Christ Church

Christmas as Cornerstone (Christmas 2022)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

On a number of different occasions, we have reminded you of the importance of having all our times and seasons defined in relationship to Jesus Christ. The only real alternative to this is to have them defined in reference to someone or something else, and this is obviously an unacceptable alternative to all faithful Christians.

Jesus Christ really has been established as the king of all heaven and earth. The federal building downtown has a stone embedded in the wall that tells us the building was put up in the administration of Richard Nixon, 1973. The dating of Christmas 2022 tells us the same kind of thing, which is that the new heavens and the new earth are under construction, and have been for just over 2,000 years.

THE TEXT

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Is. 9: 6-7).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

There are many things to note in this glorious text, and it is right that we are reminded of this on many Christmas cards. The message of Christmas is politically incendiary, if you think about it, and it is not for nothing that secularists are trying to get us to forget Jesus with their C.E. (Common Era) and B.C.E. (Before Common Era), and seasonal conifers instead of Christmas trees. Nice try, but we aren’t buying any.

We were not given a son who aspired to have the government be on His shoulder. The result of His coming is promised just as surely as His coming was, and that result was that the “government shall be upon his shoulder” (v. 6). No, the child is born. No, the Son is given (v. 6). This government will be established in fact (as it was over 2,000 years ago), and the growth and increase of that government will necessarily be inexorable. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (v. 7). His government will not be manifested all at once because this same prophecy describes it as needing to be ordered and established with judgment and justice. But this will happen, and we have the assurance that God is zealous to accomplish this. And so this is the point of Christmas—a cornerstone in the building of a new humanity, a new heaven and a new earth.

AN “INSIGNIFICANT” FAITHFULNESS

A moment’s reflection should reveal that the calendar system we have now was not instituted by Herod the Great just after the wise men got away, or by Caesar Augustus. When did this happen? And who did it? Anyone who has read their Herodotus knows that the Scythians were a rough bunch, a reputation that may be reflected in the New Testament (Col. 3:11). But by the 5th century, there was a thriving Christian church in Scythia, and at that time there was a Scythian monk named Dennis. The ancient form of that name would have been Dionysus. Because that name was so common then, he took the nickname of Exiguus. And so you are now introduced to Dennis the Insignificant, who, as the providence of God would have it, was one of the most significant figures of all church history. He moved to Rome around 500 A.D. and he was the one who proposed that the calendar system be changed to date from the birth of Jesus Christ.

In his calendar, the New Year was the 25th of March (the Feast of the Annunciation), ninth months before Christmas. After all, that is when the Incarnation happened. So for a thousand years, the Christian new year was March 25, and it was not moved to January 1 until Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar once more in 1582. And of course, we now know that Jesus was probably born in 4 B.C. and not four years later. But the issue is symbol, not simple reenactment.

SYMBOLS AND FAILED SYMBOLS

Several centuries before Dionysus, the emperor Diocletian revealed himself as a serious megalomaniac by trying to change the dating system to count everything from the year he became emperor. The Jewish false Messiah, Simeon Bar-Kochba, did the same thing. The devotees of the French Revolution attempted the same trick, dating the events of the whole world from 1792. But the Scriptures stand firm. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. But these clowns at least knew how important the issue is, which is more than we can say of many Christians. The Anti-Christian Liberties Union (ACLU) knows that getting Christmas trees off public property is well worth fighting for.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AS INSURRECTION

How do we define our lives? More than this, how do we define our lives as a people? Far from retreating into a minimalist celebration, or no celebration at all, we as Christians must take far greater advantage of the opportunities we have in all of this. Now the Lord Jesus is on His throne. And His government will continue to increase, whether or not you put up a Christmas tree.

But He works through instruments, and one of His central instruments for establishing His kingdom on earth is the faith of His people. Faith in what? Not faith in a holiday, or in the spirit of Christmas, or anything like that. We are talking about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. We are talking about His Incarnation, His sinless life, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His enthronement at the right hand of the Father.

Another version of this message was preached many years ago.

Read Full Article

His Banner Over Me is Love (Christmas 2022)

Christ Church on

INTRODUCTION

The Song of Songs is both a love song between Solomon and his wife, as well as an allegory of the love of God for Israel, prefiguring the incarnate love of Christ for His Bride, the Church.

When the Word became flesh, He “tabernacled” among us, dwelling with us like a faithful bridegroom, come for His faithless bride. When He came, He came to build a new house, the Church, which turns out is a feasting hall, but this is the kind of festival that organizes the participants into platoons and regiments. The love of God establishes the armies of God.

THE TEXT

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love” (Song 4:2).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Literally, the bride says that she has been brought to a “house of wine,” which may literally refer to King Solomon’s palace, but the broader allegorical allusion would be to the tabernacle and temple, where wine was regularly offered as a drink offering to the Lord (e.g. Ex. 29:38-40). But drinking wine was strictly prohibited in the presence of the Lord (Lev. 10:9). So it is very striking when Jesus turns around 150 gallons water of purification (for going into the temple) into wine at a wedding feast, and then He proceeds to establish a feast with wine in His presence that we celebrate until the end of the world (Jn. 2:1-11, 1 Cor. 11:26).

The word for “banner” can be translated as “ensign, military standard, or tribal division.” The same word is used elsewhere in the Song: “Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners… Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, andterrible as an army with banners?” (Song 6:4, 10). The book of Numbers also used the same word many times to describe the tribes of Israel arrayed as a war camp around the tabernacle and how they go out to battle (Num. 1:52, 2:2ff, 10:14ff).

AUGUSTINE’S WELL-ORDERED LOVE

In City of God, Augustine says, “It seems to me, a brief and true definition of virtue is ‘rightly ordered love’” (Book XV. 22). And he cites our text as it is translated into Greek: “That is why in the holy Song of Songs Christ’s bride, the City of God, sings, ‘Set love in order in me’.” The connotations of “banner” with the military organization of Israel make sense of this translation.

CONCLUSION

At Christmas, God came for His wayward bride in His love, but that love not only saves and rescues, it offers the wine of joy and celebration. And yet, this is not an anarchic joy, it is the joy of the Lord, and therefore, it is a joy that drives us to greater holiness, greater virtue, greater militance. Because Christ was born, we are the armies of God. Because Christ is born, our festivals are warfare. So guard your hearts. Guard your families. And guard this joy. “Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior shouting because of wine.” (Ps. 78:65).

Read Full Article

Unbelief on Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve 2022)

Christ Church on

Unbelief has a mysterious ability to tie knots in just about anything. Because unbelief is a function of the heart and will, it can operate in defiance of right reason, known facts, unambiguous texts, and just plain good sense. Unbelief knows what it wants, and what it wants most of all is the liberty to lock its knees and to just say no.

On one occasion, the Pharisees and chief priests sent out some officers to bring Jesus in (John 7:32). When they came back empty-handed, they were asked the reason why, and they said that no one ever spoke the way Jesus was speaking (John 7:46). The unbelieving rulers replied with a verbal sneer. Has anyone important or accredited believed in Him (John 7:48)? Nicodemus intervened and asked whether or not they ought to hear Jesus out before passing judgment (John 7:50-51). At this the rulers and Pharisees responded with another sneer. Are you from Galilee too? Check into it, bozo, and you will find out that no prophet arises from Galilee (John 7:52).

But what does Isaiah say, that prince of prophets? What did he say about Galilee?

And this was no obscure passage in an obscure book. We need to realize that this great light arising from Galilee is one of the brightest lights in the entire Old Testament—and it shines in words familiar to just about everyone here, because they are kind of impossible to miss.

That is what rises in Galilee.

And if we wanted to speak with a biblical trope, we could say that this passage has adorned a multitude of Christmas cards, in number like the grains of sand on the sea shore. It is one of the most well-known passages from the entire Old Testament.

What was the nature of this light? The light was going to begin small. Unto us a child is born. The light was going to start as a fertilized egg, and was going to appear in the world as an infant boy. This boy was doing to grow up in Galilee, but because the prophet Micah had also spoken, it was necessary for Caesar Augustus to wield what he thought was his prerogative, and to order that the whole world be taxed (Luke 2:1). As a consequence, this boy was born in his ancestral town, which was Bethlehem of Judea, but afterward His family returned to Nazareth, which was in Galilee.

Christ is that light who came into the world, and He did so in order to enlighten every man (John 1:9). Wake, o sleeper, Paul says, and Christ will shine on you (Eph. 5:14). This is the light of the kingdom that this child king brought into the world. This is the rule and realm of Jesus Christ, and the light of this kingdom is an ever-increasing light. Isaiah tells us this expressly. Does he not? “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it.”

This rule of Christ is the light, and the rule is an ever-increasing light. Not only will it never go out, it will never stop getting brighter. Christmas lights are the future of the world.

But when we look at the stupidity of our race, coupled with our venality and corruption, we find this kind of staggering promise a little hard to believe. And this is why we must pay attention to the last phrase in this promise—the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. It will not be the wisdom of man that does it. It will not be the pure motives of our parliaments and presidents. It will not be the sophistication of our universities that ushers in this state of affairs. No, it will be the zeal of the Lord.

I spoke a moment ago about the stubbornness of unbelief. We think in our folly that we can brace ourselves in such a way as that such unbelief could put God off. No, remember that the zeal of the Lord is going to convert the entire world, and will never stop growing in that world.

And so I want to conclude with a word to the unconverted. Christmas is a time of year when you are reminded more often than usual of the centrality of Christ. So if the zeal of the Lord of hosts is coming for you, then realize that whatever you do to resist will be entirely futile. There you are, barricaded in the dirty little apartment of your heart, and you have all the furniture you possess piled up against the door. You think that will do it? You think you can hold out against this Christmas message? Christmas is just the first few words of the message, and the whole thing includes His life, His passion, His burial, and His resurrection. And after His resurrection, remember how He just appeared in the upper room, with no need to use the door. So when He wants you to follow Him, He can just come in, without so much as a “by your leave,” and start cleaning things up. The zeal of the Lord of hosts is up to whatever challenges you present.

And so here is your Christmas invitation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. Come. Come now. No need to hold out, and as you should realize, no use holding out. Christ is Lord. Give up your unbelief. Lay down your arms. A prophet does arise from Galilee.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, amen

And merry Christmas.

Read Full Article

Herod (Profiles in Christmas #2)

Christ Church on

THE TEXT

Psalm 2

HEROD THE GREAT

The story begins with Herod the Great in Matthew 2. Herod, who is not really Jewish, is appointed King of the Jews in 40 BC. He is famous for his building projects, but even more so for his blood-thirsty greed. Herod dies in 4 BC and his kingdom is divided between three sons.
Herod has at least 10 wives, the more important are listed here.

Mariamne 1 – Is married for her family connections. She has several children, but her first son is Aristobulus, who Herod kills in 7 BC.
Mariamne 2 – Is the daughter of one of the High Priests. She has Herod Phillip, who is the unfortunate first husband of Herodias.
Doris – Herod’s first wife, who is let go. She has Antipater, killed by Herod in 4 BC.

Malthace – A Samaritan woman who has Antipas and Archelaus. They take over Galilee and Judea respectively after Herod’s death.
Cleopatra (of Jerusalem) – She has Phillip the tetrarch who takes over Herod’s northern lands after his death.

HEROD ANTIPAS

The curses on unfaithfulness last for three to four generations and we see them do this with Herod. Herod’s kingdom was divided between three sons. One of whom we hear about in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 6:14-29). We meet this same Herod a little bit later in the Book of Luke as Pontius Pilate learns that Jesus was from Galilee (Luke 23:6-12).

HEROD AGRIPPA

Antipas later has his kingdom stripped from him and his territory is given to Herod Agrippa, his nephew and the son of Aristobulus, Mariamne’s son killed by Herod the Great in 7 BC. We first hear from Agrippa in Acts 12

DRUSILLA, BERNICE, AND AGRIPPA II

Herod Agrippa had three children who we hear more from later on. In Acts 24:24 we run into Drusilla, Agrippa’s daughter, Herod the Great’s great grand daughter. Paul is handed over to Festus who needs help writing the charges against Paul and requests the aid of Agrippa, the previous Agrippa’s son. This new Agrippa shows up with Bernice, Acts 25 & 26, his sister and hears Paul out. Agrippa, though rattled by Paul’s testimony, remains hard hearted and helps Festus send Paul off to Ceasar (Nero) where he eventually will be martyred.

CONCLUSION

Herod’s story offers us a perfect example of what the conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent really looks like. This story is going on all around us right now, but must be seen with the eye of faith.

Read Full Article

Give Thanks By Faith

Christ Church on

THE TEXT

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, Make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, Talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name:Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, Seek his face continually. Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; O ye seed of Israel his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. Be ye mindful always of his covenant; The word which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, And of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, And to Israel for an everlasting covenant, Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance; When ye were but few, Even a few, and strangers in it. And when they went from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, And do my prophets no harm. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; Shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; His marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: But the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; Strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth: The world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: And let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: Let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, Because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever. And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, That we may give thanks to thy holy name, And glory in thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:7–36).

Read Full Article