We started our advent series by reminding ourselves that this year we wait:

I strongly believe that this Advent season has the potential to be very significant. Why? Because we’re actually waiting for something. This is America. We don’t wait for anything. If we need or want it, we buy it. Long gone are the days of “Please allow 4 weeks for delivery.” Stuff we order comes in a day or two.

HOWEVER, this year we wait…for relief from COVID. We’re chafing against lockdowns and isolation. The neighborhood Jesus moved into was waiting, too. Jews were in permanent lockdown under brutal Roman rule.

So for the first time I can remember, ALL of us are waiting…in hope. It’s a good way to start the Advent season. Journey with me. (Ewellogy, November 29)

And now, a month later, we have two approved vaccines against COVID. Like Jesus’ coming, and like we wrote about yesterday, the vaccine is a beachhead. We’re not cured. Distribution takes time as does “herd immunity. But the day is coming when COVID’s rule will be over.

Jesus invaded as a baby, grew up, trained some followers, and left them to continue the movement. In less than 300 years, Jesus followers comprised half the Roman Empire, and, as Andy Stanley has pointed out, every building in Rome–the city that was headquarters of the brutal regime that persecuted Christians, executing Peter and Paul–every building in that city now has a cross on it. Don’t underestimate the power of a beachhead, and the power of small beginnings. And continue to pray:

Manifest your Kingdom on earth. (Luke 11.2, TPT)

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3.8, NKJV)

On this day after Christmas, it’s time to remind ourselves that Jesus’ birth was an invasion and Satan considered it just that.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. (Revelation 12.1 – 4, NKJV)

Mike Metzger of Clapham Institute writes:

…look at the first Christmas from the vantage point of heaven. It’s in Revelation 12. A woman is about to give birth. She’s tortured with pain, a reminder of God’s oracle to the woman after the fall. Her pain is exacerbated by the appearance of an enormous red dragon. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. We see this in Revelation 12, where Lucifer is crouching greedily before the woman, seeking to kill the newborn. Miraculously, the baby is carried away to safety. A headlong flight into Egypt ensues, with hosts of demons on the tail of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus (c.f. Matthew 2). Foiled, the serpent scans the horizon, declaring total war on all who follow the infant child. This should give Christians pause… Mike Metzger, The Seriousness of Christmas (the entire article is worth reading)

Tim Lewis, son of lifelong friends Bruce and Elena Lewis, has written a song about this. He starts with a reference to the Normandy Invasion, D-Day, June 6, 1944. It’s worth listening to: Act of War, A Christmas Song.

I want to write more on the D-Day aspect of Jesus’ coming tomorrow.

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent…And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12.13 – 17, NKJV)

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)
¹  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³  And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

⁶  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. ⁸  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

As we wrap up our advent meditations, it’s useful to remind ourselves that the Christmas story teaches us that God uses everybody! Here’s a partial list of players:

• Gabriel
• Zechariah and Elizabeth
• Mary
• Joseph
• Shepherds
• Simeon
• Anna
• Wise men

Look who is represented:

• Angels
• Old people
• Young people
• Men
• Women
• Working-class people
• Poor people
• Wealthy people
• People of differing ethnicities

It’s part of the good news. Jesus came for everyone AND everyone can participate!

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2.10, ESV, emphasis mine)

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2.1 – 4, ESV, emphasis mine)

As we approach Christmas Day (although I don’t think the Christmas blogs will end then), it’s instructive to think about all the responses that fit into God’s plan for Jesus’ birth.

• Zechariah: “Are you kidding me?” (Luke 1.18) “His name is John!” (Luke 1.63)
• Mary: “Let’s do this.” (Luke 1.38)
• Shepherds: “Let’s go see!” (Luke 2.15)
• Simeon: “I need to get to the temple!” (Luke 2.27)
• Joseph:
  • “Mary, will you marry me…anyway?” (Matthew 1.20 – 25)
  • “We’ve got to leave for Egypt NOW!” (Matthew 2.13 – 15)
• Wise men: “We have a Jewish king to find.” (Matthew 2.1, 2)

A book about Joseph, son of Jacob (Genesis 37 – 50), that I read a very long time ago, contained a sentence about responses that stuck with me:

You always have a choice. It always makes a difference. – Source forgotten, probably either Jerry White or David McCasland

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1.38, NKJV)

Did you see the “Christmas Star” last night? If not, there’s still time:

Skywatchers are in for an end-of-year treat. What has become known popularly as the “Christmas Star” is an especially vibrant planetary conjunction easily visible in the evening sky over the next two weeks as the bright planets Jupiter and Saturn come together, culminating on the night of Dec. 21…The planets regularly appear to pass each other in the solar system, with the positions of Jupiter and Saturn being aligned in the sky about once every 20 years. What makes this year’s spectacle so rare, then? It’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed this close to each other in the sky, and nearly 800 years since the alignment of Saturn and Jupiter occurred at night, as it will for 2020, allowing nearly everyone around the world to witness this “great conjunction.” The closest alignment will appear just a tenth of a degree apart and last for a few days. On the 21st, they will appear so close that a pinkie finger at arm’s length will easily cover both planets in the sky. The planets will be easy to see with the unaided eye by looking toward the southwest just after sunset. An Article on the NASA website, December 15, 2020

Here’s what it looked like from my house with some of my neighbors’ Christmas lights providing appropriate ambience:

We don’t know whether something like this is what the Wise Men saw or whether the “Star of Bethlehem” was a comet or what. But it was a nice Christmas week treat. Check it out!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (Psalm 19.1, NIV)

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. (Matthew 2.10, NKJV, the link goes to my blog of December 16, worth the read just to hear the song!)

Here’s another simple lesson from the shepherds. We’re in the fourth week of Advent, and our candles have symbolized:

• Hope
• Faith
• Joy
• Peace

But are the recipients of these wonderful gifts? The shepherds give us the answer: those who want to see for themselves.

When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.”… The shepherds returned to their flock, ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said. (Luke 2.15, 20, TPT, emphasis mine)

Not everyone wants to experience God for themselves:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exodus 20.18, 19, NIV)

A friend of mine was trying to help his father learn to have daily time with God through the Word and prayer. His father told him, “Leave me alone! If my pastor wants me to know something from the Bible, he’ll tell me!”

God’s blessings are for active participants, not passive spectators.

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2.1 – 6, NIV)

We’re already at week 4!

I see from various pictures of the advent candles that there is no universal agreement on what these weeks are called. Some have Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. I’ve used: Hope, Faith, Joy, Peace. It doesn’t matter: the world is short of all of these things, and Jesus’ coming brings the promise of their fulfillment.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5. 1 – 5, ESV, emphasis mine)

Here’s an important lesson from the shepherd’s response to joyous news:

But the angel reassured them, saying, “Don’t be afraid. For I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard! And it is for everyone everywhere!… When the choir of angels disappeared back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go! Let’s hurry and find this Word that is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.” So they ran into the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in a feeding trough. (Luke 2.10 – 16, TPT)

What’s our response to “the most joyous news the world has ever heard”? The shepherds’ response was immediate AND fast: “Let’s go! Let’s hurry…so they ran into the village…” Why? “To see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us.”

Do we want to see for ourselves? I often teach and advocate for the practice of daily time with God. A set-aside time to hear directly from God through the Word and respond to him in prayer. It’s joyous news that we have that privilege!

No one has ever come to me after such a teaching and said, “Bob, that’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard! I’m not going to do that.” No one says that – everyone says that spending time with God is a wonderful idea. But they don’t hurry to get the practice started. There are days that I don’t hurry to my designated place for my daily prayer time.

There are times for running – for doing it NOW.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5.3, NKJV)

Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. (John 20.3, 4, MSG)

We wrote yesterday about the baby in the manger being a sign to the shepherds.

You will recognize him by this miracle sign: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough! (Luke 2.12, Passion Translation)

If you follow this blog regularly, you’ll notice that I quote from The Passion Translation (TPT) from time to time. Since not many folks are familiar with it, I don’t annotate it with TPT but with “Passion Translation.” Since I’ve been doing this for over a year now, I think I’ll start just calling it by its official abbreviation: TPT. I do recommend it, both for the text itself, and for the occasional very illuminating footnotes. If you want to warm up to it without buying it, check it out at www.biblegateway.com.

Anyway, I bring this up because there are two fabulous footnotes in Luke 2 about the shepherds and the manger or “feeding trough.”

That night, in a field near Bethlehem, there were shepherds watching over their flocks. (Luke 2.8, TPT)

Many scholars believe that these could be the same fields where sacrificial flocks were kept for temple worship. How fitting that these shepherds would hear the announcement of the birth of the Lamb of God… (Note on Luke 2.8, TPT)

So first, we have speculation that the shepherds, only about 6 miles outside Jerusalem would be tending the sheep used later for temple worship. But it gets better! Commenting on the sign of the baby in a feeding trough we read:

A baby lying in a feeding trough where animals were kept nearby, wrapped in strips of cloths, became a sign of the Man-Savior’s life on earth. He entered the world as a lowly baby, and though he is the mighty God, he lived his life on earth in gentleness before all. The shepherds that night were possibly near Bethlehem at Migdal Eder, “the [watch] tower of the flock.” This would fulfill both the prophecies of Mic. 5:2 and Mic. 4:8, which say, “to you it [he] will come, your dominion [kingdom] from old will arrive.” It was at the lower floor of the watchtower (Migdal Eder) that the birthing of the Passover lambs would take place. Selected ewes that were about to give birth would be brought there. After the birth of the lambs, the priestly shepherds would wrap the lambs in cloth and lay them in a manger lined with soft hay to prevent them from hurting themselves, for Passover lambs must be unblemished with no bruise or broken bone. The miracle sign for these priestly shepherds would be a baby boy lying where the Passover lamb should be—in a manger, wrapped in strips of cloth. It was at the cradle of Jesus Christ that the kingdom from ancient times arrived on earth. (Note on Luke 2.12, TPT)

I present the relevant texts without further comment except to observe we have the Passion and Christmas rolled together:

As for you, watchtower of the flock,
stronghold of Daughter Zion,
the former dominion will be restored to you;
kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.” (Micah 4.8, NIV)

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times. (Micah 5.2, NIV)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29, NIV)

…Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5.7, NIV)