Strong Church: Living Between the Advents of Jesus

We are 5 days away from Christmas!! And I’m sure you’ve already heard carols being played everywhere. The carol “Joy to the World” has always been a favourite - both for the church and in the world. There’s something about the song that makes us feel the joy of Christmas. Today I want to remind us both of reason for the Joy; and also the Waiting that must come with that Joy.

The reason for the Joy is made very clear in the message Angel Gabriel first gave to Mary, the mother of Jesus -

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”” (Luke 1:31–33 ESV)

According to the Angel, we can be Joyful because -

1. Someone is arriving who will be so close to God and so like Him, that he will inherit the title “Son of the Most High”.

2. Someone is arriving whom God Himself will give the throne of David as promised by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 7, and this person will rule of God’s covenant people - a Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation.

3. Someone is arriving who will unite every man, woman and child; together with all living creatures; past present and future; in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth.

Christmas reminds us that we can say Joy to the World because in Jesus, this Someone did arrive. Jesus learnt obedience to God, as a son to a Father even unto death (Heb 5:8, Phil 2:9-11). This Someone set an example for all the children of Israel, a Priest and a true Citizen of the Holy Nation (Eph 2:18-20, 1 Peter 2:4-10). And this Someone was raised by God, and exalted as the True Governor who is uniting all things in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth (Col 1:15-20, 1 Cor 15:25-28)

But wait, if that Someone has already come, then why do we not see everyone believing in Jesus as the “Son of the Most High”? And why is the Chosen Generation looking so weak and foolish? And why do we not see peace and unity on earth under His Kingship? We don’t see yet but we will. This is the Hope we have. And despite not seeing yet, we continue to be full of faith that Jesus IS that Someone. And so we wait patiently, labouring in Love and doing good in order to receive a reward from our King when He returns.

And this is what Paul means when he describes us, not only as the people who believe that Jesus has come; but as the people who are waiting “for his Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

May we be found faithful, when He returns!