reading for: 16 december

LUKE 1:26-38

The Assurance of God’s Presence that Transcends all Levels of Society

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The message of Good news that Gabriel brings to Mary and all of humanity, is about the long awaited King of Israel who comes to lead and rescue God’s people. First, he tells Mary twice that she is favored by the Lord (Luke 1:28, 30) and declares the Lord is with her (Luke 1:28) and that she will conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God (Luke 1:35) who will reign as the divine King and descendant of David (Luke 1:32-33). This language of Jesus’ kingship and kingdom proclamation (4:43; 6:20; 7:28; 11:2; 23:42) as well as his Davidic ancestry (Luke 1:69; 2:4; 3:31, 18:38; 20:41) is found throughout the Gospel. 

It is interesting to find that at the moment of God’s divine interventions, assurance is offered before a message of celebration. The simple phrase, “do not be afraid,” offers comfort and hope to those without hope, as in the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:7, 24-25); miracles to those not looking for miracles, as in the case of Mary (Luke 1:26-27); and even disruption to those going about their daily routines, as in the case of the shepherds (Luke 2:8). 

Also, such assurance cuts across all levels of social status and roles. Zechariah is one who is of the priestly class, serving in the temple and overseeing the ritual life of the entire Jewish people (Luke 1:5, 8-10). He represents one with resources, access to power and influence, and one positioned around local and national authorities. Mary on the other hand, is a young woman who lacks all of the power, positioning, and prestige associated with Zechariah’s position. The shepherds too are a group of working class who rank low on the scale of power and privilege. 

In the New Testament, words of assurance have purpose. They offer comfort in times of great uncertainty and the rhythms of the everyday about to be disrupted. Moreover, words of assurance offer comfort when a community is under pressure and suffering attack and persecution presently (1 Peter 1:6-7; 3:14) or in the near future (Revelation 2:10). Words of assurance in the New Testament also create the space for courageous action to take place, as we read about Paul in the Book of Acts (Acts 18:9, 27:24). 

• REFLECT

  Has the Good News of Jesus’ kingship and kingdom made any difference in your life? If yes, how so? If not, why not? 

reading for: 17 december

2 SAMUEL 7:1-11, 16

The Promise of God’s Permanent Presence that Climaxes in King Jesus

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  King David is feeling comfortable in his beautiful palace wants to build God a house – a physical temple, made of stone or cedar), quite likely because he desires God’s permanent presence in Israel. The Prophet Nathan appears to want the king to remain that way, and affirms that David should act upon his desires. 

  That night, however, the Lord intervenes and instead makes David an everlasting promise, to build him a house. However, it is of a house not of stone or cedar, but a royal dynasty that the Lord will establish for David, forever (7:16). 

  This ‘dynastic house’ is closely connected with David, though it is clear that the building and blessing of the dynasty is the Lord’s doing. “I took you from the pasture…” says the Lord to David (2 Samuel 7:8b-16) regarding his call and appointment. This is the Lord’s doing. An important piece of this is the central importance of the people of Israel (7:10). The royal house is not established solely for the king of the day but for the Lord’s people. Throughout the history between God and His people, God remains faithful while not all of David’s descendants do and we might wonder if the promise of an everlasting kingdom will eventually happen. This is when Jesus of Nazareth, the son of David arrives at Christmas and through the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ incarnation, life, ministry, death and resurrection, we finally see the promise to David finally fulfilled - his house and throne are established forever. 

  The salvation that Jesus offers is received and effected through following him and his way of life. Jesus comes as King to lead us, his people, to God the Father. It is in learning to surrender our own will to the Father, just as Jesus did, learning to trust God totally, just as Jesus did, learning to love others, just as Jesus did, that leads us to the Father and eternal life. This is the Good News of the birth of our King at Christmas.

• REFLECT

  Many Christians believe the ‘Good News’ is about going to heaven after we die. How does this passage challenge, affirm or refine your understanding of what it means to be ‘saved’? 

reading for: 18 december

ROMANS 16:25-27

The Glory of God’s Presence found in Humble in Obedience

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  This short hymn of praise, crowns the past sixteen chapters of the epistle which focuses on God’s project to bring all humanity to the obedience of faith in the Gospel, and in doing so, bringing great glory to God. 

  Initiated by God’s divine self-giving love, this project reaches it’s climax through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of the world. God’s glory is then the glory of his love, which is his very essence (1 John 4:8).

  The obedience of faith can be considered the height of God’s glory not because God is after “big salvation numbers” but because faith in the God who is love, transforms us into his likeness (Colossians 3:10). And when we behold the face of the glorious God, we are transformed into the image of his glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Likewise, in 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, it is through the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the preaching of his Gospel, that we come to a “knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In Philippians 2:1-11, Jesus is raised and exulted by God the Father is not a result of Jesus’ will to human power or his claim to divine privilege; it is a result of his servant-like, suffering obedience even to the point of death on a cross.

  The humility of God in the person of Jesus Christ redefines glory forever. The lavish royal thrones of human rulers no longer express the glory of true kingship. The royal throne of the crucified God is now forever defined by the humility of a carpenter on a cross, destroying all sinful human prestige, power, and arrogance.

  Earlier in Romans 5:1-11, the glorious love of the Gospel is on full display: Christ died for humanity while we were still sinners. The Gospel is a story about the humble king who died for a people who hated him in order that his sacrificial death might turn their hate into divine, world-transforming, redemptive, cruciform love. 

  The obedience of active, loving faith glorifies God because it transforms individuals and the world through the power of divine love into the image of divine love. 

• REFLECT

  Is your faith active and loving? How have you ‘glorified’ God through your love for others in your LG or family or colleagues this year?  

reading for: 19 december

PSALM 89:1-4, 19-26

The Steadfast Presence of God who Establishes His Rule and Defeats the Enemy

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  This wonderful and important royal psalm emphasizes God’s promise to be with King David and his line forever. Royal psalms place particular emphasis on:

  • God’s covenant with David

  • the crowning of David and his sons

  • the high expectations of kingship

  • the special relationship between God and the Davidic kings who are considered God’s sons, and

  • God’s unbreakable promise.

  That’s why the royal psalms are very often important for the writers of the New Testament… they point to Jesus. And they are particularly important in this season of Advent. 

  Psalm 89 begins by praising the firmness of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness as explicitly made manifest in God’s covenant with David. This covenant is “forever” and “for all generations.” Take note of the very direct and personal activities of God:

  • I will establish and build (verse 4),

  • I have set and exalted (verse 19),

  • I have found and anointed (verse 20),

  • I shall remain and strengthen (verse 21),

  • I will crush and strike down (verse 23), and

  • I will set (verse 25).

  These verbs speak volumes about the nature and extent of God’s promise to David.

  Note also that God supports David not only with the ever-present divine faithfulness and steadfast love (verses 2 and 24) but also with the divine hand and arm (verse 21). The mention of God’s arm invariably leads us to think of God as warrior. Which is to say, God’s might is required as well as God’s commitment.

  Strength is needed because of the presence of the enemy. In verses 22-23, God commits to crushing and striking down the foes of the Davidic king. That this battle has cosmic dimensions. The promise of verse 25 is that the Davidic king’s hand and arm set on the very same sea will partake of this same cosmic power, but now the enemy is the very real enemy at the gates. This promise to defeat the enemy stands at the very heart of Psalm 89.

• REFLECT

  When we hear the Davidic king cry to God in verse 26, “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!” do we also hear also the cry of Jesus from the cross? If this is one way Advent and Christmas are joined to Good Friday and Easter, how does this shape our understanding of God’s character and purposes? How can we live in the light of this as His people?