My Dad Always Said (Advent 10, 2023)

A usual baby born in a natural way to any man in David’s family line like Joseph and any usual woman in Bethlehem.  Nothing supernatural.  He’d grow up to be powerful because he had good genes, the right education taught by premier academics, the right path opened for him by his parents’ and political connections, and, of course, a little bit of luck and a ton of charisma.  And he’ll rise to rule the world!!!

* * * * * * (That describes the antichrist.) * * * * * *

Take a moment and let that sink in. 
That description of messiah is who many Jews of today
are still waiting for–
to put their trust in a man.  

The fact of where Jesus came from…that Jesus is the Son of God… makes the world of difference. No external human being helped Him to find the path to success or would be able to take credit for Him. No amount of being a self-made man would give Him reason to boast because Jesus was not self-made.  No getting it done without any help from God explains Jesus.  Nothing but God could account for His rise, nor for the unexpected: His Crucifixion. 

Think about this bizarre turn in the plan of God.  Kill the Messiah.

In the case of Jesus Christ, it IS about Who You are and where You’re from.  Because it explains most fully what He was doing then and what He’s about to do.

Questions for further thought:

If the target was always peace with God (by payment for sin), how was the death of the Messiah necessary?

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

If Jesus triumphed over death at the tomb, why is the last enemy to be yet destroyed…still…death?  Did people stop dying after Jesus’ ascension?  Why not?

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord Jesus for being born King by the mercy and grace of God the Father!  Thank You that You did not waver in Your mission of bringing peace with God and fulfilling Scripture “From the Jews, for the World.”  We praise You that no one contributed to Your success and yet Your humility and grace give the awesome privilege of Your Gospel to share with the world.  Lord, I pray that the first paragraph description of the antichrist will resonate deep in the hearts of my Jewish friends. May the shock of that realization cause them to see the glorious grace by which You came as a baby in a supernatural event to do in the spiritual realm what only the Man of Heaven could accomplish.  Let them turn, by Your light and power, from earthly plane expectations (hope invested in a man who will rise to powerfully betray them) and begin the process of their coming back to You as the end draws near.  Thank You, Lord, that You’ve given this task of sharing the Gospel with Your followers to reach Your world.  May it bear fruit to Your glory.  Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:  

• “Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
• The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
• 2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
• God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
• Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
• The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
• The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times.  Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence.  His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
• The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology.  They began November 29, 2015.
• Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols.  You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives.  They began November 30, 2014.
• The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John.  It began December 1, 2013.
• The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story.  It began December 1, 2012.