Another Silence, Then The Show Begins

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  John 1:29

The subject for this morning message has been easy to decide for about the last month since Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus our Lord. But we have ended one year and started a new one, so what is the subject now? Of course you will easily see that the subject does not need to change. The great birth events had passed and some years went by when all seemed quiet again in Judea and Galilee. But that was about to change as Jesus came of age and His ministry was set to begin. Joseph was gone, leaving only John and Mary the mother of Jesus to await all those things that would start with a baptism. Twelve unsuspecting men would soon take up the life of disciples of a new rabbi. A wedding would be blessed with the best wine a professional host had ever tasted. Blind eyes would see, dead people would be raised, and many other miracles would turn lives over in a short time. But, it wasn't for nothing that Isaiah had foretold of a great light shining in a land of darkness. Soon the word of God would be preached like it had not been heard before. And John's notice in our verse today would be fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. 

So get ready for a new year of blessings from our Lord and Savior!

Bucky

New Year Time!

Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would consider their latter end!
  -- Deuteronomy 32:29

If you are reading this and I am writing this, then once again, perhaps in spite of all expectations, we have made it to the end of another calendar year. Once more we have learned from the past while not dwelling in it. Joyfully anticipated the future meeting with our Lord and Savior while walking with Him in the Spirit each day. And by example or word we have spread the good news of Jesus even during the struggles we have faced with Him.

Wow, your halo really gleams today! Instead I feel like I have become crankier, fatter, slower, a bit stupider, and no better looking at all. Plus I'm pretty sure I have become what is called 'old' by most everyone. The year went from calamity to boredom to crisis and back to boredom. And at my age I kind of liked the boring parts.

So which is it with you? A funny thing is that by faith in Christ Jesus we walk a year both joyfully trusting in our Lord and at our wits end over the decline of what once were considered strengths. As the days pass, we come to know our need for Jesus all the more by way of weakness. We use the days that some would call boring to study His word and pray with Him in earnest. The passing years may slow us down to get with our Lord constantly as we prepare for that latter end.

Have a joyous New Year in Christ Jesus!

Bucky

Growing Up King

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40

If a person were to visit the royal household a few years after the wise men from the east had departed, would that person's expectations be met. If a shepherd were to look up that same family he visited in Bethlehem some years later in their home in Nazareth, would his idea of how the Messiah should be raised be realized? Probably not in either case. However, if a person were to pray to God that His Son be aware of how most people have it growing up, then, yes, the young king knew struggles and poverty, and even growing up in a land occupied by a foreign power. Did Jesus the king suffer childhood illnesses? Scripture does not tell us, but Jesus probably had the usual childhood experiences of the time and place where he grew up. Jesus the young king of kings was probably shoved out of the way by a Roman soldier at some point. The Son of God may have even fallen down and cried.

Jesus knows us,

Bucky

The Young King Escapes

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, 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.” Matthew 2:1-2

It happened after the great events surrounding the birth of Jesus, but it is a story we enjoy each year at this time. The magi or wise men made an epic journey that may have taken as much as two years. They had a guide and knowledge of what it meant. However, their guide only led them to the largest city in a nation under Roman occupation. Only later did the star reappear and stand over Bethlehem and the house where the young king was growing up. From their distant home, those wise men were just a bit unaware of the jealous rage the current king would feel when presented with news of a newborn king. The wise men failing to return to Jerusalem provided an excuse for Herod to lash out his rage and murder many innocent children. As for the young king, he had a Father in heaven watching over him and they got up at night and escaped to Egypt.

I had a wonderful Christmas feast with friends and a jigsaw puzzle. I hope yours was wonderful too in Jesus Christ our Lord and King!

Bucky

Plenty of Christmas Surprises

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:15-16

The day has come again as we celebrate our Lord's birth with those shepherds of long ago. The angel had said to them, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." (v11 KJv). And the shepherd's response, let's go and see! Not only did they leave the flocks and come, they came with haste and found what they were looking for. Imagine having your first child and resting in the delivery room, when suddenly a bunch of working folks burst into the room, "We wanna see!" There were plenty of surprises to go around that first Christmas. When you heard what they had seen that night though, you might let them stay for a bit.

Praise God for the birth of His Son, Jesus the Christ!

Bucky

A Great Surprise In The Night

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Luke 2:8-9

One of the greater surprises in the Bible is that of those shepherds abiding. Night, probably early in the morning by our reckoning, and all was usual for them. The usual gave way to the highly unusual suddenly, without warning as they say. The shepherds didn't just get an angel visitor in a sudden moment like Zacharias, they got the glory of the Lord shining around them. No more usual for you guys tonight. Surprises out of the darkness will tend to make any of us afraid, and the shepherds were no different in that aspect. But that surprise out of the darkness was all good news for them and us. And as if the shepherds were not surprised enough, a multitude of the heavenly host appears. More good news. And of course they had to go and see this newborn Savior, Christ the Lord.

Have a joyous Christmas in Christ our Lord!

Bucky

Pray For Them Too

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Oy! What happened to the Christmas verses? This does seem to many like a time when this verse would be needed least. After all it's the few days before the big joyous holiday of Christmas. Not for everyone though. Whether it comes from loneliness, memories of the past, lack of sunshine, or just an odd bit of 'I don't feel it', some people do not look at Christmas as a time of joy. In a similar way to when the ministry of Jesus appeared to bring a host of demon possessions to people in Judea and Galilee, the time of Christmas seems to bring on the depression and anxiety for us in our days. And for me to write joy, joy, joy all the time may leave one of us feeling left out. So, in our joy for Christmas remember those in prayer who may not feel it yet. Lift up in prayer those who never seem to feel it and struggle to get through the holidays as an annual endurance test. As far as it is possible with you, gently lead them to the Lord. Who knows, perhaps this is the year the Lord will let them out of that prison.

Our Redeemer comes,

Bucky