ISAIAH 49:1-7

THE BACKGROUND

In the central portion of the book of Isaiah are found four “Servant Songs”.  Last week’s first lesson was the first of the four.  This week’s first lesson is the second of these songs.  The third and fourth are found in Is. 50:4-9 and 52:13-53:1-12, if you are interested in looking them up.  In between the first and second song, a lot happens.  In chapter 45, God announces that he has appointed the Persian king Cyrus as the liberator of His People.  In chapter 47, Babylon is defeated and humiliated.  In 48:20, captive Israel is told to flee Babylon, and go home.  The songs describe a person who will lead them on the way of rebuilding.  The big question is who this servant might be.  I will provide three answers in the takeaway, all of which are valid.

THE DETAIL

• The Servant calls for our attention.  The Servant claims that he was called to be God’s servant, even before he was born. (v. 1)
• The Lord gave him the skills needed to do the job.  God names him “Israel”, or His chosen people.  (vv. 2-4)
• But The Servant is frustrated.  Things do not go smoothly.  He is frustrated.  (v. 4)
• God gives The Servant a pep talk, reminding him that God chose him for this task even before he was even born.  (v. 5)
• Then, God ups the ante.  The Servant is not to save only Israel, but the whole world!  (Remember the meaning of “the nations” from last week?)  (v. 6)
• God concludes the pep talk by telling The Servant that kings and princes will bow before him, because God has chosen him. (v. 7)
   

THE TAKEAWAY

So, who was this Servant? We never get his name.  Maybe that was intentional.  I see three possible answers.

1. To the liberated people of Israel, this Servant represented the one who would lead them home and guide them in the rebuilding of their homeland.  I believe that no one was named to this role because the role needed to be filled by many people.  It could be a standard by which all leaders would be compared.  This standard could be applied to anybody who did the Lord’s work.
2. To Christians, going all the way back to the very early days, these Servant Songs were applied to the life of Jesus. Jesus, being God’s son on earth, would most certainly aim to live up to these standards set by His Father.  It was his nature and mission to present us all with a perfect model of these attributes. 
3. These standards can also apply to us today.  We are God’s Servants in this time and place. These are God’s expectations of our behavior, as we serve Him where we live.  We are called by Him to do this work.  When we do so, we shall be “honored in the sight of the Lord, and God will become our strength”.  (Verse 5, slightly paraphrased.)

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9

THE BACKGROUND

This is the introduction section of Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth.  It is chock full of God actions.  Keep in mind that God’s grace is “God’s love, freely given”.  The word “called” appears repeatedly.  The calling in all cases is done by God.

THE DETAIL

• This letter follows the classic form of Paul’s letters.  Paul and Sosthenes are the authors of this letter.  Paul reminds them that God has called him to be an apostle of Christ.  (v. 1)
• They are sending this letter to the church in Corinth, who are also called to be saints* by God. This is a remarkable statement. The church in Corinth was not comprised of fulfilled Jews.  They were outsiders—Gentiles.  Paul, who is a fulfilled Jew, states that God calls everyone.  God’s love is for the whole world.  (v. 2a)
• This letter is also intended for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord”, namely you and me.     (v. 2b) 
• Next comes the customary greeting from God through Paul.  (v. 3)
• Paul also thanks God for bestowing His grace on this church.  (v. 4)
• God’s grace has been lavished on them (and us) in many ways—through speech, knowledge and “spiritual gifts”.  (vv. 5-7)
• He assures us that Jesus will strengthen us to the end, and that [because of Jesus dying on the cross] we will be held blameless on Judgement Day.  We are finally reminded that we have all been called into fellowship with Jesus, so God will be faithful to us.  (vv. 8-9)

* When Paus uses the word “saints”, he is referring to all those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. The practice of canonizing saints did not begin until several centuries later. 

THE TAKEAWAY

This passage is rich in God-actions!  As we will see in the weeks ahead, the church in Corinth was far from perfect.  Yet, God lavishly blesses them with His love. This is good for us to understand, since we, too, are not perfect.  But God blesses us, warts and all!  We must always remind ourselves that we are all called to be God’s saints.  As saints, we are in fellowship with Jesus, and God will be faithful to us. Thanks be to God!

JOHN 1:29-43

THE BACKGROUND

The gospel of John begins with a very short introduction to John the Baptist’s mission.  The scene shifts quickly to John being questioned by the religious authorities.  John makes it clear that he is merely the one announcing the coming of someone greater than he.  Then, Jesus comes on the scene.  It should be noted that John also had disciples—people who followed him to learn his teachings.

THE DETAIL

• When John sees Jesus approaching, he tells his disciples “Here is the Lamb of God…”! (v. 29)
• John gives them his testimony, including the telling of Jesus’ baptism.  (vv. 30-34)
• The next day, Jesus walked by John and two of John’s disciples.  John again calls Jesus the Lamb of God.  (vv. 35-36)
• Those two disciples of John left John, and followed Jesus.  (v. 37)
• Jesus asked them what they wanted.  Oddly, they answer by asking where he was staying.  Jesus invites them to tag along, and see for themselves.  (vv. 38-39)
• One of the two was named Andrew.  Andrew went & got his brother Simon, saying “We have found the Messiah!”. When Andrew presented his brother Simon to Jesus, Jesus gave Simon a new name, straightaway.  He called him Rock.  (Aramaic: Cephas;  Greek: Petra; English: Peter, or Rock)  I like to say that Jesus called him “Rocky”.  Am I wrong???  (vv. 40-42)

THE TAKEAWAY

It’s good to know why Jesus renamed Simon.   In Holy Scripture where people or animals are named or renamed, it indicates a bond; it is the start of a new relationship.  When Adam names the creatures in the Garden of Eden, it indicates that they are under his care.  We do this, too.  We always name a pet as soon as we bring it home, even if it had a different name before. Sometimes, we give nicknames to our friends, children or grandchildren.  These indicate that there is a special relationship between them and us. This is what Jesus is doing with Simon Peter.

Jesus gets many titles in this passage.

• John the Baptist calls him the Lamb of God, as in the lamb sacrificed for the Passover act. The blood of the lamb saves the lives of the believers who have the blood smeared across their doorways.
• John the Baptist also clearly calls Jesus the Son of God (v. 34)
• The two disciples of John the Baptist address him as “Rabbi”.  Yes Jesus came to teach us many things.
• Finally, Andrew calls Jesus the Messiah.  God’s anointed one.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Jesus is, of course, all these titles and more.  What do you call him?

ISAIAH 9:1-4

THE BACKGROUND

The Old Testament lesson for this Sunday is again from Isaiah.  This passage is quoted in today’s Gospel reading.  But this prophecy had a very poignant meaning for the time at which it was given; God’s people needed to hear what God’s expectations were of them. Interestingly, God’s expectations are the same for us.  The nations to the north of Judah were conspiring against it.  In chapter 7, God promises a king who would be “Emmanuel”, or “God with us”.  Today’s lesson talks about the time when this promised king will rule. 

THE DETAIL

• God promises that the gloomy days will be gone, and glorious times are coming.  Their relationships with the nations to the north (Naphtali and Zebulun) will be restored. There will be a time of peace and cooperation.  (v. 1)
• The people of the north (just mentioned) are not Jewish—they’re Gentiles.  They walk in darkness, because they do not know the Lord.  But in this new glorious time being foretold, the light of God will also shine on them.  (v. 2)
• This verse is addressed to the people of Judah. God is telling them that they will be the ones to bring this light to the people of darkness, the Gentiles. (v. 3)
• Finally, God reminds them that the people who lived in darkness are under a great burden.  God’s people will relieve them of this burden.  That’s a good thing!  (v. 4)
   

THE TAKEAWAY

The king of Judah ignored God’s advice and prophecy, and messed things up.  But those are just the details of the story.  God’s message to His people was that He wants His people to share His love with “the nations” (everybody).  In this time and place, we are God’s people.  We are the ones who share the Good News with those around us.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18

THE BACKGROUND

We’re still in chapter one of Paul’s first letter to the church of Corinth, but look at this—he has already jumped into one of the big problems with that church.  What might that problem be?

THE DETAIL

• Paul pleads with this church to get rid of the divisions that exist between them.  They are quarreling amongst themselves.  (vv. 10-11)
• At the heart of the problem is that they have grouped up into factions.  It appears that the division might be over who baptized each member.  (v. 12)
• Here’s a starter hint at where Paul’s coming from—it’s about Jesus.  More to follow.  (v. 13)
• As an aside, Paul tries to isolate himself from the foray.  He’s not sure, but he doesn’t think he baptized many in Corinth.  He seems to say “Don’t blame me!”  (vv. 14-16)
• Here’s another aside.  Apparently some preachers were more polished or eloquent speakers than Paul.  People must have been aligning with these fancy preachers.  (v. 17)
• Here’s the heart of the matter.  Paul’s message was and always will be about Christ crucified. Revering the cross might seem foolish to some.  After all, it was the equivalent of a hangman’s noose or the electric chair. It was a means of executing criminals. But to people of faith, the cross represents the power of God.  (v. 18)

THE TAKEAWAY

We are all guilty of this problem.  We like to think that our denomination is far superior to all those other ones.  Paul grabs us by the shoulders and says “Stop it!!!”  We are all washed in the Blood of the Lamb.  All our divisions are nonsense.  We need to love one another.
 

MATTHEW 4:12-23

THE BACKGROUND

This scene from the Gospel of Matthew is about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  He has just recently been baptized by John, and has called his first disciples.

THE DETAIL

• News comes to him that John the Baptist has been arrested by Herod.  Essentially, this signals the end of John’s ministry, and the beginning of Jesus’ mission. Jesus heads back to his home country, the northern region of Judea called Galilee.  (v. 12)
• He moves from his home town, and settles in Capernaum. It is about 30 miles to the northeast of Nazareth.  Capernaum is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It is also the northern edge of the country of Judea. Immediately to the north are the Gentile lands of Zebulun and Naphtali.  (v. 13)
• Matthew quotes Isaiah 9.  He reminds his Jewish readers of the prophecy of Isaiah.  (vv. 14-16)
• Thus begins the work of Jesus.  The message is clear.  Scripture has now been fulfilled.  Jesus is the light that has dawned.  Jesus is here to preach not only to the people of Judea, but to those nasty foreigners to the north, too.  The light is for “the nations”.  The light is for the whole world.

THE TAKEAWAY

Matthew was quick to recognize that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.  Jesus is the Light of the World!  We are Jesus’ servants in this time and place.  We, too, must shine the Gospel Light.  Jesus came for everyone, just as God told his people through Isaiah. 

MICAH 6:1-8

THE BACKGROUND

The kings of Judah had a team of court prophets.  Often, were yes-men, telling the king what he wanted to hear.  As a prophet, Micah was an outsider.  If there had been a private club in Jerusalem for prophets, Micah would not be allowed to be a member.  What set Micah apart from the rest was that like Isaiah and Hosea, he spoke for God’s Will. This was contrary to what the king and God’s people wanted to hear.  Today’s first lesson is the essence of his message to God’s people, both then and now.

THE DETAIL

• Micah presents his message in the form of a courtroom scene.  God has a complaint against His people.  He is calling the mountains and hills to be the jury.  God is going to present his case to His people. (vv. 1-2)
• God is obviously not happy with His people.  Have you ever had a parent complain to you, saying “What have I done, that I deserve this sort of behavior from you?”  (v. 3)
• God answers his own question, laying a little guilt trip on them.  He reminds them of the good things He has done for them, starting with rescuing them from slavery in Egypt.  (v. 4)
• He adds a log to the fire.  He reminds them of how their enemy King Balak called on the diviner Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam blessed them instead.  [Numbers 2] God further reminds them of how H                e led and protected them as they left their encampment in Shittim, crossed the Jordan River, and defeated the Canaanites at the city of Gilgal.  This would be the first city to fall to the Israelites as they take possession of the Promised Land.  [Joshua 3-4]  (v. 6)
• God’s people plead guilty to the charges.  They ask what their sentence should be.  They suggest a fancier, more intense form of worship.  (vv. 6-7)
• The people are reminded that God has already told them what to do.  It is not about quality of worship, but quality of life-actions.  It’s simple (but not easy)-- 
  • Do justice
  • Love kindness
  • Walk humbly

THE TAKEAWAY

It is easy to say “I love the Lord!”  But it is much more difficult to walk the walk in our daily actions.  This is not to say that God doesn’t appreciate quality worship.  But if the worship isn’t backed up by a humble heart and righteous acts of faith, then our worship becomes a hollow, hypocritical act.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31

THE BACKGROUND

This is a continuation of last week’s second lesson.  You may recall that Paul contrasted the eloquence of certain preachers who had come after him with the “foolishness of the cross”. 

THE DETAIL

• The cross on which Jesus was crucified was the worst form of a death sentence.  Romans had several other ways of doing this, but this was the slowest, most painful, and publicly humiliating.  To a non-believer, worshipping the cross seemed like a foolish activity.  (v. 18)
• Paul takes a pot-shot at wisdom and eloquence in the following verses.  He contrasts God’s wisdom with mankind’s wisdom.    (vv. 19-25)
• He then turns to the reader, holding up a mirror.  He reminds them that God has called them to be the wise, even though they were ordinary people.  This is the wisdom of God in action.  (vv. 26-27)
• Why would God do this?  For one reason, God likes to turn things upside down, as we will see in the gospel lesson.  He loves to challenge our thinking.  He does this so we will have no bragging rights; God gets all the credit, not us. (vv. 28-29)
• Last week, Paul told us to forget about all our divisions.  Forget about aligning yourself with Cephas, Apollo; or being Lutheran, Baptist, or Methodist.  It is all about God— we should boast only in the Lord, and what the Lord has done for us.  (vv. 30-31)

THE TAKEAWAY

These are powerful words, both then and now.  How easy it is to ignore these words.  God wants us to focus on our commonality, rather than our differences. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Back then, worshipping someone who was executed by crucifixion might seem to be foolish to many. What other aspects of Jesus’ life point to the foolishness of human wisdom, as compared to God’s?  Consider these.  1.  God’s very son was born to the household of a small-town carpenter, rather than somebody important.  2. God chose to have His son born in a stable rather than a palace.  Were these accidental occurrences, or part of God’s plan?  Why?
 

MATTHEW 5:1-12

THE BACKGROUND

I view today’s gospel lesson as the sort of kick-off or inaugural address of Jesus’ ministry. Chapters one through four give us the background to the life of Jesus.  Chapter three concludes with the baptism of Jesus.  Chapter four transitions from the work of John the Baptist to the work of Jesus.  The first of Jesus’ disciples are called.  Now, it’s time to get down to the business of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. In the verses just before today’s reading, we find Jesus teaching in the synagogues around the region of Galilee, proclaiming the good news, and healing the sick.  He is starting to draw a crowd.

THE DETAIL

• Jesus takes his disciples up a mountainside to teach them.  He is laying the foundation of what he intends to be an do in the years ahead.  Was he speaking these words to the crowd or just the disciples?  It is not clear.  (vv. 1-2)
• He teaches them what we now call The Beatitudes.  According to Webster, beatitude is “a state of utmost bliss”. Older translations use the word “blessed”, while newer ones use “happy”.  Both are an accurate translation of the word used in the original Greek.  Jesus tells us that we are blessed-happy when we are:
  • Poor in spirit
  • Mournful
  • Meek
  • Hunger and thirst
  • Need mercy
  • Pure in heart
  • Making peace
  • Being persecuted
  • Are being reviled
• Jesus tells us that if we are these, we should rejoice and be glad!  (I’m not so sure about that…)  The reason for our rejoicing is that God’s holy prophets also experienced these things, so we are in good company.  (v. 12)

THE TAKEAWAY

I don’t know about you, but this does not look like a “Happy List” to me!  In my life, I have come to learn that the list above are not the things that make me happy—quite the opposite. I am not alone.  I have had good Christians try to explain to me that “meekness is not weakness”.  I’m sorry, but I believe it is exactly that—meekness is weakness, and God’s heart goes out to the meek.  So, what is God’s point?  I believe that one reason He sent His son to us was to tell us what matters most to Him; what His priorities are.  This list from Jesus and his Father tells me that His way is not our way.  As adopted children of God, and heirs to the Kingdom, it is our duty to ascribe to God’s priorities rather than our own.  If we are experiencing any of these things, we can rest in the comfort that God loves us, and has blessed us.  If we those around us are experiencing these things, we should love and comfort them as a reflection of God’s love.  It is what God’s children do. 

ISAIAH 35:1-10

THE BACKGROUND

This passage is yet another of Isaiah’s prophecies that Christians have used to apply to Jesus, the Messiah.  In today’s gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus also refers to this text.  But the people of Isaiah’s time knew nothing of Jesus. Jesus wouldn’t be born for another 500 years.  When God spoke these words to His chosen people back then, it was because they needed to hear from him.  They were in exile, and facing assimilation and or extinction.  What did God intend His words to mean back then?  Let’s find out.  We’ll apply them to Jesus soon enough!

THE DETAIL

• Most of the first paragraph describes a time of ecological upheaval.  Everything will be turned on end.  They are to expect the unexpected. 
  • The desert will blossom. (vv. 1-2a)
  • The cedars of Lebanon will flourish in the desert, the desert will become fertile, like the valleys of Carmel and Sharon.  (v. 2b)
  • God’s power will be obvious to everyone because of this.  (v. 2c)
  • Get ready, and get fit—you’re going to be going back home soon!  (v. 3a)
  • God will rescue His people, which will become a vengeful act to their captors.  (vv. 3b-4)
• The miracles continue, this time with God’s people.  (vv. 5-6)
• The changes to the desert continue.  They signal the mighty power that God has and uses in rescuing His people.  (v. 7)
• There will be a clear and safe way homeward.  God’s redeemed are the only people who can travel on this path. (More vengeance, or is this a hint of the future?)  (vv. 8-9)
• The prophecy ends with the return home in joyous gladness.  (v. 10)

THE TAKEAWAY

In this time of climate change, I would love to take these hopeful words literally.  God does have the power to reverse the damage that mankind has done to the environment.  But this message of hope was given to strengthen the faith of those who wait for their Messiah.  For them, he is the one who will lead them home.  For me, this is Jesus, when he returns.
 

JAMES 5:7-10

THE BACKGROUND

Martin Luther did not have a high opinion of this epistle, because it puts a heavy emphasis on “works”. Martin Luther knew that “works” did not get us to heaven; faith does that.  But the words in today’s reading from this little book are perfect words for those of us who wait.

THE DETAIL

• James tells us to be patient, just like a farmer is patient after sowing his crops.  (v. 7)
• In like manner, we must strengthen our hearts and be patient.  Jesus could come any time now.  (v. 8)
• The previous chapter indicates that there was some suffering within James’ church(es). James encourages them to not focus on these troubles and grumble against one another.  Jesus is near—don’t let him catch you grumbling!  (v. 9)
• Finally, James reminds his readers of the suffering and patience of the prophets, who foretold the coming of the Messiah, and waited patiently for his arrival. (v. 10)

THE TAKEAWAY

We live in the “in-between times” between Jesus’ first and second coming.  Waiting for Jesus’ return, we also need patience.  We need the patience of a farmer and the prophets, who also waited for the coming of the Messiah.

MATTHEW 11:2-11

THE BACKGROUND

This is an interesting story.  John the Baptist has prepared the way for the Messiah.  He is in Herod’s jail now, where he will be executed.  John has a large following.  Through some of his disciples (followers), he sends an interesting message to Jesus.

THE DETAIL

• John asks his cousin if “he’s the one, or not”!  This question always puzzled me.  You think he’d just know!  But then again, John was expecting the one who followed him to come with “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:12.  And did Jesus act like this?  To an innocent bystander, you might see Jesus doing some healings and exorcisms, but also attending banquets with sinners and tax collectors.  Where was the fire?  (vv. 2-3)
• Jesus is the ever patient, ever loving teacher.  Rather than be angry with John, he asks him “What do you see?”  Then, he quotes Isaiah 35:5-6a from today’s first reading.  (vv. 4-5)
• He also throws in a little encouragement for John and others to simply watch, and not take offense.  (v. 6)
• In the second paragraph, Jesus turns to the crowd, and praises John.  He reminds them that they were surprised by what they saw in John.  Maybe Jesus is also telling his followers that they might also be surprised by what they will see in him.  (vv. 7-11)

THE TAKEAWAY

Even John let his expectations of the Messiah cloud his vision.  Jesus tells us to observe what is happening around us, and decide for ourselves.  We shouldn’t let expectations cloud our vision.  Yes, Jesus is coming again.  We should also count on being a little surprised when our expectations are a little “off”. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

If Jesus came tomorrow, what would you expect him to look like?  Would he wear sandals and a linen robe, or Dockers and a golf shirt?  What would you expect him to do that would convince you that he truly is the returning Jesus?

ADVENT COMMENT

Last week’s Advent theme was Hope.  Next week is Joy, and the last week is Peace.  This second week of advent carries the theme of Love.  We will see this love at work, especially in the second reading.

1. Hope
2. Love
3. Joy
4. Peace

ISAIAH 11:1-10

THE BACKGROUND

Long ago, God made a promise to His people that the Davidic line of kings would continue forever.  (2 Samuel 7:16)  During Isaiah’s time, the kingdom of Judah was being seriously threatened by Assyria.  Judah’s defeat would have meant the end of the Davidic line.  Today’s passage offers God’s people hope and reassurance in a time of uncertainty. 

THE DETAIL

• The prophet uses the image of a shoot of new growth coming out of the stump of an old tree that had been cut down.  The old tree is named Jesse, which is a reference to King David’s father.  A new branch issues forth, signifying new life for the Davidic line.  (v. 1)
• What follows is a long list of this new king’s virtues, the main virtue being his righteousness.  (vv. 2-5)
• An era of peace is proclaimed.  So peaceful is this time that the natural order is even changed to eliminate threats from bloodthirsty or poisonous creatures.  (vv. 6-9)
• The prophecy is summarized is verse 10.  This chosen one of God (a messiah) will be so glorious that other nations will be drawn to him.

THE TAKEAWAY

So, who was this promised messiah?  The answer depends on when you were born.  This prophecy was relayed to God’s people about 750 years before Jesus’ time. It probably meant something else to the people to whom God first intended it.  To the people of Isaiah’s time, hopes were pinned on the new king Hezekiah being God’s chosen one.  Hezekiah was indeed a holy and righteous man.  In many ways, he embodied this prophecy.  But he was also a warrior king.  Verses 6-9 didn’t fit into his job description.

A hundred and twenty years later, Judah was defeated by the Babylonians.  It was feared (and justifiably so) that the chances of returning to Judah and a David-like king were not very likely.  But these words from Isaiah provided comfort and promise for a new day.

Christians have long read this passage using their “Jesus Glasses”.  This passage describes our Messiah beautifully.  Messiah Jesus was the embodiment of righteousness.  He lived as a perfect example of righteous living, while he walked this earth.  When he comes again, he will bring peace.  Verses 4-5 are interesting to note.  Justice for the poor and meek comes not from force, but from words and right actions. 

ROMANS 15:4-13

THE BACKGROUND

Last week, I mentioned that the young Christian church in Rome consisted of a mix between Jewish and Gentile Christians.  It goes without saying that there was tension within this mix of cultures.  In today’s passage, Paul gently offers some suggestions for relieving this tension.

THE DETAIL

• Since the Christian Jews were well-versed in the Old Testament, this first verse was probably aimed at them.  He reminds them that all of scripture was written for their instruction.  (v. 4)
• Now he has their attention, he then borrows a couple of good words from that first sentence (steadfastness and encouragement), and builds upon it.  He prays that God will grant them to live in harmony, and in glorify God in one voice.  He wants them to get along together.  (vv. 5-6)
• Sometimes, when translating a word from one language to another there is no exact equivalent. In this instance, the word that appears as “welcome” can also mean “accept”.  I think the best thing to do here is to fuse them together, and use a combined meaning:  to welcomingly-accept someone.  To warmly, and whole-heartedly accept the others.  Paul instructs these diverse people to warmly and wholeheartedly accept and love one another, just as Christ “welcomingly-accepted” them.  (v. 7)
• He goes on to remind them how Jesus did this—by being obedient to the Father’s wishes for him to be His servant (by dying on the cross for everyone).  (vv. 8-9a)
• He backs up these statements with some Old Testament quotes which clearly show the Jewish Christians that God has always intended for the Gentiles (“the nations”) to also receive His grace.  The references are Psalm 18:49, Deuteronomy 32:43a, Psalm 117:1, and today’s first lesson Isaiah 11:10.
• Paul concludes with a blessing that they will be filled with the hope and joy that comes in believing in Jesus.  But wait! There’s more!  May they also abound in the Holy Spirit.  (v. 13)

THE TAKEAWAY

Paul’s words to this church are just as poignant for us today.  How often do we seek out those Christians who are most like us, ignoring those who are different?  Paul reminds us that Jesus died for everybody.  He loves everybody.  We, too, need to love everybody, no matter if they are from a different denomination, race, or ethnic background.  We must accept them as-is, and warmly welcome them as our brothers and sisters.

MATTHEW 3:1-12

THE BACKGROUND

Matthew got his gospel story off to a good start in chapters one and two, showing Jesus’ ancestral connection to Abraham and David.  Then, he jumped right into the Immaculate Conception, and birth of Jesus. Suddenly, in chapter three, he hits the pause button.  The scene jumps to Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist, who has a special assignment.

THE DETAIL

• John’s message is simple, but vital.  He is preparing people for the coming of the Messiah.  He is the one that Isaiah spoke of (Is. 40:3), who would prepare the way of the Lord.  (vv. 1-3)
• The description of John makes us stop and think.  The reference to the leather belt might have been to draw a parallel to Elijah (2 Kings 1:8).  I guess they didn’t wear leather belts back in the day.  Also, John’s diet isn’t all too appealing.  But living on locusts and wild honey might indicate that he was totally dependent on the Lord for food, just like Israel was during the Exodus. (v. 4)
• He must have done something right, because many were coming to him to confess and to repent. Perfect activities to engage in, when you know that the Messiah is on his way.  (vv. 5-6)
• When the religious elite appear, John does not hold back.  He urges them to confess and repent, or suffer the consequences.  (vv. 7-10)
• John states that he is only a messenger.  A forerunner. The one who follows is the one to worry about.  (vv. 11-12)

THE TAKEAWAY

John’s message is before us today.  Jesus is coming, and we are not whole.  We need to prepare a place for him in our hearts.  It is time for us to reflect on all the ways that we have fallen short of God’s expectations.  We can do better.  How will you prepare your heart for Jesus’ arrival? 

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY

Christ the King Sunday marks the end of the church year.  We examine Holy Scripture knowing that Jesus is our Messiah-king.  Next Sunday will be the first Sunday in Advent, which is the beginning of a new church year. 

For thousands of years, people were very aware of what a king was—they lived their lives under one for their entire lives.  We Americans have been freed from the burdens of a ruling king for about 250 years.  We know what one is, and find it easy to say that Jesus is our king.  But do we really know what that means?  Before we begin our study, let’s reflect on this whole concept of kings and kingdoms.

A king:

• Is a ruler with unquestionable authority.
• He is not chosen—it is a birthright
• He does what he wants, and asks no one for permission
• Obedience to the king is not an option, it is obligatory

A good king:

• Is just, and cares for his subjects 
• He can be trusted to look out for his subjects’ best interests
• Is a comfort and a treasure to his subjects
• Loyalty and obedience come easily

A bad king:

• Is selfish and cares little for justice or fairness
• Is an awful tyrant—a dictator
• Life is a misery under the rule of a bad king
• Loyalty is expected from all, and it is enforced with a heavy hand

JEREMIAH 23:1-6

THE BACKGROUND

Jeremiah lived during a very troubled time.  He lived during a time when a series of bad kings ruled in Israel and Judah.  He witnessed the wealthy and powerful neglecting or abusing the poor and powerless for their own gain.  He also saw the strength of the Babylonian army building, and knocking at Judah’s door.  He realized that God was about to take corrective action, and upset Judah’s apple cart.  God sent him to proclaim this message.  He was the bearer of some bad news.

THE DETAIL

• The proclamation begins with the word “woe”.  This is not going to be good!  This message is not directed to sheep farmers, but to the spiritual and political “shepherds” of Judah.  Verse 2 makes this clear.  Judah was a not a democracy.  It was a theocracy.  The court prophets were supposed to advise the king on God’s will for the people. But the if king had his own agenda, and if prophets wanted to remain in his court, they told the king what he wanted to hear.  The transgressions of these “shepherds” are detailed in chapter 22. They took advantage of the poor and powerless to line their own pockets with gold.  (vv. 1-2)
• God has had enough!  He is going to take matters into His own hands, and shepherd his flock Himself. He will gather up His people, and care for them.  He will give them a Good Shepherd, someone who will care for them.  (vv. 3-4)
• God then promises to restore the reign of the Davidic line, appointing a king who will rule righteously over everyone.  (vv. 5-6)

THE TAKEAWAY

Here begins the promise of a Messiah to God’s people.  They are about to experience much anguish at the hands of the Babylonians.  But God’s promise is that this is not the end, but a new beginning.  That all the corrupt and unjust kings that have been ruling their land are going to be replaced by one chosen by God himself. 

Christians have long seen Jesus as this promised one, the Messiah; our king.
 

COLOSSIANS 1:11-20

THE BACKGROUND

Immediately after Paul’s letter of greeting to the church in Colossae, he jumps into some heavy statements about the essence of Jesus. 

THE DETAIL

• This section begins by Paul wishing them to be made strong—ready to endure the hardship that they will surely face because of their faith.  (v. 11)
• They should “joyfully give thanks” to God for the inheritance [of life and faith] they received. He calls them all “saints of the light”. “The Light” is a reference to their devotion to Jesus as their savior-king.  (v. 12)
• He goes on to say that God has rescued us from “The Power of Darkness”, and transferred them to the kingdom of his Son.  The darkness here could refer to several things.  It could be the Roman Empire or to one of the religious orders of the day, either the pagan beliefs of the gentile Christians or the pushback from the Hebrew Christians. Regardless of which Paul meant, this is a strong statement.  If Paul is referring to Roman Empire, this is a treasonous statement.  If it refers to the Jewish authorities, the statement would be blasphemy.  That is punishable by death.  (v. 13)
• Next comes a description of Jesus and life in his kingdom:
  • We have redemption and forgiveness of sins (v. 14)
  • He was present at the creation of our world (vv. 15-16a)
  • Jesus actually created the kings and lords of our world, and they are all subject to him. (v. 16b)
  • Everything is subject to him.  Not only that, but he is the glue that holds it all together.  (v. 17)
  • Now, we switch from politics to the church.  He is not only the head of our church, but the first human to be raised from the dead to eternal life.  (v. 18)
  • Through His son—there is no longer a discrepancy between His expectations of us and our sinful actions.  He has reconciled the difference between God’s expectations and our actions.  (vv. 19-20)

THE TAKEAWAY

This not only clearly describes our Jesus, but it describes the ideal righteous king promised in Jeremiah 23.  
 

LUKE 23:33-43

THE BACKGROUND

In today’s gospel, we fast-forward to the crucifixion, and focus on the verbal exchange between the three men hanging on their crosses.  Earlier this year, we studied his trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Today, we will focus on the words which relate to Jesus’ kingship.

THE DETAIL

• The first verse sets the scene.  Three are being crucified, with Jesus in the middle.  (v. 33)
• True to the nature of Jesus and his Father, he prays for his Father to forgive his perpetrators for crucifying him.  [This alone could be a whole sermon!]  Then, the soldiers cast lots for the clothes they had stripped off those being crucified. See Psalm 22:18.  (v. 34)
• He is mocked by the crowd and by the soldiers.  The soldiers unwittingly call him “The King of the Jews”, which is what Pilate had written on the sign hung above his head.  (vv. 35-38)
• One of the criminals even joined the crowd with his mocking Jesus.  (v. 39)
• The other criminal, however, recognized Jesus for who he really was.  He asks Jesus to remember him when he reigns in his kingdom. Jesus, of course, recognizes the man’s faith, and assures him of his salvation.  (vv. 40-43)

THE TAKEAWAY

Many on that day either recognized Jesus as their true king, or proclaimed him as such through their ignorant mocking.  Let us also proclaim Jesus as our king!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In the passage from Jeremiah, God promises us a king who is righteous—one whose actions are just and right. We are promised a good king.

In Colossians, we see the attributes of Jesus.  He truly is our righteous king.

Let us join the second criminal being crucified with Jesus, and put our trust, faith, and loyalty with him.

MALACHI 4:1-2A

THE BACKGROUND

The end is near!  The church year, that is.  Advent marks the beginning of the church year, and that is only two Sundays away.  But this was also Malachi’s message.  He called for God’s people to change their ways, because the day of the Lord was at hand. He spoke of the return of Elijah, to call God’s people to repentance.  Christians would identify John the Baptist as the new Elijah. Let’s take a look at this very short passage.

THE DETAIL

• We are warned, through Malachi, that God is about to take action.  This action is likened to a fire; a fire which burns all the evildoers. (v. 1)
• The good news is that those who revere God’s name will be spared.  We should not fear this day—we will leap like caves from the stall. (v. 2a)

THE TAKEAWAY

Just a few weeks ago, we learned that God loves the humble heart.  What is the opposite of humility?  One answer could be arrogance.  In fact, Proverbs 16:5 states that “All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord.”  This passage from Malachi also tells us that if we love the Lord, we need not fear God’s actions in the final days.  We can put our trust in Him, knowing that He will save us.  In the meantime, let’s not be arrogant.  Let’s be humble.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:6-13

THE BACKGROUND

Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica is a sort of follow-up note to the first letter. It addresses one issue specifically. This church was especially keen on Jesus’ return.  In fact, some were preaching that he had already returned!  (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2.)  It appears that some were so convinced of this that they quit their jobs, knowing that the end was near.  This letter was written to urge them not to be deceived by false teachers, but to keep working, and be patient.   

THE DETAIL

• This is the beginning of Paul’s advice not to those who had quit working because the end was near, but to the people who knew them.  He says to keep away from them; isolate yourselves from them, and keep working. (v. 6a)
• He then reminds them of the example he and his team gave them, while they lived and preached among them.  Even though Paul and his crew had the right to ask for pay without working, they chose to hold down jobs.  This was to give them a good example of the Godly life.  All those who are able to work, should work.  (vv. 6b-11)
• So, while we wait for Jesus’ return, we should keep working, and not be weary in our waiting for his coming.  (v. 12)

THE TAKEAWAY

A long time ago, I would organize whitewater rafting trips for my friends.  We would all go, and have a good time rafting and camping together. Oftentimes, they would invite their friends to tag along.  One friend of a friend really wanted to go rafting with us, but declined.  He said that he expected Jesus’ second coming to happen before our camping weekend.  It was not worth making those plans.  We all had a great time, except for him, since he stayed home, waiting.  That was 30 years ago.

Many modern day preachers owe their success to preaching an end times message that is connected to current events.  Paul and Malachi tell us to keep our noses to the grindstone.  They tell us to beware of teachers with sensational claims.  Instead, we should keep the faith, and keep working. It will happen when it will happen. We can put our trust in Him, knowing that we are saved.  This will happen whether Jesus comes here first or we go there first.  Our job is to remain faithful, and keep working until that day comes. 

LUKE 21:5:19

THE BACKGROUND

In this part of Luke’s narrative, Jesus and his apostles have entered the holy city of Jerusalem. Here, they will celebrate the Passover meal, and Jesus will complete his earthly mission. 

THE DETAIL

• As this passage begins, they were in the temple that Herod had restored.  It was a beautiful place with gold-plated doors, white marble, and beautiful tapestries from Persia.  These country bumpkin Galileans were appropriately in awe.  (v. 5)
• Jesus tells them to take a good look because it won’t be long before it will all be destroyed. (v. 6)
• They all respond with a typical question—WHEN? We now know that it occurred about 35 years later.  (V. 7)
• Jesus doesn’t give them the date.  Instead, he turns this question into a teaching moment.  He tells them to beware of people who will say that the end is near, and that they claim to be the returned Jesus.  Jesus says to ignore these people.  (v. 8)
• Jesus then says that a lot of bad stuff is going to happen first.  (vv. 9-11)
• He then switched from timing, and talked about what would happen to them.  “…they will come and get all of you, and persecute you… because of my name.”  (v. 12)
• He assures us that he (through the Holy Spirit) will give us the strength, the words, and the wisdom, when we have an opportunity to testify. (vv. 13-15)
• Worse yet, we might even be betrayed by friends and family for being followers of Jesus. (vv. 16-17)
• But Jesus assures us that if we have strength (endurance), we will be saved.  (vv.  18-19)

THE TAKEAWAY

It is appropriate for Jesus to talk like this at this point in his life journey.  After all, he is about to be tried, tortured, and crucified for his obedience to the Father.  Those who follow him will encounter resistance from their families and friends, as well as those in authority.  We, too, can sometimes suffer for our faith in Jesus.  We need to focus our energy on strengthening our faith, and let God work out His plan to his own timetable.