Happy Are the Poor in Spirit (Luke 2:22-40)

"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34-35)

The birth of Jesus was recognized by a handful of people though He was the Son of God. It happened in the poorest place on the planet, an animal's shelter. The sheepherders on the field on that night were told the good news of the birth of Christ Jesus and given a sign that a baby would be wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. It was almost unbelievable for them to believe that a Savior was born and laid in an animal’s place. But they believed and hurried to see the baby. Sure enough, they found the one just as the angel told them. Three magi from the east followed the star and worshiped the baby Jesus when they found Him. There were also the poor parents, Mary and Joseph who bore the Messiah.

The birth setting and the visitors tell us the character of the ministry of Jesus Christ conclusively and convincingly. It is summarized in a nutshell, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs are the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) Christ lived on the earth, having nothing even no place to lay down His head (Luke 9:58). However, He reigned in life completely and perfectly. He possessed nothing but lacked nothing. He was pressed and pressured by all sides but never succumbed to despair and desolation. He was frequently challenged and swarmed by the most problematic and devious questions by the leaders of the nation but never evaded the confrontation of answering them. Most of all, though He was the Son of God, He emptied Himself and gave His life in the place of all both Jews and Gentiles.

Prophet Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be wounded, stricken, afflicted, pierced, and crushed not for Himself but for our transgressions and inequities. The hallmark of Christ’s life on the earth was the crucifixion in the public square of Golgotha of Calvary. His life ended in smitten, beaten, ashamed, pitied, broken, cut off to nothing. He became the poor of poor and nothing but nobody. He did not have to die like that at all but did according to the Scriptures in an obedience to the Father. It pleased God, says Isaiah. Christ never failed to act on that basis, pleasing the Father in heaven. It requires the death of Himself constantly. When He did, God raised Him from the dead with the power of resurrection and exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.

The principle of life Christ demonstrated is exactly applied to the disciples who follow Him. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35) It is indeed an amazing invitation of the Father God for anyone who wants to live a life in the fullness of excitement and vitality. No one wants to be beaten, smitten, pitied, and ashamed but it is essential and inevitable like our Lord and Master was put for us to have eternal life. But whoever wants to save his life will lose it. Do we glory of the sufferings of Christ in our midst? Do we welcome them today? 

Are You at Wits End Corner?

Antoinette Wilson

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Christian, with troubled brow'
Are you thinking of what is before you, And all you are bearing now'
Does all the world seem against you, And you in the battle alone'
Remember at Wits End Corner Is where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Blinded with wearying pain
Feeling you cannot endure it, You cannot bear the strain.
Bruised through the constant suffering Dizzy and dazed, and numb
Remember at Wits End Corner, Is where Jesus loves to come.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Your work before you spread.
Or lying begun, unfinished And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it. Stretching out trembling hands
Remember at “Wits End Corner” The burden bearer stand.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Yearning for those you love,
Longing and praying and watching, Pleading their cause above,
Trying to lead them to Jesus Wondering if you’ve been true'
He whispers at “Wits End Corner” “I’ll win them as I won you.”

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner” Then you’re just in the very spot.
To learn the wondrous resources Of Him who faileth not!
No doubt to a brighter pathway Your footsteps will soon be moved
But only at Wits End Corner Is the God who is able, “proved.”

Believe the Words of God and Praise Him (Luke 1:57-80)

“He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” (Luke 1:63-64)

Why did God treat Zechariah so severely, making him silent until his son John was born? He was righteous in the sight of God, observing all the commands and decrees blamelessly. However, when he was told by the angel that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son, he did not believe the words which would be fulfilled at their appointed time. Although he had been praying for a son, he couldn’t be sure of the words because he was old and his wife was well along in years. That is what’s happen all the time. He bumped at his own strength instead of fixing his eyes on God. Paul warns, saying “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)

Here God reveals a truth that He never makes any compromise with anything and anyone. No matter who cannot escape the experience of the wrath of God if found wanting in the Lord’s scale. Yet, His wrath manifested is not the act of outrageous temper and uncontrollable anger but that of unfailing love. God is love and never bends by any degree no matter what. He acts on the same basis of love now and forevermore. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’” (Hebrews 12:5)

It is not true that we can make ourselves righteous in the sight of God. We cannot do it. It is not true from the beginning and it will not be true forever. If true, then Christ did not need to be crucified at all. What is true is that we have been made righteous by the blood of the Son Jesus Christ the Lord. There is no other basis for anyone to come to God other than the cross of Christ Jesus. Life is a school master for us to learn how to live in full if we take seriously His words. How can we be sure of that we ever believe in the words of God? We can be sure of continual believing in the words of God because He is faithful and trustworthy forever. Apostle Paul says pertinently regarding the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God. “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

Zechariah probably ever reminded of the words uttered by the angel during the pregnancy of his wife. When his son was born he named him John after the words delivered by the angel. Immediately, his mouth was open and began to speak, praising God. That’s what we ought to do, praising God!

“His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:67-79)

Greetings, You Have Found Favor with God (Luke 1:28-38)

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:28-29)

Why was Mary greatly troubled at the words of the angel, saying “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary wondered what kind of greetings this might be. The hint was that she was engaged to be married with Joseph, a descendant of David. She didn’t want to be intervened in her life by any degree. Who has not experienced this? Who has not been troubled like Mary at the greetings of the Lord? Having been favored is a good thing but now she had her own business. Notice that she was even told what the favor was yet. The angel didn’t say anything but the greetings to her. It is so contemporary and up-to-date that we all are like Mary. She was greatly troubled at the immediate thought of her marriage plan. Nothing was more important than that.

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God.” Gabriel repeated the words that she had found favor with God. It is absolutely a grace to her. What was the favor? It was for her to conceive and give birth to a son and she was to call him Jesus. Humanly speaking, it is not a favor at all but a curse for she was a virgin. But it is the favor of God because she was going to bear Christ Jesus who was to come and save His people. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end,” continued the angel.

Life is complex and complicated. There is no simple solution or remedy although we at times desire to have such. Some say we live in a world like rat race. Retirees say that they are busier than ever before. Some say they are bored. Some yell at the podium, assuming that they have all the solutions. I admit that we are living in a world of confusion and busy mindedness. Ah, how many things we need to take care of every day! However, the main thing remains as the main thing and does not change. Among so many things, we shall not lose the main thing. What is it? It is Jesus Christ. We may miss some fortunes, achievements, opportunities to the enjoyment of life, etc. But we shall not miss Jesus all the time and eternally, because He is the Son of God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. He reigns His kingdom now and will be manifested visibly when He comes again the loud and last trumpet call with thousands and thousands of angels.

Apostle Peter explains clearly and plainly the prophecy of His kingdom has already been fulfilled. “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:29-36)