Mega-JOY-normous

Working Christmas Eve

I’m not sure there’s anybody who loves the idea of working Christmas Eve. Oh, I’m sure there are a few of you out there. But I’ll be honest, I’ve always had a sense of dread waiting on the holiday schedule to come out.

The only thing worse might be pulling the overnight shift. Outside. With livestock. That’s exactly the scene we see in chapter two of Luke’s bio of Jesus (Lk 2:8-11). A group of smelly shepherds pulling an all-nighter with a flock of equally smelly sheep.

One thing they have going in their favor that night is they have no clue that it’s Christmas Eve. That will change soon enough. For the moment, they’re just doing their job, caring for the herd.

Down in Town 

The good doctor paints a picture of the scene that silent night. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (v8). That little phrase which starts the verse, “and in the same region,” connects what’s about to happen with what just went down in town.

What these dudes don’t realize is not far from them are an unmarried teenage girl and her carpenter fiancé have just given birth to a Baby (Lk 2:6-7). Why would they know? Why would they even care? I mean, they’ve got a job to do. Running off to a baby shower in the middle of their shift is NOT part of the job description!

Not Easily Scared

Just who are these guys anyway? Most of us have a picture in our heads of shepherds as wimpy and weak. For years, I saw them sorta like sandal-wearing hippies hanging out at Woodstock.

Wrong. Think cowboys. They spend most of their lives outside, protecting the rams, ewes, and lambs from sneak attacks by predators like wolves, mountain lions, and bears (oh my!). And they’ve got mad ninja skills with those shepherd crooks.

In other words, this bunch isn’t easily scared. They’ve seen it all. Well, until tonight. That’s all about to change.

A Heavenly Ambush

Luke then tells us about what can only be described as a heavenly ambush. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear” (v9).

When God’s messenger suddenly shows up, the Lord’s glory floods the blackness of night with the brightest of light! Imagine your eyes adjusting to seeing in the dark when out of nowhere you’re hit with the most dazzling brilliance. You can bet these boys are seeing spots and rubbing their peepers.

In the Sky or Eye to Eye?

I don’t know about you but I’ve always pictured the angel as hovering in the night sky above the shepherds. But the truth is, there’s absolutely nothing in the original text to suggest that.

The author simply says the angel makes his appearance to them. And yes, I did say “his” appearance. The Greek word for “angel” (Gr. αγγελος/aggelos) is a masculine noun. The only named angels are Gabriel and Michael. Sorry if that blows your angelic stereotype.

While Scripture does say angels have wings and can fly (Ex 25:20; Ezek 10:5-21; Is 6:2, 6), there’s every possibility that this angel is simply standing in the middle of the boys. Not hovering. Face-to-face. Eye-to-eye.

Afraid with Mega-Fear

We then read what I think might be one of the great understatements in history. “And they were filled with great fear” (v9). This divine sneak attack has these rough, tough herdsmen suddenly shaking in their sandals!

Luke goes out of his way to make sure we know these are totally freaking out. You can easily translate the original text here (Gr. ‘εφοβηθησαν φοβον μεγαν/‘ephobethesan phobon megan) as “they were afraid with mega-fear!”

While we don’t know exactly how many shepherds there are, we do know that there’s only one angel. Apparently the intimidating presence of this messenger from God flying solo has the herdsmen totally outnumbered.

Take a Deep Breath

The angel does his best to calm things down. Before they do anything rash, he has something to say. “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (v10).

Calm down, boys. Let’s all take a deep breath and take it down from Defcon 1. The divine being says to the shepherds that there’s no reason to be afraid…ESPECIALLY not now!

Sound Familiar?

“Fear not” (v10). Sound familiar? Well, it should. We see God remind us to do just that on just about every page of Scripture. It’s all over both the Old and New Testament documents. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry.

It’s there in the beginning. In the prophets. In songs. In wisdom literature. Gospels? Yup.  Letters to various churches. Encouragement to pastors and the followers of Jesus.

We’re Gonna Need These

Here’s just a few of my “no fear” faves…

• Genesis 46:3
• Deuteronomy 3:22
• Deuteronomy 31:6
• Joshua 1:9
• Psalm 23:4
• Psalm 27:1
• Psalm 34:4-7
• Psalm 56:3-4
• Psalm 118:6-7
• Proverbs 29:25
• Isaiah 35:4
• Isaiah 41:10-14
• Isaiah 43:1
• Matthew 6:25-34
• Mark 4:39-40
• Mark 5:36
• Mark 6:50
• Luke 12:22-26
• John 14:27
• Philippians 4:6-7
• 2Timothy 1:7
• 1Peter 3:14
• 1Peter 5:6-7
• 1John 4:18
• Revelation 1:17

Can I make a suggestion? Bookmark them. Put them somewhere on your phone or tablet. Here’s a crazy idea. You might even memorize a few of them! Yeah, I know. It’s radical.

But here’s the deal. You may not need them now…but you WILL need them. I certainly know it won’t be long before I need punch fear in the face with the truth of God! So why not be ready?

Fearing God

On the other hand, some of you may be wondering about how we’re commanded to fear God (2Chr 19:7-9; Prov 1:7; Is 11:2-3). What’s up with THAT?!? On one hand, this kind of fear is about reverence and worship.

But recently I heard someone (I wish I could remember who it was so I could give them proper credit) say that it’s safe to fear God because He’s the only one who won’t use it against us.

Mega-JOY-normous

Meanwhile back under the night sky in the Judean countryside, the angel’s come straight from heaven with breaking news! This just in! And this is not some disturbing report about a heartbreaking tragedy. This is GOOD NEWS! We’re talking GREAT JOY for EVERYBODY!!! Let’s just say this is the ultimate push alert!

Remember how the shepherds were afraid with mega-fear? This news is so VERY good that they can replace that with mega-joy! When we look at the original Greek, we see the very same adjective (Gr. μεγα/mega) describing their fear as the joy contained in the angel’s report. You could say it’s mega-JOY-normous! Okay, maybe not.

Not Limited to a Select Few

This breaking Good News isn’t limited to a select few. It’s not just for the rich. Not merely the powerful. Not just for season ticket holders. Not only for certain races or religions. Nobody’s getting left out. This is “Good News of great joy that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE!” (v11 emphasis added).

For those of us who think God’s kingdom is some sort of exclusive club for people who look like them and act like them, you might want to sit down. It’s open for anyone who places their trust in Jesus. That’s the ONLY requirement for entry.

Kind of a Big Deal

It’s at this point that the angel gets to the details of the Good News. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (v11). This is not average birth announcement. That’s because this is not your average baby.

Just down the road in Bethlehem, something VERY special has just happened. Someone VERY special has just happened! How special? We’re talking about the Savior, the Christ, and the Lord! Yeah, He’s kind of a big deal.

A Savior to Our Rescue

First of all, this newborn Baby is our Savior. He’s the One who’s come to our rescue. The problem is that some of us don’t realize we need to be rescued. The cool thing is that Jesus is ready to respond the moment we do.

According to A.T. Robertson, the Roman emperor loved it when people living under his rule referred to the emperor as “savior.” Sounds like politicians haven’t changed much. Early believers more appropriately applied the term to Jesus.

The Hero from Heaven

Second, the Child is the Christ. The Greek word Χριστος/Christos means the Anointed One and is the equivalent of the Messiah in the OT. This is the long-awaited Hero from heaven the Jews have been expecting for a few thousand years.

We see the first hint of Christ to our rescue moments after first parents buy the lie of a satanic snake and rebel against God. Yahweh warns the serpent of One who will come and crush its head (Gen 3:15).

The Lord in Authority

Third, the Infant is the Lord (Gr. Κυριος/Kurios). This term describes someone who is the master, owner, or chief. Think about it for just a moment. This tiny Baby in the manger is actually the One with controlling power and authority.

And check this out. Did you notice that it’s an “angel of the Lord” who appeared in the dazzling brilliance of “the glory of the Lord” (v9)? In other words, who sent the angelic messenger to tell the shepherds this amazing news? Lord Jesus!

Everybody’s Invited!

There’s absolutely no reason to terrified. As a matter of fact, this news is so incredibly good that we should be jumping for mega-joy! According to the angel, everybody on the planet is invited to God’s party!

As Savior, He’s come to our rescue. From whom and what? From ourselves and our own sin. As Christ, the long-promised Messiah is finally making His appearance. And not a moment too soon! As Lord, He’s in total control.

The angel is right. This is GREAT NEWS!!! See, working the nightshift on Christmas Eve can have it’s benefits. Just ask the shepherds.

©2018

Jay Jennings

When Authority Comes to Town

Going to Church…Again

You wake up, rub your eyes, and roll out of bed. Before your feet hit the floor, you realize you’re headed to church today. It’s what you do every weekend…whether you want to or not. You know that’s the wrong attitude. But it’s the truth.

As you pour your coffee, you think about the day ahead. You’ll get together with friends and neighbors to hear some holier-than-thou guy talk about God. He’ll talk a lot of religious dumbo jumbo, most of which is way over your head. Pie-in-the-sky-sweet-bye-and-bye kinda stuff.

Same old Sabbath

When the preacher does teach something that makes some sense, it doesn’t exactly send your heart soaring. Quite the opposite. His message is nothing more than a religious ball and chain. A loathsome list of impossible dos and don’ts.

What’s even worse, you’ve heard it all before. Last week. The week before. The month before. The year before. Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. Same old sermons. Same old stuff. The faces of the preachers may change but there’s one thing that doesn’t. That religious rehash they warm up and serve every weekend.

A Podunk Village in Palestine

Sound familiar? Hit too close to home? For too many of us, this is EXACTLY what going to church was (and still is!) all about. Here’s the crazy thing. This was the very same attitude people had 2,000 years ago in a podunk fishing village in Palestine. Well, at least until the day Jesus came to town.

That’s exactly the scene Mark sets in his bio of Jesus midway through his opening chapter (Mk 1:21-28). The place is Capernaum, a tiny blue-collar burg on the northwest shore of a large freshwater lake we call the Sea of Galilee. It’s Saturday, the Jewish day of worship.

People fill the streets as they head to the local synagogue. It’s not like some go to First Baptist or Saint Moses Catholic or Capernaum Community Church. The synagogue is the only game in town. It’s not just the center of worship but the center of life for the city.

A New Rabbi in Town

But Mark tips us off that this particular Sabbath is going to be different. An unfamiliar face is there. There’s a new rabbi in town by the name of Jesus. He’s accompanied by four of His brand new followers who you swear you saw working as fishermen just a couple of days ago.

Here’s how the author describes that day. “Jesus and His companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue and began to teach” (v21). Same old Sabbath. Same old synagogue. But this is going to be a VERY different sermon. What’s about to go down is about to change absolutely everything.

Snap out of It!

Right out of the gate, this Rabbi/Carpenter from up the road in Nazareth is like no other teacher you’ve ever heard before. “The people were amazed at His teaching” (22). Jesus totally blows your mind. Normally folks can’t wait for the sermon to end. Today they don’t want Him to stop.

John Mark uses a word (Gr. εκπλεσσω/ekplesso) that the NLT translates as “amazed.” It literally means to hit something or someone suddenly in order to get something to leave. Ever see the movie “Moonstruck”? Cher’s character slaps Nicolas Cage to get his attention. “Snap out of it!” (Well, let’s be honest. Who hasn’t wanted to do that to Nic after sitting through one of his flicks?)

Jesus blindsides the boredom right out of the sleepy crowd at the synagogue. He snaps you out of it. He catches you off guard. He astonishes. He astounds. He bewilders. There’s just something about Him that grabs you by the shoulders and forces you to pay attention.

Shock and Awe

Christ’s teaching amazes people, not just once. But over and over and over (Mt 22:23; Mk 6:2). Jaws drop when He drops the mic at the end of His most famous sermon (Mt 7:28-29). Shock and awe are His signature.

Jesus awes the crowds when He brings the heat. Forget “amen” and “hallelujah.” You hear “oohs” and “aahs" when the Lord preaches and teaches. His lessons and lectures were absolutely amazing. And they still are!!

Blowing away the Religious Fog

What a great reminder that we need to regularly blow the religious fog out of the story of Jesus. Too many stale Sunday School lessons and mundane messages have covered His dazzling life under a thick layer of church dust. Grab a new Bible translation. Read Jesus fresh. Walk with Him for the first time all over again.

Remember, He’s unlike anyone or anything the world has ever seen. He brings a Gospel no one has ever heard before. He’s bringing grace and mercy straight out of heaven. Instead of demanding a hopeless climb to an unapproachable God, He brings God all the way down to us.

Real Authority

What is Jesus’ secret sauce for His sermons? “He taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law” (v22). Did you catch that? He wasn’t some self-promoting, self-proclaimed expert blogging from his parents’ basement. He has “real authority.”

The word most Bibles translate “authority” here is εχουσια/exousia. It describes power, strength, jurisdiction, or influence. At its core, the term means doing exactly what you want when you want where you want to whom you want.

Where does Jesus get this incredible ability? Right before He heads home to heaven, He tells His followers that His Father is the source. “I have been given all authority (Gr.εχουσια/exousia) in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). It’s that kind of heavenly authority that qualifies Him as Lord.

Tasteless Leftovers

This new Rabbi is so radically original that all you and your fellow worshipers can do is compare Him to the men who have taught before in the synagogue. His impact and influence is nothing like the tasteless leftovers that have been part of the regular diet on Sabbath. His new teaching is fresh and delicious!

The regular teachers simply taught the Old Testament by quoting the opinion and interpretation of rabbis. The Message puts it this way. Jesus was “not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars” (22 The Message). Their teaching is more like a nonstop argument trying to prove who’s right rather than pointing people toward God.

The Ultimate Authority

A couple of thousand years later, this garbage still goes on. You’ve heard the arguments. They’re all over the interweb. Who’s team are you on? John Piper’s or Rick Warren’s? John MacArthur’s or Bill Hybels’? Let’s be honest. We spend WAY too much energy arguing in public about which teachers are right when it comes to stuff like predestination, speaking in tongues, evangelism, and even style of worship. Come on, people.

We still play the same silly games as the Capernaum rabbis. We LOVE to quote folks like Chuck Swindoll, Matt Chandler, Andy Stanley, and C.S. Lewis. Don’t get me wrong. These are heavyweight teachers when it comes to Scripture. I love them all. But why not read about Jesus straight from Jesus? Why not get God’s Word directly from God’s Word?

But Jesus doesn’t quote other rabbis and their opinions. He didn’t need to. As the Son of God, He’s the Go-To Guy on what Scripture says and what it means. Forget the Bible Answer Man. Christ doesn’t need to Google or Youversion. He IS the Ultimate Authority.

When Worship Goes off the Rails

If Saturday at the synagogue wasn’t crazy enough already, we’re about to turn it up a notch or two. “Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’” (v23-24).

Here in the middle of Jesus’ message, a guy shouts back at the new Rabbi. Whoa. Sure, there have been a few times I felt like the pastor has gone from preaching to meddling in his message, but I’ve never stood up and shouted at him to stop! This worship service in Capernaum has officially gone off the rails! I mean, WAY off the rails!!

The Weird Guy in Town

On the other hand, you’re not really all that surprised at the dude challenging the guest Speaker. He’s the weird guy in town. Yeah, THAT guy. The guy who mumbles to himself a lot. He makes you uncomfortable. Shoot, he makes EVERYBODY uncomfortable! Conversations with him are bizarre and messy. You head the other way when you see him coming.

Mark explains just why the man is so bizarre. He’s “possessed by an evil spirit” (23). We’re not exactly sure how or when it happened, but a demon has made itself at home in the man and is calling the shots. And now the filthy spirit is calling out Christ.

Satan and His Evil Army

Throughout the Bible, these nasty spirits cause people all sorts of serious problems, including both physical and mental illness (Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17-25; Lk 8:27-28; 9:39; Acts 8:7). This does NOT mean the devil’s demonic crew is behind all of them. But we need to be aware of the potential spiritual aspect of any sort of sickness.

A couple of important ideas. On one hand, blaming the enemy and his unholy horde for every little thing that happens in life gives him way too much credit. This leads to a victim mentality. I’m not saying Satan hasn’t set his sites on me, but my biggest problem is the knucklehead I see in the mirror each morning.

The other problem is ignoring our enemy completely. Jesus makes it clear the devil does is demonic best to “steal, kill, and destroy” (Jn 10:10). The prince of darkness is real. To ignore that satanic snake and his evil army is a MASSIVE mistake! We have a defeated enemy but he’s still a dangerous enemy.

Jesus’ Heavenly Identity

Clearly the demon controlling this guy knows there’s a new sheriff in town. “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” (v24). The evil spirit tips us off that Christ isn’t simply going one-on-one. In order to help the man, He must deal with a minimum of one demon. It’s not unusual for them to torture folks in massive teams (Mk 5:9, 15; Lk 8:30).

In essence, this particular satanic spirit tells Jesus to stop jacking with him and his human host and mind His own business. The demon not only calls the Rabbi/Carpenter by His earthly name, “Jesus of Nazareth” (24), but also clearly understands His heavenly identity. “I know who you are—the Holy One of God” (v24). This is one of those times Christ’s kid brother James writes about when he says even demons believe in God but “tremble in terror” (James 2:17).

Evil Gets Antsy

It’s interesting that the demon inside the dude couldn’t simply sit there quietly with the Son of God in the room. That’s because wherever Jesus shows up, evil gets antsy. You see it all throughout the four bios of Christ. There’s nothing like the Light of the World to expose sin and filth (Eph 5:13). Like cockroaches on the run when the light comes on.

Do you start to squirm when Jesus is around? Do you think He should get His holy nose out of your personal business? Do you get more than a little anxious when you think the Lord might know all about those nasty little “habits” you do behind closed doors?

Guess what. He already knows. Our Savior is fully aware of our deepest, darkest secrets. As a matter of fact, Jesus knows more about that junk that we do (Ps 44:21: Jer 23:24). And He came to free us from it and replace it with a “rich and satisfying life” we can only know through Him (Jn 10:10). Tell Him and trust Him. Get it off your chest and get Him into your life. What are you waiting for?

A Screamin’ Demon

If this Sabbath at Capernaum synagogue wasn’t already crazy enough, wait until you see what happens next! “But Jesus reprimanded him. ‘Be quiet! Come out of the man,’ He ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him” (v25-26).

In the words of Ron Burgundy, “Well, that escalated quickly!” No sooner does the demon challenge Jesus than the visiting Rabbi tells him to stuff a sock in it and get the heck out of Dodge…or at least get out of the poor guy he had possessed.

The evil spirit certainly doesn’t go without a fight. When Christ gives him the order and sends him packing, the demon screams and gives the guy one last nasty shake. This is like an ump tossing a player out of game. Before the player leaves, he throws a juvenile tantrum, involving bats, balls, hats, and the Gatorade cooler. He pitches a fit, but he’s still leaving.

Jaw-Dropping Authority

If you think folks were impressed by Jesus’ sermon, having a front row seat for an exorcism takes this Sabbath to a whole new level. “Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened, ‘What sort of new teaching is this?’ they asked excitedly. ‘It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey His orders!’” (v27).

Just in case you had any doubts about whether this new Teacher and His message could move the needle, they’re gone now. Those doubts ran out the door with the demon. Everybody is picking their jaw up off the floor of that small-town synagogue. This new Rabbi not only exposes evil but sends it running with its forked tail between its legs.

A Game Changer

The authority Jesus is a total game changer. Nobody has ever seen anything like Him before. I’m talking EVER. Not before. Not since. Not ever. It’s the role He was born to play. And that role is the incredible combo of Savior and Lord.

As our Savior, He’s the Hero the Father first promised He would send to clean up the mess our first parents made (Gen 3:15). The Son of God leaves the luxury of the heavenly palace to come to our rescue. Or as Jesus announces at a big shindig in Jericho, “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Lk 19:10).

As the Lord, He has total authority. Complete authority. Unlimited authority. So much so that when Jesus says so, it IS so. Just ask the demon He evicted from the dude in the synagogue. Oh, that’s right. You can’t. The Lord told him to shut up and leave.

The 800-pound Gorilla

Here’s the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to Jesus as Lord. Are WE actually going to do what He says? Am I going to obey His commands? Do I believe that believe that He is God and what He wants for me is good? Or do I think He’s holding out on me? In case you haven’t heard the story, but that’s how things fell apart in Eden in the first place (Gen 3:1-8).

Here’s the rub. We love the whole Jesus as our Messiah/Hero idea. That’s awesome. But once He saves our eternal bacon, we really want nothing to do with His leadership as our Lord. Savior, yes. Lord, no.

There’s just one little problem. I can’t pull the two apart. Jesus as my Savior and Lord is a package deal. In other words, I can’t simply buy the fire insurance. I must also willingly to submit to His leadership and guidance. It makes sense when you think about it. My very limited authority certainly hasn’t been able to get me to make any real changes in my life so far.

The Buzz in the Burg

Back in Capernaum, there’s a quite a buzz in the little burg as people leave the synagogue. “The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee” (v28). Word gets around about not only the new Teacher, His amazing message, but His astonishing authority.

Because of Jesus’ authority, the Sabbath will never be the same. Going to synagogue will never be the same. Life will never be the same!

Let’s just say things are about to get rather complicated for Jesus and His team. But He’s up for it. He’s got the brand new message folks have been waiting to hear. And He’s got the authority they desperately need. 

That’s what happens when Authority comes to town.

©2017
Jay Jennings

Gracious Last Words

“The Lord be with you in spirit. Grace be with you” (2Tim 4:22).

Signature Sign Off
Ever know somebody with signature sign off? You know, a little catch phrase they use to say “goodbye.”

Looney Tunes always end with “That’s all, folks! Bob Barker closed “The Price Is Right” for years with, “Have your pet spayed or neutered.” Legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite signed off by saying, “And that’s the way it is.” And you’ve gotta love Ron Burgundy’s “Stay classy, San Diego.”

Grace on the Green Mile
Did you know that Paul had signature sign off too? Sure did. Oh, he varies it just a bit from letter to letter. But he ends each note by pointing back to God’s amazing grace.

His very last letter is no different. As the apostle writes to Timothy from Death Row in Rome, he doesn’t disappoint when he signs off. “The Lord be with you in spirit. Grace be with you” (v22). Who expected to find grace on the Green Mile?

After writing 13 documents that we now include in the New Testament, these are the very last strokes of Paul’s pen before his execution. Think about that for just moment. Very. Last. Words. His famous last words are gracious last words.

Getting to the Good Stuff
I don’t know about you, but I’m tempted to blow right past the opening and closing verses in many books of the Bible. Get past the blah-blah-blah. I want to get to the good stuff! What if this IS the good stuff?!?

But here’s what I always have to remember. If God’s Spirit has inspired each and every writer of Scripture (2Tim 3:16), then He has every bit of it there for a reason. That includes these opening and closing lines. Is it possible that they hold the key to unlocking the entire message of God’s Word?

Passing the Torch
Before we dig into what Paul’s writing, let’s zoom out to see why Paul’s writing. The year is 67 AD. The place is Rome. Specifically the Mamertine Prison. Better known as Caesar’s SuperMax. It’s the cellblock reserved for condemned prisoners.

The apostle knows he’s going to die and die soon (2Tim 4:6-7). He writes to a young pastor named Timothy he considers his spiritual son (2Tim 1:2). Paul fires off one last letter with two purposes. First, he’s passing the torch of ministry (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Second, he begs for one final visit (2Tim 4:9, 21).

Paul’s Sign Off
Which brings us to his sign off. “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you” (v22). Paul reminds his protege that Jesus is always with him in order to lead him. He reminds Tim of the God’s amazing gift that none of us deserve. In other words, we can trust in Christ’s leadership because of the overwhelming goodness of all He’s already done for us.

Check out Paul’s signature close in every one of his notes. Grace drips off the page in each one. Yup. That’s right. Every single epistle (Rom 16:20; 1Cor 16:23; 2Cor 13:14; Gal 6:18; Eph 6:24; Phil 4:23; Col 4:18; 1Th 5:28; 2Th 3:18; 1Tim 6:21; 2Tim 4:22; Titus 3:15; Phm 25).

Gracious last words.

The Grace Sandwich
It only makes sense, really. Paul kicks off every letter with greetings of grace (Rom 1:7; 1Cor 1:3; 2Cor 1:2; Gal 1:3; Eph 1:2; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 2; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2; Titus 1:4; Phm 3). Grace at the open. Grace at the close. Think of the apostle’s letters as a delicious Grace Sandwich.

I’m pretty sure we can all learn a little lesson from the apostle formerly known as Saul. No matter what we have to say to someone, let’s wrap it in grace. Start with grace. End with grace. Talk about speaking the truth in love! It’s impossible to beat someone over the head with a 20-pound study Bible while marveling at the mind-blowing generosity of our great giving God!

The Promise of Jesus’ Presence
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s back up to the first half of Paul’s two-part sign off. “The Lord be with you in your spirit” (22). The apostle reminds Tim of the powerful promise of Jesus’ presence.

Sixteen times in this little letter, the man from Tarsus refers to the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth as the Lord. We find five of those are right here in the final chapter. If you’re curious, this is the important Greek noun κυριος/kurios, which means master, boss, or leader.

Buying Fire Insurance
This title speaks directly to Jesus’ authority. He’s not just my Savior. He’s also my Lord. He’s come from the luxury of the heavenly palace to our rescue by diving into the dumpster of our sin.

Jesus lived the perfect life I failed to live. He died the death I should have died. He rose to the new life I don’t deserve. He trades His perfection for my rebellion (2Cor 5:21). He transforms me from an enemy of God with my picture on a heavenly wanted poster to a child of God with my name listed in the divine will (Rom 5:8-10; Col 1:21-22).

If I’m willing to place my trust in His overwhelming goodness as my Savior, why would I not trust Him to be the Leader of the my life as my Lord? Let me try this another way. We can’t just buy His fire insurance without submitting to His authority. We can’t have one without the other. When we place our trust in Jesus, we place our trust in the total package.

24/7/365
Paul wants Tim to realize that our Lord’s leadership is available 24/7/365. He’s always right there. That’s how Jesus earned the Hebrew nickname of “Immanuel” which means God is always with us (Is 7:14; Mt 1:23). Just before He headed home to heaven, the Son of God wanted His followers to never forget, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).

For years I thought Christ was some cosmic killjoy looking to make sure I avoided fun at any cost. Following Jesus means wiping that smile off my face and kissing good times goodbye. I thought submitting to His commands was becoming a religious rule-follower that had all the excitement of eating my Brussels sprouts. (I apologize to anyone out there who really likes these disgusting little veggies.)

God’s Guardrails
What I’ve come to understand is that my Lord leads me out of His love. His commands don’t steal my joy but are the true source of my joy! Jesus tells folks to stop working so hard to earn God’s approval. Instead, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Mt 11:29-30).

Following His guidance is the key to unlocking God’s tsunami of blessing into our lives. It’s the whole reason Christ came. Satan is undoubtedly out to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus’ mission was to lead us into the overflowing and overwhelming life of God’s goodness (Jn 10:10).

Think of our Lord’s leadership as God’s guardrails which keep us safe. It’s His way of keeping us out of trouble. It’s His way of saving us from ourselves. I don’t know about you but I’ve made a hot mess out of my life too many times by ignoring His commands. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I hope you don’t make the same mistake.

Paul Gets Personal
As he has done through a huge chunk of this letter, the apostle gets personal. When he writes, “The Lord be with you in spirit” (v22), Paul’s actually writing just to Timothy. The “you” here is actually singular. It’s a little something something we miss in our English Bibles.

His point? Jesus promises His personal presence to Tim and each one of us who place our trust in who He is and what He’s done. Actually, a slightly better translation of this sentence might be “the Lord IS with you in spirit” (v22). Paul is making a statement. He’s stating a fact.

This Time It’s Personal
The apostle reminds the young pastor of a truth we ALL need to hang onto. My Leader is right here by my side every stope of the way. Every follower of Jesus has has a PERSONAL relationship with the Son of God. Not just preachers. Not just professional Christians. You. Me. Us. Them.

Yeah, I know. Too many times it certainly feels like the Lord is nowhere near me. Not in the same zip code. Not even in the same area code. Just because I don’t feel His presence doesn’t mean He’s not there. Just ask a couple of His followers who hoofed it back to Emmaus after His crucifixion (Lk 24:13-35).

Jesus’ direct involvement in our eternal rescue is a game changer. I can be sure that God loves me. And this time it’s personal.

His Grace Is with Y’all
Which brings us to the second half of Paul’s two-part sign off. “Grace be with you” (v22). This time the apostle uses a “you” (Gr. υμων/umon) which is plural. While this may be a VERY personal note to Timothy, Paul wrote it with the expectation that everybody would hear it.

This letter may have Tim’s name on the envelope but the message was to be read to the entire church in Ephesus. While the “you” may be plural here, Paul is once again stating a very singular fact. A VERY important fact. Grace IS with you all. The Lord is with you. His grace is with y’all.

These are gracious last words.

Grace Breaks Free
Grace. THE most scandalous idea in the entire Bible. Let’s be honest we’ve done our best to tame this beast over the past couple of thousand years. We’ve attempted to domesticate grace by reducing it the name of our quick “thanks God for the food” prayers before we eat.

But we can’t stop grace. We can’t even hope to contain it. God’s grace will eventually snap the chains like King Kong in captivity. It must run free. No matter how hard we try, grace can’t be kept in captivity.

Our Great Giver
Jesus used Paul to release His grace on the Gentile world for 30-plus years. The apostle has loved telling everyone who listens all about it. Each time he does, the man from Tarsus uses a Greek word (Gr. χαρις/charis) which describes goodwill, favor, kindness, benefit, blessing, or simply an unearned or undeserved gift.

Grace is a quality that adds delight and pleasure wherever it goes. As marvelous as it is, grace places the focus on the overwhelming goodness of the giver. And in this case, The Giver is God!

Paul’s Big Point
There’s probably no better description of God’s overwhelming goodness toward you and me than what Paul has to say in his letter to his Ephesian friends. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8:-9).

The apostle’s big point is that God’s grace is absolutely essential. Why? I can’t rescue myself. Self-salvation is totally impossible. You and I are incapable of following the rules in order to earn God’s favor. Hey, if Paul couldn’t pull it off, what shot do we have?

One-Way Love
Remember what I said about how grace focuses on the goodness of our Great Giving God? Paul Zahl says it this way. “Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the Lover.”

In his book Grace in Practice, he goes on to say, “Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable…Grace is one-way love.”

Starting to see what makes grace so amazing?

The Unobligated Giver
Tullian Tchividjian puts it this way. “Grace doesn’t make demands. It just gives. And from our vantage point, it always gives to the wrong person…Grace is a divine vulgarity that stands caution on its head. It refuses to play it safe and lay it up. Grace is recklessly generous, uncomfortably promiscuous…Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver.”

Just in case we miss his big point, let’s remind ourselves of who he’s talking about. You and I are those undeserving persons. God is the Unobligated Giver. We’re recipients of His descending one-way love. He has refused to play it safe. He has throne caution to the wind.

Transforming Grace
That’s the big idea behind Paul’s signature sign off. Grace. Love toward us that’s recklessly generous and uncomfortably promiscuous. It’s turned the apostle’s life upside down (or better yet, rightside up!). Grace transformed him from a murderer of Jesus’ followers to a missionary with a message.

Here’s how Paul describes it. “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1Cor 15:9-10).

Paul Signs Off
That’s the reason he signs off every single time by mentioning the grace of God. And there’s no better time to than as his pen strokes the page here for the very last time.

Gracious last words.

©2017 Jay Jennings

The Eternal Standing O

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2Tim 4:18).

And the Crowd Goes Wild!

A spectacular performance results in an enormous ovation. Like the packed house at a concert jumping to its feet when the band rocks their encore. Like the standing-room-only crowd at a stadium celebrating a score. The better the show, the longer the cheers.

You might think this would be the last thing a prisoner on Death Row would be writing about. There’s not much to celebrate when you’re in your final days of walking the Green Mile. Prison? Cheers? Ovations? Celebrations? Unless you’re the Apostle Paul.

A Letter from Death Row

It’s late in the year 67 AD. The place is Rome, specifically a nasty dungeon known as the Mamertine Prison. Paul is a condemned man (2Tim 4:6-7). He’s writing one last letter to his spiritual son, a young preacher named Timothy (2Tim 1:2).

While he’s desperate for one last chance to see him (2Tim 4:9, 21), the apostle knows his situation is about to change. Drastically change. Radically change. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v18).

Busting out of the Joint

Paul knows he’s getting out of the joint soon. Very soon. But not because the emperor will grant him a pardon. Not because a judge will overturn his conviction. Not because of some plot to bust him out of the joint. No, he’s not walking through the prison doors to freedom. He’s walking through the door of death and into the gates of Heaven.

Jesus is coming to his rescue as He’s done so many times before. But this time it’s different. This time it’s permanent. This time it’s paradise. And when Christ carries him home, the apostle is going to cheer like never before. He’s going to celebrate God with the rest of creation.

The applause will be loud and long because the performance has been unmatched. Great big cheers for our great big God. It’s going to be the Eternal Standing O. And nobody deserves it like Jesus.

Double Deliverance

Maybe you’re wondering the reason behind all the raving applause. Specifically, Paul says it’s because “the Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom” (v18). This is double deliverance. Out of evil. Into joy. Talk about going from worst to first!

First of all, the apostle tells Tim how Jesus is the ultimate Lifeguard who “will rescue me” (v18). He uses a Greek verb here (Gr. ρυομαι/ruomai) which means to bring someone out of severe danger, deliver, draw out of desperation. 

It actually comes from a root word which describes a fast-moving current, rip tide, or raging river. Picture a lifeguard jumping down out of the tower and sprinting into the surf.

The Gospel according to Baywatch?

Okay, I realize this conjures up images of David Hasselhoff and the Baywatch gang running in slo-mo down the wearing red swimming suits. But seriously, have you ever seen a highly trained lifeguard risk their own life to save someone who’s struggling to survive in the surf? Maybe you’ve been the one they’ve brought back and rescued.

When your lungs are filling with water, a lifeguard doesn’t stand up in his chair and shout swimming instructions to you over a bullhorn. This is no time to learn the backstroke or butterfly. You don’t need an education. You need a rescuer who will get personally involved and come to you!

Jesus to the Rescue

That’s exactly what Jesus has done for Paul, for you, and for me. When we were drowning in the sea of our own sin, He didn’t yell for us to swim harder. Christ jumped up from lap of Heaven’s luxury and dove headlong into the mess we made in order to save us.

We can’t save ourselves. None of us can. Not you. Not me. Not them. We can give it everything to get out of this rip tide of rebellion but it won’t happen.  We don’t earn our rescue. We can’t obey our way to safety. The only way we’re going to make it is when our Lord does what He does best. Save. That is, after all, why we call Him our Savior!

The Great Exchange

Our salvation is all part of a crazy swap that some folks refer to as the Great Exchange. In one of his letters to Corinthian Christ followers, Paul talks about how Father God had His sinless Son grab our utter rebellion and give us His absolute obedience (2Cor 5:21). 

He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. Christ doesn’t teach us how to swim. He dives in to take our sin. But He doesn’t stop there. Jesus graciously exchanges our badness for His goodness. I told you it was a crazy swap.

But there’s a bit of problem. Too many of us don’t think we need to be saved. We don’t realize we’re being carried away by the current. When Jesus comes to our rescue, we tell Him to leave us alone. We’re fine. We fight against Him like so many drowning victims struggle against the lifeguard. Relax. He’s got you.

Dirty Deeds

Paul points out that he’s counting our Savior to pull his sorry carcass out of danger from “every evil deed” (v18). Not just some evil deeds. We’re talking all of them. Every. Single. One. If you’ve been following the apostle’s current situation, that would include anything thrown at him by guys like Alexander who’s been a real pain (2Tim 4:14).

When we serve the Lord and start spreading His message, we’re going to face opposition. Moments before He’s betrayed and murdered, Jesus warns His team how they can expect to be hated since the world hates Him (Jn 15:18-20). 

Christ also tips us off to our supernatural enemy known as Satan. The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy anything and everything that has to do with God’s kingdom and Jesus’ followers (Jn 10:10).

Self-Inflicted Wounds

But there’s a massive pile of “evil deeds” (v18) from which the Lord saves us as well. Those self-inflicted wounds. Those dirty deeds I’ve done to myself. Paul tells believers in Rome of his own struggle with sin after Jesus saved him (Rom 7:14-20). He desperately wants to do the right thing but all too often he is his own worst enemy.

Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. Taken the t-shirt to Goodwill. Too often my biggest enemy is the goofball looking back at me in the morning mirror. As if I don’t have enough problems dealing with a culture which opposes Christ and the devil, I’m also in a cage fight with my own flesh.

The apostle reassures Tim that Jesus will eventually rescue us from all of them. Sound familiar? Paul seems to echo the words of Christ when He coaches up His crew on prayer. The Lord closes His model prayer by saying, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver (Gr. ρυομαι/ruomai) us from evil” (Mt 6:13).

From the Outhouse to the Penthouse

The man from Tarsus goes on to say that the Lord won’t just pull him out of trouble and leave him there. Picture an accident scene on the shoulder of a busy interstate. A good samaritan pulls an unconscious person out of a burning car. But instead of calling 9-1-1 and waiting for an ambulance, the dude drives away, leaving the victim in his rearview mirror.

Paul knows our Savior won’t just save his eternal bacon but promises to “bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom” (v18). This is double deliverance we talked about earlier. From the outhouse of evil. To the penthouse of paradise. Just like we can’t imagine what the Son of God left to come to our rescue, there’s no way we can wrap our minds around what it will be like to spend eternity with Him.

Draw Us out to Draw Us in

The phrase in the ESV “bring me safely” is actually one single word in the original language. And it’s a very familiar word: σωζω/sozo. The writers of the NT drop this little jewel a grand total of 118 times. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

This is the word we normally translate as “save,” as in Jesus “will save (Gr. σωζω/sozo) His people from their sins” (Mt 1:21). It’s Peter’s cry for help when his own attempt at water walking doesn’t go so well. “Lord, save (Gr. σωζω/sozo) me!” (Mt 14:30). There goes Jesus being a lifeguard again!

Christ pulls us out of our own sin in order to pull us close to Himself. As Matt Chandler says, He draws us out in order to draw us in. That’s because Jesus wants to give us Himself. Forget all the other bennies you’ve heard about Heaven. Gates made of massive pearls. Golden pavement. Crystal rivers. The most awesome thing about eternity is God. Being with Him is THE Blessing! Nothing else comes close.

Death as the Doorway

So instead of freaking out about his certain execution date, Paul explodes in praise to his Savior! “To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v18). The closer he gets to it, the more he realizes his death is simply a doorway to eternity with the Son of God. It’s that same thought that’s behind the tough he mentions to his Philippian friends. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

Because of who Jesus is, all He’s done and all He’s going to do, Paul says the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter deserves an unlimited ovation. When we give God glory He so rightly deserves, we do everything we can to make Him famous. We raise up His name higher than any other. We shine the light on His righteous rep. We use our lives as a magnifying glass so that others can get a good look at the Lord.

Glory Words

We celebrate our Savior “forever and ever” (v18). The apostle actually repeats the same word (Gr. αιων/aion). You can easily translate this as “eternity and eternity.” In other words, we’re to join the unending, everlasting cheers for Jesus. It’s been going on longer than anyone can remember. And it’s not stopping anytime soon. This is the Eternal Standing O that only Jesus deserves.

Paul busts loose with this little ditty which theologians like to call a doxology. That’s a two-dollar word that simply means “glory words.” You bump into doxologies all throughout the Bible. Sudden explosions of praise which detonate whenever one of the writers of Scripture can no longer contain themselves when considering who God is and what He has done.

They’re littered all over the Old Testament (Ex 15:18; 1Chr 29:10-13; Ps 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; 146:10; 150:1-6; Is 6:3). The words of glory keep on keeping on when you flip over to the New Testament. In the Gospels (Mt 21:9; Mk 11:9-10; Lk 2:14; 19:38). In the letters (Heb 13:20-21; 1Pet 4:11; 2Pet 3:18; Rev 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:12; 19:1). The apostle is personally responsible for this and four more (Rom 11:36; 16:25-27; Eph 3:20-21; Phil 4:20; 1Tim 1:17).

Never Stop Never Stopping

Long before Andy Samberg’s mockumentary, the inspired biblical writers were all about never stop never stopping when it comes to giving God the glory. It’s the never-ending applause for the only One who really rates. It’s the everlasting cheers for the only One who is truly entitled. It’s the Eternal Standing O that only Jesus deserves.

It’s amazing what happens when I get my eyes off my pathetic little pity party and look up to my awesome Savior. Can we be honest? Whatever you and I are facing probably finishes a distant second to Paul’s situation as he writes this letter. 

If he can spontaneously combust in worship of Jesus while walking the Green Mile, what’s stopping you and me?

©2017 Jay Jennings

Jesus Pitches a Tent

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).

The One who spoke the entire universe into being made a decision to rough it.  As the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son was 100% God.  Then something absolutely crazy happened.  Somehow, someway, He added to His 100% Godness.  He took on 100% humanity too!  That’s the new math.  The new DIVINE math. 

          100% God+100% Man=100% Savior!

But the Son didn’t sit back and chill out after taking on His brand new humanity.  He was about to make a road trip.  He had mission.  The Son packed up and headed to Earth.  He headed into the very creation He shaped and formed.  But when He left the lap of heaven’s luxury, He didn’t check into the Four Seasons or the Plaza.  He “dwelt among us.”  

Setting up Camp

John tells us that the Son of God went camping.  The original text tells us us that He literally “tabernacled” (Gr.σκενοω/skeno’o) once He got to earth.  In other words, Jesus set up camp and pitched a tent.  The Message describes how Christ “moved into the neighborhood.”  For the Second Person of the Big Three, His accommodations were just a bit less posh than the glorious palace He enjoyed back home in heaven.  

Jesus pitches a tent.  God is roughing it.  And if you have any doubts about all that, remember where Jesus made His arrival.  In a stinky old barn behind the Motel 6 in Bethlehem. 

Eyewitness to Glory

At this point, John jumps into the story and tells us what he saw.  “We have seen His glory.”  Since we know Jesus’ buddy wasn’t hanging out with the shepherds when the angels lit up the sky in glory, that can’t be what he’s talking about.  

Most likely, the apostle is talking about that crazy day Christ took him, his big brother Jim and their fishing buddy Pete mountain climbing.  Once they arrived at the summit, something wild happened.  Jesus started changing and glowing!  Their Leader pulled back the curtains of heaven to let them know just who He really was.  

Or John could be describing Jesus’ appearance after His resurrection.  And their’s a chance that this is his way of summing up all of their experiences with the remarkable Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilean.  His teaching exposed God’s glory.  His miracles revealed God’s glory.  His love disclosed God’s glory.  John and the boys saw Jesus’ glory with their own eyes.  They didn’t get this crazy stuff second hand.

The One and Only

John and the rest of the posse realized Jesus was more than Mary and Joe’s kid from Nazareth.  He was the one and only Son of God.  While Joe was a great dad, he was Jesus' adoptive father.  He and his wife had other kids.  But Christ was an only Child.  

His Dad in heaven had just one Boy.  Jesus was someone special.  That’s the meaning behind the term we translate “only.”  This is μονογενες/monogenes, which means unique, one of a kind, the one and only or the only one like it.  Jesus is unique.  He’s one of a kind.  He’s the one and only.  He’s the only one.  There was and is NOBODY like Him.  Ever.  

It’s interesting to understand that the word “Son” isn’t there in the original Greek text.  You can actually write this phrase in English as “the Unique of the Father.”  The First Person of the Trinity had only one Son.  There was and is no one else like Him in the history of the universe.  Jesus, the one and only. 

Grace and Truth

One of the things that makes Christ unique is the fact that no one who was so overflowing in goodness spoke so bluntly.  Jesus was “full of grace and truth.”  Everywhere He went, He opened up the fire hose of God’s blessing.  Healing.  Teaching.  Loving.  Caring.  

But Christ also pulled no punches when it came to telling the truth about sin.  Just ask the lady caught in adultery.  Or the woman sitting by the well in Sychar.  Or the religious bullies known as the Sanhedrin.  He told them the truth.  He made it perfectly clear that they needed a Savior.  One way to understand John’s wording is that Jesus made the Good News REALLY good because the bad news is REALLY bad.  

That’s what happens when you experience the one-of-a-kind Son of God.  
          100% God+100% Man=100% Savior!

Somebody's Comin'!

Getting Ready for Christmas

Over in the book of Matthew, we see folks getting ready for Christmas (Mt 1:1-25).  Getting ready for the FIRST Christmas.  As a matter of fact, God is the One making all the preps.  Unlike me, He didn’t wait until the last minute.  

God has been getting things ready for a few thousand years.  I need to remember that the first Christmas wasn’t just this cute, quaint, one time event.  It was thousands (if not millions) of years in the making!  And God was behind it all.

Jesus' Family Tree

Before we read of His birth, we get a meticulous telling of Jesus’ family tree through His adoptive dad Joe.  It’s VERY interesting and important for a couple of reasons.  

First, this establishes the Child as coming through the line of Abraham and David on Joe’s side.  God had made super specific promises to Abe and Dave about one of their descendants (more on that later).  

The Hero of the Story

Take a moment and check out some of the names of Jesus’ ancestors.  Holy moly!  There are double dealers, cheaters, backstabbers, hookers and a wide variety of knuckleheads.  

Not exactly a list of hall of famers.  That’s because this story isn’t about them.  It’s about the one and only Hero of the story.  Christ Jesus.

Jesus' Real Dad

Second, Matt never refers to Joe as Jesus’ dad.  He makes it very clear here in chapter one that he’s “the husband of Mary” (v16) and “her husband Joseph” (v19).  

On the other hand, Matt clearly wants us to be sure Who the real Dad is, the “Holy Spirit” (v18, 20).  Wait, what?!?  Yup, that’s right.  Not the heavenly Father.  But the Third Person of the Big Three.  

Joe is a blue collar laborer from the backwater boondocks of Nazareth.  He might be a descendant of the great King David, but he swings a hammer for a living.  You can bet his kids will grow up with a strong work ethic.

Jesus' Teenage Mom

Third, we read that despite the supernatural influence from His Dad’s side, this Baby has a human mom.  Matty lets us know that after that spectacular conception, Mary experienced a pretty normal pregnancy.  It became clear that “she was found to be with child” (v18).  

She would go into labor and give “birth to a Son” (v25).  Mary was the one chosen by God to carry and nurture the Christ.  She was the one “of whom Jesus was born” (v16).  

Mary is almost certainly a teenager, maybe as young as 13 or 14.  Joe the carpenter has popped the question and they plan to marry.  But plans change when God gets involved.

The Math of the God-Man

This amazing combination of divine paternity and human maternity comes together in a way no one expected.  He’s not some 50/50 combo of supernatural and mortal.  

Nope.  He’s 100% God.  He’s 100% Man.  How does that all work?  Don’t have a clue.  It’s all part of the miracle of the One we’ve come to call the God-Man.  

The funny thing is that one of my pet peeves is when an athlete says they’ve given 150% effort.  It’s not possible.  The most anyone can give is 100%.  

Well, anyone except Jesus.  He can give 200%.  100% God.  100% Man.  And it took every bit of that to save my sorry self. 

Naming the Baby

Fourth, there’s the Child.  An angel gives Joe instructions on naming this Baby.  “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save people from their sins” (v21).  This is the Greek form of the ancient Hebrew name Joshua which literally means “Yahweh saves.”  

When you look closely at verse 21, you see that this Child isn’t just some sort of undercover operative sent by God.  He’s the One who’s coming to do the saving.  

He’s flesh-wrapped incarnation of Yahweh.  He’s coming on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen.  This One who’s coming to save will have a name to match. 

Our Hero's on the Way

Matt tips us off to a second title for Joe and Mary’s Boy: “Christ” (v1, 16).  This is the Greek version of the OT title Messiah.  In other words, Jesus is the One everybody’s been waiting thousands of years for.  

God first promised our first parents of this Hero back in the garden (Gen 3:15).  He pledged to Abraham that One of his descendants would be a blessing to the entire planet (Gen 12:2-3).  Yahweh assured King David that a Member of his family line would sit on the royal throne for eternity (2Sam 7:13-14).  

The Messiah's Search-and-Rescue Mission

These are just three of the hundreds of predictions of this God-sent Hero who would come to not just save the day but our very souls.  This Child is the long-promised, long-awaited Messiah.  

He’s the Christ.  This term means “Anointed One.”  He’s anointed by God the Father for this incredible search-and-rescue mission.  He’s anointed with God the Spirit in order to have the supernatural power to accomplish it.

Pulling Back the Curtain

The angel tells Jesus’ adoptive dad Joe about one of the many predictions about this Boy.  He’ll be called “Immanuel, which means, God with us” (v23).  God first shouted this promise through the prophet Isaiah a few hundred years before (Is 7:14).  

Matt pulls back the curtain and sheds a little more light on the name.  It “means, God with us.”  He doesn’t want Joe to miss the point.  He doesn’t want us to miss the point.  This is not going to be just another Jewish baby.  

When Jesus makes the scene in that smelly barn, God will have come down in a way the universe has never seen.  He is God with us.  He is Immanuel.  

God Is STILL with Us

And what I need to always remember that He wasn’t just with us for a short 33 years.  God is STILL with us!  God is STILL with me!  Just before His breathtaking liftoff back to His Dad, Jesus promised that He wouldn’t ever truly leave us alone again.  

God is STILL with us.  God is STILL with me.

©2016
Jay Jennings