Message
December 1, 2013
Anticipation
A chemistry professor at a major university tells the story of a young girl who wished to make some potassium hydroxide solution. She decided to throw a large lump of potassium into a bucket of water.
The professor, glancing in her direction, saw what she was about to do and hurried towards her. “What are you doing?” he asked.
She explained, and then he told her to stir the water in the bucket for five minutes before adding the potassium.
“Professor,” she asked with a questioning tone, “why stir the water and why must I do it for five minutes?”
The professor replied, “It will give me time to get out of the building.”
Some people anticipate an event without knowing precisely what will happen, and others with knowledge know what’s coming. The same is true with the arrival of Yeshua.
The selected scripture, Matthew 24:36 through 44 is a passage generally used to preach the second-coming of Messiah to earth. Depending on your denomination’s teaching or theory, you may have anticipations that differ greatly from your neighbors. It’s interesting that every belief about the “return” indicates vindication that a particular line of thought is accurate and Jesus will correct everyone else. Personally, I don’t worry about particulars of His return since I would rather be found doing what He said as a follower than judging whether or not He, Messiah, gets it right according to my version of theology. My theory won’t change what happens and I trust God will get it right. A dominate attitude among Christians is that Christ will return to judge everybody who doesn’t agree with me or my preacher. “Jesus and I will fix the world,” is the mind-set. Yet, John 12:47 quotes Yeshua’s words in part, “I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” In this passage, the Greek “kree’-no” is used for the English word “judge,” which means, in order of importance, “decide, condemn and punish.” Think of it this way; He will not come to condemn or punish those you disagree with, but to save them. Read the whole chapter of John 12 as a statement of purpose; most appropriate for a Christmas passage.
Humanity then and now expects military victory or force to be used to convince the world how to live. Arriving as a child born of a 13-year-old girl named Mary, falls a bit short of the military-leader idea. Yet, the kingship of truth was still a threat to occupying rulers of the time, and still is. As you heard last week, the Jews expected another David-type leader who was fierce in battle to bring back their perceived “glory days” as a nation. Is it not true that Messiah was greater than David? If you answered “yes,” then how is this possible since He gathered only 12 disciples and 70 apostles to change the world without lifting a single sword? But what happened to those “glory days” the Israelites expected from their Messiah? Will not days of peace and prosperity be with us all if only the world comes accept the Gospel of Truth and His example? Will not those be glory days? With two millennia to prove His teaching, the world still has not accepted His truth, but opting for man’s theories, social engineering and war. How is that working for us?
Even today some see His strategic plan as ineffective since we find no force or law demanding acceptance. But here we are, celebrating the birth and arrival of this non-violent purveyor of truth who gave His life instead of taking others in conquest. Perhaps it comes down to a choice by humanity to live in love or force, truth or man’s law, freedom or tyranny. Love turned violent is no love at all. Truth diluted by gossip is not truth anymore, and freedom overregulated is not liberty.
The arrival of Messiah the first or anticipated second time, seems to be met with the same skepticism or anticipation like the time of His birth. The early church expected Christ’s return before their generation passed. The children of that generation were surprised that he didn’t physically return for their parents. Like today, there was a wide range of belief. For those first Christians, scripture was disseminated by word-of-mouth, resulting in letters to churches, such as those written by Paul, to give stability to belief and to establish the workable code-of-conduct to those generations. These early Christians did things that were later called “heretical,” not because they had ill intent, but because their modes of worship in serving other gods were brought into the church. These rituals from pagan worship were known to them as worship, and in their minds, Master Jesus was the next “God” to be served. However, Messiah was not the next in a line of humanity’s gods, but carried truth to worshipers that the way to live in love was through Him, the very personification of truth. Stone gods had no ability to lead to anything, since they were neither alive in flesh or spirit, nor capable of bearing truth to anyone. Human creations are pale next to God’s work, including His Son.
Then, there were the faithful to God who followed the Torah. Predictions of Messiah’s arrival were well known, even those describing the character and action of the new King. The part in prophesy missed by so many was precise timing, and timing is an issue seen in Matthew 24. Still, there were some who saw the first arrival of the Master taking shape, just as Noah was told to build an arc, and did so. In the days preceding Messiah’s arrival, preparations were being made by a relatively small group, as history points out, who were members of the Temple of Helios at the outer gates of Jerusalem. Another group very keen on timing were wise men from the Orient, who were of a Brotherhood that carefully studied and acted on their knowledge, preparing their trip two-years in advance to greet the Christ Child. Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, dedicated their infant child to becoming the “dove in the Holy Temple” and to be deemed a Temple virgin.
Other selections were made by God, such as described in Matthew 24, where, “two men will be in the field; one will be taken away and the other left.” The circumstances around Joseph’s selection as step-father were led by God as well. Little thought is given to Joseph, who became a literal mentor to Yeshua, with immense influence on the Child, in addition to saving His life by going to Egypt to escape certain slaughter. Jesus took Joseph’s trade, and as an Essen in the community at Galilee, Joseph instilled his personal philosophy for living on the Child. There were other widowers in the Temple, but Joseph was chosen.
The Essenes were one of three groups that studied Jewish philosophy, alongside the Pharisees and Sadducees, which you have heard detailed in previous messages. As the third and some-what equal group, Essenes taught piety, celibacy, and lack of dependency on personal property and money. They firmly believed in community and strict observance of Sabbath rules. Essenes ate together after prayer and were devoted to charity. They rejected any expression of anger, studied the Torah, and remembered names of angels described in sacred texts. The geographical center of their society was in the Northwest area of Galilee, not far from Capernaum. Can you now see Joseph’s influence on the character and actions of the Teacher, even in adulthood? Can you now relate to discussions Messiah had with Pharisees and Sadducees and why He would teach among them? It is easy to see how much of the Essen philosophy has been carried into Christian teaching observed by Christians in our society.
God not only lined up the best home life and education for His Son, but prepared His mother, her parents and supporters for this event as well.
We are a society dramatically more structured than the Israelites in Messiah’s time. We celebrate Christmas the same day on the calendar every year and not only expect Christmas, but in some ways, prepare all year for the Holidays. We wait for very little since we have become an instant-gratification society. What we want, we want now. Expectation is short term, as evidenced by clamor of children begging, “can we open presents now?”
As you’ve heard, the birth of the Teacher, was loaded with expectation by every participant in this event. From Mary’s parents who wisely dedicated their daughter to the Temple, to Joseph who was older and wise, and who was a widower, to the wise men who left on their journey to Christ’s birthplace years before. To the knowledgeable and learned, and to the observant, the birth of Messiah was not a surprise but an expectation based on the Word God had placed before them.
On the other hand, there were some then and even now who do not expect Messiah to be in their lives, and even deny His birth. Or, if they acknowledge He was a figure of history, declare him of no value to their lives. This lack of observance means there is no anticipation or preparation other than a few days out of school or family time to get laundry done or go shopping. The arrival of truth is of no consequence since their truth is all they care to know. It’s these selfish attitudes that cause separation, as Matthew 24 indicates, quoting, “two will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left.” The culling of those who accept and deny truth today is as dramatic as described in prophesy about what will happen in end times, as it does now. Still, there are so many that deny Messiah’s relevance in spite of the hard fact that generations come and go, meaning death instead of life when we literally meet our maker.
It has taken humanity a long time to come around to the fact of Messiah’s birth. It wasn’t until the year 353 that the Church designated December 25th as the date to observe Christ’s birth. Of course there is controversy over the actual date of His birth, but what’s more important, the actual date, or the celebration that God’s Son arrived to show us the way to success? Such celebration should be the high point of our year instead of a celebration of selfishness or anticipated satisfaction of greed. So, how do we prepare? What do we teach our children about this Anointed One and His influence in our lives? Should we not prepare the way of the Lord in our own lives and teach this preparation and anticipation in our children?
Some Christians and churches practice a method of anticipation called Advent. This Christmas countdown teaches us to wait yet reminds us of healthy expectancy. But what does expectant waiting look like? It’s certainly not about shopping or lighting candles, and it’s not about just looking to the sky thinking the clouds will part with the Master descending among millions of angels. Expectation is about observing the world around us, and honestly evaluating our relationship with God and man through the truth of Christ. Expectation is looking into your own heart and asking; are my actions guided by truth or fantasy? Expectation means willingness to accept the truth of life to live by a code of conduct that brings love to you and the world. And, expectation is about understanding that God cared enough to send His Son to the world in a form we can accept.
Isaiah 9:6 reads, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty One, the Everlasting God, the Prince of Peace.” Talk about anticipation! He is born an infant, the normal delivery system, so we can accept Him as one of us. A Son is given, which means He is God’s Son who came to us with the ability to relay His Father’s love. The governments of the world will be honorable IF they rely on and honor His truth, and when they do, He is known as the Prince of Peace.
What a gift! The gift of Truth allows us to fully enjoy divine beauty while here on earth and actually attain love among our fellow man. Yet, this is true only if we accept Him in our ordinary lives, even if we work the fields, clean hotel rooms, preach the Gospel, serve in the military, work in the oil fields or convenience stores. Whatever you do chose truth, chose the Christ Child and honor His truth in everything.
It feels like modern society is falling behind; that we have lost faith in God’s plan. It seems like we have become bored with truth and fascinated with lies, since not enough of humanity has accepted Him. But what do we need to wake to the reality of life? Is it a world-wide disaster or a personal catastrophe? Is it a frightening reality headed our way? How can a government be just while following lies for political or financial gain? What are we looking for besides instant gratification? Do we prefer that God be stowed away somewhere until we need Him for survival?
In our world, signs of the coming of the Son of Man have been reduced to putting up Christmas lights, stores full of people on Black Friday, Christmas trees and company parties. Is that all there is for you? Have we become so politically correct that we can’t even mention the Christ Child during this newly-named Winter Solstice?
Perhaps the joy of Christmas will return to our lives and society when we engage our hearts and honor the vision of Messiah’s arrival with the wonder and joy He, and we deserve. Why not establish the witness of His arrival by living in truth and love, which was the reason our Father sent the Master?
Please, don’t let Christmas become so routine and ritualistic that the meaning is lost. Allow the excitement of the season be renewed each year for the reason this amazing Child came to us.
If we honor the arrival of the Christ Child and learn to live with each other as He did, then there is no concern about what will or won’t happen at His return. This means that the return that really counts, is His return to your heart in such a way that you life, and lives of those around you, will be changed for the better. What better gift can a family receive than truth and love for each other? This gift is not available in any store, and it’s way too big to wrap.
When Pope Julius the first authorized December 25th to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in 353A.D., who would have thought that it would become what it is today.
When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in the U.S. in 1832, who would have thought decorations would become so elaborate.
It’s a long time since 1832, and longer still from 353, and longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate, and what this event should mean to us.
Our prayer for you this year, is that this amazing birth happen in your heart; that the cold manger be replaced with a welcoming heart for God and each other.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.
