“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)
When Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to the Temple to dedicate him as it was commanded in the law, there were two people who welcome him and knew that this baby was the Messiah. The first was a man named Simeon and the other was an elderly woman named Anna.
Anna was a prophetess from the tribe of Asher. She was eighty four years old and had been a widow most of her life. Her husband had died only seven years after they had been married. Since that time she was constantly in the Temple waiting for the Lord’s Messiah. At last she saw him and went immediately to Mary and Joseph and gave thanks to God for the baby. Anyone who would listen to her would be told about this baby who had come to redeem His people.
Anna was a prophetess from the tribe of Asher. When Jacob was dying he blessed his sons and he said that Asher would be a blessing to others. Many years were to pass before the blessing would completely come from the tribe of Asher and when it did, it came from the most unlikely of people, an elderly widow. Anna made it known to everyone who would listen that this child would be their redeemer.
The tribe of Asher had a dark time in their history. When they went into the land we are told that the tribe of Asher failed to possess their rightful possession. When the prophetess Deborah was called to lead the armies of Israel against the armies of Sisera the people of Asher did not support her. We do not know why they didn’t follow Deborah with the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun but maybe it was because they did not want a woman for a leader. Many years later it was a woman who brought honour to her tribe. God used Anna to make Asher a blessing as Jacob had prophesied so many years before.
We don’t know what happened to Anna after that encounter. She may have gone back to her home satisfied that she had seen the redemption of Israel and died a contented and fulfilled woman. She may have continued to bless others by telling them about this baby who would be the redeemer of the world. Whatever happened to her does not matter. Her very brief encounter with the King of kings forever established her place in history. God can use the most unusual of people.
I thank God for the elderly widows who take time to bless others. They write letters, they give money and they pray for people. Many missionaries would have to come home from the mission field if it wasn’t for the Annas of this world. May their tribe increase.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
How Now Shall We Live?
I have just finished reading Chuck Colsons book, How Now Shall We Live? and it is a book that I would recommend to everyone. Though it is a lengthy book it is not a hard read. It is also a very timely book even though it was written a number of years ago.
He first deals with the opposing worldviews and how important it is for us as Christians to have a Biblical worldview. Therefore the first eleven chapters of Genesis are important as they tell us where we came from, what went wrong and what God is doing to redeem the world and creation. He then shows how we can be involved in the work of restoration.
In the last chapter he asks the question, "Can Christians really make a difference in the world?" I have just put together a book which each of my brothers and sisters helped to write about our parents. Though mom and dad were not earth movers they did make a difference. They have thirteen of their children and grandchildren that are involved or have been involved in ministry. Can Christians make a difference? My parents did.
Why Simeon?
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.” Luke 2:25-27 (NIV)
I wonder what Simeon had planned for that day. Maybe he planned to work in his garden or visit a friend or tend to a few jobs around his house that needed doing. Whatever his plans were, they were interrupted by the Holy Spirit. This was not the first time the Spirit had spoken to him. Earlier in his life the Spirit had given him the promise that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
As he entered the temple that day he wondered how he would know which baby would be the Messiah. How often we have had been told that someone would meet us at a bus station or an airport but we have never seen that person before. How will we know the one that is there to meet us? What will be the sign that will let us know that this is the one? It always happens that we do recognize the one. I am sure that the Holy Spirit prompted him saying “This is the One.”
We are not told how long Simeon had been looking for the Messiah. We are not told when he first heard the promise from the Holy Spirit. All we know that from that day onward he was always looking for the Messiah and when the baby came, he was ready.
Simeon is an example for us today. As Simeon looked forward to the first coming we are to look forward to the Second Advent. I am sure that as he waited he went about his usual daily routines. We are commanded to occupy until He comes. We are to live our lives but live them in expectancy. He could come at any time but He will come.
The story is told about a soldier during the war who had been away for a long time. One day the soldiers got word that they would be going home. When the soldiers arrived at the dock there were wives and sweethearts there to meet them. As he looked over the crowd he did not see his wife. He gathered up his pack and went home. When he arrived home his wife met him at the door and said, “Oh, you are home, I have been waiting for you.”
“You may have been waiting for me,” he said, “but the other wives were waiting and watching.” Are we just waiting or are we waiting and watching? We need to be like Simeon who was both waiting and watching.
After he held the baby and prayed a blessing over him he said that he was then ready to go home. When Jesus comes again will we be ready to go home or will we have things that we must do first? When he comes it will be time to go home. Let us be ready.
I wonder what Simeon had planned for that day. Maybe he planned to work in his garden or visit a friend or tend to a few jobs around his house that needed doing. Whatever his plans were, they were interrupted by the Holy Spirit. This was not the first time the Spirit had spoken to him. Earlier in his life the Spirit had given him the promise that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
As he entered the temple that day he wondered how he would know which baby would be the Messiah. How often we have had been told that someone would meet us at a bus station or an airport but we have never seen that person before. How will we know the one that is there to meet us? What will be the sign that will let us know that this is the one? It always happens that we do recognize the one. I am sure that the Holy Spirit prompted him saying “This is the One.”
We are not told how long Simeon had been looking for the Messiah. We are not told when he first heard the promise from the Holy Spirit. All we know that from that day onward he was always looking for the Messiah and when the baby came, he was ready.
Simeon is an example for us today. As Simeon looked forward to the first coming we are to look forward to the Second Advent. I am sure that as he waited he went about his usual daily routines. We are commanded to occupy until He comes. We are to live our lives but live them in expectancy. He could come at any time but He will come.
The story is told about a soldier during the war who had been away for a long time. One day the soldiers got word that they would be going home. When the soldiers arrived at the dock there were wives and sweethearts there to meet them. As he looked over the crowd he did not see his wife. He gathered up his pack and went home. When he arrived home his wife met him at the door and said, “Oh, you are home, I have been waiting for you.”
“You may have been waiting for me,” he said, “but the other wives were waiting and watching.” Are we just waiting or are we waiting and watching? We need to be like Simeon who was both waiting and watching.
After he held the baby and prayed a blessing over him he said that he was then ready to go home. When Jesus comes again will we be ready to go home or will we have things that we must do first? When he comes it will be time to go home. Let us be ready.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Why Two Pigeons?
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." Luke 2:22-24 (NIV)
Mary and Joseph were devout followers of their God. They had both showed their devotion early in Mary’s pregnancy. Mary told the angel that she would allow God to use her and Joseph had responded to the dreams in obedience. So when their Son was born they were careful to obey the instructions that were recorded by Moses in the Book of Leviticus. The instructions given by Moses were that when the days of purification of the mother were complete the parents were to bring a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering. However, if the family could not afford a lamb for a sin offering the provision was made that they could bring two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.
Now Mary and Joseph were careful to fulfill all the requirements of the law but they could not afford to bring a lamb for a sin offering. I imagine that they were a poor family and having to leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem took all their savings. They had very little left for an offering but even though they could not afford a lamb they still came with their offering.
Many times people feel that they cannot afford to give an offering to the Lord so they feel justified in waiting until such a time that they are in a better financial situation. However, Scripture makes if very clear that we are to bring the first fruits to the Lord. Even though we are instructed to give in proportion to what we were given we are instructed to give whether we have little or much. God is not as concerned with the size of our gift as with the attitude of the heart.
When Mary and Joseph came to the temple with an offering of two pigeons they were letting everyone know that they were a poor family. They did not pretend to be something that they were not. They knew that there would be those who would look down upon them because they could not afford an offering like most new parents. They also knew that to be right in the eyes of their God was more important than what others thought of them.
There are many people today who feel that they must show to those around them that they are better than they really are or wealthier than they are. They will say that nothing is too good for their child but in reality they are more concerned with what others think of them than the child. If they were concerned with the welfare of the child they would make sure, like Mary and Joseph, to be obedient to the commands of God. By bringing two pigeons as an offering they were saying that their relationship with God was more important than their comfort or what others thought of them.
Jesus could have been born into any family and any situation He wished but He chose to be born into a poor peasant family. Many of the religious leaders of that day looked upon wealth as favour from God so if one was poor then they were less favourable to God. Jesus was willing to humble Himself and be born in the poorest of situations to show the world that God is no respecter of persons. Whether one is rich or poor is not the issue but whether one is obedient to the commands of God.
Mary and Joseph were devout followers of their God. They had both showed their devotion early in Mary’s pregnancy. Mary told the angel that she would allow God to use her and Joseph had responded to the dreams in obedience. So when their Son was born they were careful to obey the instructions that were recorded by Moses in the Book of Leviticus. The instructions given by Moses were that when the days of purification of the mother were complete the parents were to bring a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering. However, if the family could not afford a lamb for a sin offering the provision was made that they could bring two young pigeons, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering.
Now Mary and Joseph were careful to fulfill all the requirements of the law but they could not afford to bring a lamb for a sin offering. I imagine that they were a poor family and having to leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem took all their savings. They had very little left for an offering but even though they could not afford a lamb they still came with their offering.
Many times people feel that they cannot afford to give an offering to the Lord so they feel justified in waiting until such a time that they are in a better financial situation. However, Scripture makes if very clear that we are to bring the first fruits to the Lord. Even though we are instructed to give in proportion to what we were given we are instructed to give whether we have little or much. God is not as concerned with the size of our gift as with the attitude of the heart.
When Mary and Joseph came to the temple with an offering of two pigeons they were letting everyone know that they were a poor family. They did not pretend to be something that they were not. They knew that there would be those who would look down upon them because they could not afford an offering like most new parents. They also knew that to be right in the eyes of their God was more important than what others thought of them.
There are many people today who feel that they must show to those around them that they are better than they really are or wealthier than they are. They will say that nothing is too good for their child but in reality they are more concerned with what others think of them than the child. If they were concerned with the welfare of the child they would make sure, like Mary and Joseph, to be obedient to the commands of God. By bringing two pigeons as an offering they were saying that their relationship with God was more important than their comfort or what others thought of them.
Jesus could have been born into any family and any situation He wished but He chose to be born into a poor peasant family. Many of the religious leaders of that day looked upon wealth as favour from God so if one was poor then they were less favourable to God. Jesus was willing to humble Himself and be born in the poorest of situations to show the world that God is no respecter of persons. Whether one is rich or poor is not the issue but whether one is obedient to the commands of God.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Why the Gifts?
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
It may not be the right question to ask why the Magi brought gifts, after all, they were coming to visit a newborn King. It was only right that they have gifts for the new baby. The proper question might be, why these particular gifts? Why gold, incense and myrrh?
The gift of gold we can easily understand. This baby was born to be a king. Gold is the metal of kings. It was only proper that they acknowledge the kingship of this child by offering a gift of gold. Jesus was born to be the King of the Jews. The Magi came seeking a King. The first gift presented was a gift to confirm that truth.
When we read Luke’s Gospel we can understand why the second gift was a gift of incense. Throughout Scripture the smoke from the burning incense is used to illustrate the prayers of man rising to God. Jesus was born to be a priest and as a priest He makes intercession for the people. Jesus was born to intercede for us. He tells us in His prayer in John’s Gospel that He is praying for us. Jesus is not just a priest; He is the great High Priest. When He was born in Bethlehem there was no need for another priest. It was this second gift that acknowledges that Jesus came as the Son of Man.
The third gift was a gift of myrrh. Myrrh was the spices that were used in burial. What a strange gift to give to a baby. As the gift of incense looked beyond the cradle at the life of Jesus, the gift of myrrh looked beyond that life to His death. Jesus was born not to give us an example, though He does give us an example of how we should live, He was born to die. When the Magi presented this gift they acknowledge the fact that this baby had been born to die.
I wonder if the Magi truly understood the significance of the gifts they brought to this baby. I know they knew that He was born to be King but did they know that He was also born to be a priest and a Saviour? I don’t really think they understood the total significance but they acted in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
We are to bring gifts but what are the gifts that we are to bring? We can offer Him gold but He owns the gold in every mine. When we offer Him our gold we acknowledge that all we have belongs to Him. We are to offer Him our prayers, the gift of incense. Finally, we too must acknowledge the fact that we must offer Him our lives, the gift of myrrh. He has called us to die. He has called us to die to ourselves, our ambitions, our dreams and our plans. We are to take up our cross and follow Him, follow Him all the way to the cross. So often we offer Him trinkets and tokens instead of the gifts that He desires. He does not want our trinkets and token, He wants us as living sacrifice.
It may not be the right question to ask why the Magi brought gifts, after all, they were coming to visit a newborn King. It was only right that they have gifts for the new baby. The proper question might be, why these particular gifts? Why gold, incense and myrrh?
The gift of gold we can easily understand. This baby was born to be a king. Gold is the metal of kings. It was only proper that they acknowledge the kingship of this child by offering a gift of gold. Jesus was born to be the King of the Jews. The Magi came seeking a King. The first gift presented was a gift to confirm that truth.
When we read Luke’s Gospel we can understand why the second gift was a gift of incense. Throughout Scripture the smoke from the burning incense is used to illustrate the prayers of man rising to God. Jesus was born to be a priest and as a priest He makes intercession for the people. Jesus was born to intercede for us. He tells us in His prayer in John’s Gospel that He is praying for us. Jesus is not just a priest; He is the great High Priest. When He was born in Bethlehem there was no need for another priest. It was this second gift that acknowledges that Jesus came as the Son of Man.
The third gift was a gift of myrrh. Myrrh was the spices that were used in burial. What a strange gift to give to a baby. As the gift of incense looked beyond the cradle at the life of Jesus, the gift of myrrh looked beyond that life to His death. Jesus was born not to give us an example, though He does give us an example of how we should live, He was born to die. When the Magi presented this gift they acknowledge the fact that this baby had been born to die.
I wonder if the Magi truly understood the significance of the gifts they brought to this baby. I know they knew that He was born to be King but did they know that He was also born to be a priest and a Saviour? I don’t really think they understood the total significance but they acted in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
We are to bring gifts but what are the gifts that we are to bring? We can offer Him gold but He owns the gold in every mine. When we offer Him our gold we acknowledge that all we have belongs to Him. We are to offer Him our prayers, the gift of incense. Finally, we too must acknowledge the fact that we must offer Him our lives, the gift of myrrh. He has called us to die. He has called us to die to ourselves, our ambitions, our dreams and our plans. We are to take up our cross and follow Him, follow Him all the way to the cross. So often we offer Him trinkets and tokens instead of the gifts that He desires. He does not want our trinkets and token, He wants us as living sacrifice.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Why a Star?
“And asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."’ Matthew 2:2 (NIV)
When the Magi came from the east to see the newborn King they followed a star. Why did God choose to lead them by a star? After all a star only can be seen at night and they probably did their traveling in the daytime. So why a star? Was the star a morning star that was the last star to be seen before the sunlight of the day made it too bright to see any other stars? Maybe they got their direction from the star for the day and traveled throughout the day.
Now God could have led them by dreams or visions or even a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night but instead He chose to use a star. I would like to offer a couple of reasons that I can think of.
First of all I think that though this baby was born in the lowest of accommodations and only the humble shepherds came that night He was the creator and King of the universe and all universe was at his beck and call. The patriarch Joseph had a dream where the sun, moon and stars bowed down to him. If the sun, moon and stars would bow to Joseph wouldn’t all creation bow to the creator? I think the star shows that all of creation stood in awe that the God of the universe who would became a helpless baby.
But I think there is another reason. In Revelation 22:16 Jesus is described as the “bright morning star”. Numbers 24:17 says that a star will come out of Jacob. That was fulfilled in the birth and life of Jesus. The Magi were led by the star and we are led by the Star. That is why I think that the star that they saw was the bright morning star.
How did the Magi know to follow that star? How did they know that the star would lead them to a baby who was born to be king? They had diligently studied the scriptures; they had diligently studied the heavens and when the saw the star they knew that this was a sign from the God of the universe. Like the Magi of old we need to be diligent in our study of the scriptures and the study of the times so that we can have understanding and know the path that we are to take. God leads His children by many different means and we need to be open to His leading.
Peter says, “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19 (NIV)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Why Magi?
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem.” Matthew 2:1 (NIV)
The first visitors that came to Jesus were the lowly shepherds. The next visitors that are recorded are the majestic magi from the east. Why was Jesus visited by the Magi? Some people have missed the fact that the visit from the magi was a few months and maybe even as much as a year and one half later. Joseph and Mary were still living in Bethlehem and they had moved from the stable and had taken up residence in a house.
Luke has always portrayed Jesus as the Son of Man. His key verse is that Jesus came to seek and to save those that were lost. He always showed Jesus as He identified with the common man. It was only fitting that he showed Jesus born in a simple setting with the common man coming to visit him.
However, Matthew showed Jesus as the King of the Jews. Matthew begins his gospel with the words, “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David.” Matthew carefully shows that Jesus was a descendant of David and thus an heir to David’s throne. It was only fitting that the King should be visited by royalty. Jesus as the creator of the universe will one day rule as King of all creation. The Magi knew that He was a King so when they arrived in Judea they went immediately to Jerusalem which was the seat of power. Where else would a King be born other than in the Royal City? They went to the palace of King Herod thinking that it would be Herod’s son. When they inquired where the new King was Herod went into a panic. A king would be a threat to his power and he had to be found and destroyed.
The first visitors that came to Jesus were the lowly shepherds. The next visitors that are recorded are the majestic magi from the east. Why was Jesus visited by the Magi? Some people have missed the fact that the visit from the magi was a few months and maybe even as much as a year and one half later. Joseph and Mary were still living in Bethlehem and they had moved from the stable and had taken up residence in a house.
Luke has always portrayed Jesus as the Son of Man. His key verse is that Jesus came to seek and to save those that were lost. He always showed Jesus as He identified with the common man. It was only fitting that he showed Jesus born in a simple setting with the common man coming to visit him.
However, Matthew showed Jesus as the King of the Jews. Matthew begins his gospel with the words, “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David.” Matthew carefully shows that Jesus was a descendant of David and thus an heir to David’s throne. It was only fitting that the King should be visited by royalty. Jesus as the creator of the universe will one day rule as King of all creation. The Magi knew that He was a King so when they arrived in Judea they went immediately to Jerusalem which was the seat of power. Where else would a King be born other than in the Royal City? They went to the palace of King Herod thinking that it would be Herod’s son. When they inquired where the new King was Herod went into a panic. A king would be a threat to his power and he had to be found and destroyed.
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