Patience

Advent is a season of waiting. Children say, “I can’t wait for Christmas to come!” But wait they must. The Jewish people waited for generations for their Messiah to come and fulfill prophecy. Not until “the time had fully come” (Gal. 4:4) was Jesus born. Waiting is often hard work but it is not wasting time or energy. The Scriptures encourage us to practice an “active waiting” that keeps us focused on Christ’s return.

Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? Because God is patient, wanting sinners to find salvation (2 Pet. 3:8–9).

The only way to gain patience is to learn to wait. Not only is patience a quality that helps us handle difficult circumstances, it is a virtue when dealing with difficult people. James gives us three portraits of patience in 5:7–8, 10–11:

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. . . . Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

The farmer demonstrates that patience is a factor in success. Farmers wait for the weather to be right for planting. After planting, they wait for the crop to sprout and grow. Finally, they wait for harvest. Farmers do a lot of waiting but they are never doing nothing! They fertilize, deal with weeds and pests, work on machinery, and pray.

The prophets show us that patience is a mark of faithfulness. Despite opposition and abuse, Elijah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist were faithful to proclaim the message and do the work God called them to do. Their patience proved their faith in God.

Job teaches us that patience is a sign of maturity. Job was not passive while enduring his trials: he questioned, agonized, and challenged his “comforters.” Reaching maturity takes a long time. Perhaps this is the reason that it is older persons who possess patience. In Job’s case, what he was waiting for was not God’s gifts, but God Himself.

We are waiting for Jesus to come again. We are waiting with each other for His return. “Waiting for” is much easier when you are “waiting with.”

 See: Advent, Immanuel, Messiah, Prophecy, Rush

Peace

The word peace in the Hebrew language is shalom, and it means much more than the absence of war or other disturbances. When two orthodox Jews meet, they greet each other with “Shalom,” and when they depart, they also say, “Shalom.” Along with peace, the word carries the ideas of health, prosperity, safety, completeness, harmony, and fulfillment. It speaks of a full and satisfying life.

We associate Christmas with peace. The priest Zechariah saw in the birth of Messiah the coming of God’s light “to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79). But “shalom” touches death as well as life, for old Simeon prayed, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace” (2:29). Perhaps the most familiar “Christmas peace” statement in Scripture is the Authorized Version’s translation of Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” To enjoy Christmas peace in our own hearts and homes, we must understand four “peace announcements” found in Scripture.

The Announcement of the Angels

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” This translation of Luke 2:14 is a bit awkward and gives the impression that the peace Jesus brings is only for those who show “good will” to others. The New International Version reads: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (vv. 13–14). The word translated “men” is anthropos and means “people in general, both men and women.” The angels brought their good news “for all the people” (v. 10), and yet God’s peace is only for “those on whom God’s favor [grace] rests.” More about this later.

Before the Lord created the first man and woman, He created the angels to worship and serve Him; and some of them rebelled and were cast out of heaven (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6). Jesus didn’t come to save the fallen angels (Heb. 2:16) but to save sinful people, and yet the angels praised God for His grace to humans! The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) had begun in AD 27, but though it brought a truce among the nations, it could not bring peace to the human heart. There has not been much “peace on earth” in recorded history and there certainly isn’t much today. During the centuries, it’s estimated that there has been world peace less than 10 percent of the time and that thousands of treaties have been signed and broken by national leaders.

The American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lost a son in the Civil War and out of that experience he wrote a poem called “Christmas Bells.” It has been set to music but is rarely sung today. Here are two selected verses that express the way many people feel about “peace on earth.” We will quote another verse later.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play;

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Were the angels wrong? Will there ever be “peace on earth”?

The Announcement of Jesus

Jesus asked, “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?” (Luke 12:51). These are strange words from the lips of the Savior, and He had spoken them earlier, as recorded in Matthew 10:34, when He added, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” The statement in Matthew was part of His “commissioning sermon” when He sent His twelve disciples out to minister to the Jewish people. He wanted them to warn their converts that there was a price to pay for following Him. The Luke passage warns all believers today to be prepared for serious conflict before Jesus returns.

Jesus may be called “the Great Divider.” During His ministry on earth, the people were divided over who He was and what He came to do (John 7:43; 9:16; 10:19). They could easily interpret the weather signs but not the signs of the times (Luke 12:56). God had come into their very midst and they didn’t recognize Him or receive Him (19:41–44)! There are two kinds of people in the world: those who are saved because they have trusted Jesus Christ, and those who are lost, either because they have never heard the gospel or because they have heard but have rejected Christ.

There is no peace on earth. But is there any hope?

The Announcement of the Palm Sunday Crowd

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38). This sounds like the announcement the angels made to the shepherds, except that this crowd declared “peace in heaven.” Why? Because heaven is the only place that knows real peace, and that’s because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross!

Why is there no peace on earth? Because people have rejected Christ and are at war with God. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1). People and nations are at war with one another because they are at war within themselves, and they are at war within themselves because they are at war with God. The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart (see Mark 7:17–23), and the heart is “deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jer. 17:9).

Let’s go back to the original announcement of the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). This is not a prayer or a wish; it is the declaration of a fact. God doesn’t save people because they have earned favor with God but because He has first revealed His grace to them in Christ and they trusted the Savior. If they already had God’s favor, they would not need to be saved. This message of good news is “for all the people” (v. 10), both Jews and Gentiles (v. 32).

Because Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, rose again, and ascended to heaven, the world is reconciled to God. He could have sent Jesus to judge the world, but in His grace, He sent Jesus to save sinners (John 3:17). Through His witnessing church, He pleads with sinners to trust His Son and be reconciled to God. “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18–19). “Therefore, since we have been justified [declared righteous] through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). There is peace in the hearts and lives of believers because there is peace in heaven and the God of peace has filled us “with all joy and peace . . . by the power of the Holy Spirit” (15:13). There is peace in heaven because of God’s grace, for grace and peace go together. In fact sixteen books in the New Testament open with invocations involving grace and peace.

The Announcement of the Prophet

“And he will be called . . . Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). One day there shall be peace on earth when Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, returns and reigns in His kingdom. “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end” (v. 7). One day the Spirit shall be poured out from heaven and the desert will become a fertile field and there will be justice and righteousness on the earth (see Isa. 32:15–16). “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest” (vv. 17–18). “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Mic. 4:3).

Meanwhile, God’s people may enjoy peace on earth because peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and if we are prayerful and thankful, the peace of God will guard our hearts and our minds (Phil. 4:6–7). “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isa. 26:3).

After His resurrection, Jesus greeted His disciples with, “Peace be with you!” Then He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side (John 20:19–20). Why? Because our peace with God was purchased “through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20). But then our Lord repeated His greeting: “Peace be with you. . . . Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21–22). This is the peace of God that Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:6–7, and the Lord imparts this peace as we walk in the Spirit, pray, and think on His Word.

There is no need to bow our heads in despair and be pessimistic about peace on earth. Even Longfellow knew this truth and wrote:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!

The wrong shall fail,

The right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Longfellow was not wrong—nor were God’s angels!

 See: Angels, Jesus, Redemption, Shepherds, Songs

Pondering

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

After Jesus was born, Mary finally had time to think about all the events that resulted in her being a mother. It began with Gabriel, his appearance and his message. She said yes to God and was pregnant. There was the visit to her relative Elizabeth and her silent husband. She had told Joseph about the pregnancy, and ultimately he had believed her. The village gossips had not been convinced. Then the census was imposed, and she and Joseph had traveled to Bethlehem. After arriving, labor pains—and the birth of a son! Joy. Shepherds arrived with news that angels had informed them of the Savior’s birth.

Mary’s Ponderings

The word ponder means “to reflect on, to place together for comparison.” Mary took time to be quiet and think deeply about what God had been doing in her life and her body, not only for the past nine months, but probably since she was old enough to know about God. Mary pondered, looking for meaning, identifying what was significant, and weighing the implications.

Certainly Mary thought about the wonder of it all. Why would God choose her? Who knew “overshadowing” could make her pregnant? The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and a government census put them in Bethlehem for the child’s birth. What of the shepherds who found their way to the manger, their tale of an angel with the announcement of the Savior’s birth, and then an angelic army in the sky? The God of wonders wove all these mysteries together to bring His Son to earth, and to fulfill the ancient Scriptures.

Mary probably also pondered the identity of her child. His names Immanuel and Jesus indicated that He was more than human. Their meaning—“God with us” and “God is salvation”—pointed to Jesus’ deity. How were she and Joseph to raise such a child? Could they possibly provide what He would need to become the One who would fulfill God’s purpose?

Like all parents, Mary pondered the future of her child. What kind of personality would He have? Would He be aware of who He really was? If so, when? How would He get along with the rest of the family? Would He be “normal”? Could Joseph train Him to be a master carpenter?

Eventually the process of pondering had to arrive at What am I supposed to do? Perhaps Mary was overwhelmed at first but she was a wise woman who simply did what had to be done. Feed and change the baby. Pray for Him. Teach Him to walk and talk. Teach Him God’s Word. Take Him to God’s house. Pray for Him. Set a good example. Love Him. Encourage Him. Let Him grow into manhood. Challenge Him to fulfill God’s call on His life. Pray for Him. When it’s time, let go.

Our Need to Ponder

Determine to make time to ponder during Advent. Find a place where you can enter into silence and not be disturbed.

Ponder the mystery of the eternal Son of God entering time and space and history by being born as a helpless baby.

Ponder what it would be like to be a shepherd when the night is illumined by an angel from heaven (when has God startled you?).

Ponder being a wise man following a star (by what means has God guided you?).

Ponder the experiences that have shaped your character and life. Think about how God brought you to Himself. Think about the people God has used to bless, teach, and guide you. Can you see how God prepared you for the trials you have faced? Can you see how God used those trials to bless you? Ask yourself (and God), Am I fulfilling God’s purpose in my life?

Ponder what God might want to change in your character. Are you willing to let God transform your perspective? What is your most valuable relationship? What is your most valuable treasure? Is there a wound that still needs to be healed?

Ponder what lies ahead. What would you like to do for God’s kingdom before your life is over? Is God opening a new door for service? Who might you pour your life into spiritually? Are you willing to have your horizons broadened?

Ponder how you could help someone in need.

Ponder how you can help your family enjoy the gift of relationships this season and deemphasize the importance of presents.

Ponder what it means to you to be a child of the heavenly Father.

Pondering enables us to see the connections between “random” events. Pondering leads us to find the patterns in what God is doing. Pondering reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Pondering leads us to believe that God (and only God) is awesome.

In your heart, ponder.

 See: Incarnation, Mary, Overshadow, Prophecy

Prophecy

One of the greatest Bible classes ever held on earth was taught by Jesus to two discouraged men whose world had collapsed. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). That included prophecies about His birth.

Philip told his friend Nathanael, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).

“If you believed Moses,” Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders, “you would believe me, for he wrote about me” (5:46).

Jesus is the major theme of the Old Testament, and the Christmas season is the ideal time to review what is written about His marvelous birth. What do Moses and the prophets reveal about the coming of the promised Messiah?

He would come as a human and not an angel. “And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:15). Jesus did not come to save fallen angels but sinful people, and therefore He needed to be human (see Heb. 2:16). He came in a truly human body, yet without sin (Luke 1:31–35; Heb. 10:5–7).

He would come as a baby and not an adult. Again the Genesis 3:15 passage speaks of the offspring of the woman. In Scripture there are demonstrated four ways to get a body: (1) without a man or a woman, as did Adam; (2) with a man but no woman, as did Eve; (3) with a man and a woman, as in normal conception and birth; and (4) with a woman but no man, as did Jesus who was conceived in Mary’s virgin womb. (See Baby and Virgin Birth.)

He would come as a male and not a female. The Old Testament prophecies speak of Messiah as a man. Romans 5:12–21 explains that Adam was the head of the human race under the old creation, and 1 Timothy 2:14 explains that Adam sinned with his eyes wide open, while Eve was deceived by Satan. Jesus came as the “last Adam” to redeem the human race and establish a new creation (1 Cor. 15:20–22, 45–49; 2 Cor. 5:17).

He would come as a Jew and not a Gentile. Jesus made it clear that “salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22). In Genesis 12:1–3 God covenanted to give Abraham many descendants and from them bless the whole world, and this blessing came through Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16–18). Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Heb. 7:14) and the family of David (2 Sam. 7:12–16), born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:34–38).

He would be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1–12; Luke 2:1–20).

 See: Bethlehem, David, Genealogy, Immanuel, Jesus, King, Messiah, Nazarene