12/19/11- Messiah Prophesied to Teach in Parables

12/19- Day 23- Light four candles.  The Messiah would teach in parables Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34

¹ My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. ² I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— ³ things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us.
(Psalm 78:2)

³⁴ Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. ³⁵ So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”  (Matthew 13:34)

(Jesus teaching in the Temple- James J. Tissot)

Thoughts: Even the method and manner of Jesus’ teaching was prophesied.  Jesus was a master story- teller, and he most often used a parable to tell the story he needed to hear.  Telling a story in a parable much like telling a story in a ballad or song- it is more easily remembered.  The Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Parable of the Talents are simply literary masterpieces.  Jesus accommodated his stories to put them on the same level his hearers were on. So we should keep the faithful message but tell it using the means available to us (the web, facebook, blogs, dvd, new kinds of song etc.) to get the life-saving parables out to others.

Prayer: The message is more important than the medium.  Give me a heart to tell others your good news.

Today I found a list of messianic prophecies.  It is really encouraging: http://www.shalach.org/PropheciesTable/prophecieslst1.htm

(The Good Samaritan- Aime Moret 1880)

12/18/11-Messiah Prophesied to Heal

12/18- Day 22- Light four candles.
The Messiah shall have a ministry of miracles- Isaiah 35:5,6; Matthew 9:35 (John 11:43-47; 21:25)

³ Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; ⁴ say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” ⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. ⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  (Isaiah 35:3-6)

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:35-36)

(Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus- Carl Bloch- d. 1890).

Thoughts: God is the Great Physician.  He is the One who made us- every molecule and atom of us.  He knows us by name and knows what is going on before the MRI or CAT Scan or biopsy is taken. God does not just care about our souls and our minds.  He also cares about our bodies.  Jesus showed that clearly when He came.  The Messiah brings spiritual and physical relief.  This is a sign of God’s love and compassion breaking upon our hurt and problems.  He heals people because He is compassionate for them.  In turn, we are called to do all we can to help people who are in need.  We are his hands and feet now. 

Prayer: Give me compassion, Lord, for those who are sick around me.  Give me a heart like yours that cared for those who were hurting whether they were clean, dirty, multiple or single problems.  Let me be patiently kind and compassionate toward them. 

12/17/11- Messiah to be from Galilee

12/17- Day 21- Light 3 candles. The Messiah shall be “from” Galilee- Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-17

¹ Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— ² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. ³ You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;  (Isaiah 9:1-3)

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: ¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” ¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:12-17)

(Sea of Galilee- taken by author)

Thoughts: God gives hope to humbled areas that He hasn’t  forgotten them.  So God comes to us and lifts us up when we humble ourselves in His sight.   Galilee had been ripped apart by the Assyrians.  Isaiah was giving them hope of honor one day.  God gives us hope in our humility. 

Prayer: In my humility, give me hope, O Lord.

(John the Baptist- da Vinci 1512)

12/15/11- The Messiah to be Concerned for the Temple

12/15- Day 19- Light the first 3 candles (the third is the pink/joy candle).
 The Messiah shall be concerned with the purity of His Temple Psalm 69:9; John 2:15,16

⁹ for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.(Psalm 69:9)

¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:15-16)

Jesus chasing the Moneychangers out of the Temple John 2:15,16- Raymond Balze)

Thoughts: Jesus was not simply and just a nice guy.  He also was concerned with putting things right.  The people were weighed down by laws, and bribes.  They had the appearance of law but it was wrong-headed.  They were legalistic about little things but were not getting their hearts right with God.  Jesus was concerned with the Temple as the House of God.  He taught there, His disciples gathered there.  He was concerned that the house of prayer not be turned into a den of thieves.  We too should be concerned that the church be pure and holy for it is the Holy One’s church. 

Prayer: This advent, make me holy.  Give me a concern and a desire to pursue holiness and purity in the way I speak, think, and act toward you and others, Lord.

12/14/11- Advent Day 18- Messiah to be Filled with the Spirit

12/14- Day 18- Light the first 3 candles (the third is the pink/joy candle).

The Messiah shall be filled with the Holy Spirit- Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16,17

¹ A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. ² The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— ³ and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. (Isaiah 11:2)

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. (Luke 4:18-19)

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17)

(Tree of Jesse- Commissioned by James IV of Scotland 1510-20)

Thoughts: The Spirit of God rests on Jesus who is of the line of Jesse.  Jesus began His ministry claiming an anointing of the Holy Spirit.  The word “Christ” means “anointed one.”  Anointing was a symbol of calling.  Sometimes people were anointed to do certain tasks or fill certain offices (1 Kings 19:15-18).  But anointing is also a symbol of blessing and smoothness.  Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit and of things fitting right without squeaking or yanking.  When God blesses us with His Spirit- things seem to go smoothly and rightly- the way they are designed to be.  Perhaps in the rush of Christmas shopping, cooking, decorating, and parties maybe you feel exhausted more than blessed.  Seek God’s Spirit to make the way smooth before you. 

Prayer: Bless me Lord this advent, that I might be a blessing.

12/13/11- Advent Day 17 The Christ Prophesied to be a King

12/13- Day 17- Light the first 3 candles (the third is the pink/joy candle).

 The Messiah shall be a King- Psalm 2:6; Jeremiah 23:5; Matthew 27:37

⁶"Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." (Psalm 2:6)

⁵ “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. (Jeremiah 23:5)

³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Mt. 27:37)

(Christ the King stained glass at Melkite Church in Rosalinde Massachusetts).

Thoughts: The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks “How is Christ a king?” the answer is 1) in subduing us to himself, 2) in ruling and defending us; 3) in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.  The prophets forecast that He a righteous and just king will one day rule and do what is right- in contrast to the evil rulers.  Jesus’ said that he was a king (Mt. 27:11), but his kingdom was not of this world (Jn. 18:36).   Jesus’ kingdom is not ruled with tanks and guns but rules over the hearts of people.  In the American Revolution the Presbyterians had a saying, “We have no king but Jesus.”  The ultimate authority for what is right or wrong is His.  When we rebel against Him and His way we are doing nothing but hurting ourselves for He made us.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from rebelling against you.  Help me to listen and serve you as my King.

12/12/11- Messiah Prophesied to be a Priest

12/12- Day 16- Light the first 3 candles (the third is the pink/joy candle).
 The Messiah shall be a Priest- Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1

⁴The LORD hath sworn and will not repent: "Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.  (Hebrews 3:1).

(Jesus the Savior- St. Catherine’s Monastery Mt. Sinai)

Thoughts: John Calvin summarized the work of Christ as prophet, priest and king- the three anointed offices in the Old Testament.  Jesus brought all three together which is not easily done.  David was a prophet who wrote many Psalms and a king, but not a priest.  Uzziah was a king who tried to be a priest and received leprosy for overstepping his bounds.  But Jesus is all three.  Yesterday’s devotion spoke of his being a prophet, and tomorrow’s of his being king. Hebrews speaks eloquently on the priesthood of Christ.  A priest is a mediator between human beings and God.  The priest prayed for the people (interceding for them), while He sacrificed for them to reconcile them to God.  But the priest also spoke to the people about God.  Christ is the ultimate high priest for He is both God and human.  He understands both and brings both together. The ultimate sacrifice He made was not of many animals but the ultimate sacrifice of Himself on the cross to pay for our sins.  Luke’s genealogy (supposedly through Mary) goes back to Levi the father of priests (3:29).  While Hebrews points out He is a priest forever and ever of the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6).  He is a priest not only to the Jews, but also to any who would believe in Him.  This advent we should remember that Christ came to build a bridge for us to God as His priestly work.

Prayer: Forgive me and my family of our sins this advent Lord.  Grant us a clean heart and peace with God and each other.