18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
“Hope in Emmanuel: God With Us”
As we approach Christmas, seeking solace in the presence of King Jesus amid the trials of this year, our focus turns to the facets of hope, joy, and love that emanate solely from the Lord. To commence this journey, let’s delve deeper into the profound narrative of Joseph, often overshadowed by Mary’s pivotal role.
Joseph, described as a “just man” (v. 19), faced a dilemma when confronted with Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Despite the social norms and legal avenues available to him, Joseph chose a path of grace rather than justice. In a society quick to condemn and shun Mary, Joseph’s decision to spare her from shame embodies God’s profound mercy and compassion. It’s a poignant reflection of the gospel – choosing redemption over condemnation, displaying the heart of God toward His people.
The angel’s revelation to Joseph validated the truth behind Mary’s conception and urged him not to fear but to embrace his role in God’s divine plan. This narrative mirrors Christ’s embrace of the flawed yet beloved Church, demonstrating the beauty of redemption amid societal scrutiny and judgment.
The significance of the name Jesus reverberates throughout history. Beyond its literal meaning of salvation and divine assistance, it embodies the unparalleled authority and saving grace encapsulated who Jesus is (Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-10).
Emmanuel – God with us, a promise foretold by Isaiah in 7:14, served as a beacon of hope for Israel amid turmoil. It assured them of God’s presence, dispelling fear and fortifying their spirits against adversity. This promise resonates with timeless relevance today, assuring us that God’s presence transcends circumstances, offering unwavering hope and strength.
To close, let’s meditate on Romans 8:31-34, a profound reminder encapsulating the essence of Emmanuel:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
These verses reassure us that with God on our side through Jesus, no force or circumstance can overpower us. Christ’s intercession for us solidifies our hope and assurance in His unwavering love and support. Despite uncertainties that lie ahead, remember this truth: while challenges may arise, the throne of heaven remains unshakeable. God’s sovereignty prevails, and He orchestrates all things, offering us an unshakable foundation of hope.
Embracing the profound truth encapsulated in the name Emmanuel – God with us, let’s find rest, solace, and hope in the promises it holds. In acknowledging God’s abiding presence with us, both now and forever, may this Christmas season be a source of renewed hope and unwavering assurance.
Reflection Questions:
Think about the name Jesus and its meaning of salvation and divine help. What does this name mean for you personally, and how does Jesus bring hope and rescue into your life?
Reflect on times when you have felt overwhelmed or anxious. How does the idea of Emmanuel – God with us – offer comfort and strength in these moments in your life?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Luke 1:67-80
“Zechariah’s Hymn of Redemption”
Zechariah’s song, the Benedictus, bursts forth like a symphony of redemption, echoing through the corridors of history. It begins with the profound proclamation, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). These words, penned by a man once silenced by disbelief, now resound with the power of prophecy fulfilled and salvation’s promise proclaimed.
Zechariah’s hymn encompasses a tapestry of themes—each thread woven intricately with the divine promises, from David to Abraham, connecting the grand narrative of God’s faithfulness to the imminent arrival of the Messiah. At its core lies the concept of redemption—freedom from captivity and deliverance from sin’s bondage. It echoes the call of Isaiah, foretelling the release of captives and the opening of prison doors. Through Christ, God was inaugurating a new era of liberty, breaking the chains of sin and offering spiritual emancipation to all who believe (Luke 4:18). The imagery of the “horn of salvation” harks back to the Davidic tradition, symbolizing power and victory—assurance that in Christ, the enemy is defeated, and complete triumph prevails for God’s people (Psalm 18:2).
Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, arrives, tracing His lineage to the royal lineage of David—bringing health, soundness, and spiritual wholeness to a broken world (Micah 5:2). His redemption doesn’t merely liberate; it transforms. The victory achieved by Christ doesn’t end in personal emancipation. Those redeemed are called to live in alignment with God’s will—to embrace freedom not for selfish desires but for a life of obedience and fulfillment in service to the Most High (Colossians 1:12–14).
Central to this anthem is the remission of sin debts. Humanity, indebted by sin, finds its burden lifted by the gracious act of Christ. His sacrifice becomes the means through which debts are canceled—a divine act of mercy that sets the repentant heart free from the chains of guilt and condemnation (Psalm 103:12).
Moreover, Zechariah’s hymn provides a profound metaphor—the dawning of a new day, the rising sun breaking through the darkness of humanity’s plight. Jesus, the Dayspring, brings light, life, and peace to a world shrouded in despair, heralding the tender mercies of God, and initiating a new era of divine grace and restoration (Isaiah 9:2). Zechariah, once mute, now becomes a mouthpiece of divine revelation. His joy is palpable as he rejoices not only in the birth of his son John but in the advent of the Messiah whom John will herald. Through the ages, prophets had foretold this moment, and now, it was finally dawning.
Today, the resonance of Zechariah’s song beckons—a call to believe in the Good News, to embrace the joy of salvation, and to join the chorus of praise for the Redeemer who came from the lineage of David to set the captives free. Just as Zechariah’s voice was restored to praise, may our lives echo with gratitude for the redemption found in Jesus Christ, our Savior and King.
Reflection Questions:
Considering Zechariah’s transformation from silence to praise, how can his experience encourage us to embrace gratitude and praise for the redemption found in Jesus? How might this echo our thankfulness for the salvation He brings?
Look at the imagery of the sun rising and chasing away darkness in vv. 78-79. How does the image of Jesus being like the bright sun rising and the darkness being unable to stand before Him help you understand His first coming? How about His second coming?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Luke 1:46-56
“Rejoicing in God’s Care: Lessons from Mary’s Song”
When thoughts of God occupy our minds, what shapes our perceptions? Each person has their own view of God, influenced by feelings, family, and life. Some see God as distant, others as always present, loving, or serious.
Think about Mary, a big part of the Christmas story. She sang a song about God, not herself. This song came from her heart, filled with feelings. This song, called “The Magnificat,” reflects the reversal of fortunes people will experience through her son, Jesus (vv. 52–55). It shares themes and language with Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10, foreshadowing God’s acts of deliverance and echoing thanksgiving psalms in the Old Testament (Psalms 30, 34, 138).
In this song, Mary first speaks personally, saying that God paid attention to her, even though she was lowly. She says God chose her, a regular girl, for an important job (Luke 1:46–48). Mary doesn’t only talk about herself but also about God caring for everyone. This connects to God’s big plan for His people, reversing the fortunes of the poor and marginalized, remembering His covenant with Abraham (v. 55).
Mary’s song shows God’s care and strength. It shows that God knows us closely, even when the world might not see it. Despite what the world thinks, God shows His care, promise-keeping, and actions toward His people. He’s the caring God, who knows us deeply despite what people think.
This important truth shows God cares about us and is stronger than us. It changes how society sees things, making proud people humble and surprising rich people. Mary’s song talks about this, showing how God’s strength changes what people think (Luke 1:49–53).
As we think about Mary’s song, look at how it is similar to Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who are His.” Thankfully, through Mary’s willingness, she gave birth to the One who had come to be all of those things for us too. Let us look at her example of praise and worship Him!
Reflection Question:
How does Mary’s emphasis on God’s attention to the humble and lowly challenge the way society bestows value or attention?
In what ways does Mary’s song reveal the intimate relationship between God and His people? How does this contrast with the way the world views God’s involvement in our lives?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy – the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:26-38
“Trusting Our Miraculous God: A Lesson in Faith” by Portia Weeks Collins
In these treasured verses of Luke, we encounter the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary in Nazareth. Gabriel brings a message of great joy. Specifically, Gabriel shares with Mary, a young, humble, virgin woman, that she will conceive and give birth to Jesus, who will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary’s reaction combines astonishment and faith, illustrating both an understandable human response to a divine revelation, but also a profound trust in God’s plan.
Gabriel’s announcement to Mary is not merely news for her, but it’s good news for all who will rest the full measure of their faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Gabriel’s message to Mary is, in essence, a revelation of God’s redemptive plan and marks the inauguration of God’s Kingdom. God’s intent to intersect the extraordinary with the ordinary is displayed through his choosing Mary to bear His only begotten Son. God chose an ordinary woman, to navigate an ordinary pregnancy, and ultimately give birth to an extraordinary Savior who would redeem the world. Mary’s response shows her readiness to accept God’s will, even without full comprehension.
As we enter the advent season, let’s reflect on Mary’s example. She embraced God’s plan with faith and humility even when she didn’t quite understand. This is a call we should heed, too. Let us be fully available and submissive to God’s workings, even when they are beyond our understanding. From studying and meditating on this passage, may we be encouraged to trust in the Lord’s greater plan, find joy in the ordinary, and willingly respond to the Lord (in all things), “May it happen to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).
Reflection Questions:
In what areas of your life do you need to exercise more faith and trust in God’s plan?
How can you cultivate a heart that responds to God’s will with the same openness and humility as Mary?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:5-25
“Divine Surprises and Unforeseen Grace” by Will Goff
Imagine with me for a minute here: you work at a restaurant and at the end of each shift, you draw straws to see who is going to have to stay late and cleanup. Your name gets drawn and so everybody else leaves. You’re alone and you know that nobody else should be in the building, but when you’re cleaning the counter, out of your peripheral vision, you see somebody standing there. Talking about jumping out of your skin! I would probably throw the rag at the person and kick the bucket as I’m scrambling to get away. That’s what it was like for Zechariah when the angel appeared to him.
The angel says, “Do not be afraid,” but it was too late for that. He was already shaking and overwhelmed with fear – like the shock you feel when something really startles you. But then the angel gives Zechariah good news. The angel tells him that they will have a son. This is special for multiple reasons, but the biggest is the fact that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, well past childbearing age with no children – so at least in their 50s or 60s. Can you imagine having your first child in your 60s? They thought they couldn’t have kids (v. 7). Talk about shock on top of shock!
And Zechariah did what most of us would do. He had questions and doubt instead of faith, but he gets answers for his questions and then some. Because of his doubt, the angel told him he wouldn’t be able to speak until the child was born. One of the most common verses we use at our house is James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” We use this at our house because we all are too quick to speak instead of being quick to listen. What is God trying to tell you right now? Maybe you can’t hear him because you won’t stop talking. Silence may feel awkward for us, but many times God speaks in a still, small voice.
Picture this: despite Zechariah’s wavering faith in that divine encounter, God had monumental plans for both him and Elizabeth. The answer to his questioning wasn’t just a clarification; it was a revelation about their son—John the Baptist. Zechariah, entrusted with tending the temple’s incense and interceding for Israel in prayer, seemingly also pleaded with God for a child. Remarkably, both requests were met with overflowing abundance. The child born to them would be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 15), leading many of Israel’s children back to their God (v. 16), and paving the way for a prepared people for the Lord (v. 17). It wasn’t just good news for Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Israel; it resonates with us today.
Zechariah’s response to this revelation resulted in a temporary silence imposed upon him. And Elizabeth? Her words are few, but their impact profound: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people” (v. 25). Swift to listen, slow to utter. Yet, God removed her shame. He granted her a son destined to ready His people for His imminent arrival. It’s the narrative of God stepping in to remove the reproach of all who turn to Him. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son’s name would be John – literally translated, “Yahweh has shown grace”. He showed grace to Zechariah and Elizabeth by sending John, and to the whole world by sending Jesus. That, my friends, is indeed good news!
Reflection Questions:
Zechariah was overwhelmed with big news that made his fears and faith clash. What happens (or has happened specifically) when such clashes happen in our lives?
Reflect on Elizabeth’s statement in v. 25: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” How does God’s grace in removing shame or reproach resonate with your own experience of God’s power to save?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Soloman by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:1-17
“Unlikely Lineage: Sin and Redemption in Jesus’s Family Tree” by Keith Harris
Once upon a time, there was a great King. He was foretold of old to be a great hero who would come from His faraway country to win back His lost love. His story is one of romance as He left His palace to rescue His Bride. His lineage hailed back to other…great…well, um….
One of the things I love about God’s Word is how it does not fall into the temptation to pretty things up or rewrite/remix them to be more acceptable. Yes, Jesus is the great King – the King of kings who was prophesied for centuries to come from heaven and rescue His people. Yes, Jesus’s Story is one of romance where He left His throne on high and traded it for a lowly manger in a tumble-down stable. But His lineage? It was not filled with kings and queens, although there are a few sprinkled in toward the middle. It was not filled with great heroes with tragic flaws; well, the tragic flaws are many. No, Jesus’s family tree was filled with regular old sinners with real sin and problems – people like me and you.
This Bible study will look at some women emphasized in Jesus’s family tree in Matthew who point us to Jesus in very specific ways. We do not have time to go fully into their stories today, so I will give you the cross-reference so you can check it out directly from Scripture.
The first woman is Tamar (v. 3), and her story is found in Genesis 38. Tamar was Judah’s – as in lion of the tribe of Judah, the original – daughter-in-law. She was originally married to Judah’s oldest son Er until “the Lord put him to death” because Er was “wicked in the sight of the Lord” (Genesis 38:7). In those days, when the elder son died, it was the role of his younger brother to take his place and father children in his name. This fell to second-born son, Onan, but Onan was more sinful and selfish than his big brother, doing what was “wicked in the sight of the Lord” and being “put…to death, also” (Genesis 38:10). Poor Tamar. Her only hope at bearing children would fall on Judah’s youngest son Shelah. But Judah lied and had no intention of continuing with Tamar. What did she do? She decided to be wicked herself. She tricked Judah and tempted him. How did he respond but by being wicked himself? Judah and Tamar committed sin together that is so heinous that I won’t write on it here. So, why would they be included in Jesus’s official lineage – in the Bible no less?
The second woman is Rahab (v. 5), and her story is found throughout the Bible in Joshua 2:1-21, 6:17, 6:22-25; Hebrews 11:31; and James 2:25. Rahab wasn’t one of God’s chosen people, and before the Hebrew spies came to her house in Jordan, she was known for her sinful profession, a profession that, like Tamar isn’t something I am writing down here. Yet she had faith in the God she had heard of because of the mighty work He had done with His people. She kept the Hebrew spies safe by hiding them from her own people. She sided with the Lord. Despite her people and her own history, God rescued her by letting her put a scarlet cord in her window to mark her safe. But what about that earlier profession? Why would someone like her be included in Jesus’s official lineage – in the Bible no less?
The third woman is actually somewhat related to Rahab – she ended up marrying Rahab’s son Boaz. Her name is Ruth, and her story is told in the book of the Bible bearing her name. Like her mother-in-law, she wasn’t one of God’s chosen people. She was from the land of Moab (a people group started by a whole bunch of mess way back in Genesis 19:30-37). Her husband Mahlon came to Moab with his family during a famine in Israel, seeking help from their own strength and ingenuity rather than from the Lord. While they were in Moab, her father-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law all died. She alone decided to go back to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi. God blessed her while she was there and took care of Ruth and Naomi. Eventually, she – not one of God’s chosen people – would be blessed to marry Boaz, Rahab’s son. This story has a happy ending, especially considering Ruth would be David’s great-grandmother, but doesn’t King Jesus deserve a more presentable bloodline?
The fourth woman isn’t even called by her name, but how she is listed tells the sadness and sin surrounding her: “And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (v. 6, 2 Samuel 11:1-25). King David is heralded as a hero but mainly for his worship of the Lord. He is also known as a sinner. Yes, the man who slew Goliath and wrote a good chunk of the psalms committed some of the most heinous sins: murder and adultery. David saw “the wife of Uriah”, a woman named Bathsheba, and decided that he wanted to make her his. His decisions led to a child between them. Rather than owning up and confessing his sin – to the Lord, to his wives, to Uriah, to Israel, David undertook a massive cover-up that ended in his arranging Uriah’s murder. He stole a man’s wife. He took a man’s life. It looks good to have a man who killed a giant who worshiped the Lord in your lineage, but why associate King Jesus with the wickedness of King David (and the same or worse from many of the kings listed after him in the family tree)?
In short, there are answers to those questions. Why would the Bible recognize all those sins and sinners in Jesus’s lineage? They all really happened. Sin happens. All people “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). None of us – not a single person in the history or future of the world – deserve to be in Jesus’s lineage, but faith in God – trusting in His work and His steadfast love and kindness – is woven through that lineage, marking like a scarlet cord those who are saved by trusting in Him. Looking at their sin and faith in Him reminds us that none of us are worthy of saving. But that is why He came. Jesus Himself said that He came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And how did He come to seek and to save? Christmas. The incarnation of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14). He came to earth to provide a way for people like Tamar, Rahab, David, you, and me to be saved – by grace through faith in Him alone.
So, as you gather with family and friends and notice some rough looking fruit in your family tree – or whether you notice the same by looking in your own mirror, realize that Jesus is more than the reason for the season – He came to seek and save sinners like you and me. Won’t you ask Him to save you?
Reflection Questions:
By God including Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and David in Jesus’s family line, how do you see God’s grace and mercy at work despite their sins? How can that remind us of God’s redemption?
Consider the phrase Jesus used in Luke 19:10, that He came “to seek and save the lost”. How does that impact you personally?
Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
We are almost caught up to where we need to be to finish our Colossians study! It has done my heart and mind good over these past few weeks to dig back into the letter to the church at Colossae. As I have stated numerous times, Colossians[1] is my favorite book, but there is always a temptation in Bible studies – whether verbal or written – to try and get through passages. I am thankful for this opportunity to get the book of Colossians through me rather than me teaching through it. And I pray it gets through to you as well.
Our overview of Colossians 1:1-23 focused on the supremacy of Christ – who He is, what He has done, and how He is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise. Our overview of Colossians 1:24-2:7 reminded us how following Christ brings suffering like that which He bore on our behalf and how Jesus is One for whom we should be willing to suffer. Today, we are going to give our final overview before we dive back into our usual weekly Bible studies where we try to do what Ezra and Nehemiah did when Israel came out of Babylonian exile; they “read from the book…clearly” and “gave the sense” (Nehemiah 8:8). Let us get about that work today!
Captivated by Christ – NOT Captive to False Doctrine or Traditions (vv. 2:8-10)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by [2]philosophy and [3]empty deceit, according to [4]human tradition, according to the [5]elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For [6]in him the whole fullness of deity dwells [7]bodily, 10 and [8]you have been filled in him, who is [9]the head of all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:8-10
The Colossian church faced the danger of false teachers because their knowledge of the Word was limited. If you remember, this church was not established by Paul, who typically spent more time teaching and discipling the churches he started. Epaphras, who was saved (likely in Ephesus) and brought the gospel home to Colossae, started this church. False teachers saw this limited discipleship as an opportunity to undermine the Colossians’ understanding of the gospel by promoting their own false gospel. Examining how Paul addressed this struggle can provide us with protection against similar threats today, as Satan and false teachers continue to seek such opportunities. Let us explore how Paul’s message to the Colossian church can safeguard us and our communities.
The command to not be taken captive might seem straightforward, but it is not as simple as it appears. Considering how much evil there is in today’s world, the command alone is insufficient to protect people. Just as I would not send my daughter off with a casual warning of avoiding kidnapping, but instead provide extensive guidance and precautionary measures, Paul does the same for the Colossian church. He commands them to guard themselves against being captured and provides a list of specific dangers and captors who are attempting to lead them astray with false gospels.
His list of trustworthy individuals is concise: Jesus. Before delving into the various false teachings, it is crucial to grasp this concept. Rather than focusing on all the details of each false teaching, the key is recognizing that they are not aligned with Christ (v. 8). Knowledge of Christ – as presented in the Bible and its teachings – is vital for protection against false doctrine.
Paul has already emphasized the deity of Christ through a beautiful hymn (Colossians 1:15-20). Now, through the Holy Spirit, he helps the Colossians discern the danger that exists within their midst. The false teachers appealed to human logic and reasoning, attempting to confuse them with plausible arguments. This is why it is so important to test teachers, examining whether they proclaim Christ or argue against His Word (1 John 4:1-6). You should evaluate me and what I teach! Because without engaging with the Word yourself, one is vulnerable to believe whatever is taught. This is a primary way to ensure we are not captured.
The false teachers also used empty deceit, making empty promises that exploit their lack of biblical knowledge. Today, many false teachers deceive others under the guise of faith healers, prosperity gospel preachers, or authors promising health and prosperity within a “Christian” context. They manipulate the vulnerable, while lacking true understanding and adherence to Scripture. The Colossian church struggled to distinguish between false promises and the genuine promises of God due to their limited access to sound teachers and the Word. However, we are blessed with abundant access to both. Thus, we must be vigilant and not be captured.
Human tradition can be potent and resistant to change. Yet, it is crucial to evaluate our sources of information and ensure they align with the whole Bible, rather than relying on opinions or popular beliefs. We must adopt the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17, eagerly receiving the gospel but diligently examining the Scriptures daily to confirm the message’s truthfulness. Unlike the Colossians, we have numerous resources to study and understand God’s Word. Yet we fall into deception because we prefer to listen to false teachers who tell us what we want to hear. Let us strive to rely on the entirety of God’s Word and not be captured.
The term “elemental spirits” (v. 8) refers to basic principles or childish beliefs. Choosing to abandon the gospel of Jesus Christ for these lesser things is akin to returning to preschool after earning a high school diploma. Paul is questioning here why the Colossians, who have died with Christ to these elemental spirits, would continue to submit to regulations as if they were still alive in the world. The gospel requires faith, as it deals with unseen matters, while elemental spirits can be observed. It is easier to feel the warmth of the sun than to comprehend that Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. Satan exploits the desire for tangible proof, leading individuals to worship created things rather than the Creator. We must guard against being captured by our desire for our finite human minds to make sense of all the things that are only learned by remaining steadfast in our faith.
The false teachers employed human logic, empty deceit, human tradition, and appeals to elemental spirits to deceive the Colossians. However, we have the privilege of extensive access to the Word of God and various resources to study it. By remaining vigilant, testing all teachings against Scripture, and holding fast to the Truth, we can protect ourselves from being captured by false doctrines.
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
11 In him also [10]you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by [11]putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 [12]having been buried with him in baptism, in which [13]you were also raised with him through faith in [14]the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And [15]you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God [16]made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by [17]canceling [18]the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 [19]He disarmed the rulers and authorities and [20]put them to open shame, by [21]triumphing over them in him.
Colossians 2:11-15
As I reflect further on the letter to the Colossian church, I am reminded of the importance of focusing on Christ when encountering false teachings. Paul warns against being swayed by philosophies, empty deceit, human traditions, and elementary principles that are not aligned with Christ. It is a reminder that the Bible challenges us to examine our beliefs and directs us to encounter its Author. It is my prayer through all of the Bible studies we produce that they help those reading to personally encounter Jesus and grasp the hope found in Him for eternal life and to be “delivered…from the domain of darkness and transferred…to the kingdom of [God’s] beloved Son” (ch. 1:13-14).
I had the opportunity a few weeks back to discuss the gospel with a non-believer who was fully entrenched in a dangerous cult. As we dug into Scripture, he was clearly hungry. Yet his family was unwilling to let go – nor he, his family. Rather than embracing the God of the Bible and coming to a knowledge of the truth, he remained blindly allegiant to the works-based gospel and false teachings of the “church” he came out of. So, discussing how easy it can be for one to get captured by false teaching or entrenched in worldly religion is not a moot subject for me. This is eternal life or death (John 3:16-21). And just like this young man, sometimes the religion is not entirely man-made but based on the Old Testament traditions that were meant to point to Christ.
One example from this section of Colossians (I must acknowledge the discomfort that may accompany discussing this topic) is circumcision. I hope this discussion will shed light on the significance of circumcision within the covenant God made with Abraham in the Old Testament while pointing to how it is a foreshadowing of the work of Christ.
Throughout the ancient Near East, covenants were sealed in a solemn and bloody manner, signifying the commitment of both parties involved. This was often called a covenant of halves because of the bloody nature of an animal being cut in half for the parties making the covenant to walk through signifying their agreement. The basic idea was that whoever broke the covenant suffered a fate like the animal. Yet, there was a fundamental difference in God’s covenant with humanity – only He walked through the halves of the sacrificed animals, expressing His faithfulness and foresight that mankind would inevitably break the covenant (Genesis 15).
Circumcision served as a reminder of the costly sacrifice God would make to reconcile people to Himself. It was not a means of salvation, but rather a symbol pointing to Jesus, who fulfilled the covenant and became the ultimate source of salvation. However, the Colossian church faced false teachings from Judaizers, who claimed that salvation required both Jesus and circumcision, along with adherence to the Mosaic Law and festivals. It is crucial to reinforce the truth that salvation is found solely in Jesus and that any addition or alteration to the gospel distorts its message.
The issue really was a question of equations (which should please my Algebra-teaching wife):
Jesus + nothing = EVERYTHING Jesus + anything = nothing
It may have seemed like a small thing for these false teachers to add circumcision to the gospel since the practice was prescribed to Israel in the Old Testament (Genesis 17:10-14; Exodus 4:24-26, 12:43-49; Leviticus 12:3; Joshua 5:2-12). But the Bible is clear even in the Old Testament that there was more to the practice than the removal of a male’s foreskin. Look at Deuteronomy 30:6: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Even then it was really an outward symbol of what God alone could do in their hearts. Once Jesus came, it was clear that people were to be set apart by their faith in Him (Galatians 5, 6:15; Romans 2:29).
This passage also draws a parallel between circumcision and baptism, highlighting their roles as outward symbols representing inward faith. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:4), proclaiming our faith in Him. Through repentance and belief in Jesus, we are saved and experience a spiritual transformation, being raised from spiritual death to new life in Christ. It is essential to understand that salvation is exclusively found in Jesus, and any attempt to dilute or alter the gospel diminishes its power.
Furthermore, this passage brings to light the abundant grace and mercy of God demonstrated through Jesus. In Christ, we find forgiveness and the cancellation of our debts. The record of our sins is wiped away through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. We must appreciate the righteousness and justice of God, who paid the price for our sins to justify those who have faith in Jesus. As a result, believers are set free from condemnation and live in the freedom and righteousness that Christ provides.
This passage also highlights the victory of Jesus over Satan and the rulers and authorities. The nails on the cross symbolize the final defeat of Satan, as Jesus disarmed the spiritual forces through His sacrifice. His resurrection abolished death and brought forth life by grace through faith in Him. This truth resonates powerfully, offering believers a message of triumph and good news.
In summary, this passage delves into the spiritual significance of circumcision, baptism, and the redemptive work of Jesus. It emphasizes that salvation is found exclusively in Jesus and urges us to reject any attempts to add to or modify the gospel. Through Jesus, we experience transformation, forgiveness, and victory over the powers of darkness. It is a testament to the love, grace, and victory of God, offering hope and new life to all who believe in Him. May we hold fast to the truth of Jesus’ sufficiency and His unparalleled role in our salvation.
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
More Reminders Regarding Faith & Practice (vv. 2:16-23)
16 Therefore let no one [22]pass judgment on you [23]in questions of food and drink, or with regard to [24]a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 [25]These are a shadow of the things to come, but [26]the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one [27]disqualify you, [28]insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, [29]going on in detail about visions, [30]puffed up without reason by [31]his sensuous mind, 19 and [32]not [33]holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ [34]you died to the [35]elemental spirits of the world, [36]why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “[37]Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ([38]referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to [39]human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in [40]promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are [41]of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:16-23
Today’s last section emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of the Bible as the guide for Christian practice. We need to believe that the Bible is God’s Word, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Our beliefs about the Bible shape the way we interact with it and determine whether we see it as important or merely a valuable influence.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! – assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
This passage distinguishes between knowing Christ and not knowing Him, highlighting the difference in one’s way of life. It is crucial to recognize that Jesus is at the center of Christianity. If there is no Christ, there is no Christianity. Our practices and beliefs should be centered on Him.
We are advised in this passage not to let anyone pass judgment on us regarding questions of food, drink, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. The false teachers in Colossae were trying to impose Jewish dietary laws and observances (like circumcision in the early passage) on the church, but these practices were meant to point to Christ, who is the substance. We must be cautious about who prescribes practices to the church and ensure that God’s Word is our ultimate guide.
The false teachers in Colossae also advocated asceticism, worship of angels, and visions, claiming superiority over others in their religious practices. However, Paul emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the Head, who is Christ. Jesus is the originator of our faith, and the church, as His body, should follow Him.
Are you seeing a trend here? Jesus is greater than religious practices (even practices that once pointed to Him.
We need to be continually reminded that if we have died to the old self and the old ways, they no longer need stake in our lives (and especially not our worship). Seeking after human precepts and teachings that do not bring life is like dabbling with death. The false teacher’s practices may seem attractive, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Only Jesus has the power and value we need.
Again, it is essential to have access to the Bible and engage with it. Additionally, being part of a local church and having a pastor or shepherd who guides and protects us is crucial. That is right, God gave us the church for a purpose! Gathering with fellow believers and receiving instruction helps protect us from false prophets and deepens our understanding of what it means to be in Christ. Having and engaging with one’s faith family – church – also adds protection and accountability we need against false teachers who are actively seeking to destroy people!
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
I know that there was a lot of information in this section, but think about what parts of it cycled into each section:
We have been given everything that can be known about God in the Bible. We must utilize it by reading or listening to it. This is how we hear from God because He has already spoken. Anyone who proclaims that they have a fresh audible word of God, especially one that presents current information not present in Scripture, is a false teacher. Get away from them. Do not listen to them. The Word is how we measure whether teachers are teaching truth or lies. Any truth about Christ apart from the Bible is a lie.
Jesus is not just supreme in the universe. He must be supreme in our faith and practice. He is who the Bible says He is, and we need to keep Him as central in our lives. Anyone who is trying to promote a different Jesus than the Bible contains is a false teacher. He or she is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Those who promote a false Christ and false gospel are antichrists and not to be trifled with (and largely not engaged with).
God has made us a part of the body of Christ here on earth. This is called the Church. Yes, the Church is the body of Christ world-wide and throughout time, but there are local expressions of this. Church is not a building or an event but a people. Our sinful selves and false teachers want us to go rogue or solo on this subject, but we must remain vigilant. Anyone who tries to separate us from the fold (church) is a wolf (false teacher).
I am not trying to be an alarmist, but I want to sound the alarm. Paul did not write flippantly about this, and neither do I. It is my prayer that this Bible study will help you to be vigilant and to know Christ. Jesus, “who is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4), is our hope. Hold fast to Him!
[1] All Scripture references unless otherwise noted are from the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:1–2.
[2] [1 Timothy 6:20] – O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’….
[3] Ephesians 5:6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
[4] See Matthew 15:2 – “Why do your disciples break tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
[6] ch. 1:19 – For in Him all the fullness of God was to dwell…. | John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
[8] Ephesians 3:19 – …and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
[9] See Ephesians 1:21-22 – …far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave him as head over all things to the church….
[10] [Ephesians 2:11] – Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands…. | See Romans 2:29 – But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
[11] v. 15 | ch. 3:9 – Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices….
[12] Romans 6:4 – We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
[13] ch. 3:1 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. | [Romans 6:5] – For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.
[14] [1 Corinthians 6:14] – And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. | See Acts 2:24 – God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. | See Ephesians 1:19 – …and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might….
[15] See Ephesians 2:1 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins….
[16] See Ephesians 2:5 – …even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved….
[17] See Acts 3:19 – Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out….
[18] See Romans 7:4 – Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
[20] [Genesis 3:15] – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” | [Psalm 68:18] – You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. | [Isaiah 53:12] – Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. | [Matthew 12:29] – Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then he may plunder his house. | [Luke 10:18] – And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. | [John 12:31] – Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. | [John 16:11] – …concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. | [Ephesians 4:8] – Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” | [Hebrews 2:14] – Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil….
[21] Ephesians 2:16 – …and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
[22] Romans 14:3 – Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. | Romans 14:10 – Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…. | Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
[23] Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | Hebrews 9:10 – …but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. | See Leviticus 11:2 – “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
[24] Leviticus 23:2 – “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts. | Romans 14:5 – One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
[25] Hebrews 8:5 – They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” | Hebrews 10:1 – For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered ever year, make perfect those who draw near.
[26] [v. 2] – …that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ….
[27] 1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
[29] [Ezekiel 13:7] – And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem…. | [1 Timothy 1:7] – …desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
[30] [Ephesians 4:17] – Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
[31] [Romans 8:7] – For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
[32] See Ephesians 4:15-16 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
[33] Revelation 2:13 – “’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. | Revelation 3:11 – I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
[34] See Romans 6:2 – By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
[36] [Galatians 4:9] – But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
[37] v. 16 | 1 Timothy 4:3 – …who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
[38] 1 Corinthians 6:13 – “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food” – and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
[39] Isaiah 29:13 – And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…. | Matthew 15:9 – …in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” | [Titus 1:14] – …not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
[41] [1 Timothy 4:8] – …for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
As I have walked back through these passages in Colossians 2[1] and dug into the cross-references[2] again, I am reminded again how beautiful God’s Word is and how poignant His way of saying things through those He breathed the Scriptures through (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:16-21). The way Colossians 1 speaks of Jesus is with such a reverence and awe that it makes my heart ache with longing to see Jesus. I hope that, as you read the words of God – not my feeble commentary, you are moved to worship and awe as well.
There is a shift between the very end of Colossians 1 (v. 1:24) into the beginning verses of Colossians 2, but it needs to be understood that, as Paul talks about ministering and serving and those being served growing in Christ, this is not a shift from faith to works. No, Paul speaks of the suffering (v. 1:24), ministering (v. 1:25), preaching (v. 1:28), toiling (v. 1:29), struggling (v. 2:1), encouraging (v. 2:2), and growth through walking with Christ (vv. 2:6-7) as results of worshiping the Lord. These actions are fruit of God’s Spirit being within a believer (Galatians 5:22-23). And I am humbled and thankful that I can have any part in making “the Word of God fully known” to you, dear Sojourner (v. 1:25).
1:24 Now [3]I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh [4]I am filling up [5]what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions [6]for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 [7]of which I became a minister according to [8]the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 [9]the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 [10]To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are [11]the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, [12]the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that [13]we may present everyone [14]mature in Christ. 29 For this [15]I toil, [16]struggling [17]with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
2:1 For I want you to know [18]how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that [19]their hearts may be encouraged, being [20]knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of [21]God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 [22]in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order [23]that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For [24]though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your [25]good order and [26]the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 1:24-2:5
When I see Paul so confidently and boldly talk about suffering, I find myself wrestling with my own desire for comfort and my tendency to avoid suffering. But we need to realize that Paul is not boasting of his own inner strength. He is recognizing the “surpassing worth” of Jesus (Philippians 3:8). I recognize in Paul’s writing here that I have shortcomings in that area. Where I long for strength, there needs to be worship. Where I get to serve, there needs to be worship. Christ is to be the forefront of the Christian life because He is “all and in all” (v. 3:11). In that worship – and this is perhaps the most un-21st-century, un-American-Dream, un-human-nature thing that I can probably think of – our desire for personal comfort needs to be outweighed by our desire for Him.
Think of all the trouble and effort a bride goes to in preparation to stand before her husband-to-be and be married. In those moments, the discomfort of clothing and shoes are forgotten. It is to be so for the Church. Y’all, if you are in Christ, the groom awaits – and is worthy of all worship, praise, honor, and the worst discomfort this world and Satan could hurl at us. Corey Ten Boom, who knew firsthand the horrors and pains delivered at the hands of Nazis in concentration camps put it well: “I’ve experienced His Presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create…. I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
Reading these words from Paul again and contemplating his struggles and suffering due to his worship reminds me why I am deeply critical of the prosperity gospel, which promises material (especially monetary) blessings in exchange for faithfulness and promises positive declarations free of suffering. This selective interpretation of Scripture overlooks the Bible’s clear teaching about suffering. What about Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael? What about Jesus?!? And what of Jesus’s promises that the world will look at us and treat us as it did Him (John 15:18-25, 7:7; 1 John 3:13)? He is worth it all (Revelation 4:11)!
In writing this, I want to emphasize how far I am from these things on my own. Paul, Daniel – all of those who suffered in the Bible and since for the sake of the Lord – they were far on their own, too. They, like us, needed the power of God through His Spirit (John 15:26-27). I think of Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the early church. Despite his wicked sinfulness, He met Jesus on the road to Damascus and was transformed (Acts 9:1-31) – brought from death in his sin to life in the very Christ he persecuted (Ephesians 2:1-5). He is different as he writes to the church at Colossae because of what God has done and was still doing in him. His is willing to suffer and considers all previous accomplishments and accolades as loss, placing his focus on knowing Christ and sharing in His sufferings (Philippians 3:1-11). His testimony serves as a testament to the transforming power of God’s grace and the hope that comes only from known Christ.
This is why Paul can use his own life and ministry as an example for working faithfully for God’s Kingdom. I highlight Paul’s dedication to following Christ’s example and caring for the church, emphasizing the significance of discipleship and spiritual maturity, and I underscore the revelation of God’s mystery through Christ, extending the opportunity for all people to experience the riches of God’s glory and have Christ as their hope. But I also acknowledge the challenges the Church faces, both externally through persecutions and internally through false teachings (not just in Colossae, dear Sojourner).
His desire for the churches was for them to remain encouraged, united in love, and rooted in the knowledge of God in His gospel – for them to find strength in His Spirit and in the ministry of the Word. That is my desire for those I am blessed to serve at Christ Community, and I hope that you are 1) saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and 2) have a pastor in a local church who desires these things for you and strives in the ministry of the Word to point you to the One who makes it happen!
For more, check out the original Bible studies from this section:
6 [27]Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 [28]rooted and [29]built up in him and [30]established in the faith, just [31]as you were taught, abounding [32]in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7
As a pastor and a disciple of Christ, I find myself reflecting on the goal of reaching people with the gospel and helping them mature in their faith. It makes me wonder, are making disciples and promoting spiritual maturity goals that drive us? And more importantly, is this reflected in my life – not because I am a pastor but because I profess faith in Christ?
In this reflection, I want you to understand that I am not joining in the popular activity of criticizing the church. Instead, I see the church as the Bride of Christ, and it is crucial for us to treat and regard the church with grace and love. Through my own journey with Christ and my involvement in my local church, I have great hope for the church. I have found that Jesus is the source of that hope, and I pray that He would use me to make a difference through my ministry within the local church.
I think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and martyr who served during the Nazi regime in Germany. He dedicated himself to helping young ministers grow in Christ. When he left Germany for safety in America, he felt convicted that his true calling was to be in Germany. He repented and returned, ultimately facing arrest and imprisonment – inevitably in Nazi-run prisons and a concentration camp. Bonhoeffer’s example is a testament to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, where everything else pales in comparison.
Knowing Christ and seeking His Kingdom should fill us with hope. It is a treasure worth more than everything we own, and it prompts us to be willing to sacrifice and endure suffering. We must remember that the suffering we experience on earth is temporary, while God’s Kingdom is eternal. My desire is to help others walk in Christ, to see them rooted, built up, and established in their faith – just what Paul points us to in Colossians 2:6-7.
As I reflect on these verses further, I think about the various ways people describe what it means to be in Christ – being saved, born again, or a Christ-follower. Yet, I am aware that some may use these terms to hide their disbelief and navigate “church” culture. I also observe the shift in the southeastern United States from being known as the Bible Belt to a predominant worldview of “moralistic therapeutic deism,” where people speak generically about God and attend churches for community without embracing biblical teachings. Receiving Christ Jesus as Lord is of utmost importance. It goes beyond a mere label or outward profession. It is about submitting to Jesus as Lord, recognizing His sacrifice as a ransom for many and embracing Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Romans 10:9-13). Merely calling oneself a Christian without true submission to Jesus as Lord is incompatible with genuine belief. Confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection are the hallmarks of true salvation.
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
I invite you to assess your own life considering Jesus’ teachings and the words we have read from Colossians 1-2 today. Have you truly received Jesus as Lord? Does your life reflect the transformation that comes from knowing Him? Are you putting off your old self and being renewed in the likeness of God? If not, I urge you to repent and believe. It is not too late for you to receive Jesus, to confess Him as Lord, and to be saved.
If you are in Christ, I encourage you to consider the depth of your faith. Receiving Jesus as Lord is the foundation for growth and maturity. Making disciples requires personal investment and time. Being rooted in Christ provides sustenance and support, while building up in Him involves growth and putting His Word into practice. The church is built through love and service, and being established in the faith brings assurance and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Confronting harsh truths offers an opportunity for repentance and faith in Christ. May we all seize that opportunity and worship Christ as Lord, walking in the hope and maturity that He offers!
[1] All Scripture references unless otherwise noted are from the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:1–2.
[2] Cross references show what the Bible says about a particular verse, section, or word. I use the cross references heavily in my study of the Word, especially when preaching and/or teaching the Word. Cross references that parallel the verse, section, or word but do not directly reference it are marked by brackets, for example [1 Peter 2:9-12]. Cross references of similar themes will be designated by the word “See”.
[3] See 2 Corinthians 7:4 – I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
[4] [2 Timothy 1:8] – Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God…. [2 Timothy 2:10] – Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
[5] See 2 Corinthians 1:5 – For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
[6] [Ephesians 4:12] – …to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ….
[7] ch. 1:23 – …if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
[8] See Ephesians 3:2 – …assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you….
[9] Ephesians 3:9 – …and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things…. See Romans 16:25-26 – Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith….
[11] Ephesians 1:18 – …having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints…. Ephesians 3:16 – …that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being….
[12] 1 Timothy 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope….
[13] ch. 1:22-23 – …He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
[14] See Matthew 5:48 – You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
[15] 1 Corinthians 15:10 – But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Timothy 4:10 – For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.
[16] ch. 4:12 – Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. [ch. 2:1]
[17] See Ephesians 1:19 – …and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might….
[18] Philippians 1:30 – …engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
[19] ch. 4:8 – I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts…. Ephesians 6:22 – I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
[20] [ch. 3:14] – And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
[22] Isaiah 11:2 – And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 45:3 – I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 1 Corinthians 1:24 – …but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:30 – And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 – Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. [Luke 11:49] – Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute’…. [Ephesians 1:8] – …which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight….
[23] Romans 16:18 – For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. [Ephesians 5:6] – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. [2 Peter 2:3] – And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
[24] 1 Corinthians 5:3 – For though absent in the body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.
[25] 1 Corinthians 14:40 – But all things should be done decently and in order.
[26] 1 Peter 5:9 – Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
[27] ch. 1:10 – …so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
[28] Ephesians 3:17 – …so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you, being rooted and grounded in love….
[29] Acts 20:32 – And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Ephesians 2:20 – …built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone…. See 1 Corinthians 3:9 – For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
[30] Hebrews 13:9 – Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
[31] Ephesians 4:21 – …assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus….
[32] ch. 4:2 – Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:20 – …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….
17 Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar. 18 Your heart will muse on the terror: “Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?” 19 You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand. 20 Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. 21 But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass. 22 For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.[1]
Isaiah 33:17-22
Greetings Sojourners!
It’s that time of year again. Lord willing, a new year approaches. We have just moved out of a time of eating and gathering, and now, we move on to a time of resolutions and restarts.
For some, this is a time of regret, looking back over a year that just did not seem to go their way. For others, it is a time of remembering loss. And for some, although this seems to be the smallest group, this is a time of looking back at achievement and growth while looking forward to whatever challenges and victories await them on the horizons of 2023.
I am not quite sure which group I fall into regarding 2023, but I do know that my outlook regarding the future is changing.
When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I had big plans. I was with the love of my life, and anything seemed possible. We were setting out to achieve our goals. She was going to be a pharmacist. I was going to be a teacher. We would get married and use her (much higher) income to pay off whatever student loans we incurred in pursuit of our goals while living off my salary. Once the loans were paid off, we would buy a nice house, fill it with kiddos, and I would head towards my Ph.D. and becoming a principal. From there, the sky, and my ambition, would be the limit.
Out of that list, I am blessed to get to still be with the love of my life, and we have filled a much smaller and less nice house with two kiddos. I cannot fathom what my life would be like with out them. I did eventually become a teacher, but neither a Ph.D. nor becoming a principal are ambitions anymore.
There was a time when these changes were regrets, like ghosts of Christmas future. But God’s plan has been much better than mine. My wife did not become a pharmacist because she got to realize she was a gifted teacher. Her impact on children (with math, no less) is incalculable. I became (and quit and became again) a pastor. My time in the classroom, although it took a decade to get there, meant and means more to me than any of the hypotheticals or the draw of being wealthier ever had. The allure of such things is no longer there.
I get to be a husband. I get to be a daddy. I get to serve the Lord as a teacher, pastor, and even a writer. If the Lord tarries His return, I look forward to whatever He lets me do, and I am excited to follow Him – an excitement that was missing in my earlier ambitions. But more than all those things, I look forward to His return. I look forward to that day when the clouds will part and Jesus will return for His bride, the Church. I anxiously await the return of the King!
The King is Coming (vv. 17-20)
In Isaiah 33, God was using His prophet to deliver the promise of some woes against Israel’s foes and peace to His people. Assyria was and had been waylaying Israel, but God was coming to their rescue. It is important to note that this rescue is not because of the righteous way in which Israel worshipped and followed the Lord. No, this rescue is in spite of their unrighteous rebellion against Him. Much of Isaiah is written prophesying the eventual downfall of Israel and Judah and their eventual capture by and captivity in Babylon. Even with that future coming, this rescue is a picture of the love that God had for His people – and has – despite their rebellion and idolatry.
Isaiah 33:1-2 set the stage and give context for our passage for today:
1 Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you. 2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.[2]
Isaiah was declaring this on behalf of the Lord over Assyria, but He was also praying on behalf of the people to the Lord that they would receive grace in their time of need.
The problem is that Israel did not take the words of God’s prophet warning them of their own future seriously. God had told them through Isaiah what was coming. They knew what the Lord said about sin and what His Law said about it. Isaiah’s ministry telling people “Thus saith the word of the Lord” lasted thirty-nine years and was filled with calls to repentance and pleading with God’s people to listen to what God was saying and look to Him. All that got Isaiah was a martyr’s death (Hebrews 11:32, 37) at the hands of His people, at the hands of God’s people.[3] Yet here, he asked God to give them grace. He asked God to be their strength “every morning” and to be their “salvation in the time of trouble”. And, consistent to who He is, God was “gracious and merciful” to Israel while pouring out His strength on Assyria; He was “slow to anger” toward His people despite their idolatry because He is always “abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 145:8).
Isaiah’s prophecy here stretches beyond the conflict with and rescue from Assyria. It even stretches beyond Babylon, which was only a few decades away on the horizon. He told them what their eyes “will behold” despite what their heart will “muse” on and their eyes could currently see. Their hearts were musing – meaning their thoughts were absorbed – on terror because that is what they were currently experiencing. They failed to look toward what Isaiah was telling them because their eyes currently beheld the “insolent people” who rained “terror” down on them. Isaiah wanted them to “set their minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2) and see what came beyond their field of vision. He wanted them to “behold the King in His beauty”!
Isaiah was not talking about any earthly king of Israel or Judah. The people would have long since been over the allure of their earthly kings because they had suffered – and would suffer again – because of their foolish and idolatrous pursuits. The best of their kings was plagued by the same sin and faults as the people. David, Solomon, and Josiah all suffered injuries and loss at the hands of their enemies, too, with no ability within themselves to turn the tide of battle. And David, “a man after [God’s] own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), was still a sinner who fell “short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) just as all men do. Isaiah was talking about the King!
While Isaiah did not know fully what He was talking about, we can now. He was talking about the “Child” who would come to shine a “great light” on “the people who dwelt in a land of deep darkness” (Isaiah 9:2, 6). He was talking about the “man of sorrows” who would bear “our griefs”, carry our “sorrows”, get “pierced for our transgressions”, and be “crushed for our iniquities” – the one whose “wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3-5). He was talking about the Savior who was coming in their future, Him who would be “gentle and lowly” (Matthew 11:29) and “give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He was talking about the King who would enter Jerusalem, greeted by palm branches and cries of “Hosanna!” and “King of Israel!” (John 12:13) a week before He “died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures”, who “was buried”, who “was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). In fact, it was because God’s Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah that Paul spoke of when He said, “in accordance with the Scriptures” (Isaiah 53)!
Neither Israel nor Isaiah could understand then, but God used Isaiah to point them to a greater hope in Jesus than they could imagine – greater than the threat the Assyrians were that day or than Nebuchadnezzar would be in their near future. The eyes of God’s people will eventually see “the King in His beauty”. Their eyes will a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-11) that will be “untroubled” (v. 20) and truly a city of peace because it will be graced with the presence of the “Prince of peace” and because of whom “the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
Those who trust in Christ today need to keep in mind that our “eyes will behold the King in His beauty”. We “will see a land that stretches afar”.
The King Will Save Us (vv. 20-22)
Verse 21 starts with the phrase “But there”, speaking of the Jerusalem of the future. The conjunction “but” carries in it everything that comes before and cancels it out in favor of what comes after it. In this case, the before is different than the descriptions of this new Jerusalem found in vv. 20-21. What it says would be “there” will cancel out what is there at the time Isaiah was written.
Israel, namely Judah, during the time of Isaiah 33, could celebrate all the “appointed feasts” in Jerusalem, but there would be a time coming after Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem that no feasts – not Passover, the feast of tabernacles, etc. – would be observed. For a few centuries after they returned from Babylonian exile, they could observe the appointed feasts, but they would gradually morph into celebrations that are pale imitations of what is laid out in the Bible. Even today, there is much turmoil in Jerusalem and many who claim to be children of Abraham but who have denied His Christ, His Messiah. But there will come a day when a greater feast will be celebrated – the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9)!
Isaiah speaks of the future Jerusalem as being “an immovable tent”. In the wilderness, God’s people did not have a temple but a tabernacle. It was portable and crude compared to Solomon’s temple – even the temple after Babylonian captivity or Herod’s temple. When God moved His people around in the wilderness, they would take up its stakes and cords and move it, too. Later, Israel rejoiced greatly when the tabernacle was replaced with the temple. The temple was not meant to be portable and did not need cords or stakes to hold it down.
Both the tabernacle and temple represented the presence of the Lord. Both held the holy of holies hidden behind a veil where the ark of the covenant – and the Mercy Seat – was kept. This was the representation of the throne of God where atonement was made for the sins of Israel. Yet the temple turned out to be as movable as the tabernacle. It was destroyed by the Babylonians, rebuilt after the return from exile, and destroyed again in 70AD. There is currently no temple. Well, a temple does reside on the temple mount, but it is the Dome of the Rock and devoted to Allah instead of Yahweh.
That is the sad reality of those looking to the current Jerusalem to be their hope. There is no hope in Jerusalem today nor has there been in nearly two millennia.
What Isaiah was talking about here in Isaiah 33 was better than the tabernacle or temple because he is pointing to what the holy of holies pointed to: the presence of God in Jesus! In Jesus, God “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). That phrase “dwelt” (Gr. eskenosen) can be translated “to have one’s tent” or to tabernacle.[4] God left His throne on high and came to tabernacle with His people! Look at the significance of this in Matthew 27:50-51:
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.[5]
When Jesus – God become flesh – died on the cross, the curtain (veil) separating the holy of holies from the rest of the temple was ripped “from top to bottom” (see footnote [6] for some cool word-nerdiness). Man had access to God as never before because God came to them! That’s good news! Jesus tabernacling with His people means that He is the “immovable tent”!
But there’s greater news yet! Look at the way Revelation 21:1-5 describes the Day we will “behold the King in His beauty”:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”[7]
That is the place Isaiah spoke of where “there the Lord in His majesty will be for us”. It is a land where none of the troubles of the earth can reach us – even the most advanced and dangerous “galley with oars” or “majestic ship” of the most terrible enemy – because the King will have already struck down the nations and “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” (Revelation 19:15)! This is the Day when all of the sad things of this earth come untrue because God will be dwelling with His people. The eyes that were once blurry with tears will be able to look upon the King face to face!
Wrapping Up
I do not know if these words were a comfort for Israel during this time. I know the Assyrians were sent packing and were unable to overtake Israel. By Isaiah’s day (which was also Jeremiah’s, Amos’, etc.), their idolatry had already reached a point of no return. The Father had promised punishment for their sake and was to fulfill His word to them. They, just like our children, had a penchant for ignoring warnings of punishment until it is too late or forgetting former punishments after their sting has faded. What about us?
There is no shortage of troubles. And no matter our plans or hopes for 2023, the only sure hope is that there will be a day when we “behold the King in His beauty”. But we have yet to deal with v. 22: “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our King; He will save us.” If we belong to Him – if we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus, that is good news for us.
When Jesus returns as King of kings and Lord of lords on that glorious future Day (Revelation 19:11-16), His enemies will fall, but those who have been redeemed – purchased – and reconciled by the death of Christ will no longer be enemies but part of His Kingdom (Romans 5:9-10)!
“I know I shall see in His beauty / The King in whose Law I delight / Who lovingly guards my footsteps / And gives me songs in the night // Redeemed, redeemed / Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb / Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it / His child and forever I am!”
So, today’s Bible study can either be good news for you or bad – not both. Just as there will be days in 2023 that are good or bad, the Day of the Lord will only be good if you can look forward to the coming of the King. If you have been redeemed, then you can look forward to seeing “the King in His beauty”, but if you do not know Him, you get the rider on the white horse – the full wrath of God in His might and strength. A few decades after today’s passage, there were people who understood this more than they had hoped. They stopped receiving grace and mercy and experienced wrath. The saving and powerful hand of God was lifted, and Nebuchadnezzar was allowed into Israel. What will it be for you?
But for those whose boast is in being redeemed by the King…. Their entire life is altered changed because of what He has done for them and in them. His Spirit dwells within them, and He is on the throne interceding on their behalf. And His return is promised.
But just because He has not yet returned does not mean He is distant. Just as God became flesh and tore the veil that separated us from Him, He is still approachable today! No other king on the face of the earth gives access to all his subjects. Even the prime minister of England cannot waltz into Buckingham Palace, roll into King Charles’ private quarters, and merely ask him for whatever he needs. There are protocols. He is the king of England, after all. But the King gives His people access.
In Hebrews 4:16, we are told: “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.” We can fix our eyes upward where He is and look forward to His return, but in the meantime, He gives us access to Him on His throne! The grace Isaiah prayed for is available to us today. All we must do is approach.
That is my prayer for you and yours, me and mine, in 2023. I want every day that the Lord tarries to be one of anticipating His return. I want my actions, hopes, and desires to be dripping with longing for Him and obedience to His great commandment and commission. I want my life to exude gospel at every opportunity. But I am so thankful that the King is available in my waiting.
I know there will be days when I will fail and be filled with doubts and fears, but I also know that I can approach His throne with confidence because I know it is not empty.
The King who sits there cares for me. He is approachable. He has the grace and mercy I need and will give it to me when I need it.
The King redeemed me, loves me, and is coming again. Hallelujah! And amen!
[6] But wait, there’s more! In case you like interesting tidbits (or are nerdy like me), there is another layer to this. In Hebrews 9, the writer of Hebrews is describing the elements of the tabernacle/temple in order to show how Jesus is the substance to their shadow. The mercy seat was on the lid of the ark of the covenant and was representative of the throne of God. It is where the priest would sprinkle the blood each year on Yom Kippur (the day of atonement). The word translated “mercy seat” in Hebrews 9:5 (hilasterion) is only used in that form one other place in the NT. In Romans 3:25, it is translated “propiatiation” – the sacrifice made to trade our sins for Jesus’ righteousness! Written right into the fabric of Scripture by God’s Holy Spirit is the beautiful truth of Emmanuel – God with us – showing us that Jesus is the mercy seat and He is the sacrifice!
9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.[1]
Colossians 3:9-11
Greetings Sojourners!
When we first started in these devotions a few years ago, all we had was an opportunity to help people dive more deeply into God’s Word and a desire to make that possible. We have, for the most part, been able to keep that going on a weekly basis, but for the next little while that will not be possible. Our desire has not changed. We still want to give opportunity to help people study God’s Word. The study that makes it possible sometimes requires a bit more time than life offers.
Part of that study will be completed in May. As I have mentioned before, I am getting to be part of a Master of Theology program at William Carey University. I began this past February and am thankful for all I have learned, am learning, and will learn before it is over (as well as continue to learn as these skills are applicable for the rest of my life). But that level of study, especially as a husband, father, teacher, pastor, and aspiring writer, takes time – time that takes me away from writing Bible studies like these, but time that also better equips me to write them.
Please, do not take this as complaining. I am thankful to get to do everything God allows! However, I am definitely learning my own limitations as He grows me more into who He is making me to be.
Having said all that, I am glad to be back in our study of Colossians, especially as we transition out of what we once were in our trespasses and sins (dead) and into looking at what new life in Christ is meant to look like.
When a person comes to Christ, more happens than simply joining a church or walking an aisle. Everyone who is not in Christ is dead in their sin (Colossians 2:13, Ephesians 2:1-2) no matter their religious affliliation. So for us to say that we have new life in Christ recognizes 1) that the old has gone/died and 2) there should be a marked difference in the new because that which was dead now lives through Christ (Ephesians 2:4-5)! When Paul transitions in our passage today from taking off the sins of the old life to putting on Christ, he is doing more than talking about behaviors; he is showing the Colossians what the new life in Christ is supposed to be like (and what it is not).
Seeing That You Have Put Off the Old Self with Its Practices (vv. 9-10)
The last of the sins Paul told the Colossian believers to “put…away” in verse 8 was to put away “obscene talk from [their mouths]”. In verse 9, he tells them not to “lie to one another, seeing that [they] have put off the old self with its practices” (emphasis added). You can see here that this is more than morality and the monitoring and modifying of behavior – it is about the “new self” (v. 10).
Too often, Christians and church-folks[2]put either too much or a wrong emphasis on behavior, so, for us to understand what Paul is talking to them about, it may be helpful for us to first clarify what we are not talking about.
Church-folks worry a lot about the way behaviors look. They hurry up and stop arguing as they pull in the church parking lot. They have expectations about the way that people carry themselves while at church, too. They think no cussing should occur in the church building; no obscene talk in there. If a lost person comes into the building, they want them to learn how to act and behave because the image of being sanctified or reverent or holy is more important than being sanctified, reverent, or holy. They are a caricature of Jesus said the Pharisees were like: “whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). Basically, they want to look like they have been changed by Jesus – look like they have new life – when they are actually still dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:13).
If they were to repent of their sins and seek Jesus, everyone would know that they are not perfect. Everyone would know they are sinners. If this describes you, I hate to tell you, but people already know. Church-folks ain’t fooling anyone.
What Paul is telling the Colossians when he says “you have put off the old self with its practices” (v. 9) is a reminder that they have encountered Jesus. It is a reminder that they do not have to live like dead men and women because Jesus has made them alive! That would be like Jesus coming back to Bethany to visit Lazarus after he had been raised (John 11, 12:1) and finding him hanging out back at the tomb. That would be foolish, right? No, after Lazarus had been called out of death and hopped out of the tomb, Jesus found him in the house reclining at the dinner table (John 12:2). He was eating and hanging out. He was alive and no longer dead because Jesus made him alive (John 11:43-44, Ephesians 2:4-5)!
What about you?
Has Jesus made you alive, or are you still dead in your sins? Are you trying to convince others that you are not a sinner or yourself?
Paul wanted the Colossians to be reminded that they have “put on the new self” – that who they are after coming to Christ is “being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (v. 10). Everything that sin has done, is doing, and will do since the Fall (Genesis 3) has effectively marred how man bears God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). When Jesus saves us – when He brings us from death to eternal life in Him, He begins correcting that image. We go from looking like the world, little-by-little and day-by-day, to looking like Him again. The longer we walk with Him the more significant the change!
That’s good news!
Here There is Not…. (v. 11)
Think about all of the categories and labels that Paul lists in verse 11 and how that compares to the image of God: Greek, Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free. Each of those words was a worldly description of somebody in the church at Colossae. Some of those categories were even Biblical or are part of the unique and beautiful way that God created that person. Others came from the way that other men had labeled them to either belittle or marginalize them. But none of them compare to what it is to be in Christ!
Those who are in Christ are His (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Titus 2:14). They have been adopted into His family (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:5). The labels and categories that are so emphasized here on earth just cannot compare to belonging to Him – to being alive in Him. That is why Paul tells them that their ethnicity, their religious affiliation and practices, their nationality, or even whether they are free or owned by another person pales in comparison to “Christ [being] all, and in all” (v. 11).
There will not be a gate for entrance into heaven for American Christians, Evangelical Christians, Catholics, or Protestants. Their will not be gates per ethnicity or culture. Those are qualifications sinful people make up to either lift themselves up, tear others down, or some mixture thereof. No, in heaven there will be none of that foolishness! I love the beautiful picture from John’s vision of heaven in Revelation 7:
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
Everyone will be together. All those who are in Christ will stand before His throne. He will be the focus. Amen!
He is either “all, and in all” – or He ain’t. To paraphrase Ricky Bobby: if Jesus ain’t first, He’s last.
Wrapping Up
Since today’s verses are transitioning from our last passage to what comes next, I am afraid that this might have come across a bit disjointed, so I want to clear things up a bit. To do so, there are two statements my pastor John Goldwater has made at Christ Community Church recently that stand out in my mind as I write this. Let me paraphrase them for you:
There was a Sunday a while back where we had a noticeably large group of visitors. During the announcements, he told them that if they had come to Christ Community looking to see their social status raised by attending or are looking for some sort of worldly benefit they had come to the wrong place. He told them all we had to offer was Jesus and His gospel and that those looking for social capital would never find it with us.
He is preaching through Matthew and was going through the passage where the Pharisees were angry at Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath day (Matthew 12:1-14). As he talked about how the morally-elite and religiously-superior Pharisees were lecturing God Himself on what He should and should not have done, he reminded us that we do not have time to teach people how to act in church because that is all they will learn (acting). No, he reminded us that if we point them to Jesus – if we share His gospel with them, they can learn Christ, be saved, and Jesus will change their lives. All acting will do is teach lost, dead sinners how to hide how dead they are.
What Paul was doing for the Colossian church, and for believers today, is helping them to see that there is supposed to be a difference between those who have been saved – those who are in Christ – those who have been made alive by grace through faith in Christ alone – and those who are still dead. I hope you can see, beloved Sojourner, that there should not even be a comparison here much less confusion. We should be able to easily tell the difference between death and life. We should not be satisfied going back to the cemetery when Jesus is preparing a room for us in the Father’s house (John 14:1-6)!
But, sadly, we allow ourselves to be. “But that is not the way you learned Christ!” (Ephesians 4:20)
If someone taught you to act like a Christian but you have not been born again (John 3), you are dead in your trespasses. No amount of service or behavior or the Academy Award quality acting that even has your grandmama fooled will get you through the gate. Those who are not in Christ will not hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) because they are not His servant. They will cry out that they had preached in the name of Jesus, done mighty works in the name of Jesus, and had even cast out demons in the name of Jesus (Matthew 7:22), but they had never believed in Jesus (Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9-10) – they had never called upon His name to save them (Romans 10:13). No, all acting will get is this declaration from Him: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
On the other hand, there are those who have called upon Him and have been saved. They have been convicted in their hearts of their sins (Psalm 73:21), repented (Psalm 51), and confessed Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9). They were dead, but Jesus made them alive.
They may not always act right, but Jesus is still working on and in them. They need to be reminded like their Colossian brothers and sisters of old to stop doing the sins of the old self and put on Christ and His new life. They need to be reminded to get out of the cemetery and come to the table. They need to be reminded that Jesus has more for them than this world. He has given life and His Spirit to help them live it.
Which describes you?
John was right. No amount of social capital can compare with an encounter with Jesus. And no amount of acting will earn heaven when the credits roll.
I am reminded of my son Xander when he got saved about a month ago. He had asked questions for months and months. He understood that everyone is a sinner and that those who die without believing in Christ go to hell. He knew lots of information and details. The more he asked, the worse he acted. There were times where he was so worried over acting this way or that – over trying to seem like he did not sin at all – that his behavior was worse than it had ever been before. He seesawed between trying to earn salvation and acting like hell until he finally changed his question. Mid-sermon one Sunday morning, he turned around and, instead of asking how to be saved, he asked, “How do you know God will save you?” He was shocked at how simple the answer was: “You do what the Bible says to do to be saved, and you trust God will do what He promised for them.”
He was relieved. None of it depended on him. It all depended on Jesus. I imagine the Colossian church was relieved, too. They did not need to be circumcised because they had been saved. They did not need to act this way or that, or celebrate this religious festival or another, because they had been saved. All they needed was Jesus. And, dear Sojourner, that is all you need as well. If you do not know Him, I would be glad to talk to you or help you find a pastor or believer where you live to sit down with you. If you are part of a church that gives acting lessons over the gospel, I would love to help you find one where the Word of God is open and His gospel offered freely. As always, know that I am praying for you and thankful that the Spirit works through His Word!
[2] When I say church-folks, I mean religious people who go to church who use the name Christian without actually having been saved. The area of the southeastern United States where I live is inundated with church-folks. Even within my denomination, Southern Baptist, which prides itself on regenerate church membership (fancy seminary term for you must be saved to join the church), there are people who are allowed to join the church for what they bring to the table – for their gifts, talents, or, sadly, the size of their bank account – instead of having been made alive in Christ. This is important to clarify because, despite how it looks to the outside world, a church building full of dead people is not a church. It can’t be because the church is a people not a building or organization. Christ’s church is made up of those He has made alive. Church-folks are something else entirely.
Just Keith Harris 