Wednesday prior to Christmas 1

 

Isaiah 63:7-9 – Recounting the love and goodness of God to His people. This coming Sunday is the last Sunday of the calendar year. Another year has passed. 2020 has been a year none like we have ever expected yet through all of the changes and chances of this remarkable year the Lord has proven to be faithful.

Isaiah 63 is a lonely chapter. Salvation here is not triumphant. It is marked by loss and theological collapse. Isaiah 63:7-9 are some of the first words uttered after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (587 BC). Historical cues come in Isaiah 63:18 and Isaiah 64:10 where we learn that “our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary” and “your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.”

Yet Isaiah is bold to remind us that the LORD’s mercy and stead-fast love will always take center stage. His days are without end and His mercies cannot be counted.  Aware of the shortness and the uncertainty of this human life we ask that the Holy Spirit lead us all the days of our lives until that day comes when we pass from this world to one which has no end.

During this week, review in your mind the past year. Recount the good things that come from God as you commit yourself into His care.

Christmas Image copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things

Tuesday prior to Christmas 1

 

Psalm 111; key verse, 9a “He sent redemption to His people.” At Christmas, we see the redemption, which is ours in Jesus Christ. The eternal Son of God entered our time and space. He came to be our substitute. His humble birth is an indication of how He will live and what He will do for you. The world rejoices this night. Salvation has come. The Father has sent redemption to His people.

The LORD sent redemption unto his people. When they were in Egypt he sent not only a deliverer, but an actual deliverance; not only a redeemer, but complete redemption. He has done the like spiritually for all his people, having first by blood purchased them out of the hand of the enemy, and then by power rescued them from the bondage of their sins. Redemption we can point to as an accomplished act: it has been wrought for us, sent to us, and enjoyed by us, and we are in fact the Lord's redeemed.

In the gospel lesson for the first Sunday after Christmas we see how the LORD preserved Jesus by calling Him to Egypt to escape the murderous attempts on Jesus’ life. From a tender young age the Savior lived and walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Yet the LORD preserved Him. Likewise, you live under the watchful eye of a heavenly Father who gave us His Son for our salvation and life.

Christmas Image copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

Monday prior to Christmas 1

 

Jeremiah 31:5-17; Hosea 11:1 The prophet reminds us, “When Israel was a child I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”This verse coincides with the Gospel lesson for this coming Sunday. As Jesus enters into Egypt and then returns to Nazareth, we recall the nation of Israel called by God to leave Egypt into the Promised Land.

Throughout your life the LORD has promised to direct you. Just as the LORD directed the wanderings of His people in the Old Testament so He directed His Son; His ultimate destiny was the cross on Calvary’s hill. Yet even as an infant the LORD directed him. So also the LORD has promised to direct your life. You are not alone; the Lord is with you. This week of Christmas if you think you have nothing in life; behold His manger as God's love for you. When life seems to change, turn to the Scriptures that never do. When you hurt and disappoint others, yourself, hear the Gospel that Jesus forgives you.

The story of Christmas contains the revelation of restoration and hope even in the midst of trouble and loss. Why did the Christ-child do all this? Forsake everything He had to come into a sad world, suffer, and die? Because He knew, from eternity, that in His resurrection, His Father would give Him the most amazing of gifts, something far greater than anything He left behind: you.

Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He leaves His throne on high,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give you second birth.

The Baby Jesus received no good gifts. But that's not what He came to do. Instead, He received your sins, so that now, He, the giver of all good things, could offer you eternal life and salvation. [1]

Christmas Image copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

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[1] From a Christmas homily written by former fieldworker Pr. Tim Daub Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hecla, South Dakota

Christmas Day

 

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege  

The Word Was God – Christmas,  (John 1:1-14)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

Who is this “Word” the inspired Apostle says is God? As explained in verse 14 He the One who would become flesh, born of the Virgin Mary.  Though the “Word” (Greek Logos) has tremendous depth of meaning, consider a likely meaning being conveyed by the Apostle.

In the Old Testament a mysterious figure appears again and again.  He is frequently called The Angel of the Lord.  (An “angel” is someone sent with a message.  The Son of God is the ultimate angel, sent by the Father with the ultimate message.) On several occasions this Angel of the Lord either claims to be God or is recognized as God (Genesis 16:7ff; 21:17ff; 22:11ff; Exodus 3:2ff; etc.), and yet this Angel of the Lord is somehow “separate” from God.  God’s written revelation is insistent that there is but one God, one essence, yet Scripture also reveals there are three distinct persons, each fully God.  We can only celebrate Christmas correctly if we believe the true God is the Triune God.  Obviously this Angel of the Lord is the second person of the Holy Trinity.

The common language of the Jews in Jesus’ day was Aramaic.  There were Aramaic “versions” of the Hebrew Old Testament (called Targumim).  When these versions translated the Angel of the Lord, the Aramaic word used for Angel was mamre, which was commonly translated into Greek as Logos (“Word”).  Thus, as expressed by the Jews of Jesus day, the Old Testament God-angel was called the Word of the Lord.  From this understanding John is informing us that this Word of the Lord, the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, became flesh (v. 14).  (Gieschen, Angelomorphic Christology, 100ff.)

To magnify the God-nature of the Word of God (the Son of God), the Apostle John informs us twice in his Gospel’s brief introduction that this Word is the Creator of the world: …without him was not any thing made that was made (v. 3b).  John’s wording causes us to pause and realize that this Son of God cannot be a created being, for without Him nothing was made that was made…which informs us that even as He created all things He, of course, did not create himself. As revealed in Holy Writ and as we confess in the Creeds, the Son of God is “uncreate”, “begotten, not made”.   In verse 10 John then again describes this Word of God as the Creator:  He was in the world and the world was made through Him…

Now comes John’s version of the Christmas story:  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (v. 14).  Indeed, the Son of God—the Word—became flesh.   “God’s Son would not be satisfied to merely appear in human form, as He had done numerous times in the Old Testament.  Through Mary He would actually become human, for through her He has actually, permanently taken into Himself flesh and blood.”  (Brege, Eating God’s Sacrifice, 112.)

Why would the Son of God, the very One through whom the world came into being, become flesh?  He became flesh that we might behold His glory!  And where is that glory most fully revealed?  It is revealed especially at the cross, for there we perceive love beyond all love, salvation overflowing and death absorbed.  Of course Christ’s death is meaningless without the resurrection. Only God can accomplish such work, and thus the Son of God had to become flesh so that by His death we who are dead flesh could be quickened and eternally 

Image: Ed Riojas Higher Things

Saturday prior to Advent 4

 

The hymn of the day for tomorrow the 4^th Sunday in the season of Advent, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (LSB #357), is an ancient hymn based upon seven even more ancient antiphons (called the ‘O’ Antiphons) which were used in the Office at Vespers (the evening office) during the last seven days of Advent.

Each antiphon and each hymn stanza refers to a different title for Christ: Wisdom, Adonai (‘Lord’), Root (or Branch) of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring, King of Nations, Emmanuel (‘God with Us’).

Christmas is only days away. As you prepare to celebrate Christ’s coming into this world meditate on this wonderful ancient Latin hymn.

 

O come Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree.
Free them from Satan’s tyranny
That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

O Root of Jesse, standing as an ensign before the peoples, before whom all kings are mute, to whom the nations will do homage; Come quickly to deliver us.[1]   

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[1] O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

Friday prior to Advent 4

 

Luke 1:26–38—What a shock it must have been for this pious young woman to learn that she, not having known a man, would give birth to a baby boy. And no ordinary boy, but God Himself, the second Person of the Trinity! Due to the miracle wrought through the Holy Spirit, Child born would be ‘true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary.’ The Blessed Virgin is, therefore, truly the Mother of God, and her Son, the Savior of mankind, is properly named ‘Jesus,’ that is, ‘Yahweh saves.’

The promise told in the Old Testament lesson is fulfilled in this week’s Gospel lesson. A messenger from heaven comes to a young girl in Nazareth to tell her that she is to be the mother of the Messiah. Joseph was a son of David. By physical nature Jesus was a son of David. He was also son of God and his kingdom was to be eternal. This was all the LORD’s work, for the child would be the produce of the Holy Spirit. Humbly and submissively Mary consented to be Gods’ instrument in bringing his Son on earth as a human being.[1]

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[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Advent © Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

Thursday prior to Advent 4

 

Romans 16:25–27—A fitting end to the book of Romans, in which St. Paul has so clearly proclaimed Christ as the Savior of the world, apart from works, this doxology (hymn of praise) is especially appropriate during this Advent season, as we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, who ‘has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations.

The age old mystery was revealed to all nations in the Scriptures and preaching of Christ. This reading constitutes the closing words of the book of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Now to him…be glory…” The passage is appropriate for this week because of Paul reference to the disclosure of the mystery kept secret for ages. The revelation is the coming of Christ. This was forecast and promised by the prophets. This Gospel of revelation is now shared with all nations.

The child born in a manger in Bethlehem was none other than the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Because “The word became flesh,” Advent as the time of preparation for the Messiah, makes sense. This holy child is “very God of very God.” In him God invaded human history. He was the Christ-event, the Word-event. If this is not true, then there is no meaning or message to Advent.[1]

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[1] Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series B, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Images © Ed Riojas, Higher Things