Review: "The Daily Stoic" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utcArZMO3ys&feature=youtu.be

Review: "The Daily Stoic" (manuscript)

 

            This past year I read through the daily reading of The Daily Stoic:  366 Meditations on Wisdom, 

Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday.  I have reviewed Holiday’s “stoic trilogy” 

previously.

            As one might expect, each day has a reading from the Stoics, and then a short commentary that directs the reader to put the reading into practice.

            Holiday divides the readings into three disciplines:  the discipline of perception – understanding the difference between what we can change and what we cannot change, the discipline of action – living a virtuous life and becoming the person you want to be, and the discipline of will – understanding that we can only control our own use of reason.

            Each month in the three disciplines focuses on one aspect of the discipline.

            At the end of the book, Holiday invites the reader to sign up for daily readings and book recommendations I his e-mail.  He also has a glossary of terms and a list of books for further reading.

            I did not agree with everything in the readings – I suspect it is rare that anyone completely agrees with any author much less class of authors, but I found all of it helpful in one way or another in becoming more able to think clearly and responsibly – living a life worth living – by focusing on the realities of life, who I ought to be, and my inability to make others be other than they are.

            I will use this guide again, and I am following up on suggested reading and reading the stoics in full in primary editions.  It is well worth your time to pick up this book.

            For those who are interested, Stoic philosophy is the basis for cognitive-behavioral therapy.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "Two Boys Kissing" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4koGj0Fz8U&feature=youtu.be

Review: "Two Boys Kissing" (manuscript)

             Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan is not a book to be judged by its title.

            This is the story of two young men – ex-boyfriends – who decide to break the Guinness World Record for the length of a kiss – over thirty hours.  The author explains in the afterward that his novel is based on the true story of two college student who break the world’s record.

            The novel is about relationships and who will be there for you in the end.  It features the couple who are no longer involved, a new couple, and a couple who have been together for some time, but the focus of the book is not sexuality.  I emphasize this because some will bristle seeing a review such as this on my channel.  There are many types of people in the world – good novels deal with all of them.

            In my reading of the book, the key to its story is found near the end where the author writes, “It’s one of the secrets of strength:  We’re so much more likely to find it in the service of others than we are to find it in service to ourselves” (153).

            I think that’s a great message.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "The Song of Achilles" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMo_EHTNycQ&feature=youtu.be

Review: "The Song of Achilles" (manuscript)

 

            The Song of Achilles is Madeline Miller’s first novel – I reviewed her second novel, Circe, previously.

            The Song of Achilles is about the Greek hero, Achilles, his part in the war to retrieve Helen, and his love of his companion, Patroclus.  Homer paints Achilles and Patroclus as having what we would now call a “bromance,” whereas later writers paint it as a homosexual relationship.

            Whatever the case may be in the literature, Miller’s work is engaging and enjoyably readable.  You get to see the human contradictions of one who is born half-god.  Achilles is humble and loving, and he is arrogant and petty.

            In the end, the reader sees Achilles as someone who wants the glory of war, but really couldn’t care less about Helen, but, if he had his druthers, he would live quietly with Patroclus.

            A very enjoyable read.

            Two essays the author wrote are appended to the novel, as well as a summary of the major players in the novel.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: "In Search of the Wild Tofurky" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYucgK_iHCw&feature=youtu.be

Review: "In Search of the Wild Tofurky" (manuscript)

 

            Seth Tibbott’s In Search of the Wild Tofurky:  How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-Based Foods Before They Were Cool is the story of having passion and being in the right place at the right time.

            Tibbott loves nature and began by taking people out into nature for periods of learning and reconnection.  This led him to build tree houses for adults and seeking out healthful foods, such as tofu, and, in a hippie group, tempeh.

            Tempeh was Tibbott’s first big success – seeking to make Tempeh as popular as granola.  He had his ups and downs – doing the lion's share of the work himself and not being too concerned about how much money he made or lived on – though he was shooting for the magic goal of a profit of $1,000 a month.

            He did make a go of his tempeh business, earning more than he could have ever imagined – selling the company off when it became large enough.  Then he wondered what to do next – and friends introduced him to a stuffed tofu to replace turkey on Thanksgiving – and the rest is history.  Tibbott worked on the recipe and perfected it into what we can find on our supermarket shelves today.

            Tibbott is passionate – and this book is an encouragement to anyone who wants to make a business of their own.  It takes lots of hard work with years of not getting far.  Still, that is no guarantee.  It takes both having a vision or goal and being in the right place at the right time, as Tibbott was.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

"They Went" Sermon: Matthew 2:1-12 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv3FaMDjAfg&feature=youtu.be

"They Went" Sermon: Matthew 2:1-12 (manuscript)

 

“They Went”

[Matthew 2:1-12]

January 3, 2021 YouTube

            We look at the magi again this morning – looking at the passage preceding the one we looked at last week. 

Today is Epiphany.  An epiphany is a revelation, insight, or revealing, and we see that in this text – in a text that shows us that the magi went where they were shown to go.

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,”

Sometime after Jesus was born, magi come from the east to Jerusalem.  The magi were a class of prophets, priests, and astrologers from the near east – likely Iraq and Iran.  Thus, they were Gentiles – not Jews.  Among other things, they studied the stars and made conclusions based on what they saw in them.

Herod, as we saw last week, is an Edomite – a descendant of Esau and the enemies of Israel – and someone whose allegiance is with the Romans.  He is an evil and paranoid king who kills anyone who he thinks is coming after his throne – which includes many of his family members.

The magi come from the east and end up in Jerusalem before King Herod.  The star – as we see momentarily – leads them from their homelands to Judah.  They interpret the star as an omen of the birth of a new king of Israel – and they assume that this king will be found in the royal palace of the current king.

“saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’”

The magi are given an audience with King Herod.  They tell him that they watch the stars, and one of them – the uncommon star that moves and guides them to Israel – is an omen of the birth of a new king, and they have come to worship the new king.  They don’t question whether the King has been born – they know the omen says He has been born.  They understand that He is a different king – a king Who rules over the Jews and the Gentiles.

The magi assume the baby will be in the palace.  If not, they think – surely – the current king will know where his successor can be found.  Not only that, but there is something in the star – something in the omen that they conclude from it that prepares them to worship this newborn King.  Notice, they did not fall down before Herod.  They did not worship Herod.  But they know something about this new King from what they saw in the star.

We will remember that shepherds are told by angels of the birth of Jesus and they rush to see the Baby – Christ, the Lord.  And when they leave the manger, they go through hill and dale and tell everyone they come in contact about what they have seen – the coming of the Messiah.  Did anyone believe them?

Haggai prophecies, “And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:7, ESV).

God will shake the nations and send the treasures of all nations – the desire of all nations – to come in and God will fill His house with glory.

There is next to no evidence that many people believe that Jesus is the Savior prior to His public ministry.  A few did – perhaps some magi – some Gentiles – maybe a few others.

“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;”

It is no surprise that when the magi come to Herod and say that they have seen his successor has been born and they want to see Him and meet Him and worship Him, Herod’s head spins around!  Herod is terrified that this little Baby is going to come after him and take his throne.  And all those who supported Herod – and who know how quick he is to slaughter people – are terrified of Herod because he could come after them and their children.

“and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “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 shepherd my people Israel.’”

            Micah prophecies, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2, ESV).

            The Ruler is to be born in Bethlehem – and Herod probably knows that – he just wants his prophets to say it to the magi.  Bethlehem – meaning “the house of bread” – is an appropriate place for “the manna from Heaven” to be born.

As Jesus says, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:48-51, ESV).

            This King comes from “of old” and from “ancient days” – from God Himself.

            Herod is terrified, but for the wrong reason:  Jesus will not depose him from his throne.  But He is the Savior, and Herod does not believe in Him as Savior.

            “Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. “And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.”

            Herod decides to set the magi up – he puts on his best suave buddy self and calls the magi to meet with him in private.  “I am so excited that you came to me!  I want to charge you to find out exactly where the newborn King is.  Find Him and come back and tell me so I can visit Him and worship Him as well.  How wonderful that this should happen during my reign.  I am humbled to know He is born and you will help me find Him.”

            The magi agree to return and tell Herod where He can find the newborn King Who is from old and sent by God – the One they are being led to by a star – the fulfillment of the salvation promise.

            The star comes out and they go.  They see Herod and they go.  They are off to worship the newborn King.

            Does the opportunity to worship fill us with the same excitement that they experienced?  Does His star rising in our hearts cause us to desire to be with Him and worship Him?  Are we more excited about Saturday or Sunday?

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Will you rejoice when the churches are all open again and we can worship together in the sanctuary?  Will you rejoice with exceedingly great joy?

After the magi leave Herod, the star appears again – and they are excited and joyful and jump up and down and hug each other.  They are being led to the newborn King!  They are being led to Him.  They are ready to fall down and worship Him for the privilege of being together in His presence.

Jesus says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16, ESV).

“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Not only do they go where the star leads them.  Not only do they go planning to worship the newborn King of all people.  Not only do they plan to fall down before Him in humility and service.  They carry their gifts to Him.  From many miles away, they prepare their offering and bring it with them as part of their worship of the newborn King.

And the gifts are interesting – are they not?

They bring the Baby gold.  Gold is valuable, of course, but it is also the gift that you would give to a king.  They believe that Jesus is King, so it makes sense that they bring Him gold.  They worship Him as their king.

They bring the Baby frankincense. Frankincense is a type of incense that was to be burned in worship of God.  They believe that Jesus is God, and they give Him the incense that is for God – the incense that God said to burn for Him.

Now, the question arises – do the magi believe savingly in Jesus?  Do the magi truly understand Who Jesus is and Who He will say He is during His ministry?  Has God changed out their hearts by a work of the Holy Spirit?  Or have they been led as a witness they do not really understand?

We’re not told.  We never hear about the magi again.  We hope and pray that they were or became believers, but we just don’t know.  The most we can say is that – at the very least – they are witnesses to Who Jesus is.

The third type of gift they bring is myrrh.  This gift is somewhat odd.  Myrrh is a medicinal herb and one used in burial.

Mark records – as Jesus hangs on the cross, “And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (Mark 15:23, ESV).

Myrrh is an analgesic – among other things – is it used as a medication to help reduce pain.  It was something offered to the crucified to help reduce their pain as they suffer the most horrific death humans have imagined.

Matthew records of Jesus’ burial, “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So, he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:38-40, ESV).

This gift is as strange as the gift of frankincense – and we wonder again – did God give them insight into what would happen to Jesus?  We have no way of knowing.

We only know Mary’s reaction to all these things: “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19, ESV).

“And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

The magi intended to keep their promise to Herod and tell him where Jesus is, but an angel tells them not to do it, so they go home to their country by another route.

Why?  So, when Herod rages with anger at them not returning, Jesus and His family will safely escape to Egypt – as we talked about last week.

When the magi see the strange star in the sky, they determine it is an omen of the birth of the newborn King of Israel, and they go after it.  They know the King has been born – a king for all the people.  They prepare their offering of gold, frankincense, and myrrh – signifying that He is King and God, and He will die a most horrific death and be buried.  They go with exceedingly great joy to be able to worship Him.

What did they actually know?  What did they actually believe in their hearts?  We will not know until we are received into the Kingdom.

If you believe that Jesus is God and King, the Promised Savior, do you long to be with Him?  Do you rejoice to be with His people and worship Him?

May we go with more urgency and joy than the magi, for He is our Savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for the witness of the magi – that they went at the sign You gave them, prepared to give gifts and to worship Your Son, Jesus.  Stir up the fires in our hearts – even as we are limited in this time of Covid – that we would seek out ways to worship Him and worship together – and that we would pray for and long for – with great joy – the day when we can worship together as Your Church – and for the day when we will come before Jesus and fall down before Him in worship.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Herod's Evil" Sermon: Matthew 2:16-18 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXmaIAN0EU&feature=youtu.be

"Herod's Evil" Sermon: Matthew 2:16-18 (manuscript)

“Herod’s Evil”

[Matthew 2:16-18]

December 27, 2020 YouTube

            We have remembered the Incarnation of God in the person of Jesus – the baby born on Christmas.  We continue through the Christian year – with the next major liturgical event being Epiphany – the coming of the Magi – which, Lord willing – we will look at next week.

            A so-called “minor” liturgical event is celebrated on the Western liturgical calendar tomorrow – Monday – happens immediately after the history of the magi – the slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem.  We will consider this text today, even though it happens after the text we plan to look at next week.

            In the text preceding this morning’s reading, we read about magi – astrologers – who come from the east – possibly from Iran or Iraq.  They have followed a star which moves and leads them to Judah.  They determine that the star is a sign of the birth of a new King of the Jews, so they go to the palace in Jerusalem to look for him.  But he is not there.  Instead, they find King Herod, who ask his wise men who say the prophets say the King of the Jews will be born in Bethlehem.

            Herod sends the magi on their way and tells them that he wants them to return and tell him exactly where the newborn King is so he can worship him, and off they go.

            Herod the Great – called such because of his great building projects – including the renovation and expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem – lived from 72 B. C. to 4 A. D.  He was a descendant of the Edomites – of Esau – enemies of Israel – and a Hellenist – He favored all things Greek and Roman over traditional – biblical – Judaism.  So, he reigned as an intermediary between the Romans and the Jews, though his first allegiance was to the Romans.

            Besides being a great builder and ally of Rome, he was a wicked and paranoid man.  During his reign, he killed off most of his family members – including most of his children – sure they were conspiring against him, and at one point he killed off the members of the Sanhedrin – the ruling body over the Jews.  And just before his death – realizing that no one would mourn his death – Herod instructed his soldiers to gather the most respected people of Judah at the moment of his death and slaughter them so there would be weeping and mourning when he died – even if it were not for him.  This penchant for slaughtering people led Caesar Augustus to say, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than it is to be his son.”

            This all being the case, we are not surprised to read:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

The magi agree to come back to tell Herod where the newborn King is so Herod can go and worship Him, but an angel warns the magi against going back to Herod, so they return home by another way.  The angel also warns Mary and Joseph, and they take Jesus and settle in Egypt.

After a while – we don’t know exactly how long – Herod realizes that the magi are not going to return – they are not going to tell him where in Bethlehem to find Jesus.  And Herod becomes furious.  In his paranoia, he thinks the baby will be coming after him to steal the throne from him.  There is left to him only one course of action – kill all the male children under two years old – including one of his sons – to make sure the King is dead.  What he didn’t know is that Jesus is in Egypt, not Bethlehem.

Scholars estimate that some twenty-five children were killed in Bethlehem that day.

“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.’”

We have talked about types in the Bible – shadows – parallels – things that really do happen in history but also point to something else that will happen in history or that did happen in history – especially with regards to Jesus and His ministry.

Matthew tells us that these children are slaughtered to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah.  The prophecy reads:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more’” (Jeremiah 31:15, ESV).

            This prophecy – in the first place – concerns the conquest of Judah by the Babylonians and their being taken into captivity.  After the Babylonians conquer Benjamin, they have the captives gather on a hill in Ramah, where their ancestor, Rachel, was buried.  When they gather there, they weep for their children – who will be taken with them to a foreign land and might never return to the Promised Land and the Temple.  It is a time of great mourning and weeping for them and their children.

            Ramah is a significant place in biblical history:  it is also where Benjamin is buried, Ramah is called “Arimathea” in the New Testament – where Joseph who took Jesus’ body is from, Samuel is born there, and Saul is anointed King there.  It is near to Bethlehem.

            They might have looked back to another time when children are killed en masse – though not the children of Judah:

            Moses brings nine plagues upon Egypt by the Hand of God – and a tenth is announced if Pharaoh does not set Israel free.  Pharaoh refuses, and we read:

            “At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead” (Exodus 12:29-30, ESV).

            Likewise, the children of Ramah – Bethlehem – are taken away.  And the mothers of the children will not be comforted – they are not just taken into a foreign land, but they are slaughtered before them by the emissaries of their wicked king.

            We might wonder why this is a feast day – even a minor one – why is it on the liturgical calendar?  Why would we want to remember this slaughter?  What good did it accomplish?

            Matthew Henry writes, “They are a noble army of martyrs. … They shed their blood for him, who afterwards shed his blood for them.”

            King Herod does this evil to make sure that the newborn King of the Jews – Jesus – is dead.  The angel has Mary, Joseph, and Jesus escape to Egypt.  And the male children under two in Ramah are slaughtered so Herod will believe that Jesus is dead.  The slaughter of these children was part of God’s plan to save Jesus that He could die for all those who will believe.

            Mary and Joseph know what will come one day.  At Jesus’ bris, we read:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed’” (Luke 2:34-35, ESV).

Jesus is prepared to die at the hands of wicked men to save all those who will believe, “saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised’” (Luke 9:22, ESV).

And Peter preaches, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:22-24, ESV).

Why ought we remember and rejoice in such a wicked event?  Because the death of those children keeps Jesus safe, so He can live a perfect life under the Law, die for the sins of all those who will believe, physically rise, and ascend back to the Father – having saved all those He came to save – making us right with God – and assuring us eternal life in His Kingdom.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we are horrified at the wickedness of King Herod, and we weep at the slaughter of the children of Ramah, yet we rejoice that You kept Your Son safe through their death that He would live and die for all those who will believe that He is God the Savior.  Help us to be confident that You are working all things together for the good of those who love You.  We pray that Your will would be done, and we believe that no matter what happens, You will is being accomplished.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"God with Us" Sermon: Matthew 1:18-25 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgYsOQjSwos&feature=youtu.be

"God with Us" Sermon: Matthew 1:18-25 (manuscript)

 

“God with Us”

[Matthew 1:18-25]

December 24, 2020 YouTube

            Our time of waiting has ended, we are about to celebrate the remembrance of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, God Incarnate – God in the flesh.

            This evening we look at what is recorded about Joseph prior to the birth of Jesus.

            First, the claim that God is born in the flesh is unbelievable.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”

Mary and Joseph were betrothed – they were engaged, and in Ancient Israel, engagement was a done by a legal contract not unlike marriage.  Today we get engaged and unengaged and it is no big deal.  It was a big deal in those days – it was entered into with much more seriousness that we do today.

Mary – who had been visited by the angel, Gabriel, told Joseph that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.  One thing Joseph knew – this was not his child – they had not had intercourse.  But God impregnated Mary?

Imagine your fiancé comes to you and says, “Honey, I’m pregnant.  Don’t worry, I haven’t cheated on you – this is God’s baby – He caused me to be with child.”  

We should not be surprised that Joseph does not believe her, should we?  This sounds incredible.  It is incredible.  God caused Mary to be with child?

Joseph can’t comprehend this.  He doesn’t want to believe that Mary cheated on him, but what other explanation is there?

But Joseph loves Mary – deeply.  He does not want to disgrace her or take revenge on her.  It would be more that he wishes to leave her pregnant with her explanation.  But does he really want to be looked at as that fool who married a woman who cheated on him before the wedding?

Joseph could bring her before the elders for them to check to see if she is still a virgin, as she claims. Joseph could have brought Mary up on charges of adultery and even had her stoned to death, but he loves her.

So, he decides to divorce her quietly.  He wants to hurt her as little as possible, but he cannot bring himself to marry her when he knows the child is not his.

“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

The claim the God is born in the flesh is just unbelievable.

Second, Jesus is God born on the flesh – God with us.

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

As Joseph is figuring out who to call to get the divorce through as quietly as possible, an angel appears to Joseph, and he tells Joseph three things:

Joseph, you are a son of David.  The royal family line flows through your blood – the line of the Kings of Jerusalem. (And Jesus is to be known as the King of kings.)

Joseph don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  No matter how many people shake their heads and mock you for marrying a woman who bears a son that is not yours.

Joseph don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because she is actually with child by God the Holy Spirit.

Your son is God in the flesh.  Mary is telling you the truth.  This is all part of the mystery of God working out His plan.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

This son that Mary bears, you shall name Jesus.  He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior Who was prophesied in the Garden and ever since.  He is a real human being, because only a real human being can take the place of a real human being before God – and that is what He will do:  He will stand before the Father – bearing all the sin of everyone who will ever believe – and God will punish Jesus in that moment on the cross with eternal punishment for each believer – He will pay the debt for all of our 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).”

Isaiah was given the prophecy that the virgin will conceive – without a man – and bear a son.  This Son is God in the flesh.  This Son is God with us.  This Son is Immanuel.

Jesus must be God with us, because salvation requires that we keep the whole Law of God perfectly – God requires that we be sinless and righteous.  No mere human has ever perfectly kept the Law.  He is only Immanuel – God with us – a human born without the participation of a man – born without Original sin – without a sin nature, so He can keep the whole Law of God perfectly – and, having taken all of our sins upon Himself, He can credit each one of us with the perfect keeping of the Law, so we are now not just sinless, but righteous.

Therefore, Jesus must be more than just a human.  He must be a real human, but sinless, to pay the debt for our sin.  But He also must be the One True God – in the flesh – yes, God with us – among humans, so He would live under and keep the Law for our sakes.

Paul writes of Immanuel:

 “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

“He was manifested in the flesh,

“vindicated by the Spirit,

“seen by angels,

“proclaimed among the nations,

“believed on in the world,

“taken up in glory” (I Timothy 3:16, ESV).

And of Jesus, he writes:

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” (Colossians 2:9, ESV).

            Jesus is God in the flesh – God with us.

            Third, Love came down.

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

The fact the Joseph obeyed and did not have relations with Mary until after the birth of Jesus is told to us to assure us that Jesus is not Joseph’s biological son.  Jesus is born of the Virgin.  He is God Incarnate.  God with us.  The Savior – being human and God.

One of the ways we can understand God with us and put a little context to this event is to say that Love came down.  Jesus came – God with us – Jesus of Nazareth – because God loves His people.

Many of us will know this by heart:

Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17, ESV).

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15, ESV).

There is a real sense in which we should understand God with us as God loves us – Love came down.

In the Nicene Creed (325 A. D.) we read, “who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_versions_of_the_Nicene_Creed].

God loves His people and sent His Love – His Son – God with us – to incarnate by the Holy Spirit, through the Virgin Mary, as a real human and God – to make us right with God – to save us – to make us able to love God.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for sending God in the person of Your Son to be with us – to be our Savior.  Help us to focus on Him and what He has done as we celebrate the remembrance of His birth as Jesus of Nazareth.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Come, Meet with Him" Sermon: Hebrews 10:19-25 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT5aGxgkbCA&feature=youtu.be

"Come, Meet with Him" Sermon: Hebrews 10:19-25 (manuscript)

 

“Come, Meet with Him”

[Hebrews 10:19-25]

December 20, 2020 YouTube

            The hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful” begins

            “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

“O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem

“O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels

            “O come, let us adore Him

“O come, let us adore Him

“O come, let us adore Him

“Christ the Lord”

This is now the fourth Sunday of Advent – we have almost concluded the period of waiting before the celebratory remembrance of the Incarnation of God in the person of Jesus – the little baby born to the Virgin Mary.

This Sunday or next Sunday – maybe Christmas Eve – we will see people we haven’t seen all year – unless they felt guilty during Easter – or had the money to dress the kids up.  Now, that’s not being cynical – the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians – at least in this area of the world – do not attend worship in the Church with other Christians on any regular basis.

“Come and worship, come and worship” – yes, Christmas is a special day in the liturgical year.  Is the lack of commitment due to the stress that is put on the fact that we can speak to God – pray to God – anywhere that we are? Is it because many churches don’t preach the Bible anymore – and offer up poor imitations of entertainment that people get sick of in favor of better options?

It’s interesting that one of the Lectionary readings for today is this text from Hebrews.  R. C. Sproul one asked a group of teens if there is a command in the Bible about being in worship with other Christians.  This text, he said, is that command.

We see first, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,”

Just prior to our text, the author of Hebrews explains that in Jesus’ life and death, He fulfills the role of High Priest and the role of blood sacrifice on our behalf.  Whereas the Law commands blood sacrifices to be offered up continually for the sins of the people, and whereas the High Priest administered over the blood sacrifices and entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple just once a year to make atonement for the people of God, Jesus has opened the Holy of Holies permanently for all those who will believe.  Through His blood – the Holy of Holies has been thrown open and we can confidently enter and not fear death, because we come through the blood of Jesus – by His sacrifice – we can enter the Holy of Holies and come before God and ask Him through Jesus – directly – to forgive us for our sins.

There was an enormous, heavy curtain that separated the Holy of Holies – which contained the Ark of the Covenant – from the rest of the Temple – and the High Priest entered once a year.  But when Jesus bled out and breathed His last, we read:

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:50-53, ESV).

For the first time ever – by the shedding of Jesus’ blood – the Holy of Holies was open to all who believed – all could confidently – safely – come into the presence of God.

Since Jesus entered the Holy of Holies through His blood – the opening of the veil of His flesh – we can come before the Father with confidence – Jesus is the Sacrifice for our sins and the High Priest Who offers Himself up.

Jesus says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18, ESV).

We have the gift – the privilege – that believers did not have for four thousand years – through Jesus offering Himself up on our behalf, we can come into the very presence of God and worship.

Second, we are to draw near to God in worship.

“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

When we draw near to God in worship, we do so with full assurance in Jesus and His work for our salvation because our hearts have been cleansed, and our bodies have been washed.

After the priests offered up the blood sacrifices in the Temple, they were covered with blood.  There was a huge vessel that sat in the air in the Temple called “the sea” that was filled with water, and it could be opened so it functioned like a shower for the priests.  All the defilement that was on their bodies was washed away.

These external rites have been replaced with a true change of heart – symbolically, our hearts are washed clean of our inclination to sin, and our sins are forgiven in Christ.

Our bodies are washed with the pure water of baptism.  Christ washes all who are baptized, and that baptism is sealed by God the Holy Spirit in the public confession of faith.

The language of these two can be found in Ezekiel’s prophecy of the coming and indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in all those who will believe in the Savior:

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, ESV).

Since God the Holy Spirit indwells each believer and enables us to live according to the Word of God, Paul writes, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV).

Through Christ’s work, we are able to come into the presence of God to worship, and we are to come into the presence of God to worship.  Coming into God’s Presence is not an option – it is a command and a privileged.

Since we can enter the very presence of God and we are commanded to come into the very presence of God, how ought this to look? What ought we to do and understand?

Third, we are to come and worship Him together.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

When we come together for worship, we are to hold our common confession of Jesus as God and Savior – and we hold that confession with hope – believing it is true and assured – not because we hold it, but because Jesus is faithful and can’t not be faithful.

The truth of the Gospel – the salvation that Jesus provides for all we who believe – is our confession.  It is true and we have hope in it – we have a sure confidence in it and all it promises and means to us – because Jesus cannot lie and will always accomplish and do what He has promised.

So, we gather together to confess together that joy and assurance we have in our Savior because He is God.  There is not the slightest inclination to wavering in our confession because, if Jesus is God, there is nothing more to say.  God cannot lie.  God cannot fail.  Everything God promises will come to pass.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

Since we come together and profess the same confession based on Jesus being God our Savior, when we gather together for worship, through our words and actions, we are to do two things: 

We are to stir each other up in love of one another – if we have been made brothers and sisters of Jesus together – saved by Him and for Him – in the love of God, there is no doubt that we ought to love one another.

Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35, ESV).

As brothers and sisters in Christ we are to love each other with the same sacrificial love that Jesus loves us and gave Himself up for us.  This is the perfection of the command to love our neighbor as ourselves – all the more obvious and necessary due to our union in Christ.

The other thing is we are to stir each other up to good works.

Paul writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

We were created by God in Christ Jesus for good works that God ordained that we would do empowered by God the Holy Spirit that we would be able to do them – to His Glory – in a world full of sin – and we are to gather together to encourage each other to continue to do those good works – not matter how difficult or frustrating or hopeless it may seem at times.  Christ is Victorious, He loves us, and we show our love for Him through our obedience.

“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,”

The author of Hebrews then commands Christians not to neglect to meet together.  Don’t not meet together.  You must meet together as Christians.  Being a Christian is not something you do all alone like the Lone Ranger.  Being a Christian is something that is done in community – gathered together for worship.

That does not mean that we can never be alone of worship alone.  It does mean that we ought to normally, regularly be in worship with other Christians – and with other Christians who are not just like us.

The word that is used here is “episynagogue” which means “assemble together” and in the context refers to Jewish and Greek believers.

So, make sure you meet together in a group fo worship – and don’t separate yourself by social identity or identities of heritage.  Christians ought to regularly worship together and it should be normal for Christians to worship regularly together with people who are not like each other.  Christianity – Christ and His work in us – overcomes all differences of birth and society.

It is monstrous, then, to build a church just for white people, or just for Republicans, or just for children of single parents – and so forth.  The Christian Church is open to all believers no matter what.  Things that could divide us in one way or another must take backseat to our worship together as brothers and sisters – the flock of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

And He says, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16, ESV).

“but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Another reason we gather together in worship is to encourage one another in the faith, in living under persecution, in our joys and sorrows, and to build each other up by confessing that we all believe the same things about Jesus and our salvation. 

It is encouraging, is it not, when you say you believe and another person says, “I believe that too!”  It’s encouraging when someone says he or she is here for you – will cry with you – will celebrate with you – will protect you – will stand with you for Christ against the evil one.

It’s encouraging when we come together as the Church – with other Christians – knowing that Jesus is coming back soon.  The world will not be like this forever.  Paul tells us that our suffering now will be forgotten as we enter the glory of the Kingdom.  We need to be with each other, meeting with our God and Savior, to help us stand for Him in this world – in this life.

“So, are you saying we should break the Covid rules?”

No.  No more than saying that we should gather with others for worship when we have the flu.  There are exceptional circumstances.

What we are being told is that whenever it is possible, as much as it is possible, we are to gather together with fellow Christians, meeting with our God and Savior in worship.  We are not to stay home and not meet with Him if there is no good reason for us to stay home.

“Come and worship, come and worship” – now and always – come and worship our God and Savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for sending Jesus for our salvation and for opening the Holy of Holies and making us able to come before You.  We thank You for giving us other Christians that we can gather with – especially in a country like the United States where we have a great deal of religious freedom.  Help us not to take that freedom for granted.  Help us have a right perspective about worship and the importance of our gathering together.  Forgive us for our excuses, and make us passionate about gathering as Your Church, meeting with You, loving each other, and working together for the Gospel.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.