Isaiah 50:4- “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…”
Luke 2: 11- “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” NKJV
I hope you enjoy this song, “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives, because it is a Christmas tradition, and I listen to it every year!
From my family to yours, “Merry Christmas”! Stay safe and enjoy the holiday! Wonderful Jesus!
Luke 2:13-14- “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” NKJV
Christmas is just a few days away, and there is a lot of excitement in the air. As you walk past people they greet you with a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” and you smile and return the greeting. It’s such a friendly time of the year.
On the night that Jesus was born, the air was filled with excitement. All of the heavens waited with bated breath as Mary went through the normal course of labor and delivery. They couldn’t wait until God had delivered Himself to the world, in the flesh, as a Babe. Nothing like this had ever happened before and because He was so excited, so were they!
An angel was chosen to make the announcement to the shepherds. As instructed, immediately after His birth, the angel stepped out of heaven and the place of invisibility into the land of visibility and appeared to the shepherds. As the angel became visible, the glory of God shone all around, causing great fear and a holy reverence to come upon the scene. Then the angel spoke:
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12 NKJV
Before they could take it all in, before they could breathe, the Bible states that suddenly a multitude of the heavenly hosts appeared on the scene. If they were afraid when one angel appeared, they must have been terrified when a host appeared!
In spite of the fact that this was a lot for the shepherds to take in at one time, the heavenly host couldn’t help itself! What they had just witnessed was so magnificent they had to give God some praise. As they praised Him, God allowed the heavens to part or allowed them to become visible, so the shepherds could witness what was happening:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:14 NKJV
They gave glory to God for the birth of Jesus. They knew this was no ordinary birth, no ordinary child. I know each of us understands the absolute miracle of the birth of our child, or the child of someone we love. We know it is special, miraculous! But this birth went beyond that! God had entered the world in flesh and they absolutely could not hold their peace a moment longer! Glory to God in the highest!
Peace! God had sent peace through His Son. An opportunity for mankind to be reconciled to Him, to experience peace. Paul wrote this about the reconciliation of man and God:
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV
Sweet wonderful Jesus! Peace and goodwill towards men. God’s will is good, and it has been directed towards men. Can I share another verse that comes to mind? I think I will:
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself
Ephesians 1:7-9 NKJV
The angels announced at Jesus’ birth, that it was as a result of God’s will that He extended towards mankind, that Jesus came into the world. It was His good pleasure, which He purposed in Himself, Paul summed up, that gives us redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Glory be to God! This is shouting material!
Every sacrifice in the Old Testament, every law, every statue was poised to point us to the significance of the Person of Jesus Christ, born to Mary, in Bethlehem. Every situation, every event, every recorded instance in the Old Testament was to prepare man for the purpose of God towards mankind, and the time had finally arrived. Jesus was born!
We look back at this event and we rejoice with the angels. But that night, in that field, the shepherds were probably so shocked by what they saw and heard they needed a moment to grasp it all. After the angels left, as suddenly as they had arrived, the shepherds began talking amongst themselves. They probably asked each other some questions about what they saw and heard, but it didn’t take them long to figure out what they needed to do.
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Luke 2:15 NKJV
Of course, they found things as the angel had said. There was no exaggeration, no wrong directions, nothing to interpret. The angel told them where to go, what they would find, and it was as the angel said it would be.
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luke 2:16-18 NKJV
Here’s where it gets to be interesting to me. After the shepherds saw Jesus they went out and made it known to quite a few people that Jesus was born. They told the people what the angel told them about where to find the Savior, and they shared how they had found Him. They told of the multitude of the angelic host that burst onto the scene and gave glory to God! They were so excited that the Messiah, the Christ was born! Here’s what I don’t understand. Luke wrote that those who heard it marveled at what they were told, but he doesn’t say that they rushed to the manger to see Him for themselves!
Isn’t that interesting? They marveled, but they weren’t compelled to go and see the Messiah! Times haven’t changed much. There is truly nothing new under the sun. No matter how much people hear about the Messiah, about how wonderful He is, there will always be those who will marvel but will make no effort to see Him for themselves. Interesting, and sad!
Well, that’s all for now! I have at least one more post I would like to make about the birth of Jesus! Until then, enjoy “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by CeCe Winans! Wonderful Jesus!
Luke 2:10-11- Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
For centuries, the Jewish nation has lived with the promise of a Messiah. The prophecies were as real to them, as the Law which they kept. Every child, male and female, learned of the Messiah. They sat a place for Him Who Was to Come every year during the Passover. They learned of Him from their earliest of days, and now, He is come!
The shepherds are out with their sheep. This is truly another clue that Jesus wasn’t born in December. Shepherds typically stay out with the sheep during the warmer seasons, especially when they are expecting lambs to be born. This is not a hidden fact, it is easily discovered with an internet search. It is suggested that the shepherds would not have been out unless they were expecting lambs; however, I’m still leaning towards the fall because of Elisabeth’s pregnancy. Another reason is that these particular shepherds were not just out watching their flocks, but they lived in the fields, sharing protection and responsibilities of caring for their sheep.
As they recline for the evening, suddenly, an angelic being appears before them. Luke writes that the glory of the Lord was all around the angel, and the shepherds were greatly afraid. Not surprising, since most people were afraid when angels appeared.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
Isaiah spoke of a child being born to us, and here the angel of the Lord tells the shepherds that the Child has been born. Something had to be ringing in their spirits, resonating with what the angel has said in spite of the fear. Maybe their minds went back to that familiar prophecy:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be call Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 ESV
Most of us are familiar with this verse, but let’s go back for a moment to the preceding verses:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
Isaiah 9:2-3 ESV
Did you notice how frequently the word joy, or its synonyms are used in this passage. The people were walking in darkness, as a result of a sin-infested world, but now they have seen a great light! This Light has caused their joy to increase. They are rejoicing with the joy of the harvest. They are glad as those who have conquered and attained a great spoil over their enemy and can now divide the spoil! This is the language of Israel as it prospers!
When Jesus is born, not only is verse six of Isaiah fulfilled, but also the verses before it. The people of Israel has been walking in darkness. Historically, they have had no contact, no encounters with the God who had done so much for them. They are in subjugation to the Roman empire, living beneath their status as the people of God. Maybe the shepherds have been discussing their plight, wondering where the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was in their plight. Maybe they were rehasing stories of the days of glory when David ruled the nation. Maybe they are wishing for the day when the Messiah would come and deliver their people! We don’t know!
But what we do know is that an angel of the Lord appears to them and tells them that he has great news for them. News of joy for all the people! A Child is born! The Messiah is come!
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12 NKJV
The angel then tells them how they will find the Babe, and how they will know He is the Christ! Only one baby was born that night in Bethlehem, in a barn. After His birth, Mary wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a feeding trough. If they hurry, and they should, they will find Him as the angel described!
And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
Luke 2:16 NKJV
They found Him! They found the Christ! He had surely come just as the angel had said! They were so excited! They were thrilled! They were told by an angel of the Messiah’s birth and had been given an angelic invitation to go and visit Him while He was only hours new to the world!
Can’t you feel their excitement? What a beautiful experience it must have been for them! As they watched their flocks, they weren’t expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen! But they were given a heavenly display of the glory of God and invited to witness the Savior, the Babe that was given to us!
We’ve been given that same invitation! We too can experience the joy that comes with the knowledge of the Savior! What an impact that night had on the shepherds! What an impact He has had on my life, on the lives of so many others who realize that the Babe born in the manger, was the Man who hung on the cross for our sins! The real joy to the world, is that though the darkness may linger, we have experienced the Great Light!
We’ll look at the other event of this glorious night in the next blog! Please enjoy this rendition of Joy to the World by Chris Tomlin! Wonderful Jesus!
Luke 1:7- And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. NKJV
A few days ago I had some students arguing about Christmas. Finally, two of them came to me and asked me, “Isn’t Christmas Jesus’ birthday?” Of course, knowing that it is not, I answered, “It’s the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus”. It didn’t take them long to realize that what I said and what they believed didn’t match. They walked away mumbling that their parents had lied to them all of their lives. That was not my intention, it is simply what I believe to be true, and it’s not my practice to lie to validate others.
Theoretically, I believe there are some hints in the Bible that give us a clue as to the actual season of the birth of Jesus. I would like to share them, not to change your mind or discredit this holiday, but to inform you.
Luke’s account of the gospel is written in the form of a letter to a man of distinction named Theophilus. Luke makes this statement:
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:3-4 NKJV
It appears that Theophilus is either a new believer, or a Gentile individual interested in more information about Jesus. So Luke sets pen to paper and embarks on a chronological account of what happened.
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah.
Luke 1:5 NKJV
Luke says that things began when the angel visited Zacharias, the priest, while he was performing his duties in the temple. The course of Abijah was the eighth week of service in the temple. This meant that each priest had an opportunity to serve in the temple for a week, twice a year. I did a Google search to validate that timeframe, and several articles, Jewish articles included, reference the time of this meeting in late May or early June. So we can infer that Elisabeth became pregnant sometime in late June.
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:26-27 NKJV
Luke continues his narrative to Theophilus by telling him that when Elisabeth was six months pregnant, Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she was going to have a son. When she expressed that she was a virgin and didn’t understand how this could happen the angel replied:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 1:35-37 NKJV
This statement places the conception of Jesus around December and His birth around September.
When I was in high school, I became interested in the history surrounding the birth of Jesus. When I opened the encyclopedia and found the heading for Christmas, I was stunned by the first statement in the article calling Christmas a pagan holiday. As I continued to read, I saw that the Roman Church, in a desire to reach the pagans, formally declared that December 25th would be the day of the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This was done in order to make it more receptive to all, as they were already celebrating the sun god. This account is still shared historically.
Is this accurate? It seems to be a part of history and explains why the Bible points us to a different season than our traditions. Does it matter? Yes and no!
Yes, it matters! What the word of God teaches us about a subject, always trumps our traditions. If you remember the conflicts between Jesus and the Pharisees, you will remember that they centered around the truths Jesus imparted versus the traditions of the Pharisees and of men. Also, as Christians, we are honored bound to teach the truth regardless of what is popular. Going back to my students in the introduction, they seemed to be really disappointed that they had not been told the truth about the birth of Jesus.
When we purposefully lie, we cause words of truth to be looked at with skepticism. Telling the truth, even when it isn’t comfortable is what we are called to do. Especially about the things of God.
No, it doesn’t matter. The fact that we celebrate Jesus’ birth is a beautiful thing. It has become commercialized and is filled with many traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with His birth, but the world stops once a year and commemorates that He was born. Keeping things, even celebrations, in the proper context, helps with the genuine faith we have in the Lord!
Here’s what we can all agree upon, whether we choose to celebrate His birth in December, or on another day of the year, He was born. And on the night that He was born, Mary was in a barn because there was no room for her in the inn. After she gave birth to Jesus, she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.
This night, was a holy night. A precious night.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Gabriel said to Mary:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:35 NKJV
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and she brought forth the Holy One who is the Son of God. This makes His night of birth, a holy night. Enjoy this rendition of “O Holy Night” by Mariah Carey. Wonderful Jesus!
Matthew 1:18-19- “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother, Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.” NKJV
I know this is not a Christmas carol, but I heard it in a Christmas play, and I think it should be one! I want to take a few minutes to think about the young people whose lives were forever changed because they obeyed God. There’s a lesson in it for all of us during this holiday season!
Luke writes about the experience of Mary with the angel. We see that time as the precious time that it was, but we know that it didn’t come without trouble. There are a couple references in the Bible that clue us in to the fact that everything wasn’t easy for Mary, although she readily accepted what God wanted for her.
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38 NKJV
Mary wasn’t just a virgin; she was contracted or betrothed to Joseph to become his bride. This meant that Mary and Joseph were legally married. In biblical days, the marriage took place in two stages. The first stage was the betrothal. The woman was lawfully married during this stage but remained in her father’s house. She could not get involved with another man unless she obtained a divorce from her husband. The wedding ceremony was held when the bride was brought from her father’s home to her groom’s home, and the marriage was consummated. In Mary’s case, she was legally married to Joseph, but the wedding had not yet occurred.
Mary’s “Thy will be done” to the Lord brought personal trials and attack on her and on Joseph. When she returned from visiting Elisabeth, she was at least three months pregnant. Her first trial was in telling Joseph that she was pregnant. We see his response in our text:
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”
Matthew 1:19 NKJV
The news that she was pregnant troubled Joseph because they had been chaste in their relationship. Now he is questioning if Mary was as chaste as he was. Her explanation that she was pregnant of God was too much for him to handle. He was trying to decide if he should just get a divorce because he no longer felt like he could trust her. The pain of betrayal must have weighed heavily on his heart.
While Joseph is going through this, Mary has her own issues. Word is probably getting out that she is pregnant, and Joseph isn’t the father. They didn’t have Snapchat or Instagram, but news traveled fast in those days within their communal type of living. Not only does Mary have to deal with Joseph’s rejection, but she has to deal with the rejection of the community, and possibly her family. This was no small task of obedience, no flippant response to obey, and the Bible does not tell us that Mary was kept from the ridicule and embarrassment of being pregnant outside of her contract.
Mary was smack dab in the will of God for her life. Her pregnancy was God-ordained, and God obtained, and yet it didn’t come without hardship. The Bible clearly tells us that Joseph struggled to the point of wanting to divorce her privately. He obviously cared for her because he didn’t want to make things worst for her, but he was seriously considering a divorce. Who could blame him?
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21 NKJV
Just what Joseph needed. His own encounter with the Lord. Yes, God had spoken to Mary through the angel Gabriel, but Joseph needed his own word from the Lord. First, he didn’t know how to believe that Mary was telling the truth. This was not the usual way to get pregnant; it didn’t ring true. Yet, he had watched her life, may have even begun to love her, and was looking forward to the wedding, and now this! So he needed to hear from God for himself! Joseph is now at the place where he can join Mary and say, “Thy will be done!”
Two young people, who obviously loved God, were chosen by God to have responsibility for the life of His Son. They were favored of God, honored of God, but suffered much in their obedience, for Joseph did obey God!
Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Matthew 1:24-25 NKJV
I find this part of the narrative of the birth of Jesus to be necessary. Everything surrounding His birth is filled with mirth. Sometimes we focus on the blessings of His birth without recognizing the price Mary and Joseph paid. Not just in accepting this great responsibility, but all the ridicule that went with it. And later, the hardship of making their way to Bethlehem.
These two young people should be role models for all young people. Young people like to fit in and have the accolades of others. Mary and Joseph no longer held the high esteem of others, and they no longer fit in with the others. Young people don’t want to do the hard thing for Jesus. They are too young and have a life ahead of them to deal with the challenges of obeying Christ. Yet, these young people suffered much to participate in the will of God.
Next time your young person, or even you, want to pout over the challenges of obedience to God, think of Mary and Joseph. They placed everything on the altar: her life, her marriage to Joseph, her dreams, his dreams, his joy of becoming a husband, their place in the community, relationships, and even their reputations. But in the end, His will was done, and they brought forth a son, the Son of God, who saved us from our sins. Enjoy this song by Hillary Scott and family, “Thy Will Be Done”! Wonderful Jesus!
Micah 5:2- “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” NKJV
Christmas is an exciting time of the year! The time Christians all over the world commemorate the birth of Jesus! This holiday season, I am going to take some familiar Christmas carols, and write a blog around them. Then at the end of each blog, I will post the song to add cheer to your holiday season. I trust that you will enjoy the journey!
Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Yet, Bethlehem was the smallest city of them all. What was so special about Bethlehem?
We first read of Bethlehem in Genesis. As Jacob returned home with his family, Rachel went into labor with Benjamin, and she died. Jacob buried her near Bethlehem and thus it was the first mention of the city. (Genesis 35:19; 48:7)
Naomi and her family were from Bethlehem. When the famine was great in Bethlehem, they traveled to the land of the Moabites, and the men died there. Naomi and Ruth returned to Naomi’s ancestral land, where Ruth met and married Boaz. Boaz was David’s great-grandfather.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV
God sent Samuel the prophet to Bethlehem to anoint the king that he had chosen from the house of Jesse. We know that David was that king! Many years later, the prophet Micah gave a prophetic word about the birthplace of the Messiah!
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Micah 5:2 NKJV
Micah said that the One to come forth out of Bethlehem would be the Ruler in Israel. In the fullness of the dispensation of the times, God sent Gabriel to visit a young woman named Mary. She lived in the city of Nazareth, was legally the wife of Joseph, and was awaiting their wedding celebration! Gabriel had this message for her:
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:30-33 NKJV
God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly parents. When Mary became pregnant with Jesus, Joseph was skeptical of the whole situation. But God spoke to him and gave him peace about everything. Thinking everything was settling down, they find out that they have to leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem:
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Luke 2: 1-3 NKJV
Mary is now coming to the end of her pregnancy when Caesar Augustus sends out a decree that all the world should be registered. There must have been some kind of urgency to the decree because Joseph had to leave Nazareth and return to Bethlehem with his wife who was heavy with the child.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
Luke 2:4-5 NKJV
Searching on Google, there are a few discrepancies in the distance between Bethlehem and Nazareth. You think it would be pretty straightforward, but the most common of estimates put Bethlehem at approximately 80 miles from Nazareth. Since they had to walk to Bethlehem, if they traveled about 10 miles a day (which is the guesstimate), it would have taken them about 8 days to make this journey.
Typically, Joseph is depicted as leading a donkey, while a very pregnant Mary rides on that donkey. We have no biblical proof of their journey transpiring in this manner. However, typical of the times, it is probably more likely that they walked there.
Also, the chances are really good that they didn’t make this journey alone. Many people had to return to their homeland. The roadways were probably very busy with people coming and going to Bethlehem and many other cities.
While they were in the city of Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus, Savior of the world!
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
Luke 2:6 NKJV
Traditionally, Joseph and Mary get to the city just in time for Jesus to be born. However, Luke tells us that while they were there, not when they arrived, her time to deliver came, and that’s a big difference. So they had already established that they were staying in the barn because Bethlehem was so crowded and there was no room for them anywhere else. Or, they had a place to stay, but when she went into labor, they were near the inn, but they didn’t have any room and were sent to the barn.
Who knows? Only God really knows what happened that night and why it happened. We have pieces of information that we try and fill in the gaps with our rational thinking. We could be right, we could be wrong! But what we do know is that in the town of Bethlehem, as it was prophesied, the Savior was born to a virgin! O Little Town of Bethlehem! Wonderful Jesus!
Mark 11:27-28- Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
The word “authority” is not an unfamiliar term to anyone. We all understand authority on some level, and either exercises it or have it exercised over us. Parents exercise authority over their children, police exercise authority over criminals and citizens, pastors exercise authority over their flock, and rulers exercise authority over nations. Some exercise with righteousness, while others rule with unrighteousness; yet we all have learned, through living, the power of authority!
Such was the case with this confrontation of the Pharisees with Jesus. The Pharisees had witnessed Jesus’ life and ministry for the past several years. They knew that He exercised a lot of authority over the people. They watched as crowds gathered around Him, followed Him, and sought Him out. They understood Jesus carried a level of authority they had never come up against until He showed up. So as Jesus walked into the temple, they met Him and decided that it was time for a confrontation.
Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Mark 11:27-28 NKJV
The Greek word for authority in our key text is “exousia.” This word carries a variety of meanings that depict authority, which is understandable because authority is seen in many different ways.
As we have gone through the book of Mark we have seen Jesus exercise His authority on several different levels, and we have seen the Pharisees challenge it. In the first chapter of Mark, Jesus begins His ministry of teaching.
And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 1:22 NKJV
The very first encounter the people have with Jesus’ teaching, they note that He taught differently. His teaching session was filled with authority. Not by Him stating His authority, but the way He taught the scriptures wasn’t from a position of a learner, but from the position of the Author. And they could tell the difference, although they had little to no education themselves.
After Jesus finished teaching, a person possessed by a demon came into the temple and began yelling, disrupting the service. But Jesus told the demon to be quiet, and to come out of the man. The demon obeyed Jesus, and the man was set free.
Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
Mark 1:27 NKJV
The people didn’t quite know what to make of Jesus, but they knew that it was different from anything they had ever experienced. Jesus begins to heal the sick, open blind eyes, cleanse lepers, expel demons, and the crowds grew overnight! There was nothing this Jesus couldn’t do, including the forgiving of sins. And as the Pharisees watch and listen, they are not happy about it.
Then Jesus did the unthinkable. He made light of the Sabbath traditions and was teaching His disciples, by example, to do the same. So the Pharisees decided to test Jesus, to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. They arranged for a man with a withered hand to be in the temple when Jesus arrived, and when He saw the man, Jesus responded to the challenge of His authority.
Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.
Mark 3:4 NKJV
Jesus was pretty upset with them because of the hardness of their heart, but it didn’t stop Him from restoring the man’s hand. After He healed the man’s hand, the Pharisees were so angry that they decided to plot with the Herodians to destroy Him. Not because He healed the man on the Sabbath day, but because He took authority that they felt He had no right to possess.
At this point, the gauntlet has been tossed, and the Pharisees went away knowing that a Man of authority had overruled their authority and they had to do something about it or be destroyed.
The Pharisees operated in traditional authority, “the authority of the eternal yesterday”, according to Webster. As religious leaders of the Jewish faith, they were able to exercise authority over the people in the synagogue and in their personal lives. But Jesus, in just a few short weeks has demonstrated charismatic authority (influence from personal strength and charisma), reverent authority (as a result of His compassion for the people), and expert authority as He expounded on the truths of God, to name a few.
All of this troubled the Pharisees. They had never seen anything like it! They have watched Jesus and have seen and heard of some pretty amazing things, but because of their hatred of Him and their anger over His influence with the people, they didn’t care about the good He was doing for others!
If you will recall at the beginning of Mark 11, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey. He was hailed as King. He went into the temple and threw out the moneychangers, turned over tables, and ran off the animals they were selling.
Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Mark 11:15-17 NKJV
This was a different type of authority Jesus exercised. Jesus was on their turf, overthrowing that which they had approved. He was uprooting their authority with a claim that outweighed their traditional authority. This was His Father’s house and based on this truth, He had the legal authority, the right, to throw them out of the temple! So when they asked their question, it was in response to His challenge of their authority in the temple. Jesus offers this response to their challenge:
“I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
Mark 11:29-30 NKJV
One commentator called this an evasive tactic on Jesus’ part. However, I disagree. He wasn’t avoiding their question, He was challenging them by asking a question He knew they would not want to answer.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
Mark 11:31-33 NKJV
John was indeed a prophet. But Jesus was more than a prophet. In acknowledging that John the Baptist was truly from heaven, they would have been admitting that they rejected the Lamb of God of whom John testified, the Messiah whose path he made straight! They couldn’t do that. Neither could they say that John was purely operating by the will of men. They saw the trap for what it was, so they declined to answer by saying they didn’t know, or could not tell.
Therefore, Jesus responds to them:
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:33b NKJV
I’m out of time and will have to leave it here! But since this isn’t the end of the Pharisees attack on Jesus and His authority, neither is it mine. Until next time, Wonderful Jesus!
Mark 11:25-26- “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” NKJV
Jesus just finished explaining how God operates faith! He says what He believes, and He gets what He says. Jesus tells us that we too can operate in this type of faith. This is more serious than saying, “I believe I’m going to have a billion dollars by next year” and receiving it when you don’t have a hundred dollars. God is not your genie in a bottle! However, when we have faith in God, we can use His faith, to see the impossible!
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says”
Mark 11:23 NKJV
He shall have whatever he says! Operating like God gets the results that God gets! He speaks what He believes, and He receives it. Jesus talked just like God! He told the tree that no one would eat of it again, and it dried up. He told people that they were healed, and they were healed. He spoke to demons and told them to leave, and they left!
The caveat in this verse is that we can’t have doubt in our heart, but must believe it will be done! Either Jesus exaggerated and didn’t know what He was talking about, or we have allowed our experiences to dictate a falsehood that supersedes the truth of what Jesus said! These were not Mark’s words! These are not my words! These are not the words of men and women who say “you can’t lose with the stuff I use!’ These are the words of the Savior! So they are true!
Here’s a thought! Instead of drawing the conclusion that this doesn’t work, maybe we should be drawing the conclusion that our faith in God, to believe like God, isn’t where it should be. And maybe, if we stop thinking that we only need a little faith to move mountains, when it takes great faith, we can actually begin to trust Jesus to assist us in growing the faith that we do have!
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
The place of prayer should be the most exciting time in the day of the believer. After all, it’s the time when we get to talk with the Lord and to have Him speak back to us. But for most of us, it’s the most frustrating place in our life! Praying without seeing the results that we expect to see can cause many to lose heart and to faint, or to just stop expecting things to happen. But maybe the problem with your unanswered prayers has nothing to do with the size of your faith, and everything to do with unforgiveness.
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25-26 NKJV
Tony Evans shares that there are two types of forgiveness. Unilateral forgiveness and transactional forgiveness. In short, unilateral forgiveness happens or needs to happen when the person you need to forgive is no longer around. For example, if they are dead but you are still harboring unforgiveness, this is unilateral. Only you are involved in the process, and you need to forgive that person so that you can be free to move on with your life! Only you are held in bondage to this type of unforgiveness and only you can bring about your freedom when you choose to forgive! God is right there with you to assist you, but it’s your choice!
Transactional forgiveness occurs when there is a relationship that needs repairing. If I hurt my spouse and I need to ask for forgiveness so that our marriage will grow and be strengthened, this is called transactional forgiveness.
Jacob and Esau were twins who never could seem to get their relationship right. After Jacob received the blessing from Isaac, Esau was so angry, he wanted to kill Jacob.
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Genesis 27:41 NKJV
Things were so bad between the brothers that Jacob fled to Laban’s to preserve his life. But when Jacob returned home many years later we see that he remembers the hatred of his brother and he was afraid!
Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
Genesis 32:11 NKJV
From what we read in scriptures about the twins, they were never shown as being friendly with each other. Jacob was loved by Rebekah and Esau was loved by Isaac. This had to be tough growing up knowing that they were loved by only one parent, which had its own set of issues. But now Jacob wants to return to the land of his family and he knows that things were never right between him and Esau, so he is concerned about the reception he will receive from Esau. So much so, he prays and asks God to deliver him from Esau!
But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
Genesis 33:4 NKJV
Somehow Esau found it in his heart to embrace his brother. Since the bible doesn’t tell us what happened, we do know at some point in his life, maybe just the night before, he had to forgive Jacob for the wrongs against him. And Jacob had to forgive Esau. It was transactional forgiveness, and it was necessary for them to both live in the same land without warring against one another. Maybe they were never close, but they were at peace. Transactional forgiveness can bring peace, and it can also bring restoration!
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25-26 NKJV
Jesus said to His disciples that if we don’t forgive, neither will God forgive us! That’s harsh! But it is true! We can find all kinds of reasons, legitimate reasons, why we are hurting and can’t see how we can forgive the person who wronged us, but when we camp there, know that God won’t forgive us! It doesn’t even sound fair to know that someone can abuse you and God says that you must forgive that person in order for Him to forgive you!
Someone can cheat on you, break your heart, destroy your family, and God says, you have to forgive them so that He can forgive you! Someone has lied on you, destroyed your character, stolen your money, killed your love one, and God says, you must forgive them, so that He can forgive you!
Here’s the point, in case you missed it! You forgive, because you will always stand in need of His forgiveness. Maybe not in this situation, but there will be a situation. And when you are before Him, you want to receive forgiveness from the Most High God! No one’s opinion or forgiveness matters more than His does. And so you forgive, so that He will forgive you!
When you stand before Him praying, and you need a mountain to move, know that forgiveness places you in a position to hear God; and when He speaks and tells you what to say, mountains will move! Wonderful Jesus!
Mark 11:22-23- So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. .” NKJV
In today’s post, I want to continue with the withered tree and the lesson I have learned from what Jesus said to the disciples about the tree. I’ll admit, this isn’t a personal revelation that I received from God in prayer or a dream, I have heard this preached over the years. But my spirit leaps every time I read it, hear it preached, or think about it, because I believe it is true.
Jesus cursed the fig tree the night before. He didn’t actually say that He was cursing the tree, but when He said, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again,” it was a curse. He didn’t command the tree to die, He just said that no one would ever eat from it again, and therefore the tree had to die!
On that next morning, when they passed that way, Peter noticed a withered tree. He had just passed that way the night before and there was no withered tree, and now there is. Then he remembered the fig tree that had been standing there, full of leaves, but no figs, and what Jesus had said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again!”
“Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
Mark 11: 21 NKJV
This had to be an amazing thing for them because we are still amazed at this event. It takes longer than a few hours for a tree to wither up! It does! But the tree dried up from the roots, and the people were amazed.
“And Jesus answering saith to them, `Have faith of God;
Mark 11:22 YLT
Again! In Young’s Literal Translation, the phrase is “have faith of God”. Jesus spoke these words to the crowd and then describes to the disciples what God’s faith is like.
for verily I say to you, that whoever may say to this mount, Be taken up, and be cast into the sea, and may not doubt in his heart, but may believe that the things that he saith do come to pass, it shall be to him whatever he may say. Because of this I say to you, all whatever — praying — ye do ask, believe that ye receive, and it shall be to you.
Mark 11:22-24 YLT
Jesus said that whoever says to this mountain or speaks to this mountain, he shall have whatever he says. Now I know this sounds like “name it and claim it” or “blab it and grab it” but if you will give me a few more minutes, maybe we can walk away with some things settled about this verse.
In Genesis, God looks at the earth, doesn’t like the state that earth is in and, starts speaking!
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Genesis 1:2 NKJV
God said! Throughout creation, every single thing that happened was a result of what God said. God said let there be light, and there was light! God said, and things started happening. Waters began to separate from one another revealing land! Trees and grass sprung up at His word. The sun, moon, and stars appeared in the sky because He said so! I think you get the point! If not, here it is, God’s faith was exercised by what He said, and what He said caused those things that were not to become what they are.
The writer of Hebrews said it like this:
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3 NKJV
The phrase “word of God” is the Greek word “rhema” and it means “that which is said”. This verse agrees with the verses in Genesis that the worlds were framed, created by what God said! So this is the biblical base that God’s faith is displayed by speaking. Let’s look at what Paul had to say about God’s faith:
God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
Romans 4:17-18 NKJV
Notice Paul said that God calls those things which do not exist as though they did exist! And then Paul points out that Abraham became the father of many nations according to what was spoken by God!
I think that the doubters have given this concept a bad rap by stating that those who believe this truth think they can “name it and claim it” or “blab it and grab it”! While I understand that there have been those who have abused this teaching, that doesn’t negate that this teaching is true! There are those who criticize others who believe in divine healing, but that doesn’t make it false teaching. And there are those who don’t believe that Jesus was physically raised from the dead, but that doesn’t cancel out the truth of the event! He has risen!
Jesus spoke to the fig tree and it withered up and died. Whether He was telling the disciples to believe in God who speaks, or whether He was telling them that they could operate like the God who speaks, they are both powerful truths! And can you really operate like Him when you don’t believe in Him? I don’t think so!
Now that we see that faith speaks, the other part of faith is “there is no doubt in your heart.” This is a tough one. I refuse to argue with people about who has faith, and who doesn’t have faith. Nor do I care to address those who use this for their personal gain, causing harm and building distrust around the word of God. My point is to share what I believe that Jesus was saying to His disciples and to us so that we can experience a living faith! God never doubts that what He says will happen because He knows that it is going to happen! That’s the higher level of faith that Jesus is calling us to! Never doubting what God has said!
Jesus used a mountain, that we all know is physically impossible for us to move, yet He said with God’s faith, it can move! Most people lean towards Jesus speaking metaphorically for that reason, but I’m not 100% that a mountain won’t move with faith! However, I won’t tax your patience because those metaphorical mountains are hard enough to move!
God’s faith is not about positive thinking or speaking although it may look like it in some regards. When we exercise the faith of God, we agree with God, what His word says, and then we say it and stand on it no matter what!
What does that look like? Some people say that they have never been sick. That is not my testimony. However, when I am attacked in my body with sickness, I tell my body what God says about sickness:
Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 NKJV
Sometimes the symptoms leave immediately. Sometimes they linger. But I am not healed because the symptoms have left, I am healed because God said that I am healed. And that’s what I believe! Wonderful Jesus!
Mark 11:20-21- Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” NKJV
Jesus cursed a fig tree and it dried up! Overnight! Jesus and His disciples were walking along when He noticed a fig tree.
Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
Mark 11:12-14 NKJV
Can we just stop and think about this situation for a second? Jesus, who is always in control, who could have spoken to that fig tree and commanded figs to appear to satisfy His hunger, does the opposite and curses it. I’ve wondered why He would do such a thing. After all, it was not the season for figs, and yet He went over to it looking for fruit. Doesn’t this seem a little strange? Well, it does to me, and so I had to investigate to see if there could be another explanation.
I will admit that there are some commentators who believe that this incident did not really happen. They believe that Jesus did not curse a literal fig tree and then it withered up the next day. They call this another one of His parables. There are others who believe it actually did happen. I am not calling myself a commentator, but I truly believe this was a literal happening of a fig tree withering away at Jesus’ command. Having said that, I agree that this was not so much about hunger, there was a deeper meaning.
The fig tree has been part of the biblical narrative since Genesis. When Adam and Eve committed high treason against God, they covered themselves in fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). When the 12 spies went out for Joshua, they brought back grapes, pomegranets, and figs (Numbers 13:23) to show the richness of the land. When Solomon was king, the safety, peace, and prosperity of the land was pictured as a man sitting under his fig tree (1 Kings 4:25). And here in the gospel of Mark, Jesus curses a fig tree.
Those that believe it was a literal event sees the cursing of the fig tree as a lesson to the Jewish nation. As the fig tree had leaves and no fruit, were the Jewish religious leaders; they had the trappings of fruitfulness, but no fruit. In yet another commentator’s discussion, Israel is the fig tree that produces no fruit, and is therefore cursed, that their mission may be given to another, the Gentiles. Lastly, it is believed that the parable of the fig tree points to the parable of the fig tree not having fruit:
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luke 13:6-7 NKJV
It is as if Jesus gave the nation of Israel time to bear fruit while He conducted His public ministry, but here at the end, they are still without fruit! So they have lost their ability to bear fruit! It’s a lot to think about!
But here are a couple things we can definitely say about the withered tree; first, this is the only miracle that was as a result of a cursing. When Jesus told the tree it would never bear fruit again, it was never going to bear fruit again, and that was a curse. Period! Secondly, Peter drew attention to the withered tree as if it was a big deal! Which from my point of view, and thousands of others, this was indeed a big deal! Also, with Mark mentioning that they all saw the withered tree, we can definitely say that this was not a parable, but an event that happened in the life and ministry of Jesus!
And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mark 11:20-21 NKJV
The miracle was so astounding that Mark described the fig tree as dried up from the roots. Its very source of life was cut off, and it immediately died. Had the tree died a week later or even a month later, it would have still been attributed to Jesus’ words, and would have still been miraculous! But this happened from evening to morning. And all of the disciples saw it! But of course, Peter is the one to make mention of the fact.
I can truly understand how some might try to pass this off as not really happening. It’s pretty unbelievable. But it’s as dangerous as passing off the virgin birth as not being literal, or the resurrection as not being literal. If we start taking out the parts of the Bible we have a difficult time believing or understanding, then where will that lead us? I’ll tell you where that type of interpretation will lead us; to a state of confusion, illusions, and delusion. Not a path I am going to go down, or lead anyone else to. And if you will notice, I let you know when something is my opinion, or my thinking, which is different from something being the unadulterated truth of the word of God!
In response to Peter’s statement of the withered fig tree, Jesus said:
Have faith in God.
Mark 11:22 NKJV
In the Young’s Literal, these words say it a little differently,
Have faith of God.
Mark 11:22 YLT
I believe this response is as controversial as the withered fig tree, and I will go into it more in my next blog. For now, I want to address the differences in this phrase.
When we speak of having faith in God, it is a profound statement. Looking at the withered fig tree, Jesus is drawing attention to the fact that He is God, and Peter and the others should have faith in Him.
Another aspect of having faith in God, is to remind them that with God, all things are possible. There is literally no other answer for how God moves. If it can be explained, it isn’t God. We are always looking to explain things in the Christian faith, and some times I believe that we just need to tell people, they are going to have to trust God on some things! That’s it! No other explanation! So looking at the fig tree, if you have faith in God, this fig tree withering is not that hard to conceptualize as a literal event.
Have the faith of God is more of a phrase that tell us how God operates. Since God spoke to the earth and told it to bring forth trees, can’t God speak to the tree and tell it to die? Both aspects are powerful theological themes. Believing in God and acknowledging how He operates! Jesus was giving a lesson to the disciples. The lesson that He wanted the disciples to understand is our topic for my next blog!
As I said in the beginning, I was wondering if there was another explanation other than Jesus being hungry. While I accept that Mark said it was because He was hungry, I also believe there was more to what happened than the disciples realized at the time. Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus!