- araratchurch
- Dec 18, 2024
- 3 min read
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
On that glorious night in Bethlehem, the news to the shepherds that the Savior has been born, begins with some of the most needed words anyone will ever hear: “Do not be afraid.”
We are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ. Everyday we see the fulfilling of prophecies concerning how this time would be characterized:
““And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.””
Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
Fear churns in the hearts of men as we see our way of life collapsing under the weight of lawlessness, and worse, the scourge of faithlessness. Yes, the angel’s instruction to those shepherds, also speaks to our troubled souls.
Beyond this announcement by the angel on that Holy Night, the instruction to not fear, is ubiquitous in the Old Testament, as well as from those speaking after, as recorded throughout the New Testament. Indeed, our Lord gives this same assurance:
““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:1-3 NKJV
“While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.””
Mark 5:35-36 NKJV
Now, what did the angel offer as the reason not to fear? The “good tidings of great joy . . . to all people.” Friend, we need a Savior and we have one!
As well, we also have the promise that these times of great fear will be abruptly ended for us when the Lord says, “Come up here!” And—in the meantime—the Lord can bring peace in our inner being, now!
For today let us mediate on the fact that an important part of preparing for the celebration of the Lord‘s birth and His Second Coming, is to remind ourselves that although it looks as though things are spinning out of control, they’re actually propelling us toward the ultimate rescue mission!
Again, the Lord has promised to sustain us even in the midst of trouble. But make no mistake, just as the darkness was abruptly illuminated by a heavenly host on that Holy Night, just so, Christ will soon interrupt the darkness of this present world with His glorious appearing.
Now that’s good news! Therefore, do not fear!
Peace to you!
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 17, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2024
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
Luke 2:8-9 NKJV
Looking again at this portion of the biblical record concerning the birth of our Lord, we now consider this question: “Why shepherds?”
Of all the people in the world at that point in time, what was it about the shepherds that made them the appropriate recipients of the greatest announcement that has ever—or will ever—be made?
Interestingly, it is said that in the time of Jesus, Bethlehem was the place where the lambs were raised for Temple sacrifice. Indeed, every firstborn male lamb born in that area was considered holy and was to be considered for sacrifice. I say that it would be “considered” for sacrifice, because the acceptable lambs had to also be perfect, without blemish.
Now, whether or not it is the historical case that this was the area where the sacrificial lambs were raised, it does not take away from the fact that the people hearing this wonderful announcement, were definitely shepherds.
And, consider that Jesus identified Himself with lowly shepherds when He referenced Himself as the Good Shepherd.
“”I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.“”
John 10:11, 14-15 NLT
Now, you are probably familiar with the story of Abraham and how that when tested by God, Abraham fully intended to sacrifice Isaac.
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV
We know that when Isaac made the observation that although they had all the wood and things needed to make the fire for the sacrifice, they had not brought a lamb to sacrifice, Abraham offers a very prophetic answer to his son’s question:
“But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.”
Genesis 22:7-8 NKJV
Yes, the Lord did provide a sacrifice for Abraham to offer; but that ram caught in the thicket was only a symbol of what the Lord would one day do to redeem lost humanity.
“And He [the Angel of the Lord] said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.””
Genesis 22:12-14 NKJV
Indeed, John the Baptist boldly declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God:
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 1:29 NKJV
Yes! The Lord provided for Himself a sacrifice by taking on flesh and living a sinless life so that He could be offered as the only sacrifice capable of atoning for the sins of the world.
For today let us meditate on the unfathomable love of our Father, illustrated in His offering His only begotten Son as the perfect sacrifice to pay for our sins.
Additionally, let us consider that in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord—appearing as a sacrificed Lamb—is the only One worthy to open the seals on the scroll, setting in motion the events of the Last Days.
“But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”
Revelation 5:5-7 NKJV
Make no mistake, Jesus will soon return—no longer as a Lamb for the slaughter—but as the conquering King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Advent “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”
Luke 2:8-9 NKJV
I don’t know what we think needs to happen in order for the miraculous to be made manifest. Indeed, must we circumstantially “see” it coming?
The idea that the miraculous is somehow always preceded by some eerie “otherworldliness,” or some unmistakable announcement, is not a biblical concept. Indeed, a thorough examination of the miraculous throughout the Bible, illustrates that more often than not, the miraculous abruptly interrupts the monotony, or even the misery, of the everyday lives of everyday people.
The most miraculous event to ever happen to man: the birth of our Lord, happened in a stable. He was placed in a manger, a feeding trough for livestock! As we have discussed, you can’t get more lowly or mundane than that.
And—to continue that theme—the first announcement concerning the Lord’s birth, is given to lowly shepherds; shepherds who may well have been damp, and shivering, in the darkness of night.
We will—over the next couple of days—discuss why the announcement was made to shepherds. For now we consider the unlikelihood of shepherds seeing and hearing an angelic host proclaiming the good news of the birth of our Lord.
I think it’s safe to say that many people—at one time or another in their lives—become weary of their daily existence. Some, respond to this scenario by surrendering to the inevitability of their “plight.” Still others, respond with quiet despair. As well, some may do ridiculous things to try to bring some excitement or change into their otherwise mundane, unfulfilling, and/or miserable, existence.
Now, I am a person who appreciates the miraculous in the very creation surrounding us. As well, I am humbled by the miraculous in my own life, and am grateful for the things that are “going right,” most of the time. For me, entertaining the option of dissatisfaction with particular circumstances, should only be broached in the context of God‘s ability to change me, change the circumstances, or, most of the time, to change both.
However, I do appreciate that it is easy to begin to think that your current portion defines your destination. And, if we couple with that, the fact that many of the people feeling trapped in a context, are dissatisfied with the same, their desire to break out of that context, is more relatable.
Yet, in the light of our relationship with God in Jesus Christ, and all that He has for us, the “inescapability” of our “miserable plight,” could not be further from the truth. In fact, our routine, what we may reckon as mundane, or even grievous, is that through which the Lord often chooses to show His marvelous deeds, His miraculous doings.
For today meditate on the fact that the miraculous is all around us, all the time. Indeed, our very lives are miraculous. Even our angst, viewed within the context of what others are dealing with, may be rendered petty. But, with that, it is important to remember that those exclamatory moments of life we all cherish, those marvelous victories long-awaited, may be just moments away.
As you look to the Lord, meditating on His goodness, may He send you a fresh reminder of the glory of His presence, the wonder of His love, and the hope in His assurances.
Remember, the greatest Gift is always with us. We have but to pause and breathe in the fragrance of His goodness and mercy toward us, to make us too grateful, too in awe of Him, to ever count our lives as hopeless, helpless, or insignificant.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!