12/21/11- Advent Day 25 - Messiah is to be Rejected by His people, but a Light for the Gentiles

12/21- Day 25- Light four candles .
The Messiah would be a stumbling block for the Jews and Light for the Gentiles Ps. 118:22 (1 Pt. 2:7);
                            Isa. 60:3; Acts 13:47-48

²² The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; ²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:22- quoted in 1 Peter 2:7)

¹ “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. ² See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. ³ Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3)

⁴⁷ For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47)

“My eyes have seen your salvation… a light to the Gentiles.” (Luke 2:30-32)

(Simeon prophesying Jesus as the light for the Gentiles).

Thoughts: We already saw on day 3 that God’s plan was to bless all peoples through the choosing of Abraham.  Jesus is the means to that blessing.  In His ministry Jesus healed non Jews, evangelized Samaritans, and told parables of the Good Samaritan to open the way to the Gentiles.  The Jews would not be the only ones to know about God- the way would be open to “whosoever believed.”  God is God of all the earth.  For those who wished for only a small group of pure Jews to know God (like the Essenes or Saducees) then Jesus was a huge disappointment.  We too are called to be lights to the world- testifying to His great Light.

Prayer: May I be a light to those around me, pointing to your true light.


Simeon's Song: "Now That I've Held Him in My Arms" Michael Card
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBZiPRPogn0