Monday, December 24, 2007

Where are the Wise Men?

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14

Dear Friends,

The other day I was watching the History channel, and as it is Christmas time, they were airing a show on the birth of Jesus.  As you would expect, they had the usual cast of “Biblical scholars” pontificating on their “enlightened” views of what the Biblical accounts really mean.  The “wisdom” of these men and women would not allow them to accept the idea of a virgin birth or angels or just about anything else that does not have a scientific explanation.

Whenever I hear these people talk, I feel a mix of emotion – sadness, anger, disappointment, disbelief, and frustration.  How can it be that men and women who study the Scriptures can’t accept that God by His nature is supernatural?  If God were reduced to natural events, there would be no God, and at times I think this is the end result these people are trying to achieve.

As I listened in church this Sunday to the story of the three wise men, it reminded me that there was a time when the most educated and learned men did seek after the true King.  They read the Scriptures with the understanding that they were a supernatural prophecy from God.  They saw the star in the sky and believed that it was a supernatural sign that would lead them to the Christ.  Unlike the scholars of today, they were able to accept that natural things have natural explanations and supernatural things have supernatural explanations.

And this became my Christmas wish, that those whose mind is closed by their own natural wisdom to the supernatural nature of God would be truly enlightened by the Light of the world and allow themselves to believe that with God all things are possible.

Merry Christmas!

David

Posted by David at 10:35:34 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, December 17, 2007

Jesus' Last Name?

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. – Matthew 27:22

Dear Friends,

If you asked someone what Jesus’ last name is, I wonder if they would say Christ.  After all, “Jesus Christ” is how he is most often referred to.  But sometimes, we read it in reverse order, “Christ Jesus.”  That’s because the word “Christ” is not a name, but a title.

Christ comes from the Greek “Kristos” meaning anointed one or Messiah.  The Jewish people were waiting for the Messiah, the one promised to them by the prophets to deliver them from oppression.  They expected a king of sorts, a great military leader who would free them from Roman occupation.  But that’s not what they found in Jesus.

They did not understand that the Messiah had come to free them from a different sort of oppression, the oppression of sin and death.  Consequently, when Pilate asked, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” they said, “Crucify him.”

Today, many people use the name of Jesus Christ without understanding the significance of it.  Do they realize that in the name they are acknowledging and proclaiming that he is the Savior of the world?  Do they realize that it is the name that is above every name, the name at which every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, “Jesus is Lord”?

Next time you hear someone use the word “Christ,” ask them if they know what the word really means.  If they don’t know, tell them that Christ means that Jesus is the Messiah, the only Son of God, who has come to save the world from sin and eternal separation from God.  Tell them it is a name to be revered, not reviled.  If they do know, and they have used the word in a blasphemous way, warn them they are knowingly breaking the third commandment – and “the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

In His Name,

David
 
 
Posted by David at 08:04:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Monday, December 10, 2007

Transforming Symbols

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:11


Dear Friends,

At this time of year, I often hear people talking about the different symbols of Christmas and what they mean to those who believe in Christ.  The evergreen tree and holly represent eternal life; candles and lights represent Christ, the light of the world; and the colors of Christmas, red and white represent his shed blood and his purity.

For those who do not believe in the divinity of Jesus, a great deal of emphasis is put on the fact that many of our modern symbols of Christmas have pagan origins.  Even the day, December 25, is most frequently tied to the winter solstice and pagan beliefs revolving around that day.  And as for Jesus, while they believe he was a great man and prophet, the celebration of his birth is a reflection of his teachings, peace and goodwill to all people.

But that wasn’t what Jesus’ teachings were about.  True, he summed up his expectations of us by saying we should love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves, but the heart of his message was about transformation, turning a sinner into a saint through repentance and faith.

And this may be the ultimate symbolism of Christmas in the modern world.  Jesus Christ is the one who transforms all things, sinners and symbols alike.  Where the tree and the lights and the day use to reflect a pagan significance, they were transformed into new symbols that reflect Christ.

So if someone begins to tell you that a treasured Christmas symbol has some pagan significance, joyously tell them that while what they say may be true, the symbol was transformed by the presence of Christ.  And that this transforming power is available to them if they simply embrace him is repentance and faith.

In Christ,

David

Posted by David at 08:07:51 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |