What We Are Building

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1520 Waiting for John Frum

In a recent issue of National Geographic magazine I read a fascinating article entitled, “A Pacific Island Awaits Its Messiah.” The Christ referred to is not the Lord Jesus, but a legendary figure called John Frum. The author, Dr. Kal Muller, points out that the islanders think this person will be either a “beneficent spirit,” a “god come to earth,” or “king of America.” The third description has its origin in the fact that U. S. troops occupied the area during World War II, and their presence was accompanied by many material benefits. The people therefore concluded that John Frum had finally arrived.

Although they later experienced keen disappointment when the soldiers left, their hopes did not die. To this day they frequently march with bamboo “rifles” slung over their shoulders and the letters USA painted on their bodies. They are still looking for their messiah who they think will usher in “prosperous, work-free millennium of unlimited earthly goods.”

—Richard W. De Haan

Richard W. DeHaan, former president of Radio Bible Church Ministries.

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. … through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Welcome to the Gospel according to Luke. This year, our Gospel readings will come mainly from this Gospel. We will see Jesus in the context of the One who comes to fulfill the protoevangelium found in :

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Matthew presents Jesus as the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant

Mark reveals Him as the true Son of God.

John unveils Him as the Eternal Word who is the revelation of God to man.

The purpose of the Gospel is given in Luke’s own preface (1:1–4). Luke intended to write “an orderly account,” a literary narration based upon careful research rather than a casual letter. At Luke summarizes what was accomplished in this first volume as the beginning of what “Jesus began to do and teach,” while the second volume was intended to continue the record of Jesus’ work through his apostles after the resurrection. Luke’s concern is that Theophilus (and many more in the Gentile world who had become Christians) may know the “truth” or reliability of the facts of the gospel. “The things of which you have been informed” are the basic facts of the gospel, and this phrase indicates that the readers are members of the Church who have been catechized. The purpose is then to write a basic, well-organized, authentic, confirming account of the deeds and words of Jesus.

Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 668.

Today’s text brings us to Jerusalem, 40 days after Christ’s birth, for the rite of Purification that was commanded in the Law of Moses:

Allen C. Myers, The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987), 668.

Leviticus 12:1–8 ESV

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. 6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

As the Apostle Paul later wrote:

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Luke 2:22–24 ESV

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Jesus, even as a baby, in order to fulfill His vocation of being the promised Messiah, had to fulfill the Law completely. His parents did their part, by circumcising Him on the 8th Day and bringing Him to the Temple 32 days afterward for the Purification offering. Jesus’ parents didn’t try the cop-out that many parents today offer to avoid training their children, but as it is written:

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Of course, the culture was different in Judea and Galilee, people saw themselves as part of a larger whole, rather than as individualistic independent entities who were free to do as they wished with the only limitations being what the governing authorities were willing and able to enforce. In those days, shame and honor were very real commodities, and people took them seriously. Today, celebrity is as treasured as honor was then, and people are happy to be famous simply for being tabloid material. We really are a society that worships money, whether we will admit it or not. When Mary and Joseph came into the Temple with their offering of two turtle doves, no one looked down upon them for bringing in what was known as the purification for the poor. Today in many churches, you will be talked about when the offerings are tallied at the end of the year and the tax receipts are issued if your gifts are below whatever the standard of faithful giving might be, and other churches have ben known to request copies of pay stubs so that they could determine whether one was actually giving the church a tenth of their income.

Jesus was raised by parents who understood their responsibilities are descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Knowing that Jesus was destined to serve the Lord as the Messiah and save His people from their sins, they did their best to teach him saset a good example:

Luke 2:39–40 ESV

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

I admit, it is probably much harder today to get the social support that Joseph and Mary were able to count upon. We might say that “it takes a village to raise a child,” but we seem to have no consistent standards regarding the values that our village should have. On this point, the Law of Moses was quite clear:

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Is this the foundational principle upon which our educational, economic, and political systems are built? Does our spiritual and religious engagement flow out of this clear conviction? Are we as clear about our creedal confessions as Israel was about theirs? Do we talk about the Gospel as much as we talk about gossip? Later on we will find out that Jesus had the custom of going into the synagogue on the Sabbath. Are we as faithful to coming to the place where the Gospel is purely preached, and where we can hear the declaration with our own ears that “in the stead of and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all of your sins?” Do we find it easier to make excuses, than it is to make our way to the altar? Why do we find so many of our children struggling to maintain their Confessional Evangelical connection to Christ’s Church? Why do we fail to grow as a Christian community as fast as we grow in our energy to find solutions in, or blame for all of our problems on, the kingdoms of this world?

Galatians 6:7–10 ESV

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Mary and Joseph were encouraged, strengthened and challenged by the prophetic utterance of Simeon, the reports of the shepherds when they visited them (), along with the angelic announcements to them. Mary treasured these things in her heart, but she didn’t have “the prophetic Word made more sure” as we do. She didn’t have access to the prophetic Scriptures as we do today, accessible in book form, electronic form, video and audio, and broadcast on television and radio.

She also didn’t have the counter-pressures that we have, a decadent society that calls good evil and evil, good. She didn’t have a school system that teaches our children to say in their hearts, “There is no God” - except money and the government that prints and spends it!

What we do share with Mary and Joseph is the presence of Jesus. The same Jesus who entered Mary’s womb, and then into Mary and Joseph’s lives, has united us to Himself through the waters of Holy Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit. They looked down at the fragile, vulnerable baby, and believed what God declared to them concerning Him.

We too, relying on the prophetic Word made more sure, believe what God has declared through His servants the Apostles and Prophets in the Holy Scriptures, as taught and preached by rightly called and ordained servants of the Word. Finally, like Anna, we give thanks to God, and speak of Him to all who are waiting for the redemption, not only of Jerusalem, but of the World.

1 Timothy 2:3–6 ESV

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Today is the proper time, “while it is called today.” Yesterday has come and gone, and tomorrow is not promised to you.

Colossians 3:12–17 ESV

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So today, rejoice in what God has done for us, giving us Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. Today, be His witness - to God be the glory for the things He has done.

Today, let the peace of God, that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen

What We Are Building

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