The Benedictus, A Hymn of Praise!

67 Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:  68 "Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come (visited) to help His people and has given them freedom (redemption).  69 He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God’s servant David. 70 He said that He would do this through His holy prophets who lived long ago: 71 He promised He would save(deliver) us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.  72 He said He would give mercy to our fathers and that He would remember His holy promise. 73 God promised Abraham, our father, 74 that He would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve Him without fear, 75 being holy and good before God as long as we live. 76 “Now you, child (John), will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare His way. 77 You will make His people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. 78 With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us. 79 It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace." Luke 1:67-79 (NCV). 

Luke 1:67-79 records Zechariah’s praise to God after months of silence. Zechariah’s praise is often called the Benedictus, and this is the second praise hymn of the birth narrative (the first hymn is Mary’s song found at Luke 1:46–55).  In this praise hymn, Zechariah celebrates God coming and visiting His people through the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ!  In the Benedictus, Zechariah prophesied that the coming Savior would redeem His people and his son, John, would prepare the Savior’s way. Zechariah was the father of John the Baptist and John had been chosen to pave the way for the Savior.  Moreover, Zechariah gave praise to God because God had kept all His promises announced through the Old Testament prophets of a coming Savior. 

In as early as Genesis, God promised Abraham to bless all peoples through him, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1–3; Zechariah 2:11–12). As the father of the nation of Israel, God promised Abraham that his descendants would bless the whole world. Jesus Christ, a descendent of Abraham, fulfilled this promise completely (Luke 1:72–73). Thus, people from all nations are blessed through faith in Abraham’s descendent, Jesus Christ, also called the “seed of Abraham.”  Moreover, Jesus Christ is the Horn of Salvation from the royal line of King David (Luke 1:32-33; Luke 1:69).  God promised King David an eternal Kingdom (2 Samuel  7:11-16; see also Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Christmas celebrates God visiting His people through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ at Bethlehem.  God previously visited His people to redeem them from the oppressive Egyptian slavery with the Exodus (Exodus 3; Exodus 12).  Now, Zechariah is celebrating God visiting His people again to deliver every one of their sin and evil through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.  This is why Christmas is so special because God has come and visited His people! God, through Jesus Christ, visited His people to bring a new redemption, deliverance, and a new covenant to save all people from their sin (Jeremiah 31:31–34). Now you can understand Zechariah’s excitement and praise!

 

Obey God Today!

"So be very careful to love the Lord your God" (Joshua 23:11), and "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve....But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

 

Joshua was a great leader. As a leader, Joshua was faithful, ethical, and courageous.  He and Caleb gave the good report to Israel in the wilderness to trust God (Numbers 13 -- 14) and he was chosen by God as Moses' successor (Numbers 27:15-23; Deuteronomy 34:9). Moreover, Joshua was an excellent military leader. When God spoke, Joshua obeyed. Joshua's obedience to God serves as a model.  Joshua obeyed God, led the people across the Jordan River (Joshua 1:1-18; Joshua 3:1–4:24) and conquered Canaan, the Promised Land. But the key to Joshua’s success was his commitment, allegiance, and obedience to God. Joshua was confident in God and in God’s strength. As a result of Joshua’s leadership and obedience, Israel served God faithfully and the nation of Israel prospered. 

 

Joshua remained completely faithful to God throughout his life.  In Joshua’s farewell address to the people, Joshua encouraged the people to wholeheartedly obey, love, and trust the true and living God of Israel (Joshua 23-24). In the New Testament, Stephen mentions Joshua in his final sermon to the people (Acts 7:45), and the Book of Hebrews use Joshua’s victory of Jericho as an illustration of faith in God (Hebrews 11:30). Amazingly, Joshua and Jesus are the same name in Hebrew. Both Joshua and Jesus obeyed God the Father faithfully and brought salvation to the people: Joshua led Israel into physical salvation of Canaan and Jesus leads everyone into eternal salvation through faith in Him.

The Book of Joshua found in the Old Testament records the story of Joshua’s obedience to God reminds everyone to love and obey God!  Only with God’s help and our obedience to Him can we succeed and prosper (see also Deuteronomy 8:1-20). Victory comes as we trust in Him and not our own human strength, muscle, or mental abilities. 

The Light of the World

2 "But for you who fear (honor, revere) My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.  Malachi 4:2 (The Living Bible).

Many Old Testament passages promised the people that God would send a Savior to help them.  God told these promises to the Old Testament prophets and the prophets announced God’s promises to the people.  For hundreds of years before the Savior came, God’s people read God’s promises through the prophets and hoped God’s promised Savior would come soon. 

One Old Testament passage speaking of God’s promises is Malachi 4:2. The church lectionary assigns Malachi 4:2 along with Psalm 19:1 and John 1:14 to be read on Christmas Day. Many biblical scholars refer to Malachi 4:2 as foretelling of the coming Savior as the "Sun of Righteousness" (see also Isaiah 60:19-20).  John the Baptist foretold that the coming Savior would dawn and be the Light to the world (John 1:9; see also Luke 1:76-79; Revelation 21:23-24).

Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophesy because Jesus Christ is our Light, Savior, and Sun of Righteousness predicted by the Old Testament (John 1:1-5).  He glows with healing and comfort to those who love and seek Him as God (Psalm 84:11; see also John 8:12). Even more, Jesus Christ reveals heaven and God’s glory to the world (Psalm 19:1).

Now, the world has a Savior in Jesus and Jesus can be called upon at any we need His help.  Thank you God for sending Your Light into the world as our Savior!

Jesus: The God-Man

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." 15 He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:13-16 (NASB).

Born between 6 BC and 4 BC, the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke both tell of the birth of Jesus. Matthew and Luke both state clearly that Jesus had a divine Father and a virgin mother named Mary (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:27). Without a human father and without any sexual relationship involved, Jesus was conceived through a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit (Genesis 3:15; Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:34–35; Galatians 4:4–5). Jesus’ virgin birth was a supernatural work of God inside the human womb of Mary. Thus, in both His birth and conception in the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ birth was holy and pure (Luke 1:35). The virgin birth of Jesus means He did not inherit human sin (Romans 5). Therefore, Jesus is not just a man. Jesus was a God–Man, God’s Christ (Matthew 26:63–64; Mark 14:61–62), and the Son of God (Matthew 16:15–16; Mark 1:1; Luke 22:70-71; John 8:24).

Mary was the virgin mother of Jesus; a young girl from Nazareth, she was betrothed (engaged) to Joseph, a local carpenter. Jewish custom in that day recognized a state called “betrothal,” which fell somewhere between our modern day engagement and marriage. A betrothal was more binding than an engagement, since betrothals could only be broken with an act of divorce. If a betrothed woman became pregnant, she was regarded as an adulteress (Matthew 1:18–20).

Before the marriage took place, an angel announced to both Joseph and Mary that Mary would become pregnant by the power of God’s Spirit and that she would give birth to the Son of God, also called the Messiah (Matthew 1:20–21; Luke 1:26–33). God chose Mary to bring his Son, the Savior, into the world. Humbly submitting herself to God’s will, Mary responded to this extraordinary message in simple faith. For all Christians, Mary is a model of humble and obedient submission to God’s will (Luke 1:38, 46–55).

The virgin birth of Jesus is important because, as God’s Son, Jesus had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to humankind by Adam in Genesis 3. The birth of Jesus to woman proves He was a human; but as the Son of God, Jesus was born without human sin. Thus, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Jesus was a sinless human. In Jesus, God and man became one unique person—fully God and fully man.

Furthermore, the virgin birth of Jesus fulfills Isaiah 7:14. Jesus was to be called Immanuel as predicted by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14). The name Immanuel means “God is with us,” and Jesus indeed symbolized God’s presence and protection. Therefore, Jesus is God in the flesh; thus, God was literally “with us” in Jesus. Jesus is the incarnate (in the flesh) Son of God (Matthew 1:23; see also Revelation 12:5).
 

The Coming Glory of Jesus

4 Be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the Lord of hosts. 5 'According to the word that I covenanted (promised) with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' 6 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations (Treasure or Christ the Messiah), and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:4-9 (NKJV).

The Prophet Haggai from the Old Testament predicted the magnificence glory of God visiting the people.  Haggai’s message was given during the Feast of Tabernacles in 520 B.C. to encourage the people of God’s coming glory.  About 500 years later, Jesus Christ as the glory of God fulfilled Haggai’s prophecy by coming to the people as a Baby at Bethlehem, walking the earth, and visiting the Temple (Luke 2:9-14; see John 1:14).

The Prophet Ezekiel also of the Old Testament had earlier witnessed the departure of God’s glory from Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, before the Temple’s destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. (2 Kings 24 and 25; Ezekiel 10 and 11). The people during Haggai’s time prayed for the Shekinah Glory to return to the new Temple, but there is no record that God’s glory returned after the 586 B.C. destruction of Jerusalem.

About 500 years later, Haggai’s prophecy was fulfilled in the return of God’s glory in the embodiment of Jesus Christ, the “the Desire of All Nations” (Haggai 2:7; see also John 1:14-18). With His coming, Jesus Christ filled the earth with His peace and glory (Luke 2:27-32; see also Isaiah 9:6). No amount of gold or silver could surpass the glory of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is God incarnate and our Immanuel, “God with us.”  So, we no longer have to be afraid, but strong in the Lord God (Haggai 2:4-5; Matthew 1:23). No matter what problems we face or how difficult our job may be, God's glory is with us through Jesus Christ (Haggai 2:5)!

Joy to the World!

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre (harp), with the lyre (harp) and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming. . . . 

Psalms 98:4-9 (NASB).

Isaac Watts found inspiration for his popular Christmas hymn "Joy to the World" from Psalm 98.  "Joy to the World" is often classified a Christmas hymn but this Old Testament psalm of praise anticipated the coming of God to rule His people. Jesus Christ fulfilled this anticipation when He came to save all people from their sins over 2000 years in Bethlehem (Psalm 98:2-3; Luke 2:10-14). 

Psalm 98 is a psalm of joy and victory because God through Jesus Christ is both now and forever  joy and glory to the world.  All those who wholeheartedly seek and obey God will experience that joy!  This psalm invites the whole earth to worship God (Psalms 98:4-6; see also Psalm 96:1). The coming reign of God on the earth is celebrated as an event of great joy. Therefore, all the people of the earth (Psalm 98:4–6) and all of nature (Psalm 98:7–9) are encouraged to join in joyful praise to God.  Joy to the world—the Lord has come! 

Reference
King James Version Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1991.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.

Jesus’ Great Grand Mothers

Proverbs 31 tells of the importance of a godly, hardworking woman.  But, the best description of this woman is found in Jesus’ grandmother, Ruth. The story of Ruth tells of a kind, loyal, virtuous, and industrious woman (Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 3:11; see also Proverbs 31:10-31).  God blessed Ruth’s efforts.

Ruth grew up a pagan Gentile, a Moabite (Ruth 1-4) but met the true God through Naomi and her family from Bethlehem.  Bethlehem was small town about five miles southwest of Jerusalem. From Bethlehem, King David would be born (1 Samuel 16:1) and Jesus the Messiah (Micah 5:2). God led this young Moabite woman to a man named Boaz, an Israelite who lived in Bethlehem.  As a result, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus the Messiah, the Blessed One.  What is even more interesting, Boaz was a descendant of Rahab, a former prostitute from Jericho and helper of the Israel people (Joshua 2; Joshua 6). Rahab is described in the Holy Scriptures as a great woman of faith (James 2:25; Hebrews 11:31).

Rahab and Ruth are perfect examples of God's love for all people! Taken together, these Gentile (non-Jewish) women reveal God’s ability to love and work with all sorts of people, regardless of their race, sex, or nationality.  The Jews were not the only people God loved. Jesus was born as a Jew and through Him, the entire world can come to know God (Acts 10:35).  The story of Rahab and Ruth reveal God loves and accepts all who faithfully seek and follow Him. Rahab and Ruth are two of only five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

The story of Ruth ends by announcing the birth of a baby boy named Obed. The birth of Obed leads to King David, Israel’s first great king and eventually to Jesus the Messiah, the greatest King of all (Revelation 19:16)!