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Matthew 1:18-25 - Lectionary for Advent 4 A

12/15/2016

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12/15/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Jesus, the one also called Immanuel, “God with us,” is born of a virgin as promised of old. In this week’s Gospel reading, Matthew lays out his case that all of God’s work of redemption is according to the promise of God. It is not based on any sort of human merit or ability to work something out. From the miraculous pregnancy of Mary to the vision Joseph has of an angel, the hand of God is portrayed for us.

What is our natural reaction to divine intervention? It is normally fear. What is the promise of the angel? Joseph does not need to fear. All will be well. This does not mean that it will all be easy. After all, Joseph, who was expecting to marry a young woman and have a normal family, will suddenly find himself marrying a young woman who is suspected of infidelity. He himself will face trouble in his reputation because of that. He also has the challenge of being a parent to someone who is announced to him as the Son of God. As events unfold, he becomes an international refugee due to the hostility toward his family. He will live for years in doubt as to their security and future.

The angel tells Joseph that he does not need to fear. All will be well. This child will be “God with us.” We have that same comfort. The child Immanuel grew up to reconcile the world and God. There is nothing to fear. He has conquered even death. He, the firstfruits of the resurrection, wishes to be the firstborn among many to be raised in the last day. All will be well.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Romans 1:1-7 - Lectionary for Advent 4 A

12/14/2016

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12/14/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Epistle reading for this week, Romans 1:1-7, seems to be chosen not because we are introducing Paul’s letter to the Romans, but because we are, in this season of Advent, looking forward to the coming of Christ. What does this passage tell us about the coming Christ?

He is promised (v. 2). God has made the coming Lord known through many prophets over many years, using written documents. The fact that this is not something passed along by word of mouth, from ear to ear, is significant. By committing these promises to writing God makes it clear that we can inspect his claims in exactly the same words again and again.  Written testimony is considered static and, therefore, more reliable.

Jesus is descended from David. God’s promise to David was that he would raise up a king to sit on his throne eternally. This is no ordinary king, who has a beginning and an end. This is an eternal king of all. Again, his descent can be investigated.

Jesus was shown to be the Son of God. He exercised divine authority and power. Paul notes particularly the resurrection from the dead. This will be a recurring theme in Romans. Jesus’ resurrection is the proof that he has conquered death. It is normally seen as the demonstration that he is able to raise us from the dead as well.

This work, calling the apostles, calling the Romans, and calling you and me, is the heart and soul of Paul’s letter to Romans. Jesus has called all who believe him to be his holy ones. That is how we receive the grace and peace promised.


If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Isaiah 7:10-17 - Lectionary for Advent 4 A

12/13/2016

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12/13/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

Our Old Testament reading for this Sunday, from Isaiah chapter seven, is a prophecy of a deliverer. When king Ahaz refuses to tell God what he would like as a sign of God’s favor, God intervenes and picks a sign of his own. The sign is the birth of a child. Before the child is grown the Lord will deliver Israel from the Assyrians.

On the surface this is a fairly straightforward prophecy. The Israelites have been under pressure by Assyria. They do not have military means to repel their adversary. God will intervene. When? Soon.

In the New Testament this prophecy is interpreted as applying to Jesus, Immanuel, the one whose name means “God with us.” The peaceful deliverer, conceived in a virgin, will rescue his people from the sin which attacks them.

In the season of Advent we look forward to the coming of Christ. Just as in this prophecy, there is sometimes a fulfillment near the time of the prophet and a later fulfillment yet to come. Advent looks to the first coming of Christ as well as his second coming, the time when he will do away with sin and evil forever. It is this hope that we maintain this day.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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Psalm 24 - Lectionary for Advent 4 A

12/12/2016

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12/12/16
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.

The Psalm appointed for the fourth Sunday of Advent, Psalm 24, is subtitled, “a Psalm for the first day of the week.” I find this particularly appropriate. What happens on the first day of the week? Everyone gets back to work. After the Sabbath rest, people begin their normal daily activities again.

What is the expectation in this Psalm? We expect the Lord to come. There’s been enough rest. Now the mighty Lord can come and bring his blessing and grace to our world. Now the Lord who is able to defend the gates by his might can come. Now, if the Lord will come, I won’t be tempted any more to work evil with my hand, to try to gain by treachery and tricks.

God’s coming is my great hope. And it is on the first day of the week that I am asking him to come. Why is that first day of the week important? It was the first day of the week when the women found the tomb of Jesus to be empty. It was on the first day of the week that Jesus was found to be the firstfruits of the resurrection. It was on the first day of the week that the Holy Spirit came upon the early Christians, empowering them as God’s witnesses.

Lord, whatever day it is, show yourself to be the Lord of the first day. Come in your power and with your grace.

If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.

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    About Throwing Inkwells

    When Martin Luther was dealing with struggles in his life he once saw what appeared to be an angelic being. Not trusting that he was going to be informed by someone other than the God revealed in Scripture, he took the appearance to be untrustworthy and hurled his inkwell at it. The chipped place in the plaster wall is still visible at the Wartburg Castle, though apparently the ink stain on the wall has been refreshed periodically by the caretaker.

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