The Firstborn Son - Pt 2

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV). We have in our text the amazing truth of the virgin birth! A woman who had never known a man intimately, who had never, to use the words of our text, “come together” with a man, conceived a child. She was a young woman, she was an unwed woman who had preserved herself pure and holy, she was a virgin and she conceived a child! I know the reaction of unbelief to this truth, people of God. People may retell the story; but, to many it is only a story. Children love to hear it, but it is a story, a fairy tale. It cannot be truth because all of us know that in order for a woman to conceive, there must be a man. By no stretch of genetics, except perhaps by cloning, which we know they knew nothing about then, can a person conceive a child in her womb. The story cannot be true. And because of this view of unbelief, many in the church too will deny the virgin birth. The virgin birth is a sign that truly Christ is the Son of God made flesh! This is supported by the end of our text: “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” She was not found with child of Joseph, she was not found with child of a man, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, was sent forth by the triune God to do that work of God. In very simple language, that seed in Mary was human because it was the seed of a woman, but when it was given life by the Holy Spirit, that baby became divine. God became the Father of that child. Joseph was always viewed by others as Jesus’ father. But Joseph was not Jesus’ father. God was. That is not hard to understand. Although beyond human imagination, it is not hard to understand the incarnation. The Bible recognizes this great truth everywhere. The scriptural account is consistent throughout: Jesus was born of a woman who was a sinner just as we are. Jesus assumed the human nature. He was a man with the same weaknesses as a man. But He was also the divine Son of God, He had a divine nature that made Him sinless and all powerful. Jesus Christ was sent into this world as the highest act of God’s love and grace toward His people! I know that many in the world of the church see Jesus as nothing more than this really, really good man who did all kinds of nice things for people. That is not why Jesus Christ was born into this world. This was the only way that salvation was possible. And Jesus was sent to secure that salvation for us. And no amount of good deeds is going to pay that price for our sin. No amount of good works is going to earn our way into heaven. This is the root of our celebration of Christmas. This is the only thing that can make our situation “Merry”!

The Firstborn Son

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV). There is so much in this passage we simply won’t be able to deal with all of it today. However, let’s look at what it meant to Joseph and Mary to have Jesus as their firstborn son. If we could recall the Apostle’s Creed, we would not that one line in this great confession declares the miracle of incarnation. It is one of the great truths of grace! And it is only on the basis of this miracle that God’s people can be saved. We will find today that God made possible that which is humanly impossible: our salvation. It is beyond all human imagination that Christ is in the divine Person of the Son of God both man and God. That is the great truth we learn of today. As we do, however, I do not want to single out the doctrine of Christ’s divinity and consider it in the theological sense alone. The theology is essential, but the reality is far more important. We cannot forget that all of this took place in the lives of Mary and Joseph. They were a typical young couple living in Galilee engaged to be married. There’s certainly nothing unusual about that. We cannot help but think of the shame Joseph must have felt when he found out that Mary was pregnant. We can understand his actions. He was a good and just man. We must also see what great faith he as well as Mary had to have when told all of these things. I mean, what they were told was beyond all human imagination! This wonderful truth of Christ’s divine conception touched the personal lives of these two people as well as others. They were a poor but happy young couple, both of whom looked forward to a simple life together as husband and wife. The Bible is not interested in this fact, but we ought not to think the relationship with them was any different than any other young man and woman who were engaged to be married. They no doubt were excited and were busy making plans to marry soon. Joseph was a man of Nazareth, a small, insignificant village tucked away in the hills of Galilee. He was a carpenter by trade, but was far from independently wealthy. He was an honest and upright man. He was also a man of faith. Can you imagine what he must have felt when Mary disclosed her pregnancy? To his credit he believed the angel of God and trusted the future to God’s hands. This future led to our deliverance! This is the greatest of all the mysteries of Christmas. That God would send His only begotten Son to die on our behalf is beyond a mere gift; it is extravagance only possible through the grace and character of God!

The Third Way

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28 ESV). God makes his first appearance as King in the first chapter of the Bible. There, we find him first exercising his creative authority and then delegating it. He begins by separating light from darkness, sky from sea, and land from water. Then, he provides rulers for each realm, climaxing in humankind, who are given authority over all of creation. They must “fill the earth and subdue it,” joyfully continuing the creative process in accordance with God’s will. When a king delegates authority over a territory to a governor, he expects the governor to faithfully represent and execute his will. But what if the governor refuses to submit to the king? The king has two clear choices: either surrender the territory, or replace that governor with another. God was faced with the need for a decisive action when his “governors” failed to execute the will of their King. He was unwilling that the territory would be ceded to man or the devil. That option was not ever a real consideration. He ruled out replacing them even before they would be created. God knew of their coming failure and still gave them the responsibility of governing. He had to create another choice. And, so he did. God found a third way of dealing with his failed, rebellious human “governors” of earth: he became one of them and then ruled faithfully on their behalf. When a certain man traveled about first-century Israel proclaiming that God was personally taking charge again, and then rode into Jerusalem past cheering crowds as if he himself were about to claim the throne, he wasn’t getting things mixed up in his head. That was precisely what was happening! In the next few weeks as we approach Christmas, we will look at some of the specific things that resulted from the third choice God put into action. Today we should recognize the incredible sacrifice that choice required. Jesus took on the weakness of flesh so that he might prove himself worthy to be the sacrifice for all of mankind’s redemption. We are saved for no other reason than Jesus loved us. And, he loves us still. Thank you Lord for choosing our redemption!

Happy Birthday Faith and Logan!

The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel! (Psalm 128:5-6 ESV). Today’s reading indicates the incredible blessing of seeing your grandchildren. I have been blessed threefold! Today I can celebrate Faith and Logan’s twelfth birthday and next week I will be able to celebrate the first birthday of Maggie. We’ll get to more specifics of Maggie on December 3rd. Today I will use Faith and Logan’s birthday as the source of my inspiration and encouragement. It is a bit unusual for me today in that I have not missed being with them on their birthday before. I was there the day they were born and have been privileged to be with them for all the others. We soon will be able to see them as we make the move back to Texas; but, today provides me with some reason to be a little wistful. Before they were born I thought of the names they were to be given. Each had their own history and meaning. Faith is essentially an English vocabulary word that defines the firm belief or trust in a supreme being, namely God. Obviously the word goes beyond just its religious meaning, but it’s from this perspective that the female given name, Faith, originates as a so-called “virtue” name. The character described by this name is one that is authoritative, powerful, tough, tenacious, wealthy, a problem-solver, and an achiever. She certainly embodies all of those and more. Logan comes from a Gaelic surname appearing in both Ireland and Scotland. The etymology of the clan name is still up for debate, but I have found several theories circulating about. In Ireland, for instance, the surname is believed to have evolved from O'Leoghain meaning “descendent of the warrior”. The characteristics accompanying this name are that of a master builder, leader, large undertakings, confidence, discipline, and organization. He has been all of those and more. I know that Kyle and Brandy did not choose these names in an effort to predetermine their character or behavior. I also know that they have been given an environment and example that have led them to develop these things in their lives. There’s the clue to my encouragement and inspiration today. Parents, and to some degree, grandparents must take seriously what they teach and model. The great privilege of children and grandchildren must not be squandered. What we do matters. How we model our faith and commitment to Christ matters greatly. I am excited to have been a part of their lives. I pray each day it will have been a positive part.

Thankful for Memories

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 ESV). Happy Thanksgiving! Our reading seems a bit strange given that today is Thanksgiving, doesn’t it? Who thinks of a Christmas verse on Thanksgiving? Well, I guess I do. The context of this verse is the visit from the Shepherds after Jesus is born. The angels come to them while they are tending their flock. They shout the arrival of the Messiah. They are overcome with curiosity and wonder as they are led to the manger in Bethlehem. They come and worship Jesus, telling Mary what has just taken place in the fields. Then Luke recalls that she “treasured these things” to later “ponder” them. It is a beautiful picture of the marvelous effect of memories. When we think about what we're thankful for, we may forget about things we've experienced in the past, or loved ones we've lost, since we don't really "have" them anymore. But we do still have them in the form of memories. It was once believed that nostalgia was a pathological condition, but research suggests that spending time reflecting back on happy memories can increase happiness and reduce loneliness. I have so many of these memories. They are stockpiled around me for easy access. I carry two such memories in a tangible way everywhere I go. This first is worn on my left hand. My wedding ring is always with me to remind me of that singular day, nearly 46 years ago when Mary was walked down the aisle of First Baptist Bryan, Texas, on her Dad’s arm. What a day! So many stories can be told of those moments. Some of them are humorous, others very serious, and all of them wonderful. I have overcome many difficult moments simply by touching that ring and “pondering” that treasure. The other is on my right hand. It’s my senior ring from Texas A&M. I can’t even begin to list the memories associated with that ring. There were many. I remember the first days as a cadet in the Corps; I remember bonfire; I remember meeting Mary on campus; I remember the friends I made, some who are gone now. The list is extensive, just like with the other ring; and, they are all important to me. So today I encourage you to dig out those old picture albums; spend some time with your children or grandchildren telling the stories of each of those pictures. Record the stories as you tell them who each of the persons are in the photos. Someday, perhaps long after we’re gone on to heaven, they will have those pictures and be able to recount the same memories, vicariously experiencing the joy we shared with them this Thanksgiving, 2015.

Thankful for God's Promise of Good

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:26-30 ESV). It never surprises me that I frequently am seen as an overly optimistic individual. Usually I am a “glass-half-full” kind of person. In fact, Mary and our sons have decided that it is not ever a good idea for me to go to a medical appointment alone. It seems that they have grown to believe that I either do not recognize the seriousness of a diagnosis, or I just find a way to dissimulate in sharing the information. I suppose I have earned that through the years as I have done both. At any rate, I am optimistic about my future. Even when life seems to surprise me with challenges and difficulties, I have a very firm conviction about the promise of God in our reading today. He WILL work ALL things to my good. This has caused me to be surprised sometimes as I have been able to get through some really tough things. You may have had the same experience. Even though you may have initially been convinced that it was more than you could bear, you found the path of God to be just right. That’s a little unusual in many ways though. Research on immune neglect (a reference to our psychological immune system) suggests that we tend to underestimate our ability to cope with negative events. It's not that we breeze through trying times, but we often fare better than we expect we will. When we are in the midst of the experience, we typically feel more negative than positive. In view of the promise of God, that really makes no sense. He promises to work all things to our good. Further, the Apostle Paul tells us that nothing will be able to separate us from Him. Those words alone ought to give us enough positive energy to work our way through the toughest of circumstances. Whether we “feel” that or not is another question. Today, being one day away from Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I have this undeniable and irrevocable promise of God. When I receive bad news, I can know it is only temporary. When I receive good news, I can know it merely foreshadows better. Can you imagine looking back from a heavenly perspective, when we are taken to that perfect home, and seeing our journey from God’s perspective? I wonder how trivial the crises of my life will be then. Spend a little time today thanking God for this promise of good in your life too.

Thankful for Laughter

Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:19-22 ESV). Humor is an amazing thing. It’s a tension dissolver. It’s an antidote to anxiety. It’s just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side effects. And it’s free! You don’t even need a prescription. Laughter is life’s shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances. Somehow, you must find the fun in the frustrating. If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. Life is full of funny situations. Will Rogers once said, “I don’t know any jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” Speaking of the government… here’s a story for you today: In the year 2014, the Lord came Noah, who was now living in the U.S., and said, “Once again the earth has become wicked and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans. He gave Noah the blueprints, saying: You have one year to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain that will flood the earth and kill everything not in the Ark.” Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard, but no Ark. The Lord said, “Noah, I’m about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?” Noah began his explanation. “Forgive me, Lord, but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I’ve been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I’ve violated the HOA by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark’s move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There’s a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls, but no go! When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn’t build the Ark until they’d conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I’m still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I’m supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration is checking the status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can’t use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, they seized all my assets, claiming I’m trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.” Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you’re not going to destroy the world?” “No,” said the Lord. “The government beat me to it.” Come on… it’s OK to laugh! Be thankful for our ability to face any circumstance and laugh in the face of our sure victory in Christ!