2nd Advent

2nd Advent - Sunday

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Isaiah 40:1-11 The Lord is Coming
Psalm 85 Revive Us Again
2 Peter 3:8-14 The Day of the Lord
Mark 1:1-8 Prepare the Way of the Lord

Isaiah 40:1-11:

The prophet of the Lord is called to comfort God's people and tenderly tell them that their hardship is ended, their iniquity is pardoned, their punishment has more than compensated for their sin.

God's herald calls out to prepare a way in the wilderness for the Lord to come; to make a straight highway through the desert for the Lord. Mountains must be moved and valleys filled in; the ground must be leveled and the rough places made smooth. "And (then) the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together" (alike; Isaiah 40:5), for God has declared it.

God commands his herald to cry out, and the herald asks what he is to announce. All human flesh is like grass and its beauty is as transient as wildflowers. When God breathes upon them, grass withers and flowers fade; but the Word of God is eternal.

God commands Zion (the Temple Mount; God's people; Jerusalem; the City of God; the Church) to herald "good tidings" from the mountaintop. Jerusalem (the Church) is to boldly and fearlessly proclaim "good tidings." They are to proclaim the coming of the Lord in power. His right hand (his righteous authority; Jesus Christ) rules in the name of the Lord. He is bringing both reward and punishment. "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather his lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young" (Isaiah 40:11).

Psalm 85:

The psalmist recalls the times of God's favor in the past. God restored his peoples' circumstances, he forgave and pardoned their sin. When he was angry, God was forbearing, turning away from executing his anger and wrath.

So the psalmist acknowledges God as his God and Savior, and asks him to again be forbearing and not to prolong his anger against his people forever. May God yet revive his people again, that they may rejoice in him. May he show them his love and give them his salvation.

Let us listen to God's Word because he will speak peace to his people, to his saints (those dedicated to God's service), to those who submit to him with their entire being. His salvation is surely coming to those who fear (have appropriate respect for the power and authority of) God, so that God's glory will dwell in our land.

When God's glory fills our land, we will be characterized by steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace. God will cause faithfulness to arise within us and we will receive righteousness from heaven. The Lord will bless our land and give us what is good. God's righteousness will go before him (Jesus) and Jesus' footsteps will make a way (for us to follow).

2 Peter 3:8-14:

The author of the second letter of Peter reminds us that the Lord's timing is different than humans' timing.

For the Lord a day is like a millennium and a millennium is like a day (because eternity is timeless). The promise of the Lord is not delayed, as we might suppose; it is his forbearance toward us, so that all should reach repentance and none perish. But the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment, is coming like a thief. Suddenly the heavens will disappear with a loud noise and the elements of the physical universe will be burned up.

Since all physical and material things will be destroyed we should think seriously about what we should be doing in this lifetime, as we await the Second Coming of Jesus, so that we can hasten that Day. We are awaiting a New Creation, in which righteousness (doing what is good, acceptable and perfect according to God's Word) is the standard of life. So as we await Jesus' return, let us be zealous to be forgiven and blameless, and at peace with God at the Day of Judgment.

Mark 1:1-8:

The Gospel ("Good News") begins with the appearance of John, the Baptizer. John fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (and Malachi) of a herald, a messenger, to announce the coming of the Messiah, and to prepare the people to receive him. John appeared in the wilderness, calling for repentance for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word).

All the people of Judea (the southern third of Israel under Roman occupation, including Jerusalem) came to him in the wilderness and, confessing their sin, were baptized in the Jordan River. John wore the garb of the Old Testament prophets: a camel hair garment and a leather belt. He lived in the wilderness on food he could forage: locusts and wild honey.

John preached that he was heralding the coming of one greater than himself, whose sandals John was unworthy even to untie. John declared that he baptized with water, but that the one who was coming would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Commentary:

Five hundred years before, God's Word promised a herald to announce the coming of the eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the eternal Savior and Lord was designed and built into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

John the Baptizer was the fulfillment of that prophecy (John 1:23). He announced the coming of Jesus "Christ" ("Messiah;" both words mean God's "anointed" in Greek and Hebrew, respectively). John called God's people to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word, in preparation to receive the promised "anointed" eternal Savior and eternal King. Jesus Christ is the glory of God revealed in this world in human flesh (John 14:9; Matthew 11:27; Colossians 2:8-9).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the one and only "good tidings." Gospel means "good news." Jesus is the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11, 14). The Church is the New Jerusalem, commanded by God to boldly and fearlessly proclaim the "good news" of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the "right hand of God" (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).

The Lord is always willing to forgive, save and revive us if we are willing to acknowledge our sin (disobedience of God's Word) and are willing to trust and obey him. When we are experiencing trials and difficulties we must remember God's goodness and mercy in the past, beginning in the Bible record. As we walk in obedient trust, we will experience for ourselves his mercy and forgiveness. Then we can claim the promise of forgiveness and restoration from his Word and from his grace and mercy in our own past experience.

Knowing God's Word is absolutely essential to us, now and eternally. Until and unless we have read the entire Bible, we cannot claim the promises of God's Word; we cannot experience the peace of God and the joy of knowing his salvation personally.

Faith is not "wishing on a star;" faith is not getting whatever we believe if we believe "hard enough!" Faith is the simple "mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32)," our "yes" to God's Word. When we say "yes" to God he will show us that he is absolutely trustworthy and true, and will cause our "mustard seed" of faith to grow within us to spiritual maturity.

Jesus is the righteousness of God personified. Jesus is the pioneer, in human flesh, of faith in God, whose path makes a way for us to follow.

John the Baptizer called God's people to repent, confess their sins, and return to obedient trust in God's Word. The true Church is the new "Elijah," the new "voice crying in the (spiritual) wilderness" of this world, calling us to repent, confess our sins, and return to obedient trust in God's Word. Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

The Church is the new herald, the new "John the Baptizer," announcing the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ, personally and individually, by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Church is to proclaim the imminent Second Coming of Jesus, ultimately, within our individual lifetimes, in the Day of Judgment at the end of this temporal age.

The Day of Judgment is coming, when we will all be accountable to the Lord for what we have done in this lifetime, and the standard of judgment will be Jesus Christ. All who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually "reborn" and will receive eternal life with him in paradise restored to perfection in the kingdom of God. Those who have rejected Jesus, and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14

2 Advent - Monday

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Luke 1:46b-55 Magnificat

Mary, the future mother of Jesus visited her kinswoman Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with the future John the Baptizer. And when Elizabeth greeted her, Mary said that her soul glorified and exalted the Lord, her God and Savior. He had had compassion on Mary's humble status, and she realized that all future generations would call her blessed. The mighty God had done great things for her, and she reverenced his name. He has mercy on all in each generation who fear (have the proper awe and respect for the power and authority of) God. He has revealed his strenth with his arm, and has scattered those who were prideful in their own imagination. The Lord tears down the thrones of the mighty, and lifts up the weak and humble. He satisfies the hungry with good things, and turns away emptyhanded the rich. He has given help to Israel, his servant, in remembrance of his promises to their fathers.

Mary's prayer follows the pattern of the Song of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10), the mother of Samuel, the prophet and judge of Israel. Hannah had been, like Elizabeth, unable to conceive, and Hannah was stigmatized because of her infertility. She prayed to the Lord for a son, and promised to give him to the Lord's service (1 Samuel 1:11). Samuel was raised as a Nazarite, consecrated to the Lord, by vows to drink no alcohol, not cut their hair, and have no contact with corpses.

John the Baptist was also consecrated to the Lord with the vows of a Nazarite from his conception (Luke 1:15). Elizabeth had also been stigmatized because of her infertility which the birth of John resolved (Luke 1:25). John the Baptist was the fulfillment of prophecy of a prophet in the spirit and power of Elijah who would precede the coming of the Lord (Luke 1:16-17; Matthew 17:9-13).

The conceptions of Hanah, Elizabeth and Mary were miraculous. In the first two the women had been unable to conceive, and in Mary's case she was betrothed but the marriage had not been consumated (Luke 1:34-35). Hannah and Elizabeth had been stigmatized by barrenness; Mary was stigmatized by pregnancy out of wedlock (Matthew 1:18-23).

Mary accepted God's call upon her in obedient trust (Luke 1:38). She recognized that God had blessed her, and that she who was once an insignificant Jewish girl would be recognized and regarded as blessed by all generations.

God is the provider of everything we enjoy in this lifetime, but he gave it equally to all people. Poverty is caused by human sin (disobedience of God's Word), and unfair distribution of resources. This age is coming to an end for us individually at the end of our physical lifetimes. In the New Creation, in the New Age, those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus' teachings will live eternally with the Lord, the Creator and supplier of every good thing. But those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, and have refused or failed to trust and obey his teachings will be condemned to eternal destruction, separated eternally from the providence and love of God.

God's character is to lift up the poor, weak and humble, and to bring down the rich, proud and arrogant. But this happens in God's timing. The rich and powerful may seem to prosper for a time, but all people will be accountable to God for what they have done in this lifetime. Those who have had mercy and compassion on the poor and weak, as God does, will be exalted as blessed and will be rewarded with eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise. But those who have ignored the poor and helpless will lose everything they thought they possessed, and will spend eternity in hell in eternal destruction and agony (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Jesus is the right hand of God (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 22:44; 26:64). Jesus is the love and power of God revealed to all people. Jesus is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation from eternal destruction which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

2 Advent - Tuesday

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Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11 The Lord's Servant

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor..." (Isaiah 61:1-2a), but also the Day of God's vengeance (Isaiah 61:2b).

The Lord's servant comes to comfort those who mourn. Instead of ashes (of mourning) a garland; instead of sorrow, the oil of gladness; instead of heaviness of heart, a garment of praise. God's people will be called oaks of righteousness, whom the Lord has planted, for his glory.

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord and exalt my soul in him "for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10). I am thus adorned as a bridegroom or a bride in finery. God is going to raise up righteousness and praise from all nations, like the way the earth brings forth new growth, and like a garden causes seeds to sprout and grow.

After he began his public ministry, Jesus came to Nazareth and read from this text (61:1-2a) in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16-20). He told them that they were witnessing the fulfillment of that text, but they were offended. They thought they knew all about Jesus and his parents, because he had grown up among them (Luke 4:21-22). Instead of accepting his correction and teaching they became angry, and threw him out of town (Luke 4:23-31). Jesus went on to Capernaum, where his teaching was well-received.

Jesus came to bring "good news," the Gospel of forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and salvation (from eternal destruction, which is the penalty for sin; Romans 6:23; See God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). He came to comfort the afflicted, and to "afflict the comfortable," in the hope that they might be restored to God's favor and fellowship.

Jesus can heal the brokenhearted and release the captives, but he can't help people who are satisfied with the sinful ways of this present world, and are unaware of their bondage to sin and death (Luke 4:23; 5:31-32; 6:20-26). If we know and accept God's Word we can learn his plan for Creation and what real life can become. This Creation has been designed by God to be a spiritual garden in which to grow his eternal people who willingly choose to trust and obey his Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:14). We can become strong and long-lived "oaks," of righteousness according to his Word and glorify him.

Jesus provides us with the "garment" of salvation by faith (obedient trust) in him. As we begin to trust and obey Jesus we will experience healing of spiritual sickness and blindness (Luke 4:18), and release from bondage to sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). We will be spiritually "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the "anointing" ("gift," "baptism") of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).

The Holy Spirit is the "Comforter" (John 14:16 KJV; "Paraclete:" intercessor, consoler, advocate, comforter), the "anointing oil" of gladness, the "garland of joy" instead of the ashes of mourning, the "mantle of praise" upon us, the "boldness of spirit" we need to proclaim the Gospel (Luke 12:11-12).

The Holy Spirit is the "garment of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness;" not our own righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus which we have by faith (obedient trust) in him (Romans 3:22; Galatians 5:5; Philippians 3:9). The Holy Spirit is the "wedding garment" without which we will not be allowed to enter the wedding feast of Christ and his bride, the Church, in heaven Matthew 22:11-14). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

This is the "year" of the Lord's favor, although no one knows when it will end. Surely it will be within our individual lifetimes, because the moment we die, our eternity is fixed and unchangeable, and the next moment we will be at the throne of Judgment. The only day we can be sure of is today.

But there is a day of vengeance coming, on the Day of Judgment, when Christ will return to judge everyone who has ever lived. Jesus is the righteous judge and the standard of judgment by which all will be judged. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been spiritually "reborn" during this lifetime and will enter eternal life in God's kingdom in paradise restored in heaven. But those who have rejected Jesus and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will receive eternal condemnation and eternal death in Hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46). It will be a day of God's vengeance upon those who have rebelled against and defied his Word and rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

2 Advent - Wednesday

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2 Advent - Wednesday B

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Christian Life

Christians should rejoice at all times, and pray continually, giving thanks in all circumstances, because we are in the will of God in Jesus Christ. Let us not do anything which hinders the Holy Spirit within us, nor avoid prophesying, but test all things; keep what is good and abstain from evil.

May our God of peace complete our sanctification (spiritual growth; consecration), and keep us sound and blameless in our whole being, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, at the Lord's return. Our Lord is faithful and will do so.

Christians are to grow spiritually as we await Christ's return. We may experience trials and hardship but let them not be caused by our disobedience (or ignorance) of God's Word. Let them rather be for the sake of the Gospel. Then we can rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances, and can be encouraged by the knowledge that we are within God's will.

We should endeavor to submit fully to the Holy Spirit within us so that we not quench or grieve the Spirit, and so that we can grow spiritually to maturity. We should be constant in prayer, seeking guidance, and maintaining the bond with the Holy Spirit. We can be confident that the Lord will complete our sanctification for the Day of the Lord. He is faithful and able to do it as we submit to him.

We should desire and seek to hear God's prophetic Word, and we should be faithful to proclaim it. We should test all things by the Word of God, so that we can discern good from evil (1 John 4:1-3). Then we can hold on to what is good and avoid evil.

There are two major false teachings in the (nominal) Church today which occurred in first-century Church, and are refuted in the New Testament of the Bible. One is "Cheap Grace:" teaching that salvation is by grace (unmerited favor; a free gift (true), but without the requirement of discipleship and obedience to Jesus' teachings (false). The other is "works righteousness:" that salvation must be earned by doing good deeds (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right). The Bible is the Word of God and the standard by which we can discern truth from error.

Christians are to be "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples (students) and apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). Paul (Saul of Tarsus), the author of the letter to the Thessalonians is the prototype and example of the "modern," "post-resurrection," "born-again," disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ, as we can become. He was convicted by the Spirit of the risen and ascended Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul repented, accepted Jesus as his Lord, and obeyed Jesus' instructions. He was discipled by a "born-again" disciple, Ananias, until Paul was "reborn" and then Paul began preaching the Gospel and making "born-again" disciples (Acts 9:1-22), and teaching them to do the same (2 Timothy 1:6; 2:2), in fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The Thessalonian congregation was founded by Paul's preaching, and his letter was continuing Paul's "discipling" of the Thessalonians.

The Church is to be a disciple-making organization, but in too many instances the (nominal) Church has failed to make disciples. Instead, it has settled for making "members" and building buildings.

In too many instances the (nominal) Church has suppressed the emphasis of spiritual "rebirth." It has failed to "disciple" believers until they have been filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ's call to disciples to go into the world with the Gospel was with the condition that the disciples be "born-again" first (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

The Holy Spirit is not automatically given by religious ritual or church membership. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

2 Advent - Thursday

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John 1:6-8, 19-28 John the Baptizer

God sent a man named John (the Baptizer; Malachi 3:1). He came to testify and bear witness to the light (of righteousness; of true life: John 1:4-5), so that through his testimony all might believe. John was not the light but the witness to the light.

This is the testimony of John. When the priests and Levites from Jerusalem were sent by the Pharisees (John 1:24) to ask John who he was, he confessed that he was not the Christ. When they asked him if he was Elijah, he said "no." They asked him if he was a prophet and again he replied "no." So they asked John to tell them what he had to say about himself. John answered that he was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah of a voice crying in the wilderness, calling people to straighten the way for the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3).

The religious leaders asked John why he was baptizing, since he was not the Christ nor Elijah (Elias). John said that he baptized with water, but there was a person among them who they did not recognize, who was coming after John's appearance, who John was unworthy to be his most menial servant. This took place at Bethany (Bethabara) beyond (east of) the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Elijah had been carried up into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). The Old Testament scriptures prophesied that Elijah would return to prepare for and announce the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5).

John was the fulfillment of that prophecy of Malachi 3:1, and Isaiah 40:3 of a messenger and a voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. He was also the fulfillment of the prophecy of the return of Elijah (Malachi 4:5), according to Jesus (Matthew 17:9-13), although John didn't claim to be a great prophet. Actually Peter, James and John, the three disciples of Jesus' inner circle, witnessed the return of Elijah on the mountain of Jesus' transfiguration, but it was not a public appearance (Matthew 17:1-9).

John's baptism was of water for repentance to prepare people to receive the Messiah (Matthew 3:11), but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Acts 2:1-13). John himself did not know who the Messiah was until God revealed it to John after John had baptized Jesus (John 1:31-34). Then John began pointing people to Jesus (John 1:35-37). John didn't try to build up his own ministry. He wasn't trying to make disciples of himself (John 3:26-30).

John is the last of the Old Testament prophets (Matthew 11:11). John is also an example of the role of the Church and individual "born-again" Christian disciples. The Church is to be the messenger; the voice crying in the spiritual "wilderness" of this world. The Church is to testify to Jesus Christ as the Messiah, to baptize with water for repentance, and to point people to receive Jesus, who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus comes to a personal fellowship with each "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:21, 23; Revelation 3:20). The Church is to disciple believers until they are spiritually "reborn," until they have "seen" Jesus, and then to encourage them to continue their spiritual growth through obedient trust in Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit within them.

John was "filled" with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). God had called and prepared John for his specific ministry and John followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God revealed Jesus to John so that John could testify to and point people to Jesus. This is what the Church is to do. Believers are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then are to testify to and point people to Jesus, so that they can be spiritually "reborn" and have personal fellowship with Jesus.

This is the message of this season: Jesus is coming; let us repent, straighten our ways, and prepare to receive him.

2 Advent - Friday

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Isaiah 40:1-8 Consolation of Israel

This portion of Isaiah is thought to have originated shortly before the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus of Persia (October 29, 539 B.C.*), which made the return of the Jewish exiles to their Promised Land possible.

The Lord called his prophet to speak words of comfort to God's people in exile, and to tell them that their time of hardship was over. Their sin had been forgiven, and their punishment had been more than sufficient to atone for their sin.

The Lord's herald calls God's people to prepare the way of the Lord, to make a straight highway in the desert for the Lord's coming. Mountains must be moved and valleys filled in, uneven ground must be leveled and rough places made smooth. God's glory will be revealed to all people, because God has said so.

God calls his herald to cry out, and the herald asks what he should say. Flesh is like grass and its beauty like wildflowers. Grass withers and flowers fade at the breath of God. People are just the same. God's Word will stand forever, unlike flowers and grass (and flesh) which quickly pass away.

The Southern Kingdom, Judah, had ignored the prophets warning them to repent and turn from disobedience of God's Word and idolatry, and had failed to learn from the example of the conquest and destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes by the Assyrians with the fall of the Capital, Samaria in 721 B.C.

God prophesied that the Judah, the remnant of Israel, would be carried of to exile in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:12). Judah could have avoided exile if they had repented up to the day that Jerusalem fell to King Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) of Babylon. From the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, until the dedication of the second temple was seventy years: 587-517.

God's Word was fulfilled amazingly through Cyrus of Persia. Cyrus conquered Babylon at the right moment in history, and he not only allowed the remnant of Israel to return to their Promised Land; he gave them the gold and silver temple implements that Nebuchadrezzar had looted, and he gave them money, materials, and authority to rebuild the temple and the city walls. Who would ever have imagined that! It was all God's doing; Cyrus was just a tool used by God to accomplish his purpose.

John the Baptizer is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the voice crying in the wilderness, calling people to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word, in preparation for the coming of the promised Messiah, God's anointed eternal Savior and King. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise of the Messiah.

Jesus is the glory of the Lord revealed to all people (John 1:14b). All people will see him "together" ("alike;" Isaiah 40:5b; Strong's Hebrew #3162). I take this to mean that all people will have an equal opportunity to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ and to decide for themselves who Jesus is; not that they will all reach the same conclusion. On the Day of Judgment no one will be able to claim ignorance.

In a sense, we are God's people in exile in the "Babylon" of this present world. Jesus is the "Cyrus" who conquers our spiritual enemy, Satan, and leads us back to the heavenly city of God, if we trust and obey God's Word, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). We have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). Through Jesus, God gives everyone the same opportunity to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God, which was broken by sin, and to be saved from eternal destruction which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23).

Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right. Forgiveness and salvation are the free gift of God to all who are willing to accept it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who have been "born-again" (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The true Church is constituted of "born-again" Christian disciples, who are fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Christ gave to his disciples to be carried out after they had been "born-again" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). They are to make "born-again" disciples of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the example of that discipling process (Acts 9:1-22; 2 Timothy 1:6).

The Church and individual Christians have the role of John the Baptizer. We are to be the voice crying in the spiritual wilderness of this world, calling people to repent, to be baptized with water for repentance, and to be discipled in the Church the "New Jerusalem" on earth, to prepare them for the coming of Jesus, personally and individualy, by the "baptism" of the Holy Spirit, which is spiritual rebirth and eternal life.

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Isaiah, (introduction), p. 822, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

2 Advent – Saturday

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1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Servants of Christ
Matthew 11:2-10 Jesus and John the Baptist

Teachers in the Church are to be the Lord's servants and stewards of the mysteries of God. It is important that stewards be trustworthy. Paul was not concerned with the judgment of him by other people or even his own judgment of himself. The Lord's judgment is all that matters, and we should not presume to pass judgment before the day of Christ's return. In that day, the Lord will reveal things which are now hidden in darkness and the inner motivations of the heart will be exposed. Then every person will receive commendation from God, (or not, depending on what he has done in this lifetime).

John the Baptizer had been imprisoned by Herod for publicly charging Herod with sin for marrying Herod's brother Philip's wife (Matthew 14:3-4). While languishing in prison, John heard what Jesus was doing and sent his disciples to ask Jesus for reassurance that he was the Christ (Messiah). Jesus told them to report back to John what they had seen and heard from Jesus. The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor hear good news. Those who are not offended by Jesus will be blessed.

When John's disciples left, Jesus asked the crowds what they went out into the wilderness to John to see; reeds shaken by the wind? (Normally, that's about all there is to see in the wilderness.) To see a man in fine clothing? People dressed in fine clothing are not in the wilderness, but in palaces. So did they go to see a prophet? Yes, but John is more than a prophet. John is the fulfillment of the prophecy Malachi 4:5: a messenger preceding the coming of the Messiah, to prepare his way.

The season of Advent is the season of preparation, to receive the Messiah, God's "anointed" eternal Savior and King (Messiah and Christ both mean "anointed"). We are to prepare to receive Jesus as a baby at his first coming (advent), and celebrate his birth. We are also to prepare for his Second Coming, at the end of time, on the Day of Judgment, when we will all be accountable to him for what we have done in this lifetime. We are also to prepare for his coming, personally and individually to believers, by the "anointing" ("baptism;" "gift") of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Jesus' birth and physical ministry, his death, and resurrection from the dead is recorded in the Bible so that we might believe in Jesus (John 20:30-31). Jesus is going to return at the end of each of our individual lives, when we will all be accountable to him at his throne of judgment (John 5:28-29). The time between is our opportunity to seek a personal relationship with the Lord (Acts 17:26-27) and to receive his coming to us personally and individually through his indwelling Holy Spirit.

Only by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus can we come to have a personal fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). Jesus is the only way come to know God, to know divine, eternal truth, and to have eternal life (John 14:6), by spiritual rebirth by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 3:3, 5-8).

Only Jesus gives the "anointing" ("gift;" "baptism") of the Holy Spirit, (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

John the Baptizer was the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, but he was more than a prophet. John was the fulfillment of God's Word of a prophet like Elijah (Elias) who would herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:9-13). John was the voice crying in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23), calling people to repent and be baptized with water for forgiveness and cleansing of sin in preparation to receive the Messiah (Matthew 3:11). John testified to the indentity of the Christ and pointed people to Jesus, who would "baptize" them with the Holy Spirit.

John is the prototype and example of the role of the Church. The Church is to to testify to Jesus as the promised Messiah, God's "anointed" eternal Savior and King, to call people to repent and turn to obedient trust in the Lord, to baptize with water for repentance, to point people to Jesus and to prepare them to receive Jesus and to seek and receive spiritual rebirth through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit comes, he teaches us all things, recalls to our memory all that Jesus teaches (John 14:26), and gives us what to say when we testify to the Gospel (Mark 13:11). The Holy Spirit will equip, guide and empower us to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples, in fulfillment of Christ's Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Believers are to wait in the Church (the New Jerusalem) until they have been "reborn" before going out into the world to proclaim the Gospel (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). The mission of Christ cannot be accomplished by our physical resources but only by the Spirit working in and through us (Zechariah 4:6).

In too many instances the (nominal) Church has failed to make "born-again" disciples and therefore has failed to make "born-again" apostles (messengers of the Gospel; teachers in the Church). Spiritual rebirth is an essential mystery of God of which the Church is to have stewardship. Unless Church leaders are "born-again" how can they teach and lead others to be "reborn" (John 3:9-11 RSV)? How can the spiritually blind lead the spiritually blind (Luke 6:39)? Unless one is willing to be a disciple of Jesus, one cannot make disciples of Jesus.

The problem in Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming was that the religious leaders were running the religion for their own benefit: to be praised and honored by people; to have authority and influence over people. They weren't serving the Lord or the people; they were serving themselves. They were not trustworthy stewards of God's Word.

Paul, on the other hand, is the example of what a Church leader and teacher should be. He was a "born-again" disciple and apostle of Jesus Christ. He served believers by making his preaching and teaching free, and supporting himself at his secular trade (tent-making) instead of burdening the church members with his support. Paul was trustworthy of the stewardship of the Gospel. He worked hard to accurately preserve and transmit the Gospel he received from Jesus Christ, resisting, for example, the "circumcision party's" efforts to require Gentile Christians to be circumcised and abide by the requirements of Jewish religious law (the Old Covenant of the Law of Moses; the Jewish Bible; Acts 15:1-35).

Paul didn't let the judgment of people prevent him from preaching and teaching the full apostolic Gospel. His ambition was not to be well-thought-of by people but to be commended by God. Paul wound up imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, which the leaders of society and religion found offensive.

John the Baptizer is another example of a servant of the Lord, filled with and led by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:15), who proclaimed the Word of God fully, faithfully and accurately, without being influenced by public opinion. He publicly called the leaders of Judaism "poisonous snakes," and called them to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word (Matthew 3:7-10). He was imprisoned for publicly rebuking Herod (Antipas), the king, for marrying Herod's brother's wife. John wasn't trying to be popular. John wasn't seeking to make his ministry a personal empire. He wasn't making disciples of himself; he was pointing them to Jesus.

The Gospel is offensive to worldly people. Only those who are willing to be confronted with their sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), can repent and be forgiven and saved from the penalty of sin which is eternal death (Romans 6:23; See God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Only those who realize and admit that they are spiritually blind, lame, deaf and dead can be healed by Jesus. Only those who take no offense at the Gospel of Jesus Christ can benefit from it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is "Good News" to those who are being saved; but to those who are spiritually lost and spiritually dead, it is bad news.

The bad news is that there is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone will be accountable to the Lord for what they have done in this lifetime. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord and have refused to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

The Good News is that forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal destruction is the free gift of God to all who accept Jesus as Lord and trust and obey Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). They will have been spiritually "reborn," raised from "spiritual death" to eternal life. On the Day of Judgment Jesus will acknowledge them as his own, and they will enter into the eternal kingdom of God in paradise restored in heaven (Matthew 25:31-46).