It’s Advent in the church year. What does that mean? Generally the church focuses on the coming of Jesus at Christmas time, how God the creator of the universe came in the flesh born as a human baby in pretty dire conditions. But also, Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus. We know that the first time around, many people who were waiting for the Messiah missed him. How exactly does a person be ready for that and why did so many of God’s chosen people miss Jesus the first time?
Today we’re gonna look at some scriptures that show us what the Old Testament told people about Jesus ahead of time. According to jewfaq.org many of the jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah to come. Messiah or “mashiach” as they say it in Hebrew means “the anointed.”
According to the website jewfaq.org:
The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as "mashiach ben David" (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.
Before the time of the mashiach, there shall be war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16)
The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5). He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15).
If you read each of the verses that are cited here, they don't necessary back up the things that the author says they do.
What can we learn from this?
Don’t just read the Bible and then decide for yourself what it means. Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
In Matthew 21, Jesus is talking to the chief priests and the elders of the people. It would be like Jesus showing up at a Pastor’s convention or the AFLC annual conference where the decisions are made about the direction we should go in our biblical teachings. Guys, this is God Himself as a man telling these important Jewish leaders what they need to do.
Read Matthew 21: 28-32:
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
We all know why prostitutes are considered to be the lowest of people. Tax collectors were also considered to be trashy people because they made their money off of taking money from their own people and giving it to the Romans and pocketing whatever else they are able to get.
What did the religious leaders need to do differently to “get it?”
Humility would be a good start.
Yes, Jesus died for our sins and that is where the most important transaction occurred and the whole reason we are right with God, because of Jesus' willingness to suffer and die. And yet prior to that, he spent 3 years walking around on foot, teaching people, calling them to repent and change the way they were living, and living a life of humility and service to others. The Bible tells us that He cried over Jerusalem. (That is where the important Jewish leaders lived.)
Read Luke 19:41-44
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” Or as the ESV says, “you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
So how do we be careful to not miss the point?
Don’t read the Bible and then decide for yourself what it means. Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit when reading God’s Word.
Don’t just blindly believe anything a spiritual leader tells you. This includes me. Read the Bible for yourself and realize that the context may be different back then than it is today.
Be humble and have a soft heart so that the Holy Spirit can teach you and mold you and guide you.
Keep the main thing the main thing. Jesus came to die for the sins of the world and all we have to do is believe in Him to receive forgiveness and become a child of God.
Let's pray. Jesus, we don't know everything. Most likely all of us believe some things that aren't true. Keep us humble and seeking to follow your will and your way. Spirit of Jesus, guide us we read scripture throughout our lives so that we hear and learn what you are really saying. We look forward to your return whether it is with a trumpet or in some way that we didn't expect.
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