Dec 14 - Luke 2:11

 

[The angel said]

“For there is born to you

this day in the city of David

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2:11

 

            Adults and Children’s Devotion   

 

I write this on my mother's 80th birthday. My brothers and I invited my parents to join us this weekend in our old hometown of Roanoke, Va. As we sat down in our old home church to worship, the pastor came out and said,

 

"I have the most amazing announcement:

Today ... we have no announcements!"

 

It was a nice announcement. Greatly appreciated. (Try to imagine that at Spirit of Joy!) But is wasn’t the most amazing announcement. The most amazing announcement occurred when the angels greeted the shepherds with news of the Messiah's birth. 

 

What is an “announcement”? In the first internet dictionary I found, the definition is: "a public and typically formal statement about a fact, occurrence, or intention." Let’s look at those key words …

 

·         The angel's announcement was "public" ... or at least semi-public. It was for all the shepherds in that region. All, what, fifteen of them?! Though if you tell people who'll tell other people, then even a small announcement becomes a big testimony. And the shepherds did tell. As it says in verse 17, "When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child."

 

·         It was also and certainly "formal." For example, when a king enters a ballroom, you'll often hear a formal announcement - something like, "Ladies and gentlemen please stand for his majesty." The angels announced the king as he entered the world. And they even named his proper titles: "Savior," "Christ," "Lord."

 

·         It was a "statement about a fact." The fact was that the "Savior" was "born."

 

·         It was a "statement about an ... occurrence." It literally occurred: the Savior was born.

 

·         It was also a "statement about an ... intention." What was the intention? The Savior would save. That's what this was all about. The Savior would save. 

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns ... While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains ... Repeat the sounding joy. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who loves

repeating the

sounding joy

 

Discussion Questions

 

1.    What is the best "announcement" you've ever heard?

2.    What do you think it would have been like to have been one of the shepherds who heard this announcement?

3.    Have you ever shared the announcement that Jesus is the Savior with another person? When? Why? How? 

 

 

Dec 13 - Luke 2:10

 

Then the angel said to them,

“Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings

of great joy which will be

to all people.

Luke 2:10

 

Adult Devotion ...

 

What is joy?

 

And how can we experience more of it?

 

Let me give you a few glimpses for how to comprehend joy ...

 

First, you've surely heard how we spell joy at Spirit of Joy: Jesus-Others-You. The secret to life is not to focus on yourself. No, joy comes from focusing on God and his priorities first and others second.

 

Second, I was preaching once through the book of Acts. I came upon the word "joy." I wanted a Biblical definition, so I started searching for all of the references to things like "joy," "joyful," and "rejoice" in Luke-Acts. And I came up with experiential definition based on Scripture: Joy breaks through whenever the kingdom breaks in. 

 

·         The first example occured when the angel was proclaiming -- after five hundred years of prophetic silence -- that a new prophet (John the Baptist) would be born. The angel said, "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:14). Angels were speaking, the forerunner of the Messiah was about to be born, and the kingdom was definitely breaking in!  

·         The second time joy occurred was when the first human met Jesus the Messiah. Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. And when Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth exclaimed, "as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy" (Luke 1:44). Finally, the Messiah was coming into the world. And joy was breaking through as the kingdom was breaking in.

·         There are many more examples, but Luke 15:7 summarizes this theme well. Joy doesn’t just break through when huge kingdom events occur – like the once in history birth of the Messiah. No! It’s also terrestrially joyful when even one individual experiences the kingdom breaking in. In fact, Jesus says, "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

 

In today's verse, the Kingdom of God was definitely breaking in! Christ the Messiah was being born! Therefore, angels were swooping joyfully through the Judean countryside. And they were singing, singing to the shepherds: The King was coming. A holy child was born. The kingdom was breaking in. And there was great joy! "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

 

Let's look at the events of that first Christmas Eve, through the lens of Jack Wellman's Biblical explanation of joy (Patheos, May 2015). He says essentially ... 

 

·         Joy is not happiness. Happiness is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. Rather, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Think about this: The angels were singing for joy that holy night, even when they knew that this birth would lead to the greatest pain the world had ever known -- the death of God's Son on a bloody cross.  

·         Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectation of something great or wonderful. The birth of the Messiah had been anticipated for at least 1500 years. The acquisition -- the arrival, the birth -- had just come. Shepherd, hurry with expectation to see this child in the manger. It is more great and wonderful than any event in history.

·         Joy is also gift, says Wellman, and the Apostle Paul frequently indicates that joy is associated with God, especially God the Holy Spirit (see passages like 1 Thessalonians 1:6 and Galatians 5:23). And if joy is associate with God, then, indeed, joy breaks through whenever the Kingdom breaks in.

·         Finally, Wellman says, You cannot fake joy…you either have it or you don’t. The angels surely weren't faking joy. This was the greatest event in the history of the world!

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants his faith

to look like a child anticipating

Christmas morning

 

Children's Message ...

 

What is joy?

 

And how can we experience more of it?

 

Let me give you a few glimpses for how to comprehend joy ...

 

First, you've surely heard how we spell joy at Spirit of Joy: Jesus-Others-You. The secret to life is not to focus on yourself. No, joy comes from focusing on God and his priorities first and others second.

 

Second, I was preaching once through the book of Acts. I came upon the word "joy." I wanted a Biblical definition, so I started searching for all of the references to things like "joy," "joyful," and "rejoice" in Luke-Acts. And I came up with experiential definition based on Scripture: Joy breaks through whenever the kingdom breaks in. 

 

The first example occured when the angel was proclaiming -- after five hundred years of prophetic silence -- that a new prophet (John the Baptist) would be born. The angel said, "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:14). Angels were speaking, the forerunner of the Messiah was about to be born, and the kingdom was definitely breaking in!  

The second time joy occurred was when the first human met Jesus the Messiah. Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist. And when Mary greeted her cousin, Elizabeth exclaimed, "as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy" (Luke 1:44). Finally, the Messiah was coming into the world. And joy was breaking through as the kingdom was breaking in.

Luke 15:7 summarizes this theme -- joy breaks through when the kingdom breaks in -- by describing even personal experiences of the kingdom breaking in. Jesus says, "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."

 

In today's verse, the Kingdom of God was definitely breaking in! Christ the Messiah was being born! Therefore, angels were swooping joyfully through the Judean countryside. And they were singing, singing to the shepherds: The King was coming. A holy child was born. The kingdom was breaking in. And there was great joy! "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1.    How would you describe joy and how to get it?

2.    Based on your definition, why was that first Christmas (just about) the most joyful day ever?

3.    Would could you do to experience more joy in your family and your life?

Dec 12 - Luke 2:9

 

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 2:9

            Adult Devotions …

 

What does God look like?

 

Hmmm.

 

Well, one of the ways to answer this is that he shines! (Or more accurately, his glory shines!)

 

The ancient rabbis coined a term to describe a certain kind of godly shining. It was shekinah, and it referred to a particular kind of glory. The literal meaning of this word is “he caused to dwell,” and this kind of glory generally occurred when God was nearest his people. Let me give you a few examples …

 

·         When God was right with his people, leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, that was first scriptural mention of his shekinah glory.

·         In the wilderness, God commanded Israel to the build a Tabernacle, a dwelling place for the Lord to meet his people, and the shekinah glory was there because God caused his presence to dwell there.

·         After Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, he came down the mountain and his face was glowing. In Moses’ face was a reflection of the shekinah glory that Moses encountered when he dwelt with God on the mountain.

·         In the New Testament, Peter, James, and John saw a reflection of the Son of God’s shekinah glory when Jesus was transfigured.

 

The Gospel of John begins with these words – John 1:14 -- And the [Jesus-the-]Word became flesh and (here’s that word again) dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the [shekinah] glory as of a father’s only son.” That’s the Christmas story in the Gospel of John.

 

In the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, there’s still more shining going on! Today’s verse says that when “an angel of the Lord stood before the[ shepherds] … the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Notice … it wasn’t the glory of the angels that was shining. Like Moses’ who came down a mountain with his face shining because he’d been in the presence of the Lord, this verse seems to say that when angels come down from heaven, they shine because they’ve been in the presence of the Lord!

 

In other words, created creatures – whether people or angels – don’t shine on our own. Only God shines because he is light and in him there is no darkness at all!

 

For the last several days, we’ve been thinking apocalyptic, end-times thoughts. Just a day or two I referenced Revelation 4. The heart of this chapter is a picture of Heaven and of God upon his throne. Pay attention to just a bit of this, and ponder if even a created creature might glow after encountering this glory that is God …

 

² There in heaven stood a throne …! ³ And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. ⁴ Around the throne are …  twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. ⁵ Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; ⁶ and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.

Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: ⁷ the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. ⁸ … Day and night without ceasing they sing,

“Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty,

who was and is and is to come.”

⁹ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne …, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall … and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, singing,

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

 

Is your heart bowing?! Singing?! And what do you think … Might you and I shine – even a little – if and when we strive to stand in the presence of the Lord?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who glows

… and hopefully not just

because I used to work

a nuclear fuel inspector

 

            Children’s Message …

 

What does God look like?

 

Hmmm?

 

Well, one of the ways to answer this is that he shines! (Or more accurately, his glory shines!)

 

The ancient rabbis coined a term to describe a certain kind of godly shining. It was shekinah, and it referred to a particular kind of glory. The literal meaning of this word is “he caused to dwell,” and this kind of glory generally occurred when God was nearest his people. Let me give you a few examples …

 

·         When God was right with his people, leading them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, that was first scriptural mention of his shekinah glory.

·         In the wilderness, God commanded Israel to the build a Tabernacle, a dwelling place for the Lord to meet his people, and the shekinah glory was there because God caused his presence to dwell there.

·         After Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai, he came down the mountain and his face was glowing. In Moses’ face was a reflection of the shekinah glory that Moses encountered when he dwelt with God on the mountain.

·         In the New Testament, Peter, James, and John saw a reflection of the Son of God’s shekinah glory when Jesus was transfigured.

 

The Gospel of John begins with these words – John 1:14 -- And the [Jesus-the-]Word became flesh and (here’s that word again) dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the [shekinah] glory as of a father’s only son.” That’s the Christmas story in the Gospel of John.

 

In the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, there’s still more shining going on! Today’s verse says that when “an angel of the Lord stood before the[ shepherds] … the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Notice … it wasn’t the glory of the angels that was shining. Like Moses’ who came down a mountain with his face shining because he’d been in the presence of the Lord, this verse seems to say that when angels come down from heaven, they shine because they’ve been in the presence of the Lord!

 

In other words, created creatures – whether people or angels – don’t shine on our own. Only God shines because he is light and in him there is no darkness at all!

 

For the last several days, we’ve been thinking apocalyptic, end-times thoughts. Just a day or two I referenced Revelation 4. The heart of this chapter is a picture of Heaven and of God upon his throne. Pay attention to just a bit of this, and ponder if even a created creature might glow after encountering this glory that is God …

 

So what do you think … might you and I shine – even a little – if and when we strive to stand in the presence of the Lord?

 

Discussion Questions …

 

1.    When you think of God, what do you think he looks like?

2.    Why do you think God’s presence might be described a light?

3.    In our own lives, might you and I shine – even a little – if and when we strive to stand in the presence of the Lord?

 

 

Dec 10 - Luke 2:7

 

and laid Him in a manger,

because there was no room

for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

 

Advent Devotions …

 

The image of the innkeeper continues to captivate the generations.

 

We can all envision being busy, harried, and caught being inattentive, focusing on earthly things. And we can all envision failing in a key moment of life. Earthly priorities say, “The inn is full. Go elsewhere.” And we do this all the time. “I’m busy.” “Not today.” How much do we miss? Would I have sent a very pregnant Mary away?

 

A prominent theme of Advent is being watchful and ready. Jesus says, “watch out,” “beware,” “stay alert,” “keep awake.” The innkeeper clearly missed his moment at the first coming of Christ, his birth. Advent prompts us to consider if we’re ready for the second coming of Christ.

 

For the last few days, we’ve been tracing Jesus’ final teachings on earth. According to the Gospel of Matthew, they were mainly prophecies. Some were fulfilled in a matter of days (like God’s people killing God’s Son, his heir), and we’ve said that the fulfillment of the more immediate of Jesus’ prophecies should persuade us to take very, very serious his end-times prophecies.

 

As we continued our journey through the latter parts of Matthew, let’s start where we ended yesterday …

 

·         Matthew 24:29-31 begins telling what it will look like when Christ calls “the elect” home – complete with a “loud trumpet call” and his “coming on the clouds.”

·         Then, he concludes, “from the fig tree, learn its lesson.” He’s saying, just as you know the signs of spring and summer and of the coming of ripe figs, pay attention to the signs of the coming of Christ.

·         Next – and here’s where we begin new today – Jesus prophetically urges us to be watchful. Indeed, he likens his own sudden, surprising return to the sudden surprise that once washed over those who weren’t prepared in the days of Noah.

·         Then Jesus tells a story (24:36-44) about “two [people working] in the field.” With the sudden “coming of the Son of Man … one will be taken and one will be left. [Similarly] two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.”

 

Let’s take a look at that last passage. Many, of course, call this the Rapture. Before the pain of the End Times unfolds, many believe – based on this and other related passages – that Jesus will call believers “home”; while unbelievers (according to a famous book title) will be Left Behind.

 

Now, if you’re curious, this event – the Rapture – either does or doesn’t occur in the Book of Revelation. And that – and virtually all end times interpretation – is largely dependent on one’s theology. (And there’s lots of theological interpretations of the end times!) Nevertheless, as a matter of clear revelation, the Book of Revelation never shows the Rapture. But … it also never shows the church or believers experiencing any of the events of the Tribulation. (So what happened to the church … if it didn’t disappear before all of those frightening end times events?)

 

Anyway – and thus – the evidence of the Rapture in Revelation is an argument from absence.

 

In the first three chapters of Revelation, the church is the very most important theme. (John, for example, is charged with recording seven messages for seven churches, and these fill the entirety of Revelation 2 and 3). But curiously, starting with chapter 4, the church or believers are never mentioned again – unless these believers are already in heaven. For example, do you remember the white robed saints standing before God in heaven while the Tribulation unfolds below on earth?

 

So … is there a Rapture in Revelation? Well, before  the seals on the Scroll begin to be opened in Revelation 5 and chapter after chapter of trials and tribulations begin to fall upon earth, Revelation 4 starts cryptically – not definitively – with words like “trumpet,” “at once [I was] in the spirit,” and there was suddenly the call to “come up here.”

 

And then chapter 4 continues with one of Scripture’s most majestic glimpses of God in heaven. We see a throne … and angels … and elders … and crowns … and indescribable colors … and flashes of lightning … and the “four living creatures” … and constant worship with the cries of “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

 

So … the Rapture is not in Revelation

 

… or is it?

 

In Christ’s Love

a guy who doesn’t know

exactly what will happen

when Christ comes again,

but a guy who is curious

enough to keep seeking

… because he absolutely

will come again

(that is absolutely clear

in Scripture)

 

            Children’s Message …

 

The image of the innkeeper continues to captivate the generations.

 

We can all envision being busy, harried, and caught being inattentive, focusing on earthly things. And we can all envision failing in a key moment of life. Earthly priorities say, “The inn is full. Go elsewhere.” And we do this all the time. We say, “I’m busy” and “Not today.” And how much do we miss because we’re focused on the things we want to do?

 

The innkeeper sent Mary away. He didn’t know that she was the earthly mother of the Son of God. He just knew that his inn was full and she was another nuisance. Do you ever get busy with the things of the world? Do you think you would have sent a very pregnant Mary away?

 

A prominent theme of Advent is being watchful and ready. Jesus says, “watch out,” “beware,” “stay alert,” “keep awake.” The innkeeper clearly missed his moment at the first coming of Christ, his birth.

 

Advent prompts us to consider if we’re ready for the second coming of Christ.

 

In Matthew 24:26-44, Jesus tells a story about “two [people working] in the field.” And then something startling happens: “[the second] coming of the Son of Man.” No one ever thinks that this could be the day. People with busy with what they thought they needed to do. But what will happen when Jesus comes. Jesus says it will be like this: “one will be taken [up to heaven] and one will be left [here on earth]. [Similarly] two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken [up to heaven] and one will be left [here on earth].”

 

Many people call this the Rapture. Before the pain of the End Times unfolds, many believe – based on this and other related passages – that Jesus will call believers “home”; while unbelievers (according to a famous book title) will be Left Behind.

 

If you believe in Jesus, our Lord tells us that you will – at the end of your days – be taken by Jesus to be in heaven. And it will be quick, painless, and gentle. It will be like being scooped up in your Father’s (or Mother’s) strong. One moment, you’re on the ground. Suddenly, you’re laughing and giggling as they joyfully scoop you into the air.  

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1.    Why wasn’t the innkeeper ready to do what was proper when Mary and Joseph knocked on his door?

2.    Do you ever get like the innkeeper? Why? And what could you do to fix that?

3.    Are you ready to be scooped up into Jesus’ arms and “meet him in the air”? Why or why not?

 

 

 

 

Dec 9 - Luke 2:6

 

So it was,

that while they were there,

the days were completed

for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth

her firstborn Son,

and wrapped Him

in swaddling cloths ...

Luke 2:6-7

 

Adult Message …

 

What did Mary wrap in swaddling cloths?

 

There are two appropriate answers to this. First, we could say that she bundled up a baby. Jesus was, indeed, fully human. Alternatively, we could say that Mary swaddled God! Wow!

 

As the famous Christmas Song ponders …

 

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

 

I heard a preacher once deliver a line that has captivated me ever since. It starts like this: “From the moment Jesus was born, he was bound …” He was swaddled, right? That’s what the preacher wanted you to hear. But the preacher finished off the thought like this: “From the moment Jesus was born, he was bound … for death. And the swaddling clothes prefigured the grave cloths.”

 

Wow! As I said, I’ve been wrestling with that ever since.

 

Yesterday, we looked at what Jesus did in the last days of life. From the moment our Lord entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was bound for death on Good Friday. And the question was – and is – what did he spend his last days doing?

 

Answer: He prophesied.

 

The trajectory of these prophecies will be … 1) My earthly life may end in a few days. 2) But my living will not end! 3) And neither will yours – whether you encounter death or are alive when set all things right, because 4) “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” (That’s John 14:3. Jesus says that more succinctly and more powerfully than I).

 

We’ve been tracing Jesus’ last days’ prophecies in the Gospel of Matthew …

 

·         Chapter 24 in the Gospel of Matthew starts with Jesus’ prophecy of the coming destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (24:1-2). The Temple would indeed be destroyed in A.D. 70. And this prophecy that was clearly fulfilled should, again, give us confidence that the next set of prophecies should be taken seriously too …

 

·         … like, next verses, the Signs of the End of the Age (24:3-8). Jesus states definitively that the “end of the age” is coming. When? We’re not sure. In fact, we’re told first when it is not. He says there will be “wars and rumors of wars [and] famines and earthquakes.” The horrible events have always occurred. But they’re generally “birth pangs” rather than definitive signs of the end. After all, how many wars have there been in the last two thousand years that haven’t been the sign of the end. Now, the end may certainly coincide with a world shaking war or earthquake, but these aren’t definitive signs.

 

·         Next, Jesus’ foretells persecutions. Persecutions have happened to Christians since the beginning of the church too (including the disciples, the “you” he’s specifically addressing in Matthew 24:9-14) … and yet these persecutions so far haven’t been the sign for the end.

 

·         Next, Jesus’ talks about the Desolating Sacrilege (24:15-28). He’s referencing a prophecy in Daniel 9:27. Daniel’s prophecy came true a first time in 167 B.C. Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Greek-Seleucid King, used Israel’s altar of burnt offering to set up a shrine to the pagan Greek god … and … he sacrificed the most unclean animal to the Jews, a pig, upon it. That was an abomination … and … it caused desolation. Well, Jesus prophesied that a similar kind of thing would happen again in the end times. (Note: There are many interpretations of how the events of the end times will unfold. In one of the most common interpretations, it is prophesied that the end times will begin with the Rapture – Christ coming again in the clouds to bring believers “home” before the seven-year-period of the Tribulation begins. In that calendar, the desolating sacrilege is believed to be one of the key events at the three and a half year mark of the Tribulation.)

 

·         As part of these events, Jesus warns us to beware of false messiahs (24:23-24)

 

·         Matthew 24:29-31 begins telling what it will look like when Christ calls “the elect” home – complete with a “loud trumpet call” and his “coming on the clouds.”

 

·         Therefore, he concludes, “from the fig tree, learn its lesson” (24:32-35). He’s saying, just as you know the signs of spring and summer and of the coming of ripe figs, pay attention to the signs of the coming of Christ.

 

I still have more to tell you tomorrow. But the fig tree provides a good stopping point. And it asks a good question: Most of us pay attention to the signs of the coming of spring and summer; are you paying attention to the signs of the coming of Christ?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who is still captivated

by that line – and so I repeat it,

so maybe you’ll continue

to be captivated by it too:

“From the moment Jesus was born,

he was bound … for death.

And the swaddling clothes

prefigured the grave cloths.”

 

Children’s Message …

 

What did Mary wrap in swaddling cloths?

 

There are two appropriate answers to this.

 

·         First, we could say that she bundled up a baby. Jesus was, indeed, fully human.

·         Alternatively, we could say that Mary swaddled God! Wow! Jesus was also fully God!

 

As the famous Christmas Song ponders …

 

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

 

I heard a preacher once deliver a line that has captivated me ever since. It starts like this: “From the moment Jesus was born, he was bound …” He was swaddled, right? That’s what the preacher wanted you to hear. But the preacher finished off the thought like this: “From the moment Jesus was born, he was bound … for death. And the swaddling clothes prefigured the grave cloths.”

 

Wow! As I said, I’ve been wrestling with that ever since.

 

Yesterday, we looked at what Jesus did in the last days of life. From the moment our Lord entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was bound for death on Good Friday. And the question was – and is – what did he spend his last days doing?

 

Answer: He prophesied. For example, in Matthew 24:29-31, Jesus begins telling what it will look like when Christ comes to call believers home. He says that there will be a “loud trumpet call” and that he (Jesus) will come, riding “on the clouds.” In other words, it will be spectacular! It will be beyond human!

 

Therefore, he concludes, “from the fig tree, learn its lesson” (24:32-35). He’s saying, just as you know the signs of spring and summer -- and when it’s time to go pick ripe figs – pay attention to the signs of the coming of Christ.

 

Discussion Questions:

 

1.    What are the signs of spring and summer?

2.    Why do you know and pay attention to them?

3.    What are the signs that it’s about time for Jesus to come again?

4.    Why do most of us allow ourselves to be better acquainted with earthly things than spiritual things?

5.    What might you do as a family to pay more attention to spiritual things?