Advent 2

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Isaiah 11:1-10

This text foretells the coming of God's Messiah who will establish his kingdom of righteousness and justic upon the earth. He will come from the lineage of Jesse (i.e., the lineage of King David, cf. 1 Samuel 16) and will be uniquely anointed and qualified by the Holy Spirit to rule the nations. He will truly worship and reverence God Almighty in spirit and truth. He will discern rightly the motivations of people's hearts and judge correctly. His kingdom will be marked by peace and harmony. All the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.

All nations and peoples will live together in peace and harmony with all of creation (even with the animal kingdom). All relationships will be marked by peace.

Psalm 72

Many psalms have double significance speaking of the "here and now" and also the "yet to come." Placed at the end of second book (or collection) of psalms and attributed to King Solomon, this is a prayer to God Almighty to establish the Lord's King with justice and righteousness. The Lord's royal son (king) will have complete dominion over the earth and will receive the homage and worship of all peoples and nations. His rule will be marked by compassion and redemption. The earth and the people will be blessed and prosper under his kingship.

Romans 15:4-13

The apostle Paul applies the hope, promises, and instruction offered from the Scriptures also to the encouragement and faith of the Gentiles -- not just to the Jews. This means that the hope of a coming Messiah who will deliver the people from their sins and establish his rule and justice and righteousness upon the earth is also for the Gentiles. These promises are for them, too. All who believe in the Lord's anointed (the Christ) will be blessed. Paul encourages his readers, both Jew and Gentile, to welcome one another and to live in harmony with one another, so that they might with one voice glorify God together to the praise and glory of God.

Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist is the last in the line of the great prophets. He is the immediate forerunner to the coming of the Lord's Messiah. His message is to prepare the people for the Messiah's coming, whose kingdom is near. His message calls people to prepare by repentance and confessing of sins. In this way, they are acknowledging their need for their Savior who will deliver them from their sins.

Summary

None of these texts directly mention the Messiah by name. They only speak of the nature of his rule and kingdom: peace, truth, justice, and righteousness. We know, however, that the Messiah's name is Jesus. He is the Christ -- the Lord's anointed. In Jesus we have forgiveness of sins and the promise of life everlasting because of his victory over sin, death, and the power of the Evil One through his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. He came once, born in Bethlehem, but he ascended into heaven, promising to come again, soon.

The Lord Jesus has already established his kingdom in the hearts of his followers, yet, the day is also coming of his physical return and kingly reign. O, Lord Jesus, the Spirit and the your Bride, say: "come!"

Pastor Jeff