1 Christmas

First Sunday After Christmas

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Jeremiah 31:10-13 – Return and Restoration;
Psalm 111 – God's Redemption;
Hebrews 2:10-18 Freed from Sin and Death;
Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus' Youth;

Jeremiah Background:

Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah and Jerusalem from 627 to 580 B.C., the period leading up to and during the beginning of the Exile of Judah to Babylon, generally calculated from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 to its restoration and dedication in 517 B.C..

Jeremiah:

Hear God's Word, all nations and distant shores. Israel, whom the Lord scattered will be gathered again by the Lord. As a shepherd keeps his flocks the Lord will keep Israel.

The Lord has ransomed Jacob and and redeemed him from powers greater than he. Israel shall sing aloud to the Lord on Zion, (the temple mount in Jerusalem) and rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. They will celebrate over the harvest of grain, wine, olive oil, and the young of their flocks and herds. They will languish no longer; their life will be restored like a watered garden.

Their young girls will dance in joy, the men, both young and old will be merry. The Lord promises to comfort them and transform their mourning to joy, and exchange their sorrow for gladness.

Psalm 111:

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! With my whole heart I will praise the Lord in the congregation of his people.

The works of the Lord are awesome! Those who delight in them will study them. His works are full of honor and majesty. He has caused his works to be remembered, for the Lord is gracious and merciful. For those who fear him, he provides food. He constantly remembers his covenant. He has revealed his power to his people, giving them the inheritance of the nations. He is faithful and just in all his doings; all his teachings are trustworthy and eternally true.

Hebrews:

In accord with the gracious nature of God, who has created all things for his purpose, it was appropriate that in his plan to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory (to spiritual maturity and eternal life; to the joy of heaven), to make the pioneer (author; “trail-blazer;”) of salvation (i.e., Jesus) perfect through suffering. The sanctifier (Jesus Christ) and the sanctified (“born-again” disciples) both originate from God, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brethren, as God's Word says in Psalm 22:22: “I will declare thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.” Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 8:17-18 of trusting in God's Word, and receiving the children of God (as his brethren).

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil (Satan), and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus' mission was not to angels, but to the descendants of Abraham. Jesus had to become like them in every aspect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest serving God, to make amends for our sins. Because Jesus has experienced suffering and temptation just as we do, he is able to understand and help us when we are tempted.

Luke:

Jesus' parents went from Nazareth to Jerusalem every year to celebrate Passover. When Jesus was twelve, they went, according to their custom. At the end of the celebration, they began their trip home, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Jesus' parents were not aware that he had stayed behind; they thought he was with friends or relatives in their caravan. At the end of the day's journey, they looked for Jesus, and discovered that he was missing, so Jesus' parents hurried back to Jerusalem.

After three days of anxious searching, they found Jesus in the temple sitting among teachers and listening and asking questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at his understanding and his replies. When Jesus' parents saw him they were amazed, and his mother asked Jesus why he had worried them so. Jesus asked his parents why they hadn't looked for him in his Father's house, the temple, first. His parents didn't understand what Jesus was saying to them.

Jesus returned with them to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother remembered things like this about Jesus. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52)

Commentary:

Judah, the Southern Kingdom of the two tribes, was the remnant of Israel after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes by the Assyrians in 721 B.C.. The Northern Kingdom had disobeyed God's warning by his prophets to repent and turn from disobedience and idolatry. Judah had not learned from the example of the Northern Kingdom, and did not heed the warnings of the prophets to repent and return to obedient trust in God's Word.

Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would be exiled in Babylon for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12, and God's Word was fulfilled. Israel had been scattered, but the Lord promised to gather them again and be their shepherd (Jeremiah 31:10c). God's promise was amazingly fulfilled when Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to their Promised Land. Cyrus gave them the sacred vessels of silver, gold and bronze which Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the temple. Cyrus also gave permission, money and help in the rebuilding of the temple.

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The prophecy of a Shepherd to gather God's people is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15), the Lord.

Israel had forgotten the lessons of the Exile and was unprepared for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. At the crucifixion of Jesus, the people of God were effectively scattered. Even the Twelve disciples were scattered (Matthew 26:31; John 16:32). Jesus was the one last faithful remnant of Israel. From then on the Church became the New Israel, the New People of God.

The disciples who had scattered began to be drawn back by the news of Jesus' resurrection. Jesus appeared to them and told them to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the “baptism” (gift) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), and then they were to go into the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all Jesus' teachings (Matthew 28:19-20). The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit began to be poured out on the Day of Pentecost, the “birthday” of the Church (Acts 2:1-13).

Those who look into the record of God's great works in the Bible will delight in them. Jesus is the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's power and faithfulness to the world. The “baptism” of indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17) is God's ultimate revelation of himself personally and individually to the disciples of Jesus Christ. 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' word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Genesis 1:3, 9). Those who trust and obey Jesus come to know and testify that his teachings are trustworthy and eternally true.

God has created this world according to his purpose. God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. This present world is God's spiritual garden, where he is “growing” sons and daughters for his eternal kingdom. Jesus has been designed into this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God designed this Creation to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we could have freedom to choose whether or not to obey God. He knew that we would all choose to do our own will rather than his and would need to learn by trial-and-error to trust and obey God's Word. We are all sinners who have fallen short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's one and only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “born-again” to eternal life.

Jesus' resurrection from the dead demonstrates that there is existence beyond physical death. Every truly “born-again” Christian personally experiences and testifies that Jesus is risen and eternally alive. Because we know that Jesus lives, we can know with certainty that we will rise from physical death to eternal life too (Romans 8:11). The joy of the Lord's presence now by the indwelling Holy Spirit is just a foretaste of the joy we will have with him in eternity.

Jesus was fully human and also fully God (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). He is the only “begotten” (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35) Son, the first-born, with the birthright that goes with it. We become “adopted” sons and daughters, through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14-16). Because he shared in every aspect our human nature, he understands our temptations and is able to help us resist and overcome them.

Jesus teaches by both word and example. Jesus taught his disciples to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, ahead of physical necessities. Those who seek physical needs first will never get around to seeking God's kingdom, because we can never get enough physical resources to feel satisfied. Jesus respected his physical parents, but he put God, his heavenly Father, first. His parents should have realized that the only reason Jesus would stay behind in Jerusalem would be to study God's Word and seek God's kingdom.

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)?

1 Christmas - January 1 C

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Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 – Inheritance in Christ;

May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed for all the spiritual blessings in the spiritual realm (around and above our physical world) that are ours through Jesus. God chose us in Christ before the beginning of Creation, so that we could be holy and blameless in his presence. He chose us to be his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ, according to God's purpose of uniting everything on earth and in heaven to him, so that splendor of his grace (unmerited favor; a free gift), bestowed upon us in the Beloved (Jesus), would result in praise to God.

Having heard of the congregation's faith in Jesus Christ and the love for all the saints (“born-again” Christians) Paul gave thanks to God for them. He prayed continually with thanksgiving to God for the church, praying that the God of Jesus Christ our Lord, God the Heavenly Father, would give the believers spiritual wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. Having their spiritual eyes enlightened, Paul prayed that the congregation would know the hope to which they are called and the richness of the glorious inheritance to be theirs.

Commentary:

The kingdom of God is all around us now, but we must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) in order to see it now, and ultimately to see and enter it in eternity. Jesus is the light of spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9) Only Jesus gives the 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).

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit believers have all the spiritual blessings of heaven. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit their minds are opened to understand the scripture (Luke 24:45). The Holy Spirit teaches disciples of Jesus all things, recalls to our minds Jesus' teachings (John 14:26) and gives us what to say in opportunities to testify (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12).

God designed this Creation with his purpose of establishing an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. He designed this world to allow the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey him or not, and the possibility to learn by trial and error that God's will is good, possible, and our best interest. God knew that given free choice we would all choose to do our own will rather than God's will. God designed a Savior, Jesus Christ into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

God limited Creation and we ourselves by time, because God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. This Creation is God's “garden” in which to grow his obedient trusting children. The meaning and purpose of this lifetime is to seek and come to know God, our Creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey God. This is only possible by faith in Jesus, through the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:6).

We are all sinners and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal death (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul had been “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-18), and was repeating the process of making “born-again” disciples, teaching them to trust and obey Jesus, and to repeat the disciple-making process (2 Timothy 2:2), in fulfillment of Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Paul was teaching congregations like the one in Ephesus to grow in spiritual maturity. As Christians live in obedient trust in Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord cause our faith to grow as he shows us that his teaching and guidance is faithful and true. As we seek God's will for us daily, he will give us spiritual wisdom and knowledge of God and we will experience a foretaste of the love and joy of our heavenly inheritance through our personal fellowship with the Lord through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

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)?

1 Christmas - January 2 C

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John 1:1-18 – The Living Word

The Word (of God) was present at the beginning of Creation and was in very nature God. Everything in Creation was created through and by him. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). The light (of spiritual enlightenment: John 1:9, righteousness: John 3:19-21; and eternal life: John 1:4; 8:12) shines in the darkness (of spiritual ignorance, evil, and spiritual death)

John the Baptizer was sent by God to testify to the light so that everyone might believe through John. John himself was not the light but the witness to the light. “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the World” (John 1:9). The light had come into the world and everything in the world was created through him, but the world did not know him. He was in his own home but his own people did not know and welcome him. “But all who received him, who believed in his name (his whole person and character), he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” (John 1:14). John the Baptizer testified that this One was the One who was coming after John, but who was before John in rank and in time. This One is overflowing with inexhaustible grace (God's undeserved favor). The Law (of the Old Covenant) came through Moses; grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (in complete unity), he has made him known.

Commentary:

The Word of God has creative power. God spoke Creation into existence (Genesis 1:3, 9). What God speaks, happens. Fulfillment is the defining characteristic of God's Word (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). The Bible is the Word of God.

God's Word is eternally true, and is always fulfilled, over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The Bible contains great promises and ominous warnings. We will either trust and obey God's Word and receive the promises, or we will fail to trust and obey, and will receive the consequences the ominous warnings were intended to help us avoid.

Jesus is the “living Word,” the fulfillment, embodiment, and example of God's Word lived in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5; 14). God created this world with Jesus Christ (Messiah; both mean God's “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew), the Savior, designed into it from the very beginning. Jesus word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24) , with the creative force of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; compare Genesis 1:3, 9).

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. Our lifetime in this Creation is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), to learn to trust and obey his Word, and to be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Jesus is the only way to know and have fellowship with God, to know divine, eternal truth, and to have eternal life (John 14:6).

We are all born physically alive but spiritually “unborn.” Spiritual “rebirth” is only by the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) 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 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). The infilling of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible ongoing event; anyone who isn't sure, hasn't been (Acts 19:2)!

John the Baptizer was the fulfillment of God's Word of a prophet like Elijah, coming to herald the appearing of the Savior (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13). John the Baptizer called people to be baptized with water for repentance of sin (disobedience of God's Word), by ritual cleansing, to prepare them to receive Jesus. God revealed Jesus as the Christ to John at Jesus' baptism by John (John 1:31-34), and then John pointed people to Jesus (John 1:35-37).

Jesus was the fulfillment of God's Word of a Messiah, God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King. The Jews had received God's Word in the Bible through Moses. Their religious leaders were experts in the Bible, but were unable and unwilling to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of God's Word, even to this very day, although there are many Jews who have received Jesus.

In Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, his own family, friends and neighbors didn't recognize and acknowledge him as the Messiah. In fact they threw Jesus out of their synagogue and town, attempting to kill him by throwing him off a cliff (Luke 4:16-30). Members of his own family did not believe in him, (John 7:3-5).

But to everyone who receives (welcomes; invites) Jesus, who believes in his name (that he is God's anointed Christ, Savior and Lord), he gives the power (authority; opportunity) to become children of God. Notice that we receive the “power,” but we must claim and lay hold of the promise for ourselves, by receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and trusting and obeying him (Revelation 3:20). Adoption as children of God is not automatically conferred by some church ritual such as water baptism, confirmation (affirmation), or by acceptance into church membership. Adoption as God's children occurs by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:15-16, 23).

Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant (Testament) of Law between God and God's People. The Law teaches us God's requirement of righteousness, and convicts us of sin (disobedience of God's Word; we've all sinned and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus came to mediate a New Covenant (Matthew 26:26-28; Hebrews 12:24) of Grace (undeserved favor), to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Everyone who knows God, through the Word of God will know and acknowledge Jesus as God's only (begotten) Son (John 1:18). Jesus is the first-born Son. First-born sons in Israel received extra status and inheritance. Jesus is “begotten” because he was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34-35). Adoption through the indwelling Holy Spirit is salvation and eternal life. We are “adopted” by God's will; our adoption is not by our own effort. We cannot buy, earn by good deeds, or take our adoption, salvation and eternal life by force or deception.

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)?

January 3

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Psalm 72

Give to the king your justice and righteousness, O Lord, that he may judge thy people with righteousness and give justice for the poor. May the mountains and hills produce prosperity. May the king defend the poor, deliver the needy and crush oppressors.

May they fear and reverence the Lord as long as sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. May he be like gentle rain to water the earth and mown grass. May righteousness flourish and peace abound until the moon ceases to exist.

May his dominion be from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the cradle of civilization; the Garden of Eden; Genesis 2:10, 14) to the ends of the earth. May his enemies be humbled before him, and lick the dust. May kings of Tarshish and the isles (in western Mediterranean. May kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts and all the kings of earth bow before him and serve him.

He is worthy of honor because when they call upon him he delivers the poor and needy, who have no other source of help. He has pity on the weak and needy and saves their lives. He redeems them from oppression and violence; their blood is precious in his sight.

May the king live long, may gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayers be offered and blessings invoked for him constantly. May grain be abundant in the land. May it wave from the mountaintops; and its fruit be as great as Lebanon. May the people of the cities increase like the grass of the fields. May the name and fame of the king endure forever, as long as the sun. May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed” (Psalm 72:17b).

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed by his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 72:18)!

Commentary:

God is the ideal intended king of Israel, but Israel wanted a human king like the neighboring countries. God warned them that a human king would make many demands upon them, but he allowed them to do as they had asked (1 Samuel 8:4-22).

During the period of the Monarchy many of the kings were wicked and led to the eventual destruction of the Northern Kingdom of ten tribes, and to the seventy year exile in Babylon of the Southern Kingdom of two tribes, Judah, the remnant of Israel.

Solomon, the son of David started well but finished badly. He asked God for wisdom to govern God's people wisely, instead of wealth for himself, and God gave him wisdom and wealth as well. The Queen of Sheba heard of his wisdom and came to visit, bringing him gold, jewels and spices (1 Kings 10:1-13).

David, the shepherd-king was the best example of a good king, and he was intended by God to foreshadow the Messiah (Christ; God's “anointed”) Savior and eternal King.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the ideal King of God's people. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16). The Church is the “New Israel.”

At Jesus' birth, wise men (“The Three Kings”) from the east came bringing gold and spices (Matthew 2:1-12), beginning the fulfillment of this scripture.

Ultimately Jesus is going to return with great power and glory. In that day, his enemies will be humbled and bow before him and every one will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). In that day his dominion will be to the ends of the earth. But in that day it will be too late to change one's eternal destiny. Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and have trusted and obeyed Jesus in this lifetime will have been spiritually reborn by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 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). Those who have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) will enter God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Those who have rejected Jesus as Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal destruction and death in hell with all evil.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the eternal shepherd-king of God's People. His name and fame will endure forever, and by his name all nations and peoples will be blessed.

A just and righteous leader must use his power to protect and defend the poor and weak. The worldly way is for the rich and powerful to exploit the poor and powerless.

In America today it seems that the rich and powerful are using the government to exploit the poor and powerless. Government is no longer of the people by the people and for the people. It's government of the people by the rich and for the rich.

God blesses those who are righteous and just, and he punishes those who are their oppressors. God blesses and prospers righteous and just nations, and withholds favor and prosperity from unrighteous and unjust nations. We know this because of the record of God's dealing with Israel in the Bible, which was written down for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).

I believe that many problems America is experiencing right now are evidence that God is lifting his favor and protection from us and allowing us to experience trouble, in hope that we will return to faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, as America has done in the past.* God's Word promises that “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14).

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)?

*In 1745, the First Great Awakening in Northampton, Mass. began through the preaching of Jonathan Edwards. Second Great Awakening Awakening occurred between 1790 and 1840. Charles Grandison Finney (August 29, 1792 – August 16, 1875) was a major preacher.

In the 1970's there was youthful revival of the Jesus Movement, considered by some as The Fourth Great Awakening, trying to counteract the allure of sex and drugs of the "Flower Children." One of the best programs to come out of the Jesus Movement was the Calvary Chapel fellowship, begun in Costa Mesa by Chuck Smith.

January 4

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1 Christmas - January 4 C

Isaiah 60:1-6 -- Restoration of Jerusalem;

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). The earth and its people are covered in deep darkness, but the Lord and his glory will arise on God's people and his glory shall be seen upon them. Nations and kings will be drawn to the the brightness rising upon God's people.

Look around and see the return of the people to Zion (Jerusalem; Israel; the Church; the heavenly city). Israel's sons will return from afar; her daughters will be carried in their arms. Then Israel will rejoice, because they will receive the abundance of the sea and the wealth of the nations. “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian (people related to Israel through Keturah, one of Abraham's wives; Genesis 25:2) and Ephah (an Arab tribe east of the Gulf of Aqabah). “And those from Sheba (southern Arabia) shall come bringing gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6c).

Commentary:

The text is thought to have been written around 530 to 510 B.C.,* the period of the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus of Persia, shortly before the return of the exiles from Babylon after seventy years (587-517 B.C.). The prophecy was fulfilled by the amazing release of the exiles, after the prophesied seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12), by Cyrus, who not only allowed them to return to their “Promised Land,” but returned the sacred vessels of gold, silver and bronze looted by Nebuchadnezzar at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. He also gave the exiles authority, assistance from provincial governors, and money to rebuild the temple! Judah's poverty in exile was replaced by prosperity, as God's Word promised. The prophecy of camels bearing gifts of gold and frankincense began to be fulfilled at the birth of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12).

God's Word is eternal and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The return of the Judean exiles was fulfilled, but it is also fulfilled at the coming of the Messiah, God's “anointed” Savior and eternal King, Jesus Christ (Messiah and Christ each mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Jesus is the “light of the world” (John 8:12), the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9), and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12).

The exile is also a metaphor for life in this world. In a spiritual sense we are all in exile in the “Babylon” of the present world. We are all in bondage to Satan (Romans 3:23, 6:16-18; 1 John 1:8-10). This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to trust and obey God's Word in the Bible, and fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14). Only faith (obedient trust) in Jesus can set us free from bondage to sin and death (see Hebrews 2:14-15; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The exile of Judah for seventy years in Babylon was a life sentence for those who were adults at the time of their deportation. As the remnant of Israel was physically “reborn” in exile, this lifetime is our opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) in “exile.” Spiritual “rebirth” is only possible through 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 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).

The Church is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem on earth, and the ultimate “Promised Land” is God's eternal kingdom in heaven. Jesus is the only one who can free us from bondage to sin and death and lead us to God's eternal “Promised Land” in heaven (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

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)?

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

January 5

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Ephesians 3:2-12 – Inclusion of Gentiles;

Paul assumed that the Galatian congregation had heard that Paul had received God's grace (unmerited favor) as a steward on behalf of the Gentiles (non-Jews). The mystery of Christ, which had not been known in former generations, had been made known to Paul by revelation by the Holy Spirit, as it had also been revealed to the holy apostles (messengers; of the Gospel) and prophets. The revealed mystery was that through the Gospel the Gentiles share in the inheritance as members of the same body (the Church) and through the Gospel, they partake of the same promise in Jesus Christ.

Paul had been given the ministry of that Gospel as a gift by God's grace through God's power working in and through Paul. Paul felt unworthy, the least of the saints (consecrated to God's service), to preach the incalculable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. Paul and the other apostles had been given the opportunity and privilege to make known to all the people of the world the mystery of God's plan which had been hidden for ages in God the creator of all things. Now through the Church, all people and angelic beings in the universe can know the great wisdom of God of the eternal purpose God has accomplished in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus we have boldness and confidence of access to God.

Commentary:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) felt less worthy than the original apostles, the remnant of the Twelve (minus Judas Iscariot, Jesus' betrayer) because Paul had persecuted Christians, before his confrontation by the Holy Spirit, the risen Jesus, on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20).

Paul was as much an apostle as the original eleven. He was filled with, guided, and empowered by the same Holy Spirit, and proclaimed the Gospel to the Gentiles, as Peter had, to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:9-48; 15:4-29).

I believe that Paul was intended by God to be the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. I believe that Paul was the one God intended to take the place of Judas Iscariot. The Eleven had been told to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the gift (“baptism;” “anointing”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). While they were waiting, they decided to choose a replacement for Judas. Since they didn't yet have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they chose Matthias by lot (by chance; like throwing dice; Acts 1:15-26). Matthias is never heard of in the New Testament thereafter, but after Paul's conversion most of the rest of the New Testament is by or about Paul.

Paul loved his fellow Jews and wanted to share the Gospel with them, but they refused to hear it and had imprisoned Paul at the time of Paul's writing this letter (Ephesians 3:1). The Jews knew the Bible scriptures had promised the Messiah (Christ; both mean God's “anointed), the eternal Savior and King of God's kingdom. But they didn't realize that the Savior had been given for the Gentiles also (note Isaiah 49:6). They considered themselves righteous by keeping the Law of Moses, and couldn't accept that Gentiles (unrighteous pagans) could receive the same forgiveness and salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ by faith (obedient trust).

God has always intended to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. From the very beginning he has designed this Creation for that purpose, to allow us the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God, and the opportunity to learn by trial-and-error that God's will is our very best interest. God knew that given freedom, we would all choose to do our will rather than God's will. Disobedience of God's Word is the definition of sin. God has limited this Creation and we ourselves by time, because he doesn't intend to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever, or at all in his eternal kingdom. God has designed the Savior, Jesus Christ into the structure of this Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

We are all sinners who fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

God's wisdom has been progressively revealed to the world, first in the goodness and complexity of Creation, then through God's Word, the Bible, then through Jesus Christ, the fulfillment, embodiment and example of God's Word lived out in this world in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14).

God's wisdom is unlike what mankind falsely calls “wisdom.” Worldly wisdom is incomplete and constantly changing; God's wisdom is complete, eternal and unchanging (1 Corinthians 1:17-29; 2:1-8). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have real, eternal life (John 14:6).

The Church has received the stewardship of God's wisdom to proclaim it to the world. The Church is composed of “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ. Believers are commanded to stay within the Church (the New Jerusalem; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8) until we have received the promised gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit before going into the world to proclaim the Gospel and to make “born-again” disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

Through our faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually “reborn” 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 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).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel (guidance), might (empowerment), knowledge of and fear (appropriate awe and respect for the power and authority) of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2). By the Holy Spirit we have personal knowledge of and fellowship with God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

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)?

January 6 C

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Isaiah 60:1-6 – Jerusalem Restored;
Psalm 72 – The Lord's Anointed King;
Ephesians 3:2-12 – Stewardship of the Gospel;
Matthew 2:1-12 – The Wise Men;

Epiphany is the day the Church celebrates the coming of the Wise Men at the birth of Christ; the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Wise Men (Magi; the “Three Kings”) were members of the educated, priestly class in Persia.

Isaiah:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). The world and its people are covered in thick darkness, “but the Lord will arise upon you (Zion; the people of God) and his glory will be seen in you” (Isaiah 60:2b). All nations and kings of earth will come to the brightness of Zion's rising.

Watch and see, the children of Zion are gathered together and returning to their Promised Land. The sons of Israel shall come from afar, bringing the daughters of Israel on their arms. Then Israel will be radiant with joy, and their hearts will rejoice and celebrate, because they will receive bounty from the sea and wealth from the nations. “A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian (people related to Israel through Keturah, one of Abraham's wives; Genesis 25:2; east of the Gulf of Aqabah) and Ephah (an Arab tribe east of the Gulf of Aqabah). “And those from Sheba (southern Arabia) shall come bringing gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:6c).

Psalm 72:

May the king be endowed with the justice and righteousness of God. May he judge God's people with righteousness, and give justice to the poor and helpless. May the mountains and hills produce prosperity and righteousness for God's people. May the king protect the rights of the poor and helpless, and defeat their oppressors. May he reign for all generations until the sun and moon cease to exist. May the king be as gentle as gentle rain that waters mown grass and earth. Let righteousness flourish and peace abound as long as the moon exists. May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river (Euphrates; the “cradle of civilization,” the Garden of Eden; Genesis 2:10, 14) to the end (cessation; also most distant parts) of the earth. May his enemies bow to him and lick dust. “May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles (western Mediterranean) render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba (in southern Arabia) bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him , all nations serve him” (Psalm 72:10).

The king of God's people hears and delivers the poor, weak, needy and helpless when they call upon him. He has pity upon them and saves their lives. He redeems their lives from violence and oppression. Their blood is precious in his sight.

May the king have long life. May he receive the gold of Sheba. May prayer be made for him and blessings invoked upon him continually. May the land produce grain abundantly; may it wave from the mountaintops. May its fruit be as great as Lebanon (the highest mountain in Syria; the northern boundary assigned to Israel, but never conquered). May population increase and come forth from the cities to fill the land like grass in a field. May the name of the king and his fame endure forever.

“May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name for ever; may his glory fill the whole earth! Amen and Amen” (Psalm 72:17b-19).

Ephesians:

By the grace (unmerited favor; undeserved gift) of God, Paul (Saul of Tarsus) was given the stewardship of the Gospel on behalf of the Gentiles. The mystery of Christ (to include Gentiles; Ephesians 3:6) was made known to Paul by revelation (by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus; Acts 9:1-20). Paul's insight into the mystery was not revealed to previous generations of Israelites, as it had now been revealed to the apostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit: that Gentiles are “fellow heirs and members of the same body (the Church), and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Because of God's gift of grace, Paul received a ministry of the gospel by the working of God's power (in Paul by the indwelling Holy Spirit). Although Paul considered himself (because he had persecuted the Church) the least of all of the saints (those consecrated to God's service), by the grace of God Paul was given the ministry to preach the great spiritual riches in Christ, and to make all people aware of the plan of the mystery hidden in God for ages. But now the wisdom of God has been revealed through the Church to all authorities on earth and in heaven. This revelation was in accordance with God's eternal purpose which God has been accomplished in Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we now boldly and confidently have access to God.

Matthew:

During the reign of King Herod (the Great; which ended with his death in 4 B.C.), Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Wise men (Persian astrologers) came to Jerusalem seeking the new-born king of the Jews, whose star they had seen from their homeland, and had come to worship him. When Herod heard of a newborn rival, he was disturbed, and when Herod was troubled, all Jerusalem was troubled too. Herod assembled all the Jewish priests and scribes (Bible teachers; authorities of the scriptures). When they were asked they said that the Christ (Messiah; God's “anointed” eternal Savior and King), was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, citing Micah 5:2: “And you O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel. (Not quoted: “whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.)

Herod summoned the Wise Men and asked them when the star had appeared. Then he told them to go to Bethlehem and search for the child, and to bring back word to Herod. Herod told them that he wanted to worship the child too. Sent on their way they were guided by the star until it came to rest over the house in which the child was. Seeing this the
Wise Men rejoiced with great joy, and entering the house they saw the child with his mother, Mary. The Wise Men fell down in humility and worshiped him. Then they unpacked and presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then they returned to their homeland by another route, having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod.

Commentary:

The theme of these four texts is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

The text from Isaiah is thought to have originated around 530 – 510 B. C., just before Judah, the remnant of Israel in exile in Babylon, was allowed by Cyrus of Persia to return to their Promised Land. Cyrus had conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.. The prophecy referred to Judah's restoration from exile, but also to the coming of the Messiah five hundred years later.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the light of the glory of the Lord rising upon Israel, the light of righteousness (John 1:5; 3:19-21), spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9 and eternal life (John 1:4; 8:12). God's people are to reflect the light of the Lord's glory so that it may be seen by others.

There are two varieties of camels: the dromedary or one-humped variety, and the Bactrain, or two-humped variety. The Bactrain originated in central Asia but had spread to Assyria by 1100 B.C.. Camels were used by the returning exiles from Babylon (Ezra 2:67; Nehemiah 7:69). They were used extensively in Arabia south of Israel, in Sheba and Seba, and east of Israel east of the Gulf of Aqabah in Midian and Ephah. The popular imagery is of the three Wise Men traveling to Bethlehem on camels.

The Queen of Sheba had visited King Solomon, who reigned from 961-922 B.C., and had brought gold, jewels and spices by camel (1 Kings 10:1-2). She recognized the wisdom of Solomon and was drawn to him. She prefigures the coming of the Magi at the birth of Christ, bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Psalm 72 was originally composed for a coronation or its commemoration, but it is also Spirit-inspired prophecy. It prefigures the fulfillment and coronation of the ultimate, eternal God-”anointed” king, Jesus Christ (Christ and Messiah each mean “anointed” in Greek and Hebrew respectively). Jesus Christ is the only one who is truly endowed with the justice and righteousness of God (because he is God in human flesh; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28).

Jesus is the only king who will truly defend the rights of the poor, weak, needy, and helpless. He's the only one who can help them when they all out to him.

Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promise to raise up an eternal king who will have dominion over all the earth. Only in his reign will righteousness flourish and peace abound.

The visit of the Wise Men (the “Three Kings”) is the beginning of the fulfillment of God's Word that all kings and nations will bow before him and serve him. There is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived in this world will be accountable to the Lord Jesus for what they have done in this lifetime. Those who willingly choose to serve him now, who trust and obey Jesus, will be spiritually “born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life 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. Those who reject Jesus as Lord, who refuse or fail to trust and obey him will be condemned to eternal destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). When we die physically, or at the Day of Christ's Second Coming, our eternal destinies are fixed and unchangeable.

At the Day of Judgment, every one will bow before him, and confess that Jesus is Lord. In that day Jesus will command and no one will have any choice but to obey (Philippians 2:10-11).

God has been progressively revealing himself and his purpose for this Creation from the very beginning; first through the goodness and complexity of Creation itself. Then in the Word of God in the Bible. God already had a Savior designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14). God wasn't surprised when Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God's Word, and Jesus isn't an afterthought, or “Plan B.”

Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God and his plan for the world, and the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the fullest revelation of God and his purpose to his disciples individually and personally.

Paul is the prototype and example of a “modern,” “post-resurrection,” “born-again” disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, as we can and should be. We are all sinners (disobedient of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and fall short of God's righteousness. The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is God's only provision for forgiveness of our sin and salvation from eternal death (Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right.

By the indwelling Holy Spirit the Lord opens the minds of his disciples to understand the Bible scriptures (Luke 24:45), teaches us all things and helps us recall all Jesus' teachings (John 14:26). Every truly “born-again” disciple personally experiences, has fellowship with, and testifies that Jesus is risen from physical death and is eternally alive. 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).

The Jews had the promises of the Bible scriptures that promised the coming of the Messiah, and the directions where to look, but they didn't welcome his coming. Herod saw him as a political rival, and the Jews were afraid that he would upset the status quo. They had accommodated themselves to the political situation and didn't want to risk change. The Wise Men were Gentiles (non-Jews). They didn't have the benefit of the Bible scriptures but were able to interpret the signs in nature, a star (probably a comet) that led them to the place where Jesus was.

The Jews all fell away from the Lord until at the Crucifixion Jesus was the last faithful Jew. Even Jesus' disciples had scattered from him (Matthew 26:31). At the moment of Jesus' death, the temple veil (curtain) was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) signifying that Jesus had opened a new and better way into God's presence. Jesus has become the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to have real, eternal life (John 14:6). The Church is the New Israel, the New Jerusalem.

In too many instances the nominal Church today is in a similar situation as the Israel and Judaism at the time of Jesus' first coming. Church members have the Bible scriptures but don't read them completely or daily. They know a lot about “religion,” but don't know the Lord personally. They have carved a comfortable niche for themselves in the Church and they don't want their status quo disrupted.

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)?