The Messiah

If you glanced at Matthew chapter 1 yet, were you able to catch how many times "Messiah" appeared? Messiah appeared three times in the New International Version. Messiah is the Hebrew version of "Anointed One," Christ is the Greek version. This one name gives us a peak into the divine nature of this infant child we are expecting to arrive. His life was anointed long before He was born.

We find one of the earliest prophetic words about the Messiah, known as "messianic prophecy," coming true from Deuteronomy 18:15, "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." Matthew is writing to the Jews and letting them know Jesus is the promised Messiah. This matters to the Jews because they were waiting for His arrival for a long time. Matthew is making sure they know from the get go, Jesus is the One they have been waiting for and expecting! He even proves His Jewish lineage, making Him credible for such a role as the Messiah. This infant is so anointed that He was prophecied about approximately 1401 years before He was born! The promise God gave Abraham years before in Genesis 17:7 was, "I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you." Paul speaks of Jesus' fulfilling this promise to Abraham in Galatians 3:15, " 'The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.' " It is important to understand the Messiah's arrival meant God fulfilled His promise to His people and that through Him, the nations and generations that follow would be blessed.

You may wonder why this matters to us at all today. Well, think of the broken promises you have experienced in your life. There is a huge difference in the relationship when someone promised to give you something but you're still waiting for it compared to someone who followed through. You know now, with no doubt, you can not only trust this person, but his or her word is true; it will be done as stated. You don't have to wonder if she will come pick you up for your doctor appointment next week, or fear that she will never talk to you again. The same is true of God. For us to see that God fulfilled this promise allows us to trust Him and know His word is true. It should pull us into intimacy just a little bit more because we can be confident that He will follow through for us as well.

Another reason why this matters, perhaps the greatest reason, is that the messianic prophecy that Jesus is fulfilling is a promise for "the generations to come"--we are part of this! Jesus was anointed, or chosen with divine appointment, for us and all the generations to come! This baby's life had an important purpose long before His arrival to bless the generations to come. As a result of this, we should be eager to experience this symbolic arrival every year. Without Jesus' fulfilling so many promises, we would not be able to unpack just exactly what the blessings we would receive through Him are. This one life has an impact on the world far beyond his existence on earth, which is incredible when you think about it.

Today's Name: Messiah

Reflection Questions

1) What comes to mind when you think of "Messiah" or "Anointed One"?

2) How many times has God fulfilled a promise to you in your life? Have you experienced Him as trustworthy?

3) We have all had moments where we conclude God did not come through. Think of a time where you felt this way. Sit down with the Lord and ask Him, "Where were You in this story? Where were you when all I saw was you not coming through?" Wait in silence and listen to whatever He would tell you. Feel free to note this in a journal. If you get nothing initially, revisit it until you receive a response. This takes practice, but He will respond.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for fulfilling a promise for all of us. Show me where You were in the moments where it seems you didn't come through. Help me see that You're the One I can trust always. Meet me on this journey as I get to know You more. In Your name, Amen.

Why Advent?

When I experience advent every year it's a personal journey with God. Advent means the arrival of a person, so this is a time I set aside every year to prepare for the arrival of Jesus. While He is here already and exists eternally, I have come to realize it is easy for forget His presence in my life. I lose sight of how He has worked in my life. The past two years have been so hard that I found myself questioning, wondering, fearing, and feeling angry more than I expected. Simply put: I need to prepare for His presence because I need Christmas. I need that reminder of the infant who came long ago with the sole purpose to set me free.

This year I decided to write daily devotions about this journey to knowing Jesus deeper during Advent. I feel a little disconnected from Him, if I'm honest. I feel a little bit like I just want to bypass the infant in the manager and go straight to the man who elavated the worth and value of every woman He encountered. However, if I bypass the infant, I can't connect with the man and I am unable to fully grasp the power of the cross. I have to first lay eyes upon the child who was birthed in a cave meant for animals to reside, the most unclean scene and even laid in a feeding troth where animals ate from. It was hardly the sterile scene mothers experience today when they give birth, but it had to be. This infant's arrival in this manger flipped the script on what was seen as holy and pure right from His birth! He was born Holy and Pure, fully God incarnate within an environment that bore the uncleaniness label of His Jewish heritage. He had to come into the world this way because He didn't just come for the Jew, but for all mankind. His name was Jesus, which is the Greek version of Joshua and means "the Lord saves." Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, and the list can go on. His name, Jesus, would be the name that brings forgiveness, restoration, and healing to all who need it. His name, Jesus, would be laughed and scorned, even minimized to a historical figure. His name, Jesus, would never be forgotten though, even by the one who does not believe, or the ones who would one day chant for His death.

As I start this introduction to this journey, I encourage you to read Matthew chapters 1 and 2 this week. These chapters highlight Who Jesus is both in His Jewish heritage as a human, but also His origins from the divine. It also highlights the powerful "yes" His mother gave, consenting for His birth to occur. It also is the only personal account of Joseph, His earthly father and step-father, who decided to not only to marry His mother, but also protect this infant as his own. Since we are just starting out on our journey, we need to remember the origin of this infant's life. We need to not forget Who we are expecting to arrive.

Today's Name: Jesus

Reflection Questions

1) Looking back at the past two years, where have you lost sight of Jesus in your life? List some ways you can see His hand was at work these past two years.

2) Jesus' arrival broke barriers of division from the moment He was born. What are some places your heart is divided between loving and needing His presence in your life versus going your own way or leaving Him behind?

3) The name, Jesus, has great meaning: The Lord Saves. Right now, what does "The Lord Saves" mean to you?

Jesus, help me connect with you on this journey. May my heart soften to your tenderness and my eyes gaze upon the tiniest details of who you are. May I prepare for your arrival by growing deeper in my knowledge of Who YOU are. Thank you for your patience and long-suffering with me. Thank you for always lovinging bringing back into Your Presence. Let me rest there in Your embrace these days ahead. In Your name, Amen.