I am a Gentile...I am that because simply put, I'm not a Jewish person. The story of Advent comes about through God's covenant with Israel, which is the story of the Old Testament. God's purpose for Israel was for His people to be a Kingdom of Priests - people who demonstrated the purposes of God to the nations - to the Gentiles.
That did not happen.
Israel became a nation, but not one that reached out to the nations. Why? There are far too many reasons to be written here. But, the important thing to realize is that God had purposed the nation to be priests to the Gentile world.
That helps us understand the first Advent. Jesus was born to grow up in a Jewish family, to call alongside of himself Jewish people, and be arrested and tried by Jewish rulers. Turned over to a Gentile ruler, Jesus is crucified, dies, and is buried...but resurrected and exalted to God's right hand.
The Church begins Jewish, but soon discovers God's purposes haven't changed - to reach the Gentiles.
Jesus had made this clear while still upon the earth.
Matthew 12:15-21 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all
16 and ordered them not to make him known.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
"In HIS NAME the Gentiles will hope."
God had never given up on calling the nations to His Kingdom. The Gentile were considered to be outside of the covenant.
Romans 15:8-13 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Here's what I want us to "muse" on today - God has purposed in Jesus Christ a Hope, that leads to Joy, that leads to Peace, and brings us back to more Hope.
I saw this in a family recently who had walked through a valley of suffering and great difficulties. They prayed, trusted, waited, and in their own human way, Hoped. Yet things dragged on for months and months and very little changed. Repeatedly the news was not good and things seemed to keep going in a negative direction.
Still, they prayed, they trusted, they hoped.
And then it happened.
A good doctor's report...a new prognosis...a change and there it happened - SURPRISED BY HOPE.
Hope is that quality of faith that comes from maintaining trust in God, no matter what!
Where are you on the Hope meter? Do you realize that God is the God of Hope.
It doesn't mean we always get what we want, but rather that each of us matters to God. Each of us counts.
Think about it, God never gave up on the idea of including the Gentiles - you and me - in His Kingdom plans.
He wanted, and persevered, and made a way for Hope to occur...no matter what!
Peace
That did not happen.
Israel became a nation, but not one that reached out to the nations. Why? There are far too many reasons to be written here. But, the important thing to realize is that God had purposed the nation to be priests to the Gentile world.
That helps us understand the first Advent. Jesus was born to grow up in a Jewish family, to call alongside of himself Jewish people, and be arrested and tried by Jewish rulers. Turned over to a Gentile ruler, Jesus is crucified, dies, and is buried...but resurrected and exalted to God's right hand.
The Church begins Jewish, but soon discovers God's purposes haven't changed - to reach the Gentiles.
Jesus had made this clear while still upon the earth.
Matthew 12:15-21 15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all
16 and ordered them not to make him known.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
"In HIS NAME the Gentiles will hope."
God had never given up on calling the nations to His Kingdom. The Gentile were considered to be outside of the covenant.
Romans 15:8-13 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,
9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Here's what I want us to "muse" on today - God has purposed in Jesus Christ a Hope, that leads to Joy, that leads to Peace, and brings us back to more Hope.
I saw this in a family recently who had walked through a valley of suffering and great difficulties. They prayed, trusted, waited, and in their own human way, Hoped. Yet things dragged on for months and months and very little changed. Repeatedly the news was not good and things seemed to keep going in a negative direction.
Still, they prayed, they trusted, they hoped.
And then it happened.
A good doctor's report...a new prognosis...a change and there it happened - SURPRISED BY HOPE.
Hope is that quality of faith that comes from maintaining trust in God, no matter what!
Where are you on the Hope meter? Do you realize that God is the God of Hope.
It doesn't mean we always get what we want, but rather that each of us matters to God. Each of us counts.
Think about it, God never gave up on the idea of including the Gentiles - you and me - in His Kingdom plans.
He wanted, and persevered, and made a way for Hope to occur...no matter what!
Peace
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