Both the Old Testament and the New Testament readings today are about the triumph of the true Lord and King. Since the garden, humanity has been in rebellion against God, choosing to follow its own way, rather than the Lord’s. Yet, both Zechariah and John saw a “Day” coming when the Lord would reign “over all the earth” and every human tongue would worship His name alone. We too, are to be heralds of His soon arrival, announcing that everyone should get ready for the coming King.
The angel instructed John to write concerning the “blessing” that awaited those who responded to the invitation to attend the Lamb’s wedding supper. This “Lamb” is Christ and the bride is the church (Eph. 5:32). The word translated “called” is a Greek perfect passive participle, which literally means, “having been called/invited.” In other words, the invitations have already gone out and only those who “RSVP’d” their attendance will be present. Not everyone will respond to this invitation in the positive and having sent their “regrets,” they will not “taste” (Luke 14:24) of this blessed banquet. Have you responded to Christ’s wedding invitation yet?
John saw a vision of Babylon’s fall. Surely this was symbolic of a future event, since it had fallen to the Persians 500 years before John wrote. The vision described the fall of Babylon as affecting the world’s economic system. The fall was to take place in less than an hour. Cities don’t usually fall in one hour, but the modern economy can crash in minutes. We might take this as a warning to “come out” of dependence on the world’s economy and instead put our dependence on God. Be careful about being caught up in the idolatry of materialism and greed. Instead, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20). How do we “come out” of Babylon and “lay up” wealth in heaven? Decide to live on less, so you can give more. It is through giving that we invest in heaven.
Many important questions are answered by this verse:
– Where is the Lord? “Near.”
– How can I know Him? “Call upon Him in truth.”
- What is truth? Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
You may feel far from God today, but He is only one call away. Just dial J-E-S-U-S!
The psalmist David looks to God and finds in Him everything, but looks to man by comparison and finds next to nothing. He wonders how God can stoop to know and acknowledge lowly humanity. Yet, God not only stoops to know, He humbles Himself to become… “the Son of Man.” God sent His Son to become like us, so that we might become like Him. This is the gift behind every gift. Merry Christmas!!
Who is this person that would fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy written in 520 BC? Here are some of the qualifications on his resume:
1) Will build the temple
2) Will receive the glory that belongs to God
3) Will be the king
4) Will be the high priest
5) Will unite the offices of king and priest
Clue: He was born in a Bethlehem stable around 520 years after this prophecy… (More clues: His temple is still being built and He is both the Cornerstone and the Capstone. He receives God’s glory because He is the Word made flesh. The offices of prophet, priest and king have always foreshadowed His fulfillment.) Who is He?
Zerubbabel, whose name meant, “seed of Babylon,” was one of the Jews born in Babylon during their 70 years of captivity. Born a prince in the Davidic line, he was appointed governor over Jerusalem by the Persian king, Cyrus, and led the returning exiles to start rebuilding the Temple. Unfortunately, due to conflict with the locals and lack of both physical and financial support, the work had come to a halt after laying the foundation. The unfinished work sat atop the temple mount for over a decade, a constant and discouraging reminder to Zerubbabel, who had lost heart that it would ever be completed. It was during this time of despair that the prophet Zechariah encouraged him to take up the “plumb line” and go back to work because he would surely be able to finish it. And so, the prophecy that the temple that was started by Zerubbabel would be finished by him was fulfilled. Zerubbabel rebuilt the temple, the same one that King Herod later “supersized,” and the same one that Jesus, the true King, taught in during the His earthly ministry. Yet, this prophecy also has a spiritual fulfillment that is still pending. For Zerubbabel, the Davidic prince, is a christological type pointing to Christ’s work of salvation. The book of Hebrews explains saying that Jesus is both “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb.12:2). Jesus has laid the foundation and He will set the “capstone.”
Zechariah is filled with Messianic prophecies. Here, Israel was called to “sing and rejoice” in anticipation of Christ’s coming. This prophecy was partially fulfilled on Christmas day with the incarnation. As John proclaimed, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Today, the Spirit of Christ continues to “dwell” in this world through His Church. Yet, we are to continue to “sing and rejoice” because Christ has come and is coming again to truly “dwell” with us as both Priest and King. This is Advent: Christ has come and is coming again.
Here’s a passage that I’ve never seen on a Christmas card. Yet, when John the Revelator was caught up into heaven, he saw the birth of Christ from heaven’s perspective. Who is the woman? It’s not Mary nor the Church, but Israel (See Joseph’s dream in Gen. 37:9. The sun and moon are his parents and the stars, his brothers. This describes Jacob/Israel and his wife and 12 sons). Remember, those that would understand the book of Revelation, must first recognize its Old Testament imagery. Revelation is the last book of the Bible for a reason. We need to read and seek to understand the first 65 books before trying to grasp the last one. John’s revelation reminds us that the first Christmas was a cosmic event, filled with spiritual warfare and drama. His book pulls back the curtain of heaven and lets us see Christmas from God’s perspective.
In this psalm, David prayed for God to “search” his heart and reveal to him any worries or wickedness, so that he might correct his way. David has already praised God for His comprehensive knowledge of him. He realized that God knew him better than he knew himself. David contemplated on how God knew him even in his mother’s womb, how He knew his “rising up” and his “lying down.” So, David asked the God who can see the human heart to examine his. David was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) because he had first given his own heart to God. This is a good prayer for us today: “God, search me. Reveal to me where I am not right with you. You know me better than I know myself. Tell me why my heart is worrying or holding on to some idol today. Forgive me and cleanse me afresh, so I can live this day for You.”