Tag: Holy Family

MARY, DID YOU KNOW?

“Mary, Did You Know?” is the title of a famous Christmas song, and the following is a stanza from this beautiful song:  

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I Am…

Of course, the biblical answer to the question “Mary, did you know?” is a resounding Yes and No. By the angelic decree from the Archangel Gabriel, by the miraculous testimony of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, and by the power of the Holy Spirit within her, as well as by the report of the Bethlehem shepherds, Mary the Mother of our Lord did know that the infant Jesus in her arms would be the Messiah and Savior of Israel. However, she could not have known at that early point the full extent of the meaning of her firstborn baby boy. In fact, it wasn’t until forty days later that Mary started to get a greater awareness of the cosmic significance of Jesus’ conception, birth and life.

After Yeshua (Jesus) had been circumcised and incorporated into the Abrahamic Covenant at eight days old, Joseph and Mary later took the forty-day-old Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem “to present him to the Lord” as it says in Luke 2:22. For it was there in the Jerusalem Temple that the Prophets Simeon and Anna gave to Mary and Joseph the first prophetic glimpse of Jesus’ universal mission and ministry for all humanity. As Simeon and Anna beheld the infant Messiah, it was revealed through them that Jesus would be the salvation and redemption of “all peoples” (Luke 2:31), including both the Nation of Israel and the Gentile Nations. Moreover, it was revealed that day in the Temple that Jesus would be opposed by many, and that this opposition to Jesus would be “a sword” that would pierce Mary’s soul as well (Luke 2:35).

Many years later, with the events of Holy Week and Pentecost, all these prophecies came to pass. For Mary’s heart was pierced as she witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion as Heaven’s Perfect Lamb every agonizing step of the way to the Hill of Golgotha. Then she witnessed his post-resurrection appearances, and she was there at Pentecost when the Universal Church of Jesus Christ was born.

This year during the Season of Advent leading up to the Twelve Days of Christmastime, we will ponder Mary’s experience with Heaven’s Perfect Lamb at our midweek “Holden Evening Prayer” worship services at 7pm on the Wednesdays of December 4th, 11th, and 18th.

Good Advent & Merry Christmas!!! Pastor Tim

SIGNAL BEACONS FOR CHRIST

It’s the Third Day of Christmastime as I write this article and New Year’s Eve is several days away. Many people still have most of their Christmas decorations out in observance of the Twelve Days, and I recently noticed a front yard Nativity display with an illuminated set of Holy Family figurines. And, interestingly, the light coming from the Baby Jesus was flashing on and off. So I had a quick chuckle about it, but the image of that flashing-light Baby Jesus has stayed with me.

Our Lord Jesus taught us, “Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). And in the context of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus was talking about shining the light of gospel mercy and gospel faithfulness for the sake of all people, including for the sake of our adversaries and enemies. So, considering the blinking-light Baby Jesus I saw, I wonder if we need to shine his gospel light more like a signal beacon these days, rather than like an oil lamp.

A signal beacon is an intentionally conspicuous light that is designed to attract attention to a specific location or for a specific purpose. For example, signal fires were lit in ancient times to call for aid. Lighthouse beacons (both ancient and modern) are used to alert ships. And electric signal lights are used within all the various modes of transportation: automotive, locomotive, nautical, aerial and astronautical. Therefore, similar to the flashing-light Baby Jesus figurine I saw, we Christians sometimes (maybe even oftentimes) need to shine our light for Christ like an attention-getting signal beacon. Maybe more often than not, we should be conspicuous about our Christian faith and hope in order to draw attention to the good news of Jesus Christ that has the power to change lives. For the Apostle Paul states in Romans chapter 1, “I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for our life of faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

As Christians, we profess that the grace and truth of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our spiritual and relational ills. When hearts are changed by the love of God revealed in Christ, then the elderly are respected more, children are cared for more, racial bigotry is reduced within people of all ethnicities, the hungry are fed, and so on. This is the reign of God among us. Hearts and minds are changed, lovingkindness flourishes, society is improved, and there’s a multiplication of the people of faith. And this, in fact, is how Christianity first expanded out into our world, and it’s how it best grows even today.

Block by block, person by person, neighbor by neighbor, relative by relative, the signal beacon Light of Jesus Christ shining through our gospel testimony and good works (imperfect though we be at this) will guide people home to the salvation, peace and joy of Christ. And this also has the wonderful side effect of benefitting all of society as well. When people have their hearts changed by the grace of God in Christ, they tend to take more personal responsibility for their lives, while, at the same time, they tend to be drawn together to take more social responsibility for the sake of others.

So throughout 2022, may we become signal beacons for Christ more and more. May we let the light of the gospel shine (and even blink and flash) before others, for the glory of God and for the redemption of our world.

Happy New Year!!! Pastor Tim