this Scripture more times than I can count. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, and in the midst of His important teaching, He saw a woman who was so sick she was bent over and could not stand upright. Christ sees us in our pain and misery. 

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15 KJV).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to heal the hurting. When you feel you are alone in your suffering, He sees you. Reach out to Him in faith, and He will touch you. He will give you peace, strength, and endurance as you trust the Holy Spirit to help you endure the struggle. 

This is part of the hope of Advent. Hope is a part of the 

promise of the coming Messiah. Those awaiting the Christ 

Child longed—hoped for deliverance. Have hope this 

Advent season that Christ came to deliver you from the 

power of sin in your life and give you hope. 

 

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Sabbath Sanctuary God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 12

Day 12 Luke Chapter 12

“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks” (vv. 35-36).

Jesus is coming again, and He warns us to be ready. I spoke about this on Day 3. It is imperative to remember that the One is coming again, a time for which we still must prepare. A time for which we must be ready. Through the parable, He taught us that He will come when we least expect Him. Several servants were waiting for their master and grew tired, weary from the wait. They lost hope that He would return. I know that many of us—myself included—have grown tired of waiting for miracles to appear and breakthroughs to come. I have grown weary of the cold, dark, lost world that seems to grow darker by the day.

We must remain constantly waiting. We must be vigilant so that we can open up to Him when He arrives. If we wait diligently for Him and are awake and ready, Jesus said that the master will serve those He finds waiting.

Be thankful for Christmas, for without Christ’s coming, we would not have Christmas. All the traditions celebrated at this time of year, Santa and the like, all find their root in the birth of the Christ child. This is a beautiful and wonderful time of year, and I am thankful for the glorious Incarnation. But another time is coming for which we must be ready. Let us reflect on the hush within and focus on the wonderful truth that Christ has come into our world, but let us continue to look forward to the day that He will come again as our triumphant King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

 

 

 

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 11

 Day 11 Luke chapter 11

“And He said to them, When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” {Lk. 11: 2-4 NASB}.

Scripture once again leads us back into the subject of prayer. Jesus had a habit of praying. He knew that He needed to commune with Father to strengthen Himself for the work set before Him. How I would love to lay peacefully nearby to listen to Jesus as He spoke with the Father. The disciples had this privilege. They hung on every word that flowed from His mouth. The disciples witnessed His prayer life and how He connected with Father in a beautiful, intimate relationship; they wanted the same. The disciples knew Jesus prayed confidently and faithfully, and He nurtured His prayer life {see Day 5 for earlier writing on the subject}. They asked Him to teach them to pray the same way.

Jesus begins by teaching them to approach the Father with reverence and awe. God is our Father and His Name is to be hallowed. We are to pray that His kingdom comes to the earth and operate as it does in heaven and for His will to be done. He also taught us to ask for daily provision for our needs; He cares about every need we have and by bringing our needs to Him, we are demonstrating our trust in Him. Jesus also charges us to ask for forgiveness for our sins, however, our forgiveness hinges on our ability to freely forgive others. We are also to ask for God to deliver us out of situations that would cause us to sin. We will never be exempt from temptations—but we are strengthened to overcome them with God as our Father, Christ as our intercessor, and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Helper. Pray to be delivered from the evil in this world because we are not of this world though we must reside here.

We are God’s children and we have, through Christ, the right to ask God for anything—especially when asking for help to live the way He instructs and to spread the Good News of the Gospel. Jesus taught us that we don’t have the things we need because we have not asked. He reveals through a parable (vv. 5-13) that we must be persistent in our prayers. 

We must ask, seek, and knock. Jesus promises that the Father is good and will give to those who ask of Him when we pray in the manner Jesus taught:

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (v. 13).

Reach out to the Father. Come to Him in awe and wonder, knowing that He cares for you and will take care of you. Cultivate your relationship with the Father by coming to Him through Jesus Christ. Stand in awe that the Creator of the universe came to love you and set you free and reconcile you so that this wonderful, awesome relationship is possible.

 

~Out of love for humans God became human.

~The reason for God’s love of man or woman lies not in man or woman, but only in God Himself. [1]

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[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Mystery Of Holy Night (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1996), 33.

God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 10

Day 10 Luke Chapter 10

Who is this Jesus?

“All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Lk. 10:22 NASB). 

In the preceding verse (21), it says that Jesus greatly rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. The seventy have tasted the kingdom and have been given a personal view of how it operates. He is thankful that God’s plan of reconciliation is being revealed to men in the Father’s perfect time—and they will then teach others the good news of the Gospel, which has been fully understood only between the Father, Son, and Spirit from the foundation of the world and is now becoming known in the earth.

Jesus then makes a stunning declaration; in chapter nine, He asks them who they say He is, and here He declares precisely who He is: “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (v.22 NASB). 

They have met the Creator of the universe and witnessed the awesomeness of His kingdom. They now know who He is…all things have been given to Jesus, and in Him, all fullness dwells and is derived (Col. 2:9).  He reveals to them how wonderful it is that they have had these things revealed to them. They should rejoice that they know the mysteries of the kingdom and how they are now responsible for leading others into the knowledge they have. How amazing to be part of this holy, powerful, mighty relationship between the Father and the Son in a community of three with the Holy Spirit. We, too, have this divine privilege in Christ, for we are joint heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). 

Remember this Advent to reflect on why Jesus came. He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) and set us free from the captivity of sin. We, too, should rejoice greatly in the Holy Spirit for all the wonderful, magnificent, and awesome works the Lord has done. 

For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son

We were all sinners, lost, gone astray, undone

A stable in Bethlehem received the Holy Child

Not in pomp and circumstance but meek and mild

 

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away our sin

The radiance of God's glory and the image of His being, 

The sinless Servant and Redeemer wrapped as a baby boy

Glory to God in the highest, it is Good News of great joy

in the city of David, born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Excerpt from A Poem For Advent, Piper Green © 2016-2020. 

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 8

Day 8 Luke Chapter 8

“…she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace’” (vv.46b-48 NASB).

Jesus had a busy day. He was on his way, along with His disciples, to Jairus’ house to pray for his daughter, who was close to her last breath. The crowds were thronging Him, and His would-be bodyguards were trying to get Him through the people to the sick girl. On the way, He felt power leave Him.

“And Jesus said, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, ‘Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?’” {Lk. 8:45 KJV}.


The crowds were so intense in trying to get to the Miracle Worker and Healer that the disciples could not believe He would ask such an obvious question. It could have been one in thousands of people. But this was no ordinary touch. He knew it was not someone just brushing up against Him. He knew someone had touched Him in faith. A woman who had been sick for so long became a prisoner of one last hope and grabbed hold of the hem of His garment. She knew at once that she was healed.

Whatever you need today; if you are weary, lonely, sick—just reach out in faith and touch the holy hem of His majestic robe. Everything you need is in Jesus Christ. Touching the hem of His robe sounds very romantic and poetic. But how does one touch His hem in our finite, fallen world when He is not here in the flesh? Touch His hem by reading the Word. Pray the Word out loud. Find a quiet place and reach out to Him in prayer. Give thanks to Him for all the wonderful works He has performed for you. Thank Him for leaving heaven, becoming flesh, and saving you. Thank Him for the beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit that He gave as your comforter. Believe Him for all you need; He will make His presence and power felt.   

 

 

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God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 7

 Day 7 Luke Chapter 7

 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little” (v.47 NASB).

The contrast, too stark to ignore. A Pharisee and a pariah. The Pharisee is self-righteous, and the woman is self-loathing. She recognizes her sins and grasps her need for cleansing and forgiveness. The Pharisee only acknowledges that he is much more righteous than she. Indeed, if Jesus truly was a prophet, He would not let this woman touch Him. The lesson that Jesus teaches in this passage is that it is not our outward pretensions, but the inner motives of our heart that matters to Him. He loved both the woman and the Pharisee very much; only one displayed love for Him. Those who have been forgiven much love much. 

“In Jesus’ day, it was customary to show guests respect and wash their feet. Simon merely brought Him home to interrogate Him. This woman—this harlot, loved Jesus so much, and she knew He alone could deliver her from the prison she was in. She swallowed all pride, humbled herself before the prominent crowd of important religious leaders, and surrendered to Him. Simon did nothing for Him…  Are we as willing as she to push through every barrier in our way, surrender our sins and lives to Jesus, pouring the fragrance of worship upon Him?... Jesus…such love, such mercy, never condoning sin, yet never condemning those in bondage to it—but setting them free to sin no more. 

Because of her act of worship, her life sings a glorious tune. One that sings redemption’s song, calling others in bondage to sin to come to the feet of Jesus to be forgiven and restored.”[1]

This is what Advent is about. That silent night, in a stable in Bethlehem, the Son of God came to redeem the lost—those captives to sin. Each and every one of us needs this redemption. Will we acknowledge our fallenness, realize how much He has given us, and love Him much in return?

The Master is at Simon’s house I overheard them say

My heart leaped within me I must get to Him someway

All I have to my name is this alabaster vile

Do I dare to touch Him surely, I will defile

 

I hear their growls and feel their scorn; they fill me with such fear

Their faces though are hidden through my many, many tears

I wipe my eyes and look for Him; He’s reclining at the table

I’ve got to make it to Him I don’t know that I am able

 

I cannot stop my heart it is beating so very fast

But as His eyes catch mine all things are in my past

I see such love and grace flowing from His eyes

Like a breath of fresh air, they are but my demise

 

I fall down helpless and pour this perfume on His feet

The fragrance fills the room the aroma is so sweet

But nothing seems worthy to pour upon these precious feet

What Grace He has given me all my sins forgiven

I have never had such grace from the Sanhedrin

So much love from Him I cannot pull myself apart

I cling to Him for my very life I have given Him my heart

I hear His voice; the sound is so peaceful and forgiving

I will get up from here and change how I am living

© 2007 Piper Green

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[1] Piper Green, A Life That Sings: Finding Your Song In The Midst Of Brokenness (Bloomington: Westbow Press., 2014), 132-33. (revised)

Sabbath Sanctuary God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 6

Day 6 Luke Chapter 6

“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God” (v. 12 NASB).

There are so many wonderful things in Luke’s sixth chapter on which to write: the beatitudes, healing a leper on the sabbath, and foundations built on the rock. This theme of prayer, however, arrests me once again. Two chapters in succession make the effort to note Jesus’ prayer life. Scripture once again exhorts us with Jesus, the Son of God, as our teacher on the importance of prayer. 

Prayer should not be some rote, liturgical recitation; though there is nothing wrong with liturgical prayer, I have found some of the richest prose in prayers of liturgy. Prayer, though, is meant to be so much more. E.M. Bounds’ words on true prayer are enlightening:

“Prayer as a mere habit, a performance, or a routine, is a dead and rotten thing. True praying engages and sets on fire every high element of the Christian’s being. Prayer is born out of vital oneness with Christ in the fullness of the Holy Ghost. It springs from the deep, overflowing fountains of tender compassion and concern for humanity’s eternal good. True prayer is a consuming zeal for the glory of God; it involves a thorough conviction of the difficult and delicate work of the ministry and the imperative need of God’s help. Praying grounded on these solemn and profound convictions is the only true praying. And only ministry backed by such praying sows the seeds of eternal life in human hearts and builds others up for heaven. Ministry today may be popular, pleasant, attractive, intellectual, intriguing, and successful with little or no prayer. But the ministry which accomplishes God’s purposes must be born of prayer from beginning to end.”[1]

Bounds’ words on prayer are indeed eloquent and true, but as many have learned, prayer does not always feel like this. Many times, it is rote and awkward, but we should seek it nonetheless. Prayer is vital in our communication with God, even when it seems just too hard to find the words to speak before the Creator of the universe. 

Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. The Scripture says that at daybreak, He chose His twelve disciples. The decision was not made lightly; it was made in all-night prayer. Though He spent that night cloaked in prayer, one of the disciples He chose became a traitor. This illustrates that even betrayers may be allowed in your life to sharpen you, to drive you to your knees—or to a cross.

While on earth, He prayed all night; now He prays eternally in heaven on your behalf:

“In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior” {Heb. 5:7 NASB}.

“Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” {Heb. 7:25 NASB}.

In the Tabernacle and the Temple, the Altar of Incense is a type for prayer and intercession. When the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, he placed incense on the altar on behalf of the nation. Jesus, our beloved Savior, our blessed High Priest, offers prayers for us to the Father. 

This Advent season may not be a joyful occasion for many. The holidays can be a dark, lonely time for more people than we care to acknowledge. Let this time of rush and busyness and losing our breath in the day-to-day hustle of preparing for the holidays not give precedence to slowing down, taking a breath, and praying so that we, instead, prepare for Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Penelope J. Stokes, ed., E.M. Bounds: Power Through Prayer (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1989), 40-41.

 

Sabbath Sanctuary God Was In Christ: An Advent Reading Of Luke 5

 Day 5 Luke Chapter 5

“But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:15-16 NASB).

Jesus was busy. He came to serve and help the hurting. People were sick, hurting, and hopeless. The crowds thronged Him. He was going about the Kingdom’s work, doing only what He saw the Father doing.

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed’” {Jn. 5:19 NASB}.

 The news spread quickly about His ministry, and people came from the surrounding towns and villages to receive their healing. The people were constantly surrounding Him and putting demands on Him. Though there was much work to be done, Scripture notes that Jesus often slipped away from the madness, the crowds, and the busyness to pray. The Incarnate Son of God needed to take a break from all the good He was doing to pray and seek the Father for strength and encouragment.

Let’s remember to stop and pray during this Advent season. We may be doing great things for the Kingdom—leading the choir, practicing for the Christmas play, feeding the hungry, caring for the poor—we must learn to pause in the midst of the busyness of the season to stop and pray. That is the only way we will experience the peace Christ promises. Scripture takes the time to note Jesus’ habit of praying. If He needed to pray in the quiet before the Lord, then so do we. 

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Advent: Seeking Christ Day 19

Day 19 Luke Chapter 19

“The whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’” {vv.37-38 NASB}.

For the third chapter succinctly in Luke’s wonderous gospel, we see again people crying out to God. The ten lepers, blind Bartimaeus, both crying out in anguish for mercy. Now the crying rings of anguish have turned into praise the miracles they have seen; a stark contrast from the nine who went their own way. One wonders if they were in the crowd that day.

Rejoice Zion! The prophecy is fulfilled in their very presence:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey” {Zech. 9:9}. 

Advent is a season in which we look for the crèche, the babe in the manger, rightly so. But I think that when we read about Christ’s triumphal entry, we tend to lose the seriousness of what this particular day means. This entry into Jerusalem is definitely revered at Palm Sunday, but do we understand the full meaning of this day; what we are seeing?

We have become accustomed to the idea of divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message, taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and forgetting the serious aspect that the God of the world draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim to us. {Dietrch Bonhoeffer, The Coming of Jesus in our Midst}.

Reflect and prayerfully seek God about what His coming truly means for this world. He is the Light in darkness that was foretold from ages past. He is the blessed King who comes in the name of the Lord bringing Peace for those who are enduring this chaotic world—this weary world rejoices…the promised King is here. Yes, He was a babe in a manger which is what we are celebrating in this hushed season of Advent—don’t let go of that holy hush. Let us only remember that He is our King and is coming again.

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Advent: Seeking Christ Day 18

Day 18 Luke Chapter 18

“‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (vv. 38-39 NASB).

These two chapters of Luke speak volumes to the pain and suffering in the world. Two accounts of hurting and sick people crying out for the mercy of God. If He does not see their pain and intervene, they have no hope.

Bartimaeus has lived in a blind existence. His world was dark and lonely. Jesus said that while He is in the world that He is the Light of the World {Jn. 4:5}. Isaiah prophesied of the coming Child that He came to give Zion a happy future;

“Say to those with anxious heart, ‘Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, But He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy’” (Is. 35:4-5 NASB).

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God…

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the Great I Am?

(Mary Did You Know? Mark Lowery, 1984)

 

Pentatonix: Mary Did You Know?

How many times have we been faced with trials and circumstances that have brought us to our knees and caused us to cry out with anguished desperation, “Jesus, have mercy on me!?” The darkness, the sickness, this lost, dark, evil world gives many an opportunity. I have been brought to cry out on many occasions.  

“God doesn’t miss a single sigh that escapes our lips. But historically, God’s people most often cried out in spoken words that sprang from the depths of their being! God heard their petitions…and shook their worlds” {The Power of Crying Out: When Prayer Becomes Mighty, Bill Gothard}.

Remember this Advent that this is why He came—to give us a happy future. He came to set the captives free—giving sight to the blind and opening deaf hears to hear the good news of His coming kingdom and to see Him when He arrives. Keep your eyes open, He will be arriving soon.