It’s Christmas season again, when we reflect on Jesus’ first coming and anticipate his second. It might seem cliché for anyone vaguely familiar with Jesus to ask why he came. Obviously, he came to die in our place so we could be with him when we die, right? As critically true and important as that is, is that all? Why did Jesus say he came? A Reforming Prophet Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” John 9:39 One of a few reasons Jesus came […]
Tag Archives: Christmas
Your Invitation to God’s “Holy Day” Celebrations
Happy new year! I hope you are having a good holiday season. I use the word “holiday” deliberately here, not to obscure the centrality of Christ in Christmas, but to focus on the literal definition of “holiday”: a “holy” day. Throughout the year, we have various celebratory days that are “set apart” (that’s what “holy” means). The rest of the days are common, or unholy, by contrast. There’s nothing wrong with these ordinary days; they’re just not special like the others. As we start a new calendar year, did you know that God has a calendar full of scheduled holy […]
When Shepherds Encounter God’s Army
God has many titles/names. One of those is Yahweh Tzavot, which occurs 240 times in the Hebrew Bible along with other variations. What does this title mean? You and What Army? The word tzavot is the plural of tzava (צָבָא), which means an army or a large host/horde. While it often is attached to God, it also commonly describes earthly armies. For example, Abner was the commander of Saul’s army/tzava (1 Samuel 14:50, 26:5), and Joab was over David’s army (2 Samuel 8:16). Those serving at the tabernacle were considered to be in a tzava (Numbers 4:3), i.e. in God’s […]
Do Not Fear: God Is With Us
Most are familiar with the popular Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” but do you know the backstory to this title? It is most familiar in Jesus’ birth narrative, a message to Joseph from an angel: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:21-23 Immanuel 700 years before Jesus […]
The “Fourteenth” of Christmas
This traditional place for Jesus’ birth is marked with a silver fourteen-pointed star. Why fourteen? It is for the three lists of fourteen ancestors in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. The birth stories of Jesus are favorites, especially with the magi, the shepherds, and the baby in the manger, but few of us would say we enjoy this long list of names. However, to much of the Eastern part of our world, what to us is a boring list of names is actually extremely important and interesting. An organization that distributes audio Bibles reports that one out of three people […]
Advent of the Suffering Son of Joseph
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”“Joy to the world!”“‘Tis the season to be jolly!” In our culture, Christmas has become synonymous with a time of merry celebration. But, there are hurting people all over our broken world today that holiday clichés of cheer fail to help. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one this year, and this is your first Christmas with an empty chair. Maybe this is the 20th year in a row of being isolated from family or friends. I write this for you: understanding the meaning of Christmas won’t immediately take away your grief or loneliness. […]
A Great Miracle Happened There
Today was Christmas and the first day of Hanukkah (how often does they coincide like this?). What is this day about? Christians around the world commemorate the arrival of Jesus born in lowly conditions in Bethlehem. God come to earth. God had not abandoned the earth to its sins but was personally intervening to deal to it. Jesus’ Hebrew name, Yeshua, means ‘salvation’. Going back to about 165 BC, we find the origins of Hanukkah. The land of Israel was under the rule of the Greeks. Under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Torah was outlawed. The Temple was […]
Nativity Scene
I remember from a young age the various nativity scenes that were among our Christmas decorations. Picture your generic nativity scene. There’s Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a wooden manger with some hay. They’re in a wooden stable. There’s a couple shepherds with a couple sheep. There’s the three wisemen with their gifts and perhaps camels. Maybe there’s also the star overhead. Perhaps an angel is present, too. Finally, there’s a donkey and an ox in the stable, too. Sound familiar? There are the usual errors like the wooden manger and stable (they would have been stone). But at […]
That December Holiday
One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. Psalm 145:4-7 A few years ago I told my small group that at our next meeting we would discuss “that December holiday mentioned in the Bible.” What do you think we talked about? Hanukkah, of course! While […]
Christmas 2013
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 People gathered again at the Church of the Nativity, the traditional place of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Although […]