The Babe in Bethlehem

Micah is one of the "Minor Prophets" - minor, not because they are, in some way, less worthy than the "Major Prophets" (Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel), but because the books named after them are much shorter in length.

To confirm the importance of Micah's little volume, we need look at only one verse:

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2)

This is an amazing prophecy, explicitly predicting, more than 700 years before He finally came, that the future King of Israel would be born in the little village of Bethlehem. And, to assure its fulfilment, the great Emperor Augustus had to decree a comprehensive census, compelling Joseph to take Mary with him to Bethlehem for her child to be born.

 

That the prophecy involves an actual birth is clear, not only from the phrase "come forth," but also from the succeeding verse which warns that God will "... give them up until the time when she who is in travail has brought forth;" (v. 3). We may also note that the preceding verse had  predicted that "... with a rod they strike upon the cheek the ruler of Israel." (v. 1), speaking of His initial rejection and execution.

 

But that is not all. The prophecy not only foresees the birth of the Christ-child in Bethlehem, His repudiation by His own people, and His eventual installation as King over all Israel (not merely the southern kingdom of Judah), but also that this same remarkable person was none other than God Himself! His "origins" had been "from of old, from ancient days." That is, He is eternally proceeding forth from His Father. He did not become God’s Son when He was born in Bethlehem; He has been coming forth eternally.

 

There is still another truth implied in the remarkable Hebrew word for "come forth." It is also used for such things as the flowing of water from a fountain or the radiations from the sun. Thus, the never-ending coming forth of power from God the Father, through the Son is nothing less than the sustaining energy for the whole creation, as He is "upholding the universe by His word of power" (Hebrews 1:3). And this was the Babe in Bethlehem! 

As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus (which we should really have done in Sept/Oct, but that's another message!), let us give thanks that the Babe of Bethlehem became the Christ of the Cross, and that He will soon return as the conquering King. Are you ready for that world-shaking event? May all of us see beyond the tinsel, the turkey, the other trappings of the "festive season", and commit ourselves to the service of the Lord.

Love, from the Beginning.

It's the beginning of a new week; the beginning of a new month; and, just one month away from the beginning of a new year!

Beginnings are, of course, of great importance - although as the old fable of the tortoise and the hare reminds us, finishing is even more so! 

My third book, "Defending the Faith", is based on John's first letter. The pungent phrase "from the beginning" occurs no less than nine times in the first three chapters of the short letter. One of those occasions reads: "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another," (I John 3:11).

Just prior to His crucifixion, in His great discourse to the disciples, Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)

 

Thus, while in one sense, Christ's command to love one another was a new commandment, in another sense, as John states, it has been with us from the very beginning of the world. "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard." (1 John 2:7).

 

The first verses of John's first letter show that this "beginning" is the same beginning as is referred to in Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 (q.v.): "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us." (1 John 1:1-2). Note also 1 John 2:13: "I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him Who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father."

 

"Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24). This is an eternal commandment, for "God is love" (1 John 4:16) and "love is of God" (1 John 4:7). In the upper room, Jesus prayed to the Father: "Father, ... ... you loved me before the creation of the world. ... I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:24, 26).

 

Love, therefore, has been at the center of God's plan from the beginning, but a new pattern and measure of that love was given us by The Lord Jesus, the Christ. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34; emphasis added).

Fullness Of Blessing

One of the beautiful characteristics of life in the Christ is its fullness. The Lord Jesus stated: "... I came to give life - life in all its fullness." (Jn.10:10; NCV). Paul assures us that the church - that is, all of those whose lives are in Him, "... is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way." (Eph.1:23). Of course, He also does everything to the full! When He fed the 5,000 (and that was only the men!), there were twelve baskets of food left over (see John 6:13); when He brought in the miraculous catch of fishes, the nets were so full that they broke, and the boats so full they began to sink (see Luke 5:6-7).

Turning, again, to Paul, he writes to the believers in Rome: "I know that when I come to you I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ." (Rom.15:29). So what is this "fullness" that the Lord Jesus supplies? 

 

Well, first of all, He gives fullness of grace. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; ... And from His fullness have we all received, grace upon grace." (John 1:14,16). Then comes fullness of joy. Jesus said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:11).and peace: "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" (Romans 15:13).

 

It is also possible - in fact, we are commanded - to "... be filled with the Spirit, . . . singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart," (Eph. 5:18,19). Not only does the Holy Spirit indwell every true disciple of Jesus, but so do the Father and the Son, by the Spirit. Jesus said: "If a man loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." (John 14:23). In this way, the triune God indwells us, and thereby we may "... know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph. 3:19).

 

All the fullness of God! In Jesus Christ "... the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, Who is the Head of all rule and authority. " (Col. 2:9-10), "...for in Him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross." (Col.1:19-20).

Do you know that fulness in your own life? If not, you may do so simply by coming to the Saviour Who has promised that "... him who comes to Me I will not cast out." (John 6:37). If I may be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me, using the e-mail address at the top of the blog.

The Flesh of a Little Child

One of the most interesting stories in the First (Old) Testament is that of a man named Naaman, about whom we read in II Kings 5. He was, we read, the "commander of the army of the king of Syria, [and he] was a great man with his master and in high favour, because by him YHWH had given victory to Syria." (v.1) Just a side-note that didn't come to mind until I had copied those words! The inspired writer attributes the successes of this Gentile (i.e. not of the Children of Israel) to YHWH, the God of Israel. With the presidential election day this week, I wonder if the candidate for whom I personally would be voting - Donald J Trump - is an unbeliever whom the Lord will use for His own purposes! He is the Lord of all of mankind, even if not all fully acknowledge Him as such! Actually, either candidate will be the Lord's choice - to bless the USA, or to bring judgement upon that great country!

Anyway, this familiar story of Naaman, the Syrian, was cited by the Lord Jesus himself as an example of the concern of Almighty God for all nations. "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." (Lk.4:27). It is also, we may conclude, a striking picture of salvation!

As we have noted, Naaman was a great and highly-acclaimed military commander. However, at the end of the verse at which we looked at the beginning of this post, we learn something else about him: "... but he was a leper." Yes, this "mighty man of valour"  was also stricken with an incurable, and loathsome, disease - the disease of leprosy. Similarly, any natural man, or woman, no matter how powerful, is afflicted with the lethal disease of sin. 

Then we may note that, before this important, and proud, official could be cured of his leprosy, he had to humble himself in several ways. First, he had to accept the advice of a slave girl from an enemy nation: "Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife.  She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (vs.2-3). 

Then Naaman had to journey to that nation and its prophet, whose God his own nation had repudiated: "So Na′aman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the maiden from the land of Israel.”  And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” (v.4).

Finally, he had to travel still farther at the word of the prophet (who would not even come out to meet him); and, finally, immerse himself seven times in the despised river Jordan. Though he resented being so humiliated, his condition was hopeless otherwise, so he finally did all these things, and God marvelously healed him! "So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of YHWH his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.  But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (vs.9-14)

 

Naaman's leprous flesh became, again, as the flesh of a little child. But first he had to manifest the obedient faith of a little child. The same principle is true for every lost sinner. 

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." (James 4:10). Jesus said, "... unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4).

Nothing but grace.

As some are aware, my wife and I spent a week on a cruise to the Norwegian fjords at the beginning of the month. We. had a lovely, relaxing, time - but, sadly, did not see the Aurora Borealis. That, I must confess, was a great disappointment.

Having been on one previous cruise to celebrate our Ruby wedding anniversary (actually, several months after the date!) we had some idea of what to expect on board.  What we did not expect was that, on the Monday evening, the Head Waiter in the restaurant to which we had been assigned for dinner, would ask if we would like to sit at the Captain's table, in a different restaurant, on the following, formal dress, evening! Those who recall the UK television series "Keeping up appearances" will understand when I say that Hyacinth would have been deep green with envy!! Anyway, we accepted and, on the following evening, dressed up "to the nines", we arrived with our Invitation Card, and were shown to the largest table in the room!

The menu was the same as that for the rest of the passengers, but the service was exceptional. There were eight of us at the table (not, as it turned out, with the Captain, but with the Purser!) and, each couple had their own waiter. This meant that, for each course, all eight plates were laid simultaneously! Class!!

While we awaited the arrival of the third of the passenger couples, I asked the other couple who were already there if they knew why we had been chosen. They had no more idea than had I! That set me thinking (yes, I do undertake this activity occasionally!). We had not paid for this privilege; we had not performed some heroic deed; we had not earned it. I realised that this was a good illustration of grace!

What is grace? Well, if you purchase a copy of my first book "Great Words of the Faith", there's a whole chapter dedicated to that subject. However, putting it simply, it is Almighty God treating us as we don't deserve. As a sinner, I deserve only His wrath, judgement, and punishment. But, because, in the Persona (see the chapter on "The Trinity" in the aforementioned book) of the Lord Jesus, He paid the penalty for my sin - and yours - on the cross of Calvary, I am freely forgiven, and accepted by Him as His child. 

Not only is there no cost, on my part, involved, but there are no conditions. Father God doesn’t even set out conditions that have to be met before He bestows His grace upon us!  As we accept Him, and the gifts of His grace, we do find that there are conditions attached – but these are more of a necessary response to His love than a prerequisite to receiving it.

Without cost; without condition; and without compare.  It is only by the grace of God that we can be built up spiritually; it is only by His grace that we can receive the inheritance of His children.  Incomparable grace – without compare in its make-up; and without compare in its measure. Writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, Paul states that “… the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”   “… the grace of our Lord overflowed …”  (I Tim.1:14).  That’s grace beyond measure!

And it’s without compare in its motive. Those of a certain age, and ecclesiastical background, may remember the first question in the Shorter Catechism?  “What is the chief end (the prime purpose, the 'raison d’être') of man?”  And the answer?  “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.”  There can be no greater motive than the glory of God.

Grace – without cost; without condition; without compare.  Grace: God’s own gift to undeserving sinners. May God grant to each one of us, by His grace, the courage, and strength, and faith, to respond positively to it, that we might appropriate all of its wonderful blessings and benefits at a personal level; and be found, in the company of all of His faithful people, giving all of the glory to Him.