Monthly Archives: November 2021

Yesterday we glanced at a great text in the letter to the Hebrews. Here is another look at one of those verses.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

When Jesus came, he came as completely man and also completely God. No mixture. 100% 100%. The text above has a couple of key words. The first key word is “sympathize”. As a fully human person, Jesus was tempted just as you and I are. When we struggle, he gets it. He has felt it. And that brings us to the second key word.

The word “yet” is our second word today. Jesus struggled and was tempted. Yet he never succumbed to the temptation so that it led to sin. This is where Jesus, as 100% God, saves the day. He could complete his work because he is man and because he is God.

Our confidence is completely in Jesus, who came humbly and took on the flesh of a person just like you and me. Our confidence is in Jesus who is going to come back. This is the already, not yet. It is the base of our confident hope in Jesus.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Confident advent hope.

In the Psalter we find helpful examples of waiting. In the beginning of Psalm 130 we hear a cry: “Out of the depths…”. Then we read…

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm‬ ‭130:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

The writer puts his hope in God because he knows the promises of God and the record of God’s faithfulness.

This Advent season is a good time to renew our discipline of soaking in, marinating in (Thx for the metaphor KOS) the word of God.

Get hope!

Scripture helps us wait because it gives us perspective. One beautiful text of Scripture that I love to read, meditate on, and refer to is found in Hebrews.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to struggling Christians about 35 or 40 years after the resurrection of Jesus, after he defeated death. These followers were suffering from growing persecution. The overall message of the letter is simple: Hold on! God is greater than all the challenges we face.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

The son of God, the second person of the Trinity, left the glory of heaven, took on human flesh, and took the rejection that I deserved upon himself. He suffered so that I didn’t have to. This is why I hold fast to my confession. The church has confessed together since the earliest decades. It is helpful to remind ourselves regularly. Today, let’s consider the Apostle’s Creed**:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

_____

*that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places

** https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/apostles-creed

Today has been the first day of Advent. As we experience Advent, we rejoice in the coming of the Son (the already) and look forward to his return (the not yet).

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm‬ ‭27:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Living in the ‘already, not yet’, we’re waiting on the Lord. This might be thought of as a skill, even better, a discipline. A discipline that becomes easier with practice. The Psalms are an excellent place to develop the ability to wait.

On my journey I have found Psalm 136 (among many others) as a great reminder. It might be a good place to meditate during this season of waiting. Follow through with Psalm 136 here:

https://biblehub.com/esv/psalms/136.htm

Continue reading →