Category: Promise

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Contested Christmas – Meaningful is Never Easy

Mary is very close to the delivery of her Promised Child.   Of all times for Caesar to declare a census and taxation, this is NOT the time!    But you are of the house of David – and that means you must travel to Bethlehem.   With some regret – you put your very pregnant wife on the back of a donkey and begin the 2-day journey.   You’ve prepared, you’ve done your best to make her comfortable – but really… you know this is not good.

Finally you have finished that grueling trip, and Mary seems OK.   But now it seems like you were late arriving, and the Inns in Bethlehem are full.   Could anything else go wrong??   Your animal is already comfortable here in the stable, and so you make a little place over in an unoccupied corner for Mary…

Nothing was easy about that first Christmas – but out of the struggle was born the Savior of the world.   As we approach the Christmas of 2020 – I find myself in Joseph’s shoes.

SCANDAL:  The rumors have been flying this year, and the scorn of “friends” has been palpable.  But I believe the prophets, and I’m willing to stake everything on the notion that God is going to show up and bring salvation.

CENSUS:  I’m not of the house of David, but I am of the house of the founding fathers.  I know that this is a Christian nation, with a constitution founded on Biblical principles.  And so I stay in my lane, exercise my legal right, and vote.    The tyrant is more than happy to allow me to cast my vote, because he has a plan to tax…

THE INN:  As a conservative, I travel to my base, only to find that there doesn’t seem to be any room.   Even the GOP establishment knew about this taxation, and have rushed to ensure their own comfort.  I find myself looking around for a safe place to hold my promise…

THE STABLE:  I guess the only place to go is to the place where I can find grass (roots) and beasts of burden.  I’m finding a place to settle, right here with those that have no aspirations above the inalienable rights bestowed by our Creator…

Those who are comfortably resting in the Inn know not the glory that is happening in the stable this Christmas.  Tonight, more wealth will flow into the stable than sits upon the bed stands of the Inn.   Tonight, heaven and earth will join us in this place of discomfort, as the Promise is born – again.

For many around the world, this is not going to be an easy Christmas.   Our liberties are being contested, and our will is being taxed.   It seems like everything that can go wrong has/is.   But I truly believe that the Promise that was born on that lonely night 2000 years ago is being reborn in this Christmas. 

The greatest moments are never easy, Joseph.   But hold on to that Promise!

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Immediate Christmas – The Hope of Ages, Now

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,  but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Prov 13:12)

It had been centuries since the prophets had spoken.   The hope of salvation is nearly lost in the shuffle of religion – a force almost as oppressive as the tyranny of Rome.   Joseph grew up hearing the same things Sabbath after Sabbath, Passover after Passover…    Messiah is coming!   He will rescue us!

But… it… never… happened…

But then Joseph has a dream, in which an angel appears to him.   A dream.   Why couldn’t it have been a real angel, in broad daylight?   The take-away from this dream is that the hope of centuries is about to be realized – in Joseph’s family!

Imagine how difficult it must have been for Joseph to stake his reputation on the notion that God was going to fulfill the Promise of the Ages in his lifetime.  In his family.  In him. 

[Incredulity]

I’m wrestling with incredulity myself this season.    As a 57-year-old lifetime church-goer/leader, I’ve heard it all of my life.  Jesus is coming!  He will rescue us!   

But… it… never… happens…

Something is different this Christmas.  The hope is almost tangible. I sense a shift in the world, in my nation, in my family, and in my spirit.  

I feel a strong kinship with Joseph these days. 

You see – the same prophets that foretold Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem also foretold that he would rule over nations.  The same Bible that tells the story of the First Christmas tells us of a second coming of this same Jesus.   Could it be… soon… now?

This is the inspiration for this blog…  It is the sense that we are at the dawning of a new day.   It is the hope that there will be a Great Awakening, not just in my lifetime, but in the next few weeks and months.   It is the conviction that the power of the lie will give way to Truth, in this generation, in this nation.

Can you feel it??

Be a Joseph.  Proclaim, protect, and participate in God’s Promise to our families, to our nation, to our world.

Matt 1:18-24 (NIV)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

Matt 1:9-11 (NIV)

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

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Conspiracy Christmas – A Plan for Widespread Salvation

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.  (Micah 5:2)

As you gaze upon the nativity scene this season, remember that God moved heaven and earth to assemble this particular group, at this particular time, for His particular purpose.   Consider the magnitude of events that were brought to bear upon this one single event in human history:

Joseph and Mary lived miles away in Nazareth – multiple days journey from Bethlehem.   How did God get Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem on this particular night?  He moved on Caesar Augustus months/years earlier to impose a census/tax on Judeans – requiring Joseph to pack up his pregnant wife and make the very inconvenient trip.

The Wise Men from the East traveled for weeks following the sign in the heavens, looking for the one who is born King of the Jews.   Why did they care?   They were likely followers of a prophet/author who had lived in their homeland some 600 years earlier – an imprisoned Jew named Daniel.   The gifts which they brought would fund Jesus’ childhood in Egypt, where Joseph took him to escape Herod.

The Shepherds weren’t random goatherders – they were caring for sheep that were being raised specifically for sacrifice in the Temple.  

The Angels are perhaps the most spectacular and meaningful presence.  One angel is probably convincing enough – but a great host (an army) of angels travelled across the universe declare that what God had promised was happening “Today, and To You!”

It took years for the taxman to get to Bethlehem.  It took months for the wise men to get to Bethlehem.   It took days for Joseph and Mary to get to Bethlehem.   It took hours for the shepherds to get to Bethlehem.  And heaven’s armies broke centuries of silence to affirm – it is here! It is now!

2000 years later, in this Christmas season – I am accused by many of being a conspiracy theorist, because I sense that there is much more to current events than meets the eye. But the magnitude of what is happening behind the scenes is skewed in our favor, by far! No amount of human conspiracy can stop what God has conspired.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 (NIV)

This has been a rough year for Joseph – a census, taxation, accusations. But he has a promise, and he’s committed to protecting it with all his might. And on that first Christmas, he comes to understand that God has been conspiring for centuries to bring incredible salvation.

May the same be realized by you and for you in the Christmas of 2020. When it seems that others have been conspiring against you – be reminded that God has been conspiring for you. And resolve, like Joseph, to Protect that Promise with everything in your being.

Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

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,

14 “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.

Matthew 2:1-14

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, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

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What Will You Do?

A baby is coming, and it’s not yours.  Your friends, your culture, and your sense of justice are leading you to reject the baby and the young expectant mother. But in the quiet of the night, you hear a voice say that God is using this uncomfortable circumstance to release His Promise.   What will you do?

In this season’s nativity, the role of Mary is already taken, and I am certainly not the Baby. But I hear there is an opening for Joseph – the one who decides to protect the promise against all odds. Herod is trying his level best to destroy the promise and retain his tetrarchy. But God is appointing Joseph to ensure that the hope of the ages will become the substance of history.

The name Joseph means “God will increase“. Certainly God will bring provision and increase to this man. What appears to be a lowly stable will turn into a focal point for the stars, the angels, and kings of the earth. Joseph will be blessed with more than enough to carry his family through the difficult season.

We don’t spend a lot of time talking about Joseph, but if there is any role available to us in the 2020 nativity – it is that of a strong man that decides against all odds to Protect the Promise and the one who is pregnant with promise.

This Christmas season – I’m grateful for the opportunity to fill this role. Many who are wagging their heads will one day bow the knee… Until then, God Will Increase over this family, for I have decided to accept the role of Joseph…

What will you do? What role will you play in this epic?

Matt 1:18-25 (NIV)

18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel“ (which means “God with us”).

24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.