Church Doctrine: Jesus Messiah

When we meet someone special, we want to know all that we can about them. When I met my husband, the first thing I learned about him was that he is an Alabama Crimson Tide fan through and through. Thus, I became a Bama fan too. I discovered his favorite foods and learned from his mother how to cook them. I made it my mission to know him. I guess it worked – we will be celebrating our 39th anniversary this year. Last week I told you that if you want to know God, you should get to know Jesus. If you want to know Jesus, you should learn a little about the Jewish faith. This is His background and it is important to understand who He is. It also gives us insight into details that we, as non-Jews, miss.
The Jewish people lived under outside rule since the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in the late 6th century BC, followed by the Medes and Persians, Greeks, and Romans at the time of Jesus. Because the Lord had promised a Redeemer—the Messiah, Israel looked for a military liberator to break the hold of other nations and restore their independence. They missed Jesus entirely because they didn’t have God’s perspective. They failed to see that they were under the control of the devil and that death was their true enemy.
In the church, this week has, for centuries, been called “Holy Week” and “Passion Week.” Today is Palm Sunday and marks the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy. Jesus openly presented Himself as Israel’s Messiah and King. He chose a time when all Israel would be gathered in Jerusalem, a place where huge crowds could see Him, and a way of proclamation that was unmistakable.
The people lined the road, praising God, waving palm branches, and throwing their cloaks in front of the colt. They shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matt 21:9) because they recognized what Jesus was proclaiming. They began to spread their clothes in the colt’s path to provide a “royal carpet” and they cut branches from palm trees, adding them to their garments on the ground and waving them before the Lord.
He fulfilled every prophecy about the Messiah. He also fulfilled the first prophecy made about Himself as the one who would crush satan’s head (Gen 3:15). This is Jesus, Beloved. Son of God. Son of Man. King of Israel. Is He the King of your heart?

Promises and Prophecies

Yesterday the weather prediction was for an 80% chance of rain. While my husband and I were out early running errands we got some misty sprinkles, and that was it for the day. NOAA recorded 0.08 inches of rain for the day. Somebody’s prediction was wrong. Predictions often fall short – prognostication is not an exact science. Ask Punxsutawney Phil.
That is why I am so thankful that the Bible is a book of promises and prophecies, not predictions. Whatever the Lord says will happen just as He declared. That is because He is operating from a position of sovereignty and providence. Those are words we don’t use much in our contemporary religion, but they are powerful and carry a rich and significant meaning. The word “sovereign” speaks to God’s rightful authority over every created thing – which covers everything that exists. Likewise, the word “providence” is speaking to God’s charge over everything He has made. I take great comfort in that.
We can see God’s supernatural hand in all through Scripture. The Lord promised Israel a land of their own and He gave them the Promised Land in Canaan – which is still their God-given territory no matter what men say. He prophesied exile in Babylon for Israel – and restoration after seventy years. Every word came to fulfillment. And He promised that, despite enemies, imprisonment, a shipwreck, and a snakebite, Paul would preach in Rome. Luke reported, “And so we came to Rome” (Acts 28:14). God does everything He declares.
When I come to passages that prophesy Christ’s return, I have one eye always looking to the east, anticipating His appearance (Matt 24:27). One day He will break open the sky and it will roll back like a scroll (Rev. 6:14). He will set His feet on the Mount of Olives and it will be split in two “from east to west, forming a great valley” (Zec 14:4). “The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name.” (v. 9).
Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev 22:7). If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, that is a frightening prophecy, but if you are in Christ, His return is an exciting promise. Beloved, you can take Him at His Word; He is on His way. Will you join me in declaring, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

Advent 2023: Joy to the World!

“The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name” (Zech 14:9).
Joy to the world!
The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
“Joy to the World” is one of our most beloved Christmas songs, but it isn’t about Christmas at all. Isaac Watts originally penned these words in anticipation of the return of Jesus. Notice that verse 1 above calls Him the King, if you read the full hymn, you will see that verse 2 celebrates His reign, verse 3 tells of the end of the curse, and verse 4 proclaims Him as the righteous Ruler of the world.
We love the Baby in the manger; He is the embodiment of God’s holy love for mankind. But we must let Jesus grow out of the swaddling clothes and into the crown of thorns to understand the full impact of Christmas on the world. We must envision Him on the cross with the weight of your sin and mine pressing down on the nails that held Him there. We must stand outside the tomb and watch the soldiers roll the stone in place. And we must see Him as the risen Lord standing in the Garden and look to the skies as He ascends back to heaven. Only then can we grasp the fullness of His coming.
And still, that is not the last the world will see of Jesus. Paul said “The Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God . . .” (1 Thes 4: 16). And Zechariah 14:4-9 describes the scene: “On that day, His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west” (v. 4).
The world missed His first advent, but there will be no missing His second. “Every eye will see Him” (Rev 1:7)! Christmas brings us Joy as we remember Jesus’ birth, but the greatest rejoicing will come when the King of Kings returns to earth to claim His people and His rightful rule over all creation.
Jesus promises, “Behold, I am coming soon!” (Revelation 22:7). And so we say with the Bride and the Spirit: “Amen. Come Lord Jesus!” (v.20).

Turn it Up!

I was driving the other day with Joy in the back seat when she asked me a question. I turned the radio down so that I could hear her and kept it low as we talked about what was on her mind. After we discussed her burning issue, she got quiet again – I’m sure she was pondering her Nana’s great wisdom. The radio was still low; I could barely hear the song that was playing. I tried singing along but something was off. I was in the wrong key. I knew the words, but I was not in tune with the music. Once I turned the radio up again, I immediately corrected myself and even Joy started listening to the song. She said, “I like that song, Nana, you sing pretty.” I don’t have to tell you that my heart sang louder than my voice.

It made me think of the words of Scripture. Over and over and over again the Bible says, “Hear the word of the Lord.” It is repeated so often I can’t list all the references. God sent prophets to His people to tell them how to live in right relationship with Him, but they tuned them out. “They refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen . . .” (Zech 7:11-12). They even demanded silence: “You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the house of Isaac” (Amos 7:16). This would be the culture today.

But there’s another danger that I think affects Christians the most. We tend to turn down the voice of the Lord so that we can hear the voice of the world. We hear the culture loud and clear, but the truth is almost undetectable. Then we try to sing God’s song without clearly receiving His tune. We’re off key and nothing sounds right. And those around us notice.

Jesus came to deliver the Word of the Lord in person. Jesus IS the Word of the Lord (John 1:1, 14), and He is still speaking. The question is, are we listening? Whose voice is louder in your ear? Beloved, if you want to get in tune with God, you must turn down the world and turn up the Word.

Follow Me

I love the way Joy follows me around the house. I love to hear her behind me, those little feet slapping on the wood floor. My heart desires to be a person worthy of being followed. And I don’t mean social media “followers.” I mean followed in the same way Paul meant it when he told the church in Corinth, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). I want to be a model of Christ for others.  That’s a huge responsibility so I need to always be conscious of the example I am providing. I know all too well that I’m not always going to get it right. Yet even when I fail, I can model repentance and the sweet consolation of God’s forgiveness.

It is good to have Christ-like examples you can follow. Many godly women and men have played a huge part in shaping who I am as a woman, a disciple, and a witness just by the way they lived their lives. They weren’t perfect, but they have been a wonderful grace gift on my Christian path. They walked what they talked and followed the Lord in imperfect obedience. I am deeply grateful to God for them.

I want to offer you some challenges today. First, find someone who follows Christ, whose life is patterned after His, and get close to them. Learn from them. Listen to them. Pick up their holy habits. Don’t expect them to be perfect; learning to give others grace is an important part of the Christian life. Second, follow Christ so closely that others can follow you. Live your faith out loud where others can see it and can see Jesus in you. Do your best to be conscious of who may be watching you. And consider bringing someone close to you so you can help them grow. And third, – or first and foremost – follow Christ.  Mentors and seasoned saints are a blessing as we grow. But people may fail and disappoint you, Jesus never will.

I pray that I will always be a godly example for my granddaughter to follow. I pray that I can be a good example for others as they witness my life, even the slips and failures. Beloved, let’s commit to be the kind of disciples of whom people can say, “Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23).

Time to Change

Joy does not like to wear dirty clothes. She insists that she must change if she sees just a little spot on her shirt. Last weekend her Daddy took her to a trampoline place to jump to her heart’s content, which also got her clothes dirty. She protested until she got home and changed.

In Zechariah, Joshua became the high priest when the Jews returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity.  (Note: this is about a thousand years after Moses’ Joshua.)  In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua was standing before the Lord with “satan standing at his right side to accuse him” (3:1). The Lord God rebuked satan for his lies. Joshua represented Jerusalem, the city of the Lord’s temple.  Joshua was “dressed in filthy clothes” and the word used here means his clothes were soiled with human excrement. An angel came and removed his filthy clothes, symbolizing the Lord taking away the sin of Jerusalem. Then he put “rich garments” on Joshua and “a clean turban” on his head (vs 4,5). He dressed him in fine garments used only for a special occasion and crowned his head with purity. God cleansed Jerusalem and gave them back their dignity and purity as His people.

This is also a picture of Jesus, “the Branch who was to come” (v. 8). I hope you can see the prophecy clearly. Even the name “Joshua” was the Hebrew equivalent of “Jesus.” Joshua foreshadowed Jesus, the pure and holy Son of God who was stained with all the filth of humankind. But Jesus put off those filthy clothes and left them in the grave and He put on the garments of the priestly king (Heb 6:20; Matt 27:11). He is now in heaven clothed in majesty (Ps 93:1).  

This is also a picture of you and me and all who will believe in Him. We wore clothes stained with the filth of our sins, and satan was hurling accusations (Rev 12:10). But Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Pet 2:24). He clothed us in “garments of salvation and robes of righteousness” (Is 61:10). We are now “clothed with Christ” (Gal 3:27). And with those new holy clothes, we have a new nature (Col 3:10), and even a new mind – “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16).

Dear one, it’s time to change. It’s time to take off the old filthy clothes and dress like who you are. Clean. Pure. Righteous. Holy. Step behind the curtain, Beloved. Jesus is waiting for you in the dressing room.