I have a question for you about the wise men that brought gifts to Jesus. How do people know that the wise men came when Jesus was about two years old? Also, in Luke 2:13 it says, “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.”

So, it says that Jesus was presented at the temple when he was eight days old and then they returned to Nazareth; but in Matthew 2:8, it says that the wise men came when they were in Bethlehem.

A great question! And here was my response:

Matthew tells us that when the wise men from the east came into the land of Israel, they went to Jerusalem and inquired, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt 2:2).

Matthew also tells us that while they were in Jerusalem, “Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared” (Matt 2:7). Herod later ordered the execution of “all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under,” and Matthew adds “…according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men” (Matt 2:16).

Herod’s Estimation

Herod seems to have estimated the age of the child Jesus by using the information he had received from the wise men concerning the appearance of the star. That the wise men came to Bethlehem some time after Jesus’ birth is intimated in Matthew 2:11, where Matthew tells us, “And going into the house they [the wise men] saw the child with Mary his mother.”

Notice Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are in “the house” – it seems that some time had elapsed since Jesus’ birth and the family appears to have settled in Bethlehem (which is Joseph’s ancestral home).

It would be from this house in Bethlehem that the family would flee to Egypt, after Joseph was warned in a dream, following the visit of the wise men (whose gifts were probably used to help Joseph cover the expenses associated with their sudden journey).

Luke’s Account

As far as Luke’s account, he focuses attention on the events that brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and on the night of Jesus’ birth – a birth which took place in a stable in Bethlehem. Luke tells us that Jesus was circumcised “at the end of eight days” (Luke 2:21), but that ritual, done by a rabbi, would not have occurred at the Temple.

When Luke writes, “When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem…” (Luke 2:22), he is referring to their going to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Jesus, as commanded in Leviticus 12.

By mentioning this event, Luke informs us (indirectly) that Joseph and Mary were a very righteous couple (living in obedience to God’s law and seeking to obey the Lord’s commandments) and also poor (they sacrificed “a pair of turtledoves” [Luke 2:24] – the least costly offering).

Following his description of the family’s encounter that day with Simeon and Anna, Luke writes, “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:39-40).

I think Luke is simply condensing the early history of Jesus – these words should not be interpreted as “…and later that day, after the offering, they traveled back to Galilee.” Rather, recognizing that Nazareth was the town where (in Luke’s gospel) the story of Joseph and Mary begins (Luke 1:26-27) and the fact that Nazareth is the town where Jesus would grow up (Luke 2:40), Luke simply “jumps ahead” to that fact as he develops his story — “skipping over” much of what Matthew records of those early years — that is, the family’s time in Bethlehem after Mary’s purification at the Temple, the later visit of the wise men, the family’s fleeing to Egypt, their return to Israel after the death of King Herod, and their decision to re-locate in Nazareth (the town from which Joseph and Mary originally came, prior to the census [Luke 2:1-5]).

Back to Matthew

Matthew does mention that the family, though initially planning (it would appear) to go back to Bethlehem, decided to go on to Galilee once they realized “Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod” (Matt 2:22).

The region of Galilee was about eighty miles from Jerusalem and was under the rule of another son of Herod, Antipas. Matthew writes that, again, warned in a dream, the family settled back in Nazareth – and this would have been some years after the couple had originally left that town, just prior to Jesus’ birth.

So, the narratives of Matthew and Luke are complementary, each highlighting different aspects of Jesus’ birth and early childhood, providing us with an understanding of this amazing event – the incarnation of the Son of God!
 
 

Human Fallenness

The killing of twenty children and six adults yesterday (12/14) in Newtown, Connecticut, is an unspeakable horror.

Our nation is once again faced with the awful reality of human evil.

Christianity faces this reality honestly and fully acknowledges the horror of moral evil and its consequences. The Bible never shrinks back from assigning responsibility for moral evil to fallen humanity.

Human beings are capable of committing horrible acts of violence, hatred, cruelty, and murder. The Bible locates the source of moral evil in the human heart. As the prophet Jeremiah declared “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9).

What Christians Believe

In taking moral evil seriously, the Bible affirms that we are responsible creatures. Our Creator will hold us fully accountable for our actions. All are sinners, and some sinners embrace evil with total abandon – leading to horrors such as we saw yesterday.

As Christians, we long for the day when God’s perfect justice will destroy all evil, and God Himself “will wipe away every tear…and death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).

A foundational doctrine of the Christian faith is the claim that, on the cross, Jesus Christ willingly suffered the full force of evil, even unto death – and that in raising Jesus Christ from the dead, God the Father vindicated Christ’s victory over sin, death, and evil. The full manifestation of this victory will be realized at the end of this present age, with the glorious return of Jesus Christ.

For now, we live in this broken and fallen world. The horror of yesterday’s murders reminds us all what human beings can do to each other. The cross of Christ reminds us of what Jesus did for sinners in bearing the full punishment for this evil.

Christianity does not deny the reality of evil nor hide from its true horror. Yet, Christians also know that evil will not have the last word — God will vindicate His name. The last word will be the perfect fulfillment of the grace and justice of God.

A Time to Mourn

In the meantime, we mourn with those who mourn, and weep with those who weep. We cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering of those families whose small children were murdered yesterday, along with the grief experienced by the family and friends of the adults who were also killed in this massacre.

Even as we pray for those who grieve and suffered such loss, we place our confidence in the assurance that God will bring all things to the perfect conclusion of His judgment. It is only with this confidence that we can begin to make sense of such senseless evil and unimaginable violence.

Psalm 37:10 – “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.”

Heb 10:37-38 – “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith…”

Rev 22:12-13 – “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

May God empower His Church to proclaim the hope that is in Christ.

Can you believe we’re wrapping up 2012? Can you believe how fast it’s gone by? God has been so incredibly faithful. For us, 2012 was the year of the baby.

We prepared for him, we had him (Katie actually did), and now we’re learning how to take care of him. Pretty full year. Makes the time go by much faster!

Last night we had a wonderful evening of worship with Gate City Vineyard. I plan on doing a post about it at my blog with a complete run down of the set at some point, but for now just know that it went great.

I just wanna say thanks so much to those of you who came out! Im looking forward to seeing us do more of these evenings together with other churches across the city.

The Ever Expanding List

This is my 20th Set List Sunday post over at my blog. Here’s to twenty more!

This morning at LWC should be interesting. Our sound board went out at Thursday night’s rehearsal and we had to bring in an old Mackie board from our Chapel. We were there pretty late making sure everything worked.

I’m thankful for technology, but am so glad that it has no bearing on our worship. Jesus alone is the mediator between God and man. Not some old cranky sound board.

In fact, as my good friend Will McFarlane always says, I’m convinced that many of the angels who fell, fell into church sound equipment.

Our Set

This morning we’ll be  doing the following songs. 10,000 Reasons has been so fresh to us over the last few months. Planning on doing it again today.

He Is Exalted (Twilla Paris)

I Will Boast (Paul Baloche) – [YouTube]

The Wonderful Cross (Tomlin/Redman hymn remake) – [YouTube]

10,000 Reasons (Matt Redman) - [YouTube]

New Doxology (HYMN remake by Gateway Worship) – [YouTube]

Random?

The other day, I asked our kids, “How in control is God, anyway?” Nothing shakes us to the core more than seemingly random tragedy. But, is it really random? Where was God’s control in the face of pain?

Joseph

The preeminent place in the Bible to go for this question is to the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph rose to becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt. During a time of famine, Joseph’s wisdom led to Egypt having a surplus of grain, which meant that everyone from the surrounding nations came to buy food. When Joseph’s brothers arrived from Canaan, Joseph recognized them, but they didn’t recognize him.

What Would You Do?

I am convinced that most of us would see Providence at work in a way differently from the way Joseph did. Imagine if your brothers (who had beaten you, faked your death, and ruthlessly sold you into slavery) unknowingly came before you years later – them needy and you in a position of power. Most of us would see God putting our enemies into our hands for judgment. After all, we would reason, “Didn’t God put me into power for a reason? And isn’t it my job to dispense justice on evildoers?” We would see our position as a divine mandate to punish. To make a play on Paul’s words, we would see “all things working together for our good” in the form of giving us vengeance. But, what does Joseph do? In a famous reply, he says to his brothers:

“Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:19-21 ESV)

Divine and Human Intention

Look at the word “meant.” This indicates intentional planning and purpose. Both Joseph’s brothers and God had an intention. But about what? They both had an intention for the same events in history. Joseph’s brothers intended tragedy for Joseph’s harm because they hated him; but God intended the same events for the good of both Joseph and those doing the harm.

Joseph recognized that though his brothers intended evil, God planned his circumstances for good to establish a remnant of God’s people (Genesis 45:7). Likewise, although those who crucified Jesus intended evil, God’s plan for the sacrifice of His Son was for the good of all people. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God again saved a remnant of people.

So, how in control is God? The answer the kids came up with is that God is absolutely in control, and that He is always good. We do not always have the answers (in fact we rarely do), but we affirm this reality by faith, knowing that God is working all things for his glory and our good… and in this our souls find rest.

My Site…

Hey everyone! I posted in more detail about yesterday’s song list here at my personal blog, where I talk more specifically about leading worship and a few other things.

I’m hoping to post the song list there every Sunday morning before we gather, along with my hopes for the service and how I’m praying.

But below is the same song list with some YouTube links as well. That way you can listen to them if you’d like.

It’s A Joy To Serve You!

I thouroughly enjoy leading God’s people in worship each week. It blesses me to see you all respond to God’s grace the way that you do.

Have a great week and a very happy Thanksgiving!

You Are Good (Johnson/Riddle) - [YouTube]
How Great Thou Art (HYMN as done by Passion) [YouTube]
Let Me Sing (Todd Fields) - [YouTube]
New Doxology (HYMN remake by Gateway Worship) – [YouTube]
Our Great God (Ortega/Powell) [YouTube]

Jacob, you may remember, didn’t start off very well. He was a lying deceiver who looked out only for his own interests. Nevertheless, it was God’s purpose to bless him. It was also God’s purpose to humble him.  God would use the next few years in Jacob’s life to make one of the most remarkable personal transformations recorded in Scripture. Jacob, whose name means “heel grabber,” ends up being the namesake of a nation.

Uncle Laban

The kids have heard me talk about “mean ‘ole uncle Laban.” Jacob separated from his brother and lived away for 20 years.  During that time, God used his uncle to bless and frustrate him (I wonder if you have any Labans in your life?). Eventually, God compelled Jacob to return to his hometown in order to see Esau. Jacob learned that Esau was coming but that he had a large contingent of men with him. Jacob sent his family ahead of him and camped by a river.

During the night, Jacob wrestled with an angel who turned out to be God. In that meeting with God, God blessed Jacob by breaking his hip, and changing his name (kind of a strange blessing, huh?). In the morning, Jacob limped across the river. Instead of hiding behind his family in case Esau’s approaching group attacked, Jacob led his family.  Jacob’s meeting with God changed his life as reflected in his new name, Israel, which became the name of God’s chosen people.

God’s blessing in our weakness

Jacob’s striving and his limping became a metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel, and is one of the most profound examples of what it is to follow Christ, to find his blessing in our weakness. Don’t miss the poignancy here – the “heel grabbing” deceiver (Jacob) finally grabs a hold of God and refuses to let go. Wow – this is a picture of what faith is really like. It’s an aggressive attitude of insisting on blessing in Christ, not a mere agreement to a system of doctrine.

Jesus came so that we might experience a similar transformation (2 Cor. 5:17). Jesus’ death and resurrection provided sinful people with the way to be adopted into God’s family. When we are adopted into the family of God, we also receive a new name—children of God (John 1:12).
 
 
 

In my home growing up, this saying became axiomatic. I must have heard it a thousand times. I know it’s corny, and it sounds religious, but there is just something about giving thanks that changes the atmosphere in the soul. You just cannot stay bitter when you are thankful. Those two things cannot exist in the same soul at the same time. They’re oil and water: when you thank God, you are choosing to let go of bitterness. Conversely, when you are bitter, you feel as if you literally cannot thank God.

We talk about “The miracle of Christmas.” Maybe we should talk about “The miracle of thanksgiving.” The truth is, for a human heart to ever thank God requires a complete change in the atmosphere of the soul. Think about it with me for a minute.

How many things have to happen in your heart for you to really thank God? 

First, you actually have to take your eyes off your current situation long enough to even remember what God has done for you in the past. This means that you have to stop being selfish (which is always a mini-miracle in itself).

Second, you have to see your past through eyes of faith. In other words, you have to interpret your personal history as a history of blessing, and dispense with the “We’ll just have to wait and see” or “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitudes that are so native to us as self-centered people.

Third, you have to disconnect from your current fears long enough to pray. This means that you have to see the future through eyes of faith, trusting God to deal with your anxieties for the next few minutes, long enough to voice your thanks to God (think He can handle things for a few minutes?).

Get a perspective change

Seriously, for any person ever to truly thank God (seeing how each of those three things I just listed require a changed heart) is a miracle. The thing is, though, doing so radically transforms the heart, because thanksgiving radically transforms our perspective. And here’s the exciting thing – God has given us the power to thank Him. Think about this Scripture:

^ESV  Psalm 7:17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Here, the Psalmist sets his face to thank God. I imagine that he did so because he didn’t really feel like thanking God all the time. He knew that he had a decision to make regarding the fundamental orientation of his soul, and he makes it here. In fact, I know that is the case, because… well, GO READ THE REST OF THE PSALM! It is a heart-rending, painful psalm of despair, and this is the tonic David drinks at the end of the Psalm. David knew that the tonic to bitterness was thanksgiving.

Take the tonic!

Below is yesterday’s song list at LWC…

Lately I’ve had Lord I Need You in my head non stop. It’s a simple song yet it is loaded with such a profound prayer.

We live in such a self reliant culture. Even in the church we breathe moralistic, try-harder air with little talk of Holy Spirit dependency.

To live with an honest posture of humble dependency on God makes one dangerous in the Kingdom of Darkness. God in you is a whole lot more effective than you in you.

Lord I need You, Lord I need You… Every hour I need you…

——————————————————————————————————–

God Over All (NA Band) – [audio]
The Wonderful Cross (Tomlin/Redman hymn remake) – [YouTube]
Your Love Never Fails (McClarney/Skinner) - [YouTube]
Cornerstone (Hillsong) [YouTube]
Lord I Need You (Chris Tomlin) – [YouTube]

Dealing With Pain

I went to see Batman last week, the same movie that was playing when a gunman burst into a crowded Colorado theatre last week, killing 12 and injuring 58.

We live insulated lives most of the time. Our justice system allows us to have a sense of security that is rarely intruded upon, but there are times where the reality of evil crashes in upon us.

What Does God Say?

It is amazing how relevant the Bible is. The context of Psalm 10 is that there has been a murder. The Psalmist describes:

He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; ⁹ he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net. ¹⁰ The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.

(Psalm 10:8-10 ESV)

After tragedies, there are always speeches. I read excerpts from a speech by a political figure who said that we will never know why the young man committed this great evil. It struck me how empty that kind of comfort is. Christianity does not have all the answers, but we do have some, and we know why evil is in the world. Every evil thing in the world is here as a result of sin. Death, disease, poverty…   all of it ultimately stems from the presence of sin in the world.

Pray Real

Which begs a question: What is the Christian response to tragedy? I think this is something of the Psalmist’s burden in Psalm 10, for he starts by asking the hard question. He says, Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Our first response should be to pray the real prayer. God could have stopped the evil to thing, but didn’t. We need to face that, and give vent to prayers that are real: we don’t have all the answers, and that’s not what people want anyway.

Comfort With Content

But, that’s not how it ends. If it ends there, we are like the political figure who pleads agnostic on the issue. Our comfort should have content. The Psalmist prays in verse 12, Arise, O Lord, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does he pray this? He prays it because he knows that God will ultimately bring justice. He will comfort the afflicted. He will remedy every evil. He will arise, come to this earth, and execute justice. This is our faith, this is our God. What this means for us is that we don’t offer an empty comfort. We offer a comfort that is filled with content – God will set to rights everything that is currently wrong.

Proclaiming the Nature of God

So, after we open our eyes to reality and then turn to prayer for justice, we are ready proclaim the nature of God, which the Psalmist does in verses 16-18. Listen to this, and grab a hold of it as your own proclamation in times of trouble (after opening your eyes to reality and praying first!):

The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. ¹⁷ O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear ¹⁸ to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

(Psalm 10:16-18 ESV)