The suffering servant (Part 8): His suffering was the will of God

The joy of most parents is to see their children excel in life and become needful in the society. Very few parents desire that their children suffer and go through extreme and excessive pain. For some parents even seeing their children leave the house to boarding institutions, work in a new city, join the army, leave to their marital homes etc. could be a hard thing for them to grasp. Our desire is to be protective, caring and show our deepest love for children sometimes clouds us so much that any decision our children make with a potential to harm them is strongly opposed. Thus, on the average, the majority of parents will strongly oppose any form of action that has the potential to hurt or bring pain to their children. God the Father’s only begotten Son was Jesus Christ. When humanity fell into sin, the only way back to God was through sacrifice and atonement. The price God paid for our redemption was the life of His only begotten Son. Imagine the atrocities that were meted out on God’s Son. Jesus being fully aware that whatever He had to experience was so that humanity would be redeemed never protested nor opposed the Father’s will.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭ (Isaiah 53:10)

As we continue our discussion on the suffering servant, we need to understand why the servant went through all that was described in the Messianic prophecy. According to Isaiah 53:10, “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.‭‭” The suffering of this servant was not coincidental nor was it an accidental suffering. It was the will of the Lord to “crush him and cause him to suffer.” And in so doing, “the Lord makes his life an offering for sin.” Ultimately, the offspring of the Lord will be seen and the days of the servant will be prolonged because the will of God will prosper. Thus, the servant’s ultimate mission was to satisfy the Lord’s will. These prophetic words came to pass in the life, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. John 3 :16 summarizes this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The crucifixion of Jesus was a tough experience considering the fact that the people Jesus came to save didn’t make his death an easy peasy journey. He was beaten, ridiculed and ultimately crucified. Yet, His death was God’s will for restoration. Jesus did not just pay the price, He Himself was the price. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus has brought to God many other brothers and sisters including me and you. The family of God has expanded because the death of Jesus has brought many more people to the saving knowledge of God. The price has already been paid,  let’s go out there and bring in more brothers and sisters. There is more room for more people. Everyone is welcome!

He will rain bread from heaven

Hunger is not a third world problem, it is a global problem. Hunger can lead people to do things that are morally bad in order to be filled. In the Old Testament, we saw how Esau carelessly sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew (Genesis 25:33-34) because he was very hungry. At one point, the army of Israel was so hungry that they ate animals with their blood in it (1 Samuel 24:33). At another time, the king of Israel was disgusted and angry to know that two women decided to eat their own children because of hunger and they succeeded in eating one child (2 Kings 6:28-29). In the 21st century, hunger is the course of most of the vices that happen on the street. People go the extra mile to hurt and even kill others in order to satisfy their hunger. If these stories of hunger are unpleasant, imagine leading a whole hungry nation for days. This was what happened when the people of Israel experienced hunger in the wilderness:

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”‭‭ (Exodus‬ ‭16:1‭-‬3‬).

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭16:4‬)

Imagine over a million people screaming at Moses and Aaron to do something about their hunger. These were the same people who had experienced the manifest power of God through the working of miracles. They experienced a great deliverance that took them from Egypt to their current location. Yet, when they were hungry, they totally forgot that the God who easily parted the Red sea can so easily provide them with food to satisfy their hunger. Before you consider the Israelites as ungrateful people, just consider the many instances the Lord God has graciously provided for you, yet at the sight of another situation, you murmured and complained as if God has never done anything in your life. We are all guilty of this. Whether hungry or filled, we should acknowledge that God still provides. How did God deal with this situation? In Exodus‬ 16:4-5‬, the Lord God said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

“Bread from heaven” was God’s solution to a national hunger crisis. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31‬). The Israelites survived on manna for 40 years. God did not cease in those 40 years to rain manna for the people to be satisfied. This amazing miracle of God’s provision sustained an entire nation for 40 years until they tasted the produce from their new home. God did not miss out in providing bread to the people. As the people delighted in the bread so much and saw it as the sustenance, God reminded than in ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:3‬ that even the hunger was His own way to humble the nation and then feeding them with manna, which neither them nor their ancestors had known, to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Thus, bread is good but is not the only way to survive. Man’s survival also depends on the word of God which is an eternal bread. During Jesus’ temptation, “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:2‭-‬3‬).

Jesus reminded the tempter that “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬). As we seek God’s provision to satisfy our physical hunger, we should more than anything also desire not to be just bread consumers but word consumers. Understanding that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the word of God Himself should encourage us to develop an intimate relationship with God. In John 1:1-5, John the apostle revealed a profound truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is the Word incarnate, He is the bread of life. No wonder before He was crucified, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:19‬).

Enjoying the bread of heaven goes beyond the sacrament of the Holy Communion, it is also a deliberate effort to be daily filled with both the logos (written word) and the rhema (revealed word for a specific situation). Don’t be a hungry believer, there is too much to be consumed each day.

In my Father’s house

Anytime I get the opportunity to travel to my home country, I make sure to spend quality time in my father’s house. The advantage of spending time in my father’s house includes getting the much needed rest, eating my all time favourite meals, getting free babysitters, meeting most of my old friends among many others. Therefore, I don’t take it for granted when I have the opportunity to be in my father’s house. Unfortunately, most believers have a stronger feeling of connection to their (earthly) parent’s house as compared to the house of God (our heavenly Father).

Since virtual churches became popular with COVID-19, some people will prefer to be a part of the virtual congregation than the in-person congregation. We have more excuses to stay out of church now than ever. Most people don’t mind queuing for hours to enter a hall to listen to their favourite musician but they can’t stand it if the church service is delayed for 10 minutes. What is preventing us from spending quality time in the house of God? Change in lifestyle? Change in preferences? Change is priorities? Between 2020 and 2023, some believers hardly entered the house of God except for festive celebrations such as Easter, Christmas and New Year. What are their excuses?

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:49‬)

Unlike our days where churches are scattered all over in many countries, it wasn’t so several years ago. During the childhood of Jesus, they had synagogues in their communities but the temple was in Jerusalem. Most Jews outside Jerusalem visited the temple at least once a year for the Passover Festival. The parents of Jesus also went to Jerusalem every year for the Festival of the Passover (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:41‬). For Jesus, He had to wait until He was of age to attend the festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:42‬). According to ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:43‭-‬45‬,‬‬ “After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.”

It took the parents of Jesus three days to find their missing son. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:46‬). Jesus entered the house of God and wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He stayed behind to know more and to ask the teachers important questions. While other children of the same age were in a hurry to go back home, Jesus had all the time in the world to stay back and know more. Everyone who heard Jesus speak was amazed and “When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:48‬). Jesus’ reply was this,
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ‭‭(Luke‬ ‭2:49‬).

Even as a child, Jesus knew that the temple was His Father’s house. He understood that God’s presence dwelt in the temple and He considered the temple as a place for acquiring Godly knowledge and wisdom. He didn’t mind staying over as long as He was able to get wisdom from the teachers of the Law. No wonder as an adult, Jesus couldn’t stand it when the temple was used as a place for merchandise. In ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21:12‭-‬13‬, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Maybe in the year 2023, the house of God was not a favourite place for you. We still have a few days to end the year and you have the opportunity to make certain decisions.
See you in church in 2024.
Happy New Year!

He is the true light

We began our Advent series looking at the Light of the world. We mentioned that from Genesis to Malachi, humanity tried everything possible to draw closer to God on their own terms but it didn’t work. As men and women struggled throughout the years, a prophetic message was given that “the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.‭‭” (Isaiah‬ ‭9:2‬). Throughout the years, many people have turned up calling themselves great. Some have managed to draw huge followers with people willing and ready to do everything for such leaders. However, these were not the true light Isaiah mentioned. They may radiate some light but that is not the permanent light that leads to salvation.

Imagine following and trusting in someone that is not real? You waste precious time and resources. Unfortunately if this unreal light shuts off, everyone that follows that light is headed to a ditch. Thus, it is very important that before one makes a life-long decision to follow a particular person or join a particular faith group, you need to know what you are going for. One of the dangers of being led by a blind leader is that falling into a ditch is inevitable. The question is, what light are you radiating? Which light are you following? John the Baptist came as a witness to testify concerning that “light”, so that through him all might believe. John himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (‭‭John‬ ‭1:7‭-‬8‬). John was quick to let his followers know that he was not the light but the messenger preparing the way for the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Many “messengers” have been mistaken for the light. People have put their trust in such messengers but like every other human, their lights were shut when it was time for them to return to the dust. We all need the true light, the one that shines brighter and brighter each day. John 1:13 states that
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

The true light was and is and is to come. He is eternal and was from the beginning. He was foreshadowed in the books of the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. He was in the beginning as the Word and the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among humanity (‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬). While on earth, the true light made this proclamation, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me ‭‭(John‬ ‭14:6‬). Many people are on a quest to find out the truth about life. They ignore the true light and follow paths that do not lead to eternal life. Some have committed themselves unto evil forces because of their quest to find the truth about this life. Jesus is the true light and He is the one who can lead men to eternal life.

Remember, Jesus wasn’t one of the great men who ever lived. He is the greatest of all. He is the true light that gives illumination to a blind and a perverse world. Come to the true light and be made new!

He was from the beginning

In Genesis chapter 1, the profound origins of our world unfold with the resounding declaration, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The poetic imagery paints a canvas of formlessness, emptiness, and darkness, yet amid this cosmic void, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters. A closer examination reveals the plurality within the divine, as the term “Elohim” implies a Godhead involved in the creation of heaven and earth.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ‭‭(John‬ ‭1:1‬)

The revelation becomes even more explicit in Genesis 1:26, where God declares, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” The use of “us” hints at the multifaceted nature of the divine, revealing the understanding that God in Genesis 1 is not a singular entity but a complex unity. This sets the stage for the New Testament revelation of the triune Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—existing before the world began.

The enigma deepens when contemplating the incarnation of the Son. The question arises: If the Son has always existed with the Father, how does the eternal Word become a vulnerable baby? John 1:1-5 provides clarity, presenting the Son as the eternal Word of God, integral to the creation of all things. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This Word, the Son, was not only present at creation but actively involved in shaping the cosmos.

The paradox of the Son, the Word incarnate, unfolds as we shift our gaze to the manger. The same Word that spoke galaxies into existence now lies in the arms of Mary and Joseph. The Creator of the world becomes a helpless baby, dependent on earthly parents for care and nurture. As Mary and Joseph cradle the newborn Jesus, they hold the One who has always existed, now manifesting in the vulnerability of an infant.

The implications are staggering—Jesus, as the Word in the beginning, took on flesh and dwelt among us. The Creator entered His creation, veiling His glory in the humility of a manger. The cries for milk, the need for attention, the dependence on parental support—all embodied by the infant Jesus—underscore the profound mystery of the Incarnation.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us not merely revel in the heartwarming scene of a baby in a manger. Instead, let us grasp the profound truth that the baby in Bethlehem is none other than the eternal Word, the Creator who spoke the world into existence. In the midst of the festivities, may our hearts resonate with the awe-inspiring reality that Jesus was from the beginning—a truth that transforms the simplicity of a manger scene into a profound revelation of divine love and sacrifice.

The Ruler shall be from Bethlehem

The prophecies concerning the Messiah are scattered in the Old Testament like puzzle pieces. Each piece is connected to another piece and on the whole, the beautiful story of God’s plan for humanity is revealed. Taking just one piece might not be enough to reflect the whole story of the Messiah. The people of Israel knew that the different stories connected with one another to bring forth God’s master plan. The people knew that God’s Messiah for Israel will definitely be from the tribe of Judah, the lineage of David. However, the people looked forward to a warrior Messiah, a fighter who would lead them in battle and win over all their enemies. But, God’s plan was an incarnate deity, a baby born in lowly conditions and one who will understand their infirmities.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭5:2‬)

The prophet Micah had prophesied that the ruler for God’s people will come from Bethlehem: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭5:2‬). It was no coincidence that just before the baby Jesus was born, a decree was made authorizing all people to go back to their own towns to register. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:1‭-‬3‬ states this, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.” The urgency of this decree propelled Joseph and his wife Mary to make the long journey to Bethlehem. ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:4‭-‬5‬ ‭states that “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

The decree from Caesar Augustus wasn’t just random. To connect the puzzle pieces concerning the Messiah, a decree had to be made that would bring forth God’s plan; and the baby who will be the ruler had to be born at Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy. Neither Caesar Augustus nor the parents of the child Jesus knew that the decree was part of God’s agenda. The parents of Jesus had a hard time finding a logging place in Bethlehem but all this was God’s plan to reveal a bigger picture to humanity. On that fateful evening, as the shepherds watched their flocks, and Joseph and his bride found themselves a stable to rest for the night and to welcome their new baby, all the pieces of the puzzle joined together. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in fulfillment of prophecy.

The celebration of Christmas is not just a celebration of food and gifts, it is a period to ponder over and consider God’s bigger plan for humanity. The Ruler from Bethlehem was also a baby born in Bethlehem to redeem humanity from the clutches of sin.

He is a the Branch from Jesse

King David, the second king of Israel received a promise from God. These words of prophecy came after David’s plan to build a house for the Lord. In ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7:16‬, God promised David that “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89:3‭-‬4‬ ‭quotes this as follows: “You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ” David, the son of Jesse, was the least in his father’s house. Even when the prophet Samuel requested that all the sons of Jesse should be brought forward, David wasn’t. He was left to cater for the sheep. Thus, David had no real honour in his own father’s house.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.‭‭ (Isaiah‬ ‭11:1‬)

The God of heaven sees beyond our present situation. Therefore when David was anointed king, his kingdom was established by God to last forever. How is that even possible? God had a plan. In Isaiah’s prophecies concerning Israel and God’s Messiah, he mentioned that “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”‭‭ (Isaiah‬ ‭11:1‬). The Branch was no ordinary Branch. According to Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭11:2‬). This description of the Branch shows how He will operate in the full dimension of the Spirit of God. As the people read Isaiah over the years, they might have expected this Branch of David to be a great and wise King.

In God’s infinite wisdom, He chose the least expected couple to bear this Branch. Mary was betrothed to Joseph and before they could come together, Mary was found to be with a child. Joseph’s initial reaction was to put her off but after God had spoken to Joseph through His angel, Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not consummate their marriage until the Son of God, the Branch of Jesse was born. Although Jesus was born with no pomp and circumstances, the baby in the Manger was full of the Spirit of God. He was the one all the nation of Israel was waiting for. For hundreds of years, they prayed and waited for the Branch, the stump of David. However, the people missed it when Jesus was born. Their expectation was a warrior not a helpless baby born in a Manger.

Till date, some Jews have refused to see Jesus as the promised Branch. Even though Jesus had finished His work on the cross and His kingdom has been established as a lasting kingdom, some Jews are still waiting for Him. Such an irony! What they waited for and prayed for for years was given by God but they refused to see Him and recognize Him as the long awaited Branch of Jesse. The reason the whole world celebrates Christmas is a reminder that on one lonely night far away in Bethlehem, a Son was born. The Branch from Jesse who restores all things and brings humanity back to God. If Christmas is just about funfair, food, Santa Claus, and every other thing except the celebration of the birth of Jesus, then it is good enough to be one of the many holidays.

‭‭Isaiah saw a day coming. ‬ On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah ‭11:10‬).

He is our High Priest

In the Christian faith, priesthood is very important not only for the equipping of the saints but also for a representation of the people before God. That’s why in many churches, rigorous training and equipping are offered to people who will become the priests of the church. Different denominations refer to priesthood in different names but all these different names are geared towards an ultimate goal. The apostle Peter also revealed that in Christ, priesthood extends to everyone who believes. In ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬, he states that “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Our priesthood gives us the access to perform some priestly duties including interceding for our sins.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. (Hebrews 4:14)

The head of the priesthood is the High Priest. This line of communication officially begun with God’s selection of Aaron as the High Priest of Israel. Subsequently, the tribe of Levi was chosen by God to perform priesthood duties in Israel. According to Hebrews 5: 1, “Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.” ‭‭This responsibility was performed with all due diligence that unauthorized fires to God led to the death of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1), the sons of Aaron. Prior to the Levitical priesthood, we were introduced to Melchizedek king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High (Genesis‬ ‭14:18‬) and the first to receive tithe from Abraham. The priesthood of Melchizedek predated that of Aaron and it was a priesthood without end. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:6‬, quoting Psalms 110:4 mentions that, “And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The reference for Hebrews 5:6 was none other but our Lord Jesus Christ. He has become our great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, a priest forever. Jesus’ priesthood duties began while He was on earth. “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.” (Hebrews‬ ‭5:7‬). As man, Jesus did not just live anyhow. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:8‭-‬10‬ points us to the fact that although Jesus came on earth as the Son of God, He also learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Thus, Jesus’ High priesthood overrides the Levitical priesthood. By extension, all who come to Him, He “has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:6‬).

As Mary wrapped her newborn baby with swaddling clothes, she was actually holding an eternal High Priest, one whose priesthood is forever. He might have been a helpless baby, but He was born a priest, learned obedience and submission by the things He went through and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Luke 22:69). Unlike the Aaronic High Priest who needed to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people (Hebrews‬ ‭5:3‬), Jesus, our sinless and perfect High Priest, intercedes for us alone. Imagine the joy in heaven as the angel informed the shepherds about the birth of Jesus, the need for blood sacrifices was done with. For Jesus our great High Priest did not enter the Most Holy Place by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:12‬).

A reminder that the birth of Christ began our journey to eternal redemption should be a focus this Christmas. A perfect reminder is this: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:27‭-‬28‬). Is the High Priest the centre of your Christmas?

He is a Prophet

Moses the prophet whom God used to redeem the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt was a man of exceptional qualities. He was born at a time when Hebrew or Jewish new born baby boys were supposed to be drowned in the Nile River. However, he escaped miraculously and grew up as the Prince of Egypt. Similar to Moses, as a young child, Jesus faced a decree that took the lives of many young innocent children but God through His angels delivered Jesus and He was hidden in Egypt until the evil Herod died. The people God uses are not without challenges. Like many of us, they face their own share of life’s daily challenges,  yet, they rise above all these challenges and with the help of God, they become men and women of honour. As Moses fled Egypt, he departed as a fearful prince who had committed murder. However, he returned as a prophet of God empowered to bring deliverance to God’s people.

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. ‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭18:15‬)

The ministry of Moses is highly influential in the history of Israel. Till date, when the books of Moses are read in Jewish communities,  the reaction is that of honour and reverence. This is definitely so because God’s presence with Moses was so great that God spoke with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he saw the form of the Lord (Numbers 12:8). Moses received the commandments of God and handed them over to the Israelites. By the time Moses died, the disorganized people he brought out to Egypt were a nation ready to possess the lands God had given to them. At one point in time, after an encounter with the Lord, Moses’ face was so radiant that he had to put a veil on his face (Exodus 34:35). This was how God’s power was mightily demonstrated through Moses.

One might conclude that Moses was the most powerful prophet ever lived. Yet, Moses himself was aware that after him will come another prophet. Before Moses died, he told the people this: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” ‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭18:15‬). This prophecy found its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus. The author of Hebrews mentioned that “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself.” (Hebrews 3:3). He continued that, “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” (Hebrews 3:5-6).

The helpless baby in the Manger was also a prophet of God. He spoke the mind of God and told the people what to expect in the future. Jesus’ words were so powerful that the people listening to Him confirmed that; “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.‭‭” (Matthew‬ ‭7:29‬). Jesus knew exactly what will happen to Him and His followers in the future. As a prophet,  He prepared His disciples to know the times and the seasons. As we celebrate Christmas, we shouldn’t take this for granted; the baby in the Manger was no ordinary child. As helpless as He was in the Manger, He was Saviour of the world, the Son of God, the one who paid off humanity’s sins. Our prophet knows our past, our present and our future. Let’s open up to Him and allow Him to speak the words of life unto us.

He is our Comfort

Whenever we go through unpleasant situations, someone to comfort us and empathize with what we have experienced is just what we need. No one who goes through an unpleasant experience desires to have a nagging fellow blaming them for their own painful experiences. Even if one is directly or indirectly the cause of their own suffering, the best one can offer is a shoulder to lean on and words of comfort. Comfort is a state of freedom from pain or to alleviate one’s feeling of grief or distress. From physical discomforts to emotional discomfort, the cause of discomfort can range from what is seen to what is unseen.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:1‬)

In the Old Testament, the Israelites faced a series of discomforts from different ways. As God’s chosen people, whenever they faulted and served foreign gods, they were left by God to the surrounding nations. In this state, they experienced pain and suffering associated with their rejection of God. Then when they cried to the Lord, He would send them a helper to save them from their discomforts. In one of Isaiah’s prophecies to the people of Israel, he beheld a season of comfort for Jerusalem. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:1‭-‬2‬ ‭admonishes that, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

This prophecy was not just for the momentarily but also for the future. Isaiah foresaw a period where Jerusalem (or God’s chosen people) will experience the comfort of God. A period where the sins of the nations that led them to the period of discomfort will be paid for. A time of peace and tranquility where the real comfort of God will overshadow the pains and the suffering of the present. As Isaiah spoke these words, the people looked forward to such a time where all their enemies would be crushed under their feet and they would rejoice over the destruction of their enemies. As the people eagerly waited for this period, God’s plan to comfort His people was perfected through the birth of a Son.

Jesus’ birth was to culminate God’s promise made to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The pain of death and the overbearing pressure of sin was ultimately taken away through His death and resurrection. God, through Jesus, comforted humanity and brought us hope for the future. In ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3‭-‬4‬, Paul writes that, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

This Christmas, be intentional to be an agent of comfort. Many people are going through difficult times and they need the comfort of God to survive this holiday. Be generous enough to share with others the comfort of the Lord. Indeed, He is our Comfort and the world needs to know this. David knew this and in Psalms 23:4, he wrote this: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Don’t be dismayed, He is your Comfort!