Manger scenes abound during the advent season. They are pictorial reminders of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the earth, “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.” (Jn.1:14). These scenes depicted by artists on a print or in forms sculpted, carved or molded show forth the privilege given to a select few who drew near him at his appearing. They depict the lowly shepherds who have been called from their watch to look upon their Savior. They allow us to see sheep and cattle gathered around their Creator and the one who would make all things new. Through them we gather around a father and mother who would see the King of Kings and Prince of peace as they hold him in their arms. In the midst of these scenes is the evident humility of the Lord of glory becoming man so that he may become the blessedness of those who in humility receive him by faith as he has revealed himself as the Word made flesh. The manger scene is an artist rendering of a historical and theological reality of how blessed those are who receive this same Savior and Lord as revealed in his Word.
Jonathan Edwards said, “Tis more blessed to be spiritually related to Jesus Christ – to be his disciples, his brethren and the members – than to stand in the nearest temporal relation, than to be his brother or his mother.” What the manger scene cannot depict is the spiritual reality that it is possible to stand in relation to Jesus but not be in his joy.
When I was a child my mother would decorate our home at Christmas. One central piece of my mothers decorating was a manger scene. It was not a beautiful piece of art but it was detailed as it painted a picture in my mind of an historic reality. As a child I would stand by and look at it. As I looked I stood over a Bible that my mother placed before it each year opened to the account of Jesus’ birth in Luke. I stood in relation to the historic theological reality of Jesus but I was not in his joy. For I did not believe in him as the one sent by the Father as the light of the world (Jn.8:12), nor did I come to him as the bread sent down from heaven to satisfy my hunger and thirst (Jn.6:35). I was one like a bystander at his coming who stood in relation to the reality of revealed glory and could only see a blue background, fake stars, angels hanging from strings, plastic figurines of people and animals, and pages with black and white words. So I sought joy in other shadows of the reality like getting gifts, giving gifts and relationships.
Jonathan Edwards said, “Tis a greater blessedness to have spiritual communion with God and to have a saving intercourse with him by the instances of his Spirit and by the exercise of true devotion than it is to converse with God externally, to see the visible representation and manifestations of his presence and glory, and to hear his voice with the bodily ears as Moses did. For in this spiritual intercourse the soul is nigh unto and hath more a particular portion than in any external intercourse.”
Looking on the manger man cannot see, but when the Spirit lifts out the words of Scripture illuminating the mind and heart then sight of the glory of Christ lights upon his life and is put into his heart that obedience of faith that makes him a joy filled disciple walking after his ways. If we can see the blessed mother of Jesus magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in God her Savior as she carries in her womb the revealed Lord of glory (Lk.1:46-55), then how much more joy is there for those who see his beauty with their minds and hearts and walk after him in his revealed will through the Scripture? In the manger we see a historical and theological reality. But when the Christ of the manger is lifted up by the Holy Spirit as a glorious Savior and Lord and our hearts are illumined by his beauty and excellencies through his Word he becomes our joy and walking in obedience to his will for his glory and others good becomes our joy. May the joy of the Lord be your strength as you await his coming again.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Advent, Waiting at His Word
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
- Revelation 1:3
Advent is a time of looking back at the certainty of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ while we look forward with expectancy in the certainty of what he promises to do in Christ. And with the apostle John we can be certain that the time is near. But we do not know how near so we wait with eager expectation, but how do we wait? We must wait at his Word.
There is for all who turn to God’s Word as a means of grace a gift of joy from God. You are given the joy of God if you read his Word and you are given the joy of God if you listen to his Word read and purpose in your heart to keep it in trust and obedience. Blessed (happy) is the one who reads…, and blessed (happy) are those who hear. As we open the Revelation from Jesus Christ given us through the apostle John we are promised the joy of God. It is he who stands among his church as her light, whose voice is as mighty waters to his church, and from his mouth comes the doubled edged sword who promises his church joy through his Word (Rev.1:13, 15-16). The church forfeits the grace and joy of the Lord when she turns from his Word.
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Galatians, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). Paul ends this same letter to the Galatian church, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (6:18). Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). Paul ends the letter to the Ephesian church, Grace be with you all…(6:24). The letters to the Philippian church, the Colossian church, and the church at Thessalonica all begin and end in the same way. His pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus begin and end in the same manner. Is this merely a pattern of greeting and salutation or is there more to this? These letters were written as Paul was moved along by the Holy Spirit as the revelation of God to the church through Jesus Christ (2Tim.3:16; 2Pe.1:20-21; 3:15-16). Therefore when the letter was read publically there was grace to you and when they heeded the letter in trust and obedience by faith there was grace with you. Grace is the gift of God for joy in him and the means he uses to bring it is his Word. When his Word comes among the church where Jesus stands he opens his mouth as the rush of many waters, and his word comes forth from his tongue as a two edged sword to bless all who read it and all who hear it with his grace.
This is the reason we cannot live by bread alone but every word from the mouth of the Lord (Deut.8:3). And the reason the Psalmist can say happy is the man who delights in and meditates on the Word of God day and night (Ps.1:1-2). And the reason Timothy has the joy of the Lord in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ in salvation as he listened to the Scriptures read to him from his mother and grandmother (2Tim.1:5; 3:15). The church and her children forfeit true joy when we turn from the living God and his living Word. I pray this advent season is filled with waiting at his feet to listen to his voice from his Word that your joy will be full.
- Revelation 1:3
Advent is a time of looking back at the certainty of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ while we look forward with expectancy in the certainty of what he promises to do in Christ. And with the apostle John we can be certain that the time is near. But we do not know how near so we wait with eager expectation, but how do we wait? We must wait at his Word.
There is for all who turn to God’s Word as a means of grace a gift of joy from God. You are given the joy of God if you read his Word and you are given the joy of God if you listen to his Word read and purpose in your heart to keep it in trust and obedience. Blessed (happy) is the one who reads…, and blessed (happy) are those who hear. As we open the Revelation from Jesus Christ given us through the apostle John we are promised the joy of God. It is he who stands among his church as her light, whose voice is as mighty waters to his church, and from his mouth comes the doubled edged sword who promises his church joy through his Word (Rev.1:13, 15-16). The church forfeits the grace and joy of the Lord when she turns from his Word.
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the Galatians, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). Paul ends this same letter to the Galatian church, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (6:18). Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). Paul ends the letter to the Ephesian church, Grace be with you all…(6:24). The letters to the Philippian church, the Colossian church, and the church at Thessalonica all begin and end in the same way. His pastoral letters to Timothy and Titus begin and end in the same manner. Is this merely a pattern of greeting and salutation or is there more to this? These letters were written as Paul was moved along by the Holy Spirit as the revelation of God to the church through Jesus Christ (2Tim.3:16; 2Pe.1:20-21; 3:15-16). Therefore when the letter was read publically there was grace to you and when they heeded the letter in trust and obedience by faith there was grace with you. Grace is the gift of God for joy in him and the means he uses to bring it is his Word. When his Word comes among the church where Jesus stands he opens his mouth as the rush of many waters, and his word comes forth from his tongue as a two edged sword to bless all who read it and all who hear it with his grace.
This is the reason we cannot live by bread alone but every word from the mouth of the Lord (Deut.8:3). And the reason the Psalmist can say happy is the man who delights in and meditates on the Word of God day and night (Ps.1:1-2). And the reason Timothy has the joy of the Lord in the knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ in salvation as he listened to the Scriptures read to him from his mother and grandmother (2Tim.1:5; 3:15). The church and her children forfeit true joy when we turn from the living God and his living Word. I pray this advent season is filled with waiting at his feet to listen to his voice from his Word that your joy will be full.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
An Open Letter to the Elders at RPC
This is an open letter to the elders at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. It is open because we must give account for how we shepherd the flock of God, and because the flock of God should heed warnings. In Jude 17-23 we read,
17But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." 19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22And have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude longed to write to the church about the joy they have in the gospel (v.3), but he was diverted from this joy to deal with the solemnity of warning them about ungodliness in the church. A warning we to must heed in our day for there are going to be those who follow their ungodly passions leading others away through division into ungodliness and judgment. Therefore as elders we must be building ourselves up as we do the flock of God through his Word and prayer in the Spirit. This requires our attending to his means of grace privately and publically and urging the flock to do the same. This must be primary in our thinking about what we are doing with the time that is given us. Second we must be cultivating our hearts and minds in the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and the life that is promised to us in him. We must hold to his Word in the Spirit as his love letter to us revealing his eternal and enduring loving kindness toward us in Christ. And we must be boasting of this love to the flock of God calling them to sing with us in the love of God in Christ. Third we must bear with those in the flock who are struggling. We must listen to and help them answer their questions. We must pull them from the flames of hell with urgings, warnings, exhortations, encouragements and prayer. And we must hate their flesh and our own. While we warn them of the flesh that will destroy them we must see in their struggles our own struggles with the flesh and hate their sin and ours with tender mercies, love and a zeal for the holiness of God.
A flock not watched is a flock untended, and a flock untended is a flock destined the misery of their own waywardness and death. We must watch and tend the flock of God for his glory and their good that we may gather together and rejoice in the joy of the gospel of God in Jesus Christ. 1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1Pe.5:1-4) I love you brothers.
17But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." 19It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22And have mercy on those who doubt; 23save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude longed to write to the church about the joy they have in the gospel (v.3), but he was diverted from this joy to deal with the solemnity of warning them about ungodliness in the church. A warning we to must heed in our day for there are going to be those who follow their ungodly passions leading others away through division into ungodliness and judgment. Therefore as elders we must be building ourselves up as we do the flock of God through his Word and prayer in the Spirit. This requires our attending to his means of grace privately and publically and urging the flock to do the same. This must be primary in our thinking about what we are doing with the time that is given us. Second we must be cultivating our hearts and minds in the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and the life that is promised to us in him. We must hold to his Word in the Spirit as his love letter to us revealing his eternal and enduring loving kindness toward us in Christ. And we must be boasting of this love to the flock of God calling them to sing with us in the love of God in Christ. Third we must bear with those in the flock who are struggling. We must listen to and help them answer their questions. We must pull them from the flames of hell with urgings, warnings, exhortations, encouragements and prayer. And we must hate their flesh and our own. While we warn them of the flesh that will destroy them we must see in their struggles our own struggles with the flesh and hate their sin and ours with tender mercies, love and a zeal for the holiness of God.
A flock not watched is a flock untended, and a flock untended is a flock destined the misery of their own waywardness and death. We must watch and tend the flock of God for his glory and their good that we may gather together and rejoice in the joy of the gospel of God in Jesus Christ. 1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1Pe.5:1-4) I love you brothers.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Advent, An Ardent Waiting
17Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
- Habakkuk 3:17-19
For what are you waiting on this Christmas? While reading through complaints of Habakkuk over the last several days I found myself caught up in similar prayers before the Lord as I long for his appearing. Here are some things I am waiting on this Christmas.
How long will violence come upon the unborn? “Destruction and violence are before me” (1:3). I long for his appearing that violence and unrighteousness will be put under his feet and unborn children will be met with peace and not the sword.
How long will the wicked shed the blood of the righteous saints in the earth? “For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.” (1:4). I long for his appearing that my brothers and sisters who are persecuted unjustly throughout the world will see the Son of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace as he triumphs over their enemies.
How long will unrighteous rulers pervert the ways of justice and practice deceit for their own glory? “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (1:13). I long for his appearing that his kingdom would come and his will be done here on earth as it is in heaven as righteousness and peace reign in the nations.
How long will so many in the “church” believe and live as though their works plus Christ’s work merit salvation? “The righteous shall live by faith” (2:4b). I long for the glory of Christ in all his works of righteousness to shine in the hearts of the church so that she will glory in Christ alone for salvation.
How long will man live for his own glory treating his neighbor with contempt and injustice? “Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you…Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!...Woe to him who builds a town with blood and foundsa city on iniquity” (2:8, 9, 12). I long for the appearing of our Lord when, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (2:14), and man lives in love and humility before God and his neighbor.
How long will man live for the worship of idols which causes those around them to suffer for their unrighteousness? “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image a teacher of lies?” (2:18). I long for his appearing that darkness and lies will be cast out in the light of his glory revealed, and those who trust in him will live in his light seeing him as he is and being light to those around them.
How long will the church lightly worship God? “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” (2:20). I long for his appearing in the glory of his holiness before his church that there may be weight and glory to her worship and work.
How long will the church wait for reform and revival where she longs for his appearing in her worship and work? “O Lord, I have heard the report of you; and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” (3:2). I long for God to revive his church in Christ by the Spirit through his Word that worship and work will be for his glory in repentance and faith and the glory of his name spreads through righteousness, joy and peace in the communities of the earth.
When we were children we wore out the pages of the Sear and Roebuck catalogue at Christmas time longing for the appearing of gifts under a tree. But now we must search the pages of the Scriptures waiting in the Spirit in prayer for the appearing of the glorious Savior. While we wait when the seed is in the earth dying and there is no fruit on the vine, “yet I (we) will rejoice in the LORD; I (we) will take joy in the God of my (our) salvation.” (3:18). Why? We know he is in his holy temple and from above the heavens he does whatever he pleases in the earth. Therefore we will wait for his advent, his coming, for he has come and he is coming again.
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
- Habakkuk 3:17-19
For what are you waiting on this Christmas? While reading through complaints of Habakkuk over the last several days I found myself caught up in similar prayers before the Lord as I long for his appearing. Here are some things I am waiting on this Christmas.
How long will violence come upon the unborn? “Destruction and violence are before me” (1:3). I long for his appearing that violence and unrighteousness will be put under his feet and unborn children will be met with peace and not the sword.
How long will the wicked shed the blood of the righteous saints in the earth? “For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.” (1:4). I long for his appearing that my brothers and sisters who are persecuted unjustly throughout the world will see the Son of Righteousness and the Prince of Peace as he triumphs over their enemies.
How long will unrighteous rulers pervert the ways of justice and practice deceit for their own glory? “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (1:13). I long for his appearing that his kingdom would come and his will be done here on earth as it is in heaven as righteousness and peace reign in the nations.
How long will so many in the “church” believe and live as though their works plus Christ’s work merit salvation? “The righteous shall live by faith” (2:4b). I long for the glory of Christ in all his works of righteousness to shine in the hearts of the church so that she will glory in Christ alone for salvation.
How long will man live for his own glory treating his neighbor with contempt and injustice? “Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you…Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm!...Woe to him who builds a town with blood and foundsa city on iniquity” (2:8, 9, 12). I long for the appearing of our Lord when, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (2:14), and man lives in love and humility before God and his neighbor.
How long will man live for the worship of idols which causes those around them to suffer for their unrighteousness? “What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image a teacher of lies?” (2:18). I long for his appearing that darkness and lies will be cast out in the light of his glory revealed, and those who trust in him will live in his light seeing him as he is and being light to those around them.
How long will the church lightly worship God? “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” (2:20). I long for his appearing in the glory of his holiness before his church that there may be weight and glory to her worship and work.
How long will the church wait for reform and revival where she longs for his appearing in her worship and work? “O Lord, I have heard the report of you; and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.” (3:2). I long for God to revive his church in Christ by the Spirit through his Word that worship and work will be for his glory in repentance and faith and the glory of his name spreads through righteousness, joy and peace in the communities of the earth.
When we were children we wore out the pages of the Sear and Roebuck catalogue at Christmas time longing for the appearing of gifts under a tree. But now we must search the pages of the Scriptures waiting in the Spirit in prayer for the appearing of the glorious Savior. While we wait when the seed is in the earth dying and there is no fruit on the vine, “yet I (we) will rejoice in the LORD; I (we) will take joy in the God of my (our) salvation.” (3:18). Why? We know he is in his holy temple and from above the heavens he does whatever he pleases in the earth. Therefore we will wait for his advent, his coming, for he has come and he is coming again.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Getting Perspective on the Season of Advent
Advent is an English word derived from the Latin advenio meaning to come. It is a noun describing an expected or anticipated arrival. Advent has come to be known as a season of devotion looking back at the coming of the Savior in his incarnation and an anticipation of his return in judgment. Traditionally Advent begins on the feast day of St. Andrew, November 30th, or the Lord’s day that is closest to that day and runs the four Sundays culminating in the feast of Christmas.
American modern tradition has turned this time of year into one of the busiest months of our calendar. We spend a great deal of time hurriedly shopping for clothes, food, and gifts while keeping tabs on our busy calendars marked with days of parties and gatherings. A modern protestant Christmas ethic of the commercial has replaced a historical catholic ethic of a valued Little Pascha – a time of fasting, prayer, confession and reconciliation. In the past this was a time of year when the church slowed down to contemplate their lives in reflection upon the gospel taking stock of the inventory of our hearts and lifting their minds and hearts to the glory of Christ in his incarnation and his promised return. There are many ways to slow down a run away train, and here I would suggest switching tracks. This week we will begin on the track of historical perspective.
The Scriptures are clear. They tell us of the certainty of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ the Son of the Living God. The Old Testament Prophets point the way and the New Testament writers give us the historical reality. It is the clarity of the Old Testament that enabled Simeon to wait with anticipation (Lk.2:25-32) and the clarity of the New Testament that made many wise unto salvation through the preaching of the apostles about the truthfulness of the person and work of Jesus Christ. However, the Scriptures do not give us the exact date of his birth.
The early patristic writers were varied in their views of the exact date of the birth of Jesus. Basil of Caesarea believed that he was born on November 20th in 4 B.C. Clement of Alexandria thought him to be born on November 17th in 3 B.C. John Chrysostom believed that since the shepherds were in the fields at night when Christ was born it must have been in the spring or summer. Athanasius believed similarily and gave the date May 20th. Cyril of Jerusalem dated his birth in Bethlehem as April 19th, and Ambrose of Milan dated it March 25th. Therefore from the writings of those closest to the time of Christ’s life following the apostles there is given us little clarity as to the date of Christ’s birth.
In 354 the leaders of the church in Rome officially began to observe December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth. In pagan Rome there were many feasts days and in December was the feast day of Saturnalia. Saturnalia began on December 17th and was a week long festival commemorating the dedication of the temple to the sun god Saturn. It was a public festival throughout Rome and known for its revelry. The Roman poet Catullus described the feast of Saturnalia as a celebration, time to visit friends and exchange gifts such as wax candles and figurines. Therefore it seems the early Christians in Rome exchanged the worship of the coming of the son god for the worship of the Son of God in his coming. History seems to record that the church was already celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Philocalian Calendar (336) marked Christmas Day as a tradition prior to the church in Rome leading in this way in 354.
Though there was no clarity as to the exact date of Christ’s birth the early church was reforming the practices of their pagan ancestors and their own lives by exchanging the worship of the creation for the worship of the Creator and Redeemer. Those pagans who were being converted to Christianity could not celebrate in festivals with a clear conscience the gods they had once worshiped. However, in the midst of that void in the winter the Son of God shown in their hearts that they may replace their old with the new having made all things new. Christ, the Living God, replaced the idols they once worshiped. It is from this early church tradition that Christmas dates and customs came together into a season of Advent. As we now celebrate a period of four weeks beginning in late November leading up the Christmas festival when we celebrate our Lord’s appearing. It is during this season that the church must like Simeon be waiting in the Spirit with anticipation of his coming again to make all things new while we worship in the Spirit taking stock of the reason of his first appearing through sober reflection around his Word and prayer.
American modern tradition has turned this time of year into one of the busiest months of our calendar. We spend a great deal of time hurriedly shopping for clothes, food, and gifts while keeping tabs on our busy calendars marked with days of parties and gatherings. A modern protestant Christmas ethic of the commercial has replaced a historical catholic ethic of a valued Little Pascha – a time of fasting, prayer, confession and reconciliation. In the past this was a time of year when the church slowed down to contemplate their lives in reflection upon the gospel taking stock of the inventory of our hearts and lifting their minds and hearts to the glory of Christ in his incarnation and his promised return. There are many ways to slow down a run away train, and here I would suggest switching tracks. This week we will begin on the track of historical perspective.
The Scriptures are clear. They tell us of the certainty of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who is the Christ the Son of the Living God. The Old Testament Prophets point the way and the New Testament writers give us the historical reality. It is the clarity of the Old Testament that enabled Simeon to wait with anticipation (Lk.2:25-32) and the clarity of the New Testament that made many wise unto salvation through the preaching of the apostles about the truthfulness of the person and work of Jesus Christ. However, the Scriptures do not give us the exact date of his birth.
The early patristic writers were varied in their views of the exact date of the birth of Jesus. Basil of Caesarea believed that he was born on November 20th in 4 B.C. Clement of Alexandria thought him to be born on November 17th in 3 B.C. John Chrysostom believed that since the shepherds were in the fields at night when Christ was born it must have been in the spring or summer. Athanasius believed similarily and gave the date May 20th. Cyril of Jerusalem dated his birth in Bethlehem as April 19th, and Ambrose of Milan dated it March 25th. Therefore from the writings of those closest to the time of Christ’s life following the apostles there is given us little clarity as to the date of Christ’s birth.
In 354 the leaders of the church in Rome officially began to observe December 25th as the date of Christ’s birth. In pagan Rome there were many feasts days and in December was the feast day of Saturnalia. Saturnalia began on December 17th and was a week long festival commemorating the dedication of the temple to the sun god Saturn. It was a public festival throughout Rome and known for its revelry. The Roman poet Catullus described the feast of Saturnalia as a celebration, time to visit friends and exchange gifts such as wax candles and figurines. Therefore it seems the early Christians in Rome exchanged the worship of the coming of the son god for the worship of the Son of God in his coming. History seems to record that the church was already celebrating the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the Philocalian Calendar (336) marked Christmas Day as a tradition prior to the church in Rome leading in this way in 354.
Though there was no clarity as to the exact date of Christ’s birth the early church was reforming the practices of their pagan ancestors and their own lives by exchanging the worship of the creation for the worship of the Creator and Redeemer. Those pagans who were being converted to Christianity could not celebrate in festivals with a clear conscience the gods they had once worshiped. However, in the midst of that void in the winter the Son of God shown in their hearts that they may replace their old with the new having made all things new. Christ, the Living God, replaced the idols they once worshiped. It is from this early church tradition that Christmas dates and customs came together into a season of Advent. As we now celebrate a period of four weeks beginning in late November leading up the Christmas festival when we celebrate our Lord’s appearing. It is during this season that the church must like Simeon be waiting in the Spirit with anticipation of his coming again to make all things new while we worship in the Spirit taking stock of the reason of his first appearing through sober reflection around his Word and prayer.
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