One of C. S. Lewis’s most famous quotes, and one that helped me understand who Jesus really was:
In this Advent message, Keller claims that most, even those who claim to be Christians, see Jesus as a great teacher, rather than fully God. In another sermon, Keller says, “Imagine going to Barnes and Noble to hear this great teacher speak. You hear him say things like:
- I created the world.
- I can forgive your sins.
- I saw Satan fall like lightning.
- Before Abraham was, I AM.
Keller asks, “Would you leave saying,’What a great teacher?” 🙂
Sunday:
- How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you?
Monday: Text
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
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- What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
- How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
- What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12)
- Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
- What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
- How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
- What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
- Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born?
Tuesday: Fully God
The first one is, because he’s God, there is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus Christ. There’s no middle way. You’re either completely for him or you’re completely against him. You see, if he had just claimed to be a great man or a man with high God consciousness or something along those lines, then you might listen to him and say, “Well, I don’t know whether I should follow him or not. I’ll have to decide. I’ll weigh things up.” But when he claims to be God, then you either have to fall down at his feet and give him your entire life or you need to really run away from him in anger or fear. And that’s exactly what you see in the Bible. Because of his claims, his astounding claims to have been, to be God, you never see anybody listening to a sermon and afterwards saying, “Nice sermon, preacher. I’ll go home and think about it.” People either threw themselves down at his feet or they tried to stone him or they ran away shrieking. And we live in a world, we live in a society in which most people who name the name of Christ clearly do not really understand this.
They don’t understand his claim because there is no such thing as being moderately Christian. You either have to throw yourself at his feet and do everything in your life centered on him or you shouldn’t have anything to do with him at all. Anything else is completely inconsistent. And yet most people in this country, I would say, who name the name of Christ, they are in the middle. And yet that’s not taking the doctrine of the incarnation seriously. Number one. So, number one is because he’s God there’s no middle ground.
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
Wednesday: No Fear and Great Compassion
Number two, because he’s God there’s no fearing of the future. You see the God that Jesus Christ is is not the God of dualism. Dualism is a dualistic religions, dualistic philosophies and worldviews believed that there were two principles out there. A good principle and a bad principle. You even get that in Star Wars a little bit where they talk about the dark side of the force and the good side of the force. And the idea there is that you have good and evil locked in a kind of endless battle because they’re equally powerful, but that’s not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible is omnipotent. The God of the Bible is completely in charge. Nothing can stand against Him. And if the Lord of love, Jesus Christ is God, that means, you know, who cares whether there’s life after death? What we care is, is there love after death? And there will be. And will all evil and suffering finally be over? If the Lord of love is God, yes, eventually it will all be over. And that means this world, there’s hope for it. And that means that you and I, with all of our flaws, there’s infinite hope for us too. So, because he’s God, there’s all the hope in the world. Because he’s God, there is no middle ground.
But here’s two more. Because he’s human, first of all, because he’s human, he understands. You can go to him. That’s what the book of Hebrews is all about. He’s not like a God who looks down and says, why can’t you get your act together? Of course, he calls for obedience, but he knows what it’s like to be rejected. He knows what it’s like to be hungry. He knows what it’s like to be in pain. He knows what it’s like to be the victim of injustice. He knows what it’s like, whatever you’re going through. He knows what it’s like. He understands. You can draw near to Him and get mercy and help in time of need.
4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually.
6. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why.
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
Thursday: Why He Had To Become Man
But lastly, because He’s human, we can be saved. Think of it like this.
Why did Jesus Christ become human? If Jesus Christ was a completely holy God and not loving, at all. Why in the world would he have emptied himself of his glory and come to earth and experienced all this? If he was just a holy, just God, but not a loving God, he never would have become human. But if he was only a loving God who says, “Oh, I accept everybody,” then there would have been no need for him to come down either. He just accepts everybody. But only a holy God who says, “Sin must be punished,” and a loving God who says, “But I need to punish sin in such a way that I can still love and forgive my people.” Only a God like that, who’s both holy and loving, would have become human. And that’s why he did it. So that a holy God could satisfy justice at the same time, open his arms to us. If he wasn’t human, we just couldn’t be saved.
Let me just end with his little story. They say, by the way, that Dorothy Sayers who wrote the Peter Wimsey novels, they say that she looked into her novels, saw this guy, Peter Wimsey was an aristocrat, he was smart, brilliant, a great detective, but lonely, unmarried, and what’s interesting is she writes eventually into the novels and into the short stories a woman named Harriet Vane.
Interestingly enough, in the novels, Harriet Vane is one of the first women who ever went to Oxford, by the way, like Dorothy Sayers. She happens to be a detective writer, like Dorothy Sayers, and of course in the books, in the stories, Peter Wimsey falls in love with her and in a certain sense she saves him from his loneliness, from the life he was living before. And somebody once wrote, and I’ve always thought about it, was that was that in a sense, Dorothy Sayers looked into the world she created and saw a man that she loved and she, in order to save him, she wrote herself into it. She entered the world, which only she as the author could do, and saved him. But that’s what Jesus Christ did. He looked into the world. He saw us. He saw us dying. He saw us flailing. And he loved us so much that he wrote himself in and he became a human being, though he was God, and he saved us. Emmanuel. God with us. That’s what it means.
9. Listen to Keller’s 4th point and share what stands out to you.
10. Explain why Jesus coming to earth shows that He is both just and loving.
11. What was Keller’s poiont with Corothy Sayer’s novels?
Friday: When Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
And now here’s Tim and Kathy Keller for a short time of Q&A on today’s meditation.
Kathy Keller
Okay, I’m going to put a challenge to you.
Tim Keller
Stump the preacher.
Kathy Keller
Stump the preacher. Well, no, but it’s often stump the Christian because people all the time say, “There’s not anywhere in the Bible that Jesus claimed to be God. That was just made up by other people. He never actually said, I am God. Show me a place where Jesus said, I am God.” And I’ll give you a minute to think about it. Not even a whole minute, but I mean, Lewis clearly in Mere Christianity said, well, if somebody says they’re God, you either worship them or you lock them up as a lunatic on the same level as somebody who says he’s a poached egg, or you revile them as somebody who has a devil. So, if Jesus didn’t really claim to be God. Then we need to know about that, right?
Tim Keller
Oh, I’ll say, yes.
Kathy Keller
So, the clock has started. Find me four, say four places where Jesus actually claimed to be God.
Tim Keller
Okay, three or four places. I will give you that and then I’ll tell you a couple of other things just to think about. Well, for example, all the I am statements.
Kathy Keller
Sorry.
Tim Keller
All of the I am statements in the book of John where Jesus deliberately says ego eimi, which is unusual, by the way. You usually didn’t, in Greek, didn’t use the, you didn’t actually need to use the first, the word ego eimi. But for example, at the end of the book of John, of James chapter 8 when he’s saying, Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and the religious leaders are saying, That’s ridiculous. How could Abraham have rejoiced to see your day? And then he says, Before Abraham was, I am. Doesn’t say, Before Abraham was I am. He doesn’t just say, Before Abraham was I was. That would be weird enough. I mean, to say that he’s several thousand years old, right? Tell me why me. But he actually literally says, I am, which is a deliberate way of using the the divine name that God reveals to Moses in the burning bush, where he says, who do you… He says, what’s your name? He says, I am. And so, Jesus is taking the divine name, and they try to stone him because they immediately know what he’s talking about.
But a little earlier, by the way, in the book of John, John chapter 5, he actually says he is not a son of God, but he is the Son of God. He’s the only Son of God. Now in that day, everybody knew that whatever… If you only had one son and one child, then the son inherited everything from the father, and that meant the son was equal to the father. And it actually says at the very end of John chapter five verse nine, they try to stone him when he said that because he made himself equal with God. But when he forgives sins, so in Mark chapter two he forgives the paralytic sins.
Kathy Keller
We’re on to three, right?
Tim Keller
Yeah, already. He forgives the paralytic sins, and he says, My son, your sins are forgiven. Everybody says, who can forgive sins but God alone? And the whole point is, if you don’t mind, you see if, (I should have mention Michael is my son) if Michael punches David, our son David in the nose, I can’t say to Michael, “I forgive you for punching David in the nose,”
because of course only David can forgive Michael for punching David in the nose. However, if you’re God, then all sins are against you. And that means for Him to be able to forgive was a claim to deity. And then, by the way, I’ll give you just one more, and it’s relatively simple.
And that is in Matthew chapter 11, he actually says, no one knows the Son but the Father and no one knows the Father but the Son. And every commentator I know, every commentator I know, including the more liberal ones, as you might say, say if he had said, no one knows the son but the father, okay, that’s a lot. But to say, no one knows the Father but the Son, what they’re saying is the father and the son’s knowledge of each other is mutually exhaustive and it is a claim to be equal. And there are, there’s so many of those claims that don’t immediately jump off the page at you.
Kathy Keller
I thought you were gonna go to, whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Tim Keller
He says that, he says that I and the Father are one.
Kathy Keller
Yes, I and the Father are one. I thought you were gonna go say to, I am the Good Shepherd because in the Old Testament, God says, I am the Good Shepherd who watches his sheep.
Tim Keller
But he also says, I’m the bridegroom of my people.
Kathy Keller
Yeah, that’s what God calls himself in the Old Testament. I had a whole different list in my mind, but there’s so many of them.
Tim Keller
There are so many. I would just like to point one thing out, is if you struggle with this at all, there’s a book by John Stott called Basic Christianity. It’s a very easy book to read and it’s an old book. It’s very basic. It’s a basic book to believe. He’s got an entire chapter in there on how do you see that Jesus is God and the number of ways in which he claims to be God directly and indirectly is overwhelming.
Kathy Keller
Okay.
12. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond?
13. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God?
14. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ.
Saturday:
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
139 comments
Is there a link for Advent 2 or do we search YouTube?
Oh my, I can forget the most basic things. It’s in there now– thanks, Chris.
Sunday:
1. How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you?
I have had several moments this week when I was sad, worried, and disheartened. But Immanuel kept me company. There was this overarching sense that all is well because God was with me. Every time I was tempted by negative emotions, someone or something popped up in my mind to counter them: a Scripture, a memory of God’s past faithfulness, a much-needed word from a friend, the kindness of a stranger. I have been trying to memorize Colossians 1:1-14 in preparation for a small group Bible Study in January. I often get stuck, but continue to forge forward. My brain cells are not as “limber” as they used to be. Speaking the verses out loud is helping me focus on Immanuel as my mind processes their meaning. Jesus is supreme!
Dear Bing, I just love how the Lord works in our different lives-impacting one and then giving that impact to another through community. I’m working through a trial in my marriage this morning and feeling so overwhelmed. The way the Lord has met you this week, gives me courage.
Bing, so glad you felt the company and comfort of Immanuel during your time of need!
I have memorized Colossians 1 and understand “getting stuck.” In fact when reviewing it I still get stuck but what a great passage to hide in your heart.
Sharon — I do find memorizing helps me sense the presence of the Lord.
Immanuel kept me company. 🙂
I love how Immanuel kept you company, Bing. He is the Light in our darkness. I just re-read Col 1:1-14, which is powerful. I love verse 15: “ He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation.”
Bing, Thanks for sharing your struggle and your comfort from Jesus. We serve an encouraging God who never leaves or forsakes us. 💕
Actually, I just found the Advent message!
Sunday:
How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you? Our family remembered our granddaughter, Lucy, on her birthday-December 13, who suddenly went home to be with the Lord 2.5 years ago. Yesterday, our son posted a poem he wrote in her memory. I will share it at the end of this post. Our son and DIL took their boys to buy flowers and balloons for her birthday. Their 5yo had the idea to tie a small gift to her balloon with the idea of it going to heaven. They bought a giant silver #3 balloon as she would have been 3 yesterday. The balloon slipped away in the wind before they could get ready to release it with the gift. The boys were upset at first that they weren’t ready and the balloon left to heaven, but then decided it had gone at just the right time. My DIL equated this story with her own. How death ripped her baby from her arms before she was ready. But she adds that death has no victory and that God is good and took her baby at exactly the right time and took her to the place she was made for, heaven. She ended with ask me about Jesus, he can save you from this darkness.
I saw this as tears well sown.
I was touched that an orchid given to us at the time of our granddaughters passing, bloomed again on her birthday-second year in a row. God is with us.
This is my son’s poem:
Three years old today.
If I close my eyes, I can remember this day. Lucy playing on a blanket on top of soft grass, letting out peals of laughter when she feels the cool grass touch her hands. Her laugh and smile are contagious, I want to stay forever in that moment.
But when I open my eyes, the ground is cold, covered in ice, the wind blows and the cold cuts like a knife at my skin. The loss feels like an icy blade in my heart.
But spring will come, the sun will shine and the ice will melt away. This world and it’s sin and strife will melt away also, and we’ll see our daughter again someday in glory.
Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Again, tears well sown.
Oh Chris, how beautiful. Their thoughts about Lucy winging her way to heaven reminded me of a song, maybe you’ve heard it.
Jesus has a rocking chairAnd He holds that precious babyWith oh, such tender careHe takes the place of mom and dadHe’s the greatest parent a child could haveDon’t worry about the children thereJesus has a rocking chair
I think I have heard that song, many years ago when we lost a daughter. Such a sweet thought of Jesus caring for them. We have Isaiah 40:11 on our daughter’s stone.
Oh, Chris! Tears well sown, indeed! And I love what Lucy’s family did for her to celebrate her birthday yesterday. Your son’s poem is very precious and an answer to my prayer for Dee’s question last week. I have been praying for a way to minister to a very dear friend who lost her 20-year-old son on a December evening many years ago. She grieves still, and December is so hard for her. I am going to add the verse in Revelation 21 to a card I am writing to her. Thanks for sharing. Hugs to you. Tears well sown.
That’s so beautiful from your son, Chris — like Keller said: we feel greater sorrow and greater joy.
Chris, this is such a moving remembrance of your precious granddaughter, Lucy. I love your son’s poem. I agree “tears well sown”. How great our rejoicing will be in heaven!
I pray that you sense “Immanuel” in your heart, Chris. I pray that He will break through your sorrows and struggles of this week.
The testimony of your family in response to God’s love and presence in your lives regarding the loss of your precious Lucy serves to bless and encourage many. Oh the wonderful hope we have because of Jesus to carry us until we are all together in Heaven with our precious Savior.
Sunday:
1. How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you?
We have a manger scene that we put in our front yard with a spot light on it and I thought of this verse…”In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. I would love to have one of those neon signs where I could put a different verse by the manger every day. Anyway, seeing Christ as my Light brings me into His presence and gives me the desire to be a light for Him.
On another note…
I read this from 2 days ago on Instagram…”In southern Israel, the dry river beds are filling with the recent storm. It immediately brings to mind Psalm 126.” ~ Amir Tsarfati
Aharon, what a beautiful idea for a spotlight with your manager scene! And neon lights! Yeah! The quote from Amir and the remembrance of Psalm 126-I got goosebumps!
Perfect verse for your manger scene.
Love your manger scene and the quote from Amir, ~verse from Psalm 126. Yes to the neon sign with a new verse everyday!
“Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” Psalms 126:4-6
What wonderful verses that speak to blessings from God into our lives.
Bev, I agree. Psalm 126 is a beautiful and hopeful passage.
Sharon, I have that verse highlighted in my Bible, but somehow reading it now hits differently. I’m pondering this today.
Since I dance that verse, I can’t read it without dancing it in my head! Merry Christmas Sharon!
Sunday:
How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you? The blessings of the Lord just keep pouring down on me. My husband was diagnosed with walking pneumonia and is SO much better this week, thank you, Lord. I have been waking up early each morning, and the Lord has met me in my Bible study, thank you, Lord. He has calmed me whenever I’ve felt stressed or fretful this week, thank you, Lord. Jesus has included me in His family, thank you Lord.
Praise God, Cheryl, for your blessings. And I pray that your husband continues to improve each day.
Thank you, Bing.
“Jesus has included me in His family, thank you Lord.” Yes Cheryl, Such a wonderful thing to be in His family. 💕
That phrase came from the hymn Bing mentioned. I’d never heard it before, but I found it in my hymnal! I’ve been playing it on my piano and hope to introduce it at church sometime (I play the organ at church). It’s a phrase that stickx with me like a phrase from last spring, “Jesus came running to throw Himself between me and the wrath of God,” (Keller’s study in John, my paraphrase).
Cheryl, Praise God that your husband is doing better each day. May God continue to meet you daily with His calming love.
1. How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you?
Definitely in the preparation for our Christmas variety show! In the faces of joy at our church; people having such fun. Thank You Lord for laughter.
Laura, I watched you dancing in that and saw the joy of Christ in you…beautiful!!
Love reading about all of this joy, Laura!
Laura, beautiful dance! Thanks for sharing!
Friends, I need prayer for my marriage. Already, this morning the Lord has begun to answer my pleas, but this is a life long battle. Is anyone in a marriage that they can say requires no work? Of course, not-but this is a painful, hard type of situation that brings grief, confusion, anger, heartache-the kind of pain that leaves you feeling unable to cope with life. This blog is such a light in my life. Thank you Lord for that. All is not lost, but I especially hate to enter the Christmas season with such hard situations at bay. One with my daughter and her family and now this with my marriage. Nahum 1:7 remains my refrain. God is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.
Father, I come to You for Chris’ marriage. I pray for hearts to melt, for Philippians 2:1-11 to begin to be in their marriage. Help Chris know when to speak and when to be silent, and how to overcome evil with good – please give her favor with her husband. In the power and blood of Jesus I pray.
Almighty God, hear our prayers, I agree with Dee and plead for Chris. O Father, intercede Holy Spirit. Pour your healing balm on Chris, her husband, and her family. Jesus, shine in her life and give her wisdom, strength, and peace. In Your precious name and for Your glory, I pray.
Chris, my heart aches for you. I join Dee in her prayer for your dear friend. This group is a lifeline for me, and such a support in times of hurt and sorrow. I will be praying for you daily. May the Lord bring you great hope and rejoicing.
Chris, I agree with Dee’s prayer for you and your marriage. Marriage takes a lot of work but it is only through Jesus we can persevere and find comfort and direction for the needs we have.
Praying Chris🙏
Chris, praying for you, and I agree with Dee’s prayers here. I will add two Scripture references as a prayer for you and your husband and the situation with your daughter:
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.”
Song of Songs 2:15 “Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”
Thank you, all. These prayers mean so much to me.
Praying dear Chris. ❤️🙏 I’m sorry this is happening to you. Hold on tight. Stay firm in His love for you.
Monday: Text
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud? I studied this passage last week at Bible study, so thought I knew all about it -WRONG. Once again the Holy Spirit showed me something different. Lord, forgive my presumption. What I noticed new/different this time was how Joseph did not immediately condemn Mary as others might have been doing. Verse 20, “But while he thought on these things…” Joseph KNEW he was not the father, and yet he hesitated as to what course of action should be taken.
How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man? He was just/righteous in that he followed the commandments of the Lord and knew he should not take Mary as his wife. He was merciful in that he wanted the divorce to be done privately instead of having her stoned. What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12) Those who don’t have/show mercy will themselves be judged without mercy. We are to show mercy as Jesus showed mercy, to all without partiality.
Find three truths the angel told Joseph. The child she carries was conceived by the Holy Ghost, it will be a baby boy, Jesus will save the people from their sins.
What two names are given to Jesus in this passage? Jesus, Emmanuel
How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific. Bitterness. Without going into lengthy detail, I was very bitter about my father. So bitter that I did not want him to give me away at my wedding, He could attend, but was to have no part in the ceremony. I was his firstborn child. Months after I was married the Lord showed how my bitterness was hurting me more than my father. We were able to reconcile. That was 1974, I had a baby in 1976 that my father rejoiced to see, and he died in 1977 from cancer.
What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?” First that God came and dwelt among men, I often think of 1John 1:1, “…we have heard…we have seen…we have touched…” As Keller said last week, it REALLY happened. Second, Christ lives IN ME, Colossians 1:27, “to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born? Fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah which the angel quoted to Joseph about the virgin conceiving and having a son. Mary needed to be a virgin at conception and birth.
Love all your thoughts. Lately my passive aggressiveness is cropping up — so I need the reminder that those without mercy will be judged without mercy!
Sunday:
How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you?
—We have had a very full week of travel and events. This past week there was only one night we were home. I have felt God’s love and care for us, His being with us, as we traveled some times on snowy and icy roads and late at night.
Because it is the Christmas season and the reminders of the incarnation of Christ into humanity are being highlighted all around with the spiritual reminders and blessings of the message of Christ. They are rich in the music of Christmas and the readings of God’s Word. I love the many reminders of Christ as Immanuel “God with me”.
Monday: Text
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
—The obedience and faithfulness of Joseph to do what the Lord commanded him to do through the angel’s instructions. He took pregnant Mary as his wife keeping her pure and until her son was born he then named him Jesus as he had been instructed.
How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
—This scripture says Joseph was a “righteous” man and so he was going to to the right thing based on what he knew and break his engagement to Mary quietly but he was merciful in that he was not going to publicly disgrace her.
What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12)
—The NLT in James 2 verse 13 says “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”
If we judge harshly we will be judged harshly but if we are merciful with others God will show us his merciful side. Mercy is the far better approach in dealing with others.
Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
Mary was a virgin because the child she was pregnant with was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
She would bear a son to be named Jesus
Jesus would save his people from their sins.
What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
—Jesus the Messiah and Jesus the Savior
How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
—A few years back God pointed out the sin of doubt in my life which is a lack of faith. Jesus showed me I doubted his love for me and when I confessed it and believed the truth of his Word and the love behind my very salvation I was set free in my spirit to understand and experience the greater depths of His perfect love.
What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
—Jesus is in every moment of my life. By the power of the Holy Spirit He lives “with” me, “in” me. I have His promise that He will never leave or forsake His very own and I am one of His own. I find great security in His constant Presence. He is always near and available to guard and meet the deepest needs of my heart.
Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born?
—I think Joseph as a Jewish man grew up knowing about the prophecy that a virgin would conceive and once he understood that Mary was “that” virgin ordained by God he knew it was the birth that would break her virginity and should not be him. Also I think because he was a righteous man he respected the Holiness of God. This advent season I have come to understand that God didn’t just choose Mary but he chose Joseph as well and there are reasons why.
Bev, so thankful for the traveling mercies God gave you and your husband …He was definitely with you!!
“I find great security in His constant presence,” YES!
Thanking God for safe travels for you and your family through wintry weather. He is with us always. I agree about Joseph knowing the prophesies of the virgin. The\n, the angel’s visit was a confirmation to him. It is something to ponder for sure.
Bev, “…he chose Joseph as well, and there are reasons why.” This stands out to me. Of course, God chose Joseph. His part is down played, but an angel came to him as well and without him, Mary would not have anyone to bring her to Bethlehem. The story would look so different. And your comment about how God is always so near, meeting the deepest needs of your heart. I have also doubted God’s love for me due to childhood trauma. A part of my brain always goes back to that feeling of everything falling apart and being all alone. I have to turn my mind back to scripture and community to overcome. Thank you for your testimony. It is so helpful.
Interesting about Joseph perhaps knowing the prophesy about the virgin…
1. How have you experienced “Immanuel” this week — God being with you? I had a very dark week and I so prayed to see and hear the Lord in the midst of my sorrows. I was so upset, feeling helpless and confused. It was even hard to read His Word, but I knew He was there. I prayed to see His light and I prayed that He would help me to Rejoice in what He was doing, though I could not see through the fog. He brought support and wisdom through dear friends, old and new. I chose to rejoice greatly for His will, even if it would hurt. And yesterday, He gave me a miracle of healing and I saw His Light. I don’t understand the full picture of why we have to walk through the deep valleys so often, but when I felt Immanuel with me in the wee dark hours of Sunday morning, I knew it was Him. He is faithful. He does not waste anything, not even pain.
Oh sweet Patti, It is a hard season at Christmas time because it can be so bittersweet. As believers we are fully aware of the great event of Jesus being born but yet the reality is He came to suffer and die in the flesh. Now we in the flesh also live with great sorrows at times and then have to lean hard into Jesus to experience the Light of his Presence. Praise God for his bringing you through and I ask Him to pour out His grace and mercy upon you and giving you His peace.
Your comment: “He is faithful. He does not waste anything, not even pain.”
Hugs and prayers sweet Patti…His steadfast love endures forever!
Praying for you, Patti, Love, Cheryl
Patti, I have watched you cling to Jesus during your deep sorrows and griefs. They are not wasted, yes, not even our pain. I am truly encouraged by your faith, and thanks for sharing your heart with us.
Oh, Patti, I’m sorry for your pain; but I love your perspective. Thank you for sharing. I truly seek to follow in the footsteps of the faithful followers of Jesus here.
Oh Patti — soo sorry, but glad He brought you peace. How is your puppy doing?
Thank you all for your prayers. I have felt them. My puppy, Piper, is home and much better. She was in ICU again for seizures.
So sorry Piper had more seizures, but glad she is home and doing much better…continued prayers for you dear Patti.
Patti, I hope you are doing better this week. I’m sorry it was so dark last week. I also hope Piper is doing better. 🙏🙏🙏
Monday: Text
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
1. What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
“Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”
Reading this story many times, I don’t remember ever reading that before!
2. How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
He resolved to divorce Mary quietly so he wouldn’t be her to shame.
3. What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:13)
When we extend mercy to others, it will be extended to us in return.
God will be merciful when He judges us.
4. Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
Don’t fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.
He will save His people from their sins.
5. What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
Jesus and Immanuel
6. How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
God has saved me from the power of being anxious/worrying. I have learned when it creeps up that I immediately take it to Him in prayer and cast all my cares upon Him…surrender to Him.
7. What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
He is always with me!
8. Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born?
I think Matthew put this in so there would be no question that Jesus was born to a virgin conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Love this, Sharon: “When we extend mercy to others, it will be extended to us in return.” God is quick and willing to forgive us that someone’s we have a hard time accepting that!
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
1.What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
Joseph was obedient to the Jewish laws, but he was also a good man, who did not want to harm Mary’s name. He considered sending her away secretly, but stood by her after the message of the angel in his dream. He must have known the prophecies of the Messiah. Did he say: “why me”? God uses unlikely people for his purposes. The are common people, yet they fit perfectly into the prophetic Word of God. The genealogy confirms that. Did Joseph know that he fit into the lineage of the coming Messiah? Though Jesus is not physical son of Joseph, He is the legal son of him.
2. How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
Joseph was a just man, who wanted to obey the Jewish laws, yet he was a righteous man, who did not want to discredit Mary.
3. What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12)
If we do not show mercy to others, we will not be shown mercy by God on the day of judgment.
4. Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
a.) This child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit b.) Mary shall bear a Son c.) You shall call His name Jesus d.) He will save His people from their sins.
5. What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
a. Immanuel b. God with us
6. How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
Prayer and Trusting God. In dark times, I have questioned God. I have asked “why?” I have learned to pray through the dark. It has been a hard lesson. When I look back, I can see that He has allowed things in my life that have crushed me; yet these are the things that have drawn me closer to Him. They are also things that helped me to slow down, pray and make better choices.
7.What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
He is with me through all of the trials and all of the rejoicing. He is very present and desires a deep relationship. He desires to be first in my life. I desire Him to be first in my life.
8.Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born? Joseph did not consummate the marriage in order to keep Mary a virgin, at the brith of Jesus, to fulfill the scripture.
Patti, I can so relate to your answer to #6. It reminded me of a little chorus I used to play and sing with the guitar for children’s church in my younger years.
I Cast All My Cares Upon You
https://youtu.be/sJLbxwptf7w?feature=shared
Thank you for sharing your heart❤️
Monday: Text
2. Read Matthew 1:18-25
A. What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
Joseph was obedient to God. “When Jesus woke up…he took Mary home to be his wife.” No questions asked! I love the plausible scenario between them in the movie, Christmas with the Chosen, by Dallas Jenkins.
B. How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
Joseph was just and merciful in that he considered the law and did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace. He was going to divorce him quietly when he could have made it public, since the law would allow it.
C. What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12)
If this applies to question B, does James mean that Joseph could be judging Mary through the law but showed grace through divorcing her quietly? And he showed mercy to Mary by taking her as his wife, even though he may not have fully understood everything that was happening.
D. Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
What is conceived of Mary is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son. He will save his people from their sins.
E. What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
Immanuel and Jesus.
F. How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
He died for me, so I will not have to pay the penalty for my sins. He uses His Word to help me with the power of self-focus. Thank you, Dee, for the lesson from Keller on the freedom of self-forgetfulness. A friend gave me several books that were donated to her place of employment, and one of the books was Keller’s book on self-forgetfulness. I am re-reading it since this past week!
G. What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
He will never leave me or forsake me. He is always with me, in the bad and good times, in joy and in sorrow. Immanuel keeps me company until the end, being with me as I am ushered into His presence.
H. Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born?
To fulfil the prophecy, a virgin will give birth to a son… no iota of doubt for him and Mary that what she carried in her womb is by the Spirit and not by human effort.
Oh! I love the last answer about no iota of doubt for him and Mary that what she carried in her womb is by the Spirit and not by human effort. Don’t our minds always question the validity of God’s work in our lives? We tend to reason things away. I caught a little bit of a program on documented miracles yesterday and the same thing was discussed-how there was no doubt these events were miracles and why. But this piece I had never thought of before with relation to the virgin birth.
I loved that too, Chris. How much we need validation!
So true, Chris. We often do not recognize miracles. I also saw a Sean McDowell interview with a Jewish doctor, Dr. Marc Siegel, about miracles. Some happen instantly and some over a period of time, in baby steps.
2. What stands out to you upon first reading this aloud?
I think what stands out to me is the very last bit of the passage where it says that “he did not have sexual relations with her until Jesus was born.” I checked three different translations, and they all said the same thing, the King James version said “till.”
How do we see that Joseph was both a just and a merciful man?
He was trying to honor her and God.
What do you think James means when he says Mercy triumphs over judgment? (See James 2:12)
I didn’t see this in the translations I checked. I guess being merciful gains more than being judgmental. My grandma used to say, “you catch more flies with honey.”
I didn’t give a reason as to why I thought it was interesting (2A). I have a Catholic friend who insists that Mary and Joseph never had any other children. She acted as if I was spewing blasphemy! But, this implies (until) that they had relations after He was born. I can’t imagine they were married but didn’t have sex…ever? After all, they were human.
I do think Catholicism associated sex with sin, even in the marriage bed. Jesus brothers are named in the gospels — 4 of them – and it says he had sisters as well.
Tuesday
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why. When Keller says, “Because He’s God, there’s no middle ground.” This stood out to me because I myself can sometimes be mediocre.
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each? The blind man who was healed fell at the feet of Jesus and worshipped Him. After Jesus healed the Gadarene, and the demons entered the pigs, the townspeople did not actually run away, but they begged Jesus to leave them (they wanted nothing to do with Him). When Jesus read the scripture in Isaiah (in a synagogue), then said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled,” angry people took Jesus and wanted to throw Him off a cliff.
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian? Because Jesus is either who He claims to be or He isn’t. You are either all FOR Him, or all AGAINST Him. To claim anything else is hypocrisy. I like the way Lewis said, Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. I remember this phrase: Jesus is either Lord of all, or He’s not Lord at all.
A man in church strongly objected to this saying that it was harmful to think that if you were not all out for the Lord you were not a believer. I tried to explain that it is more the attitude by which you come to Him, but he wasn’t persuaded. As a counselor he saw a lot of broken people who had legalistic Christiian parents. But I truly think he didn’t understand what Keller and Lewis were saying.
Tuesday: Fully God
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
—“Because he’s God there is no middle ground when it comes to Jesus Christ.” The point is that Jesus is God which begs the question Who or what is God? It would seem to me the reason people don’t take the incarnation of Jesus seriously is because they have no real concept or understanding of Who God is. Most people have a weak and skewed Theology about God. We live in a pick and choose world religiously. It is completely lost on most people that God is Holy. Living in such a terribly sin stained world the concept of holiness is very hard to grasp. I myself fail to understand the depth of it as well but any meaningful encounter with Jesus or God puts us on our knees before Him because He is completely Worthy and we are not.
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
—Peter worshipped Jesus when He did the miracle of bringing so many fish onto his net.
Luke 5:8 ESV
“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.””
—Jesus had sent the demons out of the two men in the country of Gadarenes and allowed them to go into a herd of pigs which caused them to all run down a steep bank into the sea and drown the people wanted nothing to do
With Jesus.
Matthew 8:34 ESV
“And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.”
—A mob from the synagogue in their anger over his claim of being the Messiah took Jesus and tried to throw him over a cliff which was considered stoning.
Luke 4:29-30
“And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, he went away.”
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
—Because the Truth is that there is a Supreme God who is the great I AM and He is sovereign over all things. And Jesus himself is God who came in the flesh as Immanuel (God with us). It is our choice to either believe that and fall down in worship of him or dismiss and reject him which as Keller said last week is deadly.
There is no middle ground with Jesus.
Great illustrations from Scripture, Bev.
Bev, what you said in #3 “ It would seem to me the reason people don’t take the incarnation of Jesus seriously is because they have no real concept or understanding of Who God is. Most people have a weak and skewed Theology about God,” made me think as a parent did I fail to convey this truth to my kids? Is that why they aren’t living for the Lord today? In praying for my kids and grandkids I ask God to give them a real understanding of Who He is and what He has done for them. But also, be able to have a good conversation with them now…to challenge them in a loving way. This has just really caused my to ponder about much…thank you.
Amen, Sharon!
I also love your illustrations, Bev. I agree with Sharon, on did I fail to convey this truth properly to my children? The child I thought did not “get it” and has been through a lot, is the one that now has turned her life to Him. It is one of my most fervent prayers that they will all come to know Him. I am so thankful that some of my grandchildren know Him. I pray that the Lord will bring each of my children and grandchildren a true understanding of Who Jesus is. I pray that I will communicate that in all my interactions with them.
Tuesday: Fully God
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
Not one thing stood out but it was thought provoking as to how I’ve been as a Christian.
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
Worshiped
Matthew 8:2, “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.”
Stoned
John 8:59, “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.’
John 10:31, “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
Ran
I couldn’t find a verse where someone actually ran but in Luke 8:37 He was asked to depart because the people were gripped with fear after He’d healed a demon-possessed man.
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
If He isn’t Lord of your life, then you’ve replaced Him with something that is and there isn’t an understanding of the gospel. Being a moderate Christian means you’re sitting on the fence and Satan owns the fence.
That’s all I could think of for ran away screaming unless he was talking about the demons! I love the fence quote!
Well said, Sharon, that Satan owns the fence.
Amen to Dee and Cheryl! Stay away from the fence! Wow, Sharon!
2. (Cont) Find three truths the angel told Joseph.
The child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Mary will have a Son.
The child will save the people from their sins.
What two names are given to Jesus in this passage?
Immanuel and Jesus.
How has the Lord saved you not just from the penalty of sin, but from the power of a particular sin? Be specific.
I used to be concerned with things of this world. Now am not.
What does it mean to you today that God is “Immanuel?”
He is always with me! Even in the little things. I lost something in my house and asked God to help me find it. He did!
Why did Joseph not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born?
Maybe because he felt she was holy and he shouldn’t touch her?
I’ve done that, too, Laura. Before I panic, I cry help me, Lord. He is concerned about the little things.
I wish my husband had such faith. He worries all the time about money. We recently had an unexpected bill of $2500. Ugh. He was so depressed. I told him God would take care of it. Guess what?! Today he got a $10,000 bonus for Christmas! God is amazing and is with us ALWAYS. Thank You Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Oh, Laura! I love how the Lord answered your prayer and more!
I think it was so there would be absolutely no doubt as to who the Father was of this child.
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
I think it’s such a contrast that the people of Jesus’ time either threw themselves at His feet or they didn’t. There was no in between. Here in our country we “think about it.” We are luke warm. Ugh!
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
The disciples worshiped Him, Judas ran away from Him, and the Pharisees wanted to stone (kill) Him.
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
You aren’t taking the doctrine of the incarnation seriously, that Jesus was God! If you do, then you are “all in,” because He is God!!
I like “they aren’t taking the doctrine of the incarnation” seriously.
Wednesday: No Fear and Great Compassion
4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
There’s no fearing the future. One of my favorite attributes of God is, His Sovereignty. This brings me great comfort as it has been displayed in my life time and time again.
Isaiah 46:9-10, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,”
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow 🎶
https://youtu.be/C7BtGs1w6hA
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:31-39 ESV
6. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why.
I can go to him, cry out to Him, and know through times of suffering He understands.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”
Hebrews 5:7-8 ESV
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
Temptation in the wilderness, scorn, despised, mocked, spit upon, betrayed, rejected and nailed to a cross.
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
He didn’t retaliate or threaten but entrusted Himself to God to judge justly.
When I am treated unjustly I need to turn it over to God and trust in Him to take care of it. I love these last two verses in Psalm 55 that David wrote…“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.”
Psalm 55:22-23 ESV
Love this whole post — things I know but need to be reminded of right now, for a challenging situation.
Sharon thanks for sharing that old old song so beautifully done. Wonderful harmonies and instrumentation. I remember singing it in a trio over fifty years ago and it is a refrain that still comes to my mind occasionally.
I love the Romans 8 passage on the love of God. Such a perfect one to share in answer to the question about knowing there is love after death.
Thank you for these song, Sharon. Love all of your post and scriptures.💕
4. 4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
I guess the point he makes about God not being good and evil. My mom always said you have to know evil to understand good. So, God is only good and therefore He does not bring evil upon us. Some of my friends think that God will strike them down for their sins. But, if He did that then we would all be dead! We are all sinners who need saving. I suppose they could counter with Old Testament stories, but God caused the flood because He was so disgusted with His creation that He wanted to start over, right? The Israelites did not listen time after time, and they caused trouble for themselves. God had to bail them out! We have hope that He is in charge and good will prevail.
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually.
Keller says there is hope for the world. God is omnipotent. He is in charge (thank You Lord!)
I’m not sure this is saying we are loved, but it is Jesus speaking and He says that we are “children of God.” We love our children, so God will love us.
“And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.”
Luke 20:36 NLT
Interesting “to understand evil you must know good.”
Wednesday
4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why. What stood out to me (because I’m not really sure what he means) is when Keller says “Who cares if there’s life after death?” Isn’t the main point of scripture that there is life after death, and your relationship with God will determine where you spend eternity?
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually. Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
1Co. 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
6. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why. We watched this video yesterday in Bible study, and talked about all the things Jesus experienced. What stood out was that He experienced all the things that we try to AVOID. In some ways I think that’s why people don’t want to get involved in the so-called messy lives of others.
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you? For me personally, the hard thing that immediately leaps to mind is His torture and excruciating death. Since God the Father allowed and watched that, God (Father, Jesus, Spirit) understood my grief when my daughter died.
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life? Jesus did not try to defend Himself with words or actions, He committed Himself to “…Him who judges righteously.” I have never had a time when I experienced unjust treatment or slander that I can recall.
Cheryl, great verses to support that there is love after death for believers and the comfort they bring! And this, “ He experienced all the things that we try to AVOID.” Good observation, so true and convicting.
Oh, Cheryl — about God understanding your grief when your daughter died.
It also gave me a glimpse of God’s great sacrifice. I was truly overwhelmed by the accidental death of Mary in a car accident, what must it have been like to DELIBERATELY send Jesus to suffer torture and crucifixion? No human parent would EVER do that. I went to a seminar on grief, and the counselor said that when Jesus died on the cross and the earth shook, it was as if God took the earth into His hands and shook it in anger/grief. A powerful image.
This is such a powerful post, Cheryl. Thank you.💔
Wednesday: No Fear and Great Compassion
4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
—I was reminded that the God of the Bible is completely in charge and nothing can stand against Him. He is omnipotent and I find great security in the reality of that truth about God.
Keller’s question “who cares whether there is life after death” causes a person to take pause and then he reframes it to ask “is there love after death”. And the answer is yes because the Lord of Love (Jesus as God) will end all evil and suffering and He brings us hope. It is all based on the fact that Jesus is God.
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually.
—In the Gospel of John 16:27-28 Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples and in verse 27 he is telling them clearly Who He is and that God the Father loves them. “for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.”
Then in verse 33 He reminds them to take heart because He has overcome the world.
Back in chapter 14 verses 1-3 Jesus says “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
In chapter 17 Jesus prays for the disciples and as he continued he prayed for us future believers. He speaks to the love God has for Jesus and for us.
6. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why.
—Because Jesus became human He completely understands us. He experienced every aspect of what it is like to be human and we can go to him. I just finished reading Hebrews this morning in my Bible reading. Keller made comment that in Hebrews God speaks to the fact that Jesus became human. The first chapter of Hebrews outlines to us that Jesus Christ was God’s own Son. And then in chapter two we are told about Jesus the Man and what he suffered and that he tasted death for us.
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
—It would seem no one escapes some measure of physical pain in life and Jesus experienced the most excruciating physical pain in his body anyone could ever possibly suffer. My closest friend Lynda has suffered excruciating physical pain and it has taken her deep into her relationship with Jesus because only He alone understands when she has lived in that state.
For myself personally it would he what I have experienced emotionally in feeling rejected that I have been comforted that Jesus truly understands. Finding my acceptance in Him has been a beautiful thing.
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
—He didn’t retaliate or take revenge but rather left His case in the hands of God who could be trusted to judge fairly.
I struggle with wanting justice and to be able to make my case in situations of inequity but slowly I am learning the value of being quiet with a knowledge that God can be trusted to judge and handle those situations fairly and perfectly. I believe He often uses time to reveal truth if I will just wait on Him.
Good to remember from Bev: I believe He often uses time to reveal truth if I will just wait on Him.
3. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
Jesus is God so there is no middle ground. Immanuel =God with us God=divine Us=human . I love that Keller pointed out that most of us who say we are Christians don’t totally center our whole lives in Him. I think our feelings fluctuate and many Christians want to walk close to the water, yet not immerse our entire selves in Him. I need to read His Word and constantly recenter my priorities off of “self” and onto “Him”.
4. Keller said that when people realized who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
Luke 8:47 The woman, who had hemorrhaged for years, knew that if she could touch, even the edge of His garment, she would be healed.
Mark 3:11 Even the the unclean spirits acknowledged that He was the Son of God. Evil acknowledged good! But they did not worship.
John 8:59 The Jews, who were listening to Jesus speak, could not understand His claims that God was His Father, so they picked up stones to throw at Him.
5. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
If Jesus is not the complete center if your life and you just use Him to fill in the blank spaces, you are not truly worshipping Him. He is to be the center of my life, and my life should revolve around Jesus and His will. If He is our Jesus on Christmas and Easter, is He truly living in our hearts every minute of the day or just when we need Him; or just when we need to have a warm and happy holiday feeling? How many still look at the manger, even at Christmas? Do I fit Him into my life where and when it is comfortable or do I fit myself into His will, where He is with me always?
Dee, it is so good to do this study every Advent. I look at decorations…and as the years go by, the world adds more tinsel and less manger scenes, more Happy Holidays and less Merry Christmas, more grinch movies and less Hallelujah choirs.
Patti, I agree that doing this study is good to do every year. I have to share that this year in our area I have seen more manger scenes than the last four years and it’s so encouraging, but I do agree that it is sad what the world has made this season about.
Sharon, I love that you are seeing more manger scenes! So encouraging! Are you in Tennessee?
NC
NC
So true, Patti. Yesterday in conversation with my Romanian friend Cristian – -he’s just discovered Christmas Carols – -had oonly heard secular Christmas music!!!
Tuesday: Fully God
2. Watch Keller through his first point and share what stands out to you and why.
There is no such thing as being a moderately Christian. See my answer to #4
3. Keller said that when people realised who Jesus was, they either worshipped, ran away, or wanted to stone him. Can you give an example of each?
Keller gave examples that were later with the Q and A with Kathy.
They worshipped Him: The shepherds (Luke 2:16-20) and the Magi at the birth of Jesus; Mary and her alabaster jar offering
They wanted to stone him: John 8:48-59 When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”
4. Why is there no such thing as being moderately Christian?
With God, there is no middle ground. I likened this to getting married and being monogamous. There is only one person I could be devoted to.
Between God and money. I can only serve one.
Bing, Love your answer to 4.
Thursday: Why He Had To Become Man
9. Listen to Keller’s 4th point and share what stands out to you.
“If he was only a loving God who says, “Oh, I accept everybody,” then there would have been no need for him to come down either.”
This stood out to me because I hear, O, God is a god of love and so He accepts everyone. He isn’t the god of the Old Testament where He is all wrath. The sad part is, these are people in the church.
10. Explain why Jesus coming to earth shows that He is both just and loving.
God loved us so much that He sent His only Son, born of a woman, to die for our sin, which is the only way, if we accept Him, can we be justified in His sight.
11. What was Keller’s point with Corothy Sayer’s novels?
Jesus loved us to much that when He looked into the world He created and saw us flailing and dying that He wrote Himself into the story and saved us, just as Sayer wrote herself into the her own novel to save the main character who was lonely and needed someone.
God saw us flailing and dying…such a parallel to the Exodus account when He heard the groans of His people and sent a rescuer
Thursday
9. Listen to Keller’s 4th point and share what stands out to you. I like the phrase which says, “He wrote himself into the story,” because the image that comes to mind is someone who pitied us and loved us enough to enter our world to save us.
10. Explain why Jesus coming to earth shows that He is both just and loving. He is just/holy because He is God, and sin has to be punished. God could have just wiped out the human race completely, but because of His great love, Jesus put aside His glory, was born as a babe and offered Himself as payment for our sin debt. Again that image of Jesus running to put Himself between me and the wrath of God.
11. What was Keller’s poiont with Corothy Sayer’s novels? Sayer created a character with flaws/needs, so she added another character to help the first (in a sense saving him). Some said she used herself as the saving character, thereby writing herself into the story. Keller’s point is Jesus can be compare to Sayer’s 2nd character. Jesus created us (He is God), and we have flaws/needs (sin). He entered His creation as one of us to help/save us, thereby writing Himself into our human story.
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
He has been hungry, in pain, and had injustice put upon Him.
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
He did not retaliate or seek revenge. Absolutely! I am to accept when others criticize me and remember Jesus’ example.
1. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
No fear of the future because He is completely in charge and nothing can stand against Him. When the world seems to be falling apart, we have Jesus who holds all things together. He is always the victor.
He is human and understands us. Philippians 2: Hebrews 4:14-16: He was tempted in every way, but did not sin.
2. How do we know that for the believer, there is love after death? Support your answer scripturally.
What would life be like after death if there is no love? Revelation 22 speaks of Jesus’ coming for His Bride, inviting her to come. And since Jesus is love and He will be in Heaven with us, then there will be love after death. Jesus is love personified, therefore love will be in Heaven because Jesus is there.
7. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why.
We can always draw near Him and find help in times of need. He is available 24/7. His ears are always inclined to us, and we can come to Him just as we are. No prerequisite of being cleaned up first before we can come to Him.
8. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
Rejection both from family and friends, physical pain, mental anguish, injustice, loneliness, homelessness, being misunderstood, daily routines as a son, losing his earthly father, leaving his earthly mother, and separation from family.
9. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”
No retaliation, no threats because He trusted His Father to be just.
Instead of replying with my mouth, I should muzzle it. I should “run” to Jesus and believe that He will take care of me. He is my security and my significance. Run to His Word in Romans 8: “Nothing can separate me from His love.”
From Bing:
Instead of replying with my mouth, I should muzzle it. I should “run” to Jesus and believe that He will take care of me. He is my security and my significance. Run to His Word in Romans 8: “Nothing can separate me from His love.”
Thursday: Why He Had To Become Man
9. Listen to Keller’s 4th point and share what stands out to you.
But only a holy God who says, “Sin must be punished,” and a loving God who says, “But I need to punish sin in such a way that I can still love and forgive my people.” Only a God like that, who’s both holy and loving, would have become human. And that’s why he did it. So that a holy God could satisfy justice at the same time, open his arms to us. If he wasn’t human, we just couldn’t be saved.
10. Explain why Jesus coming to earth shows that He is both just and loving.
So that a holy God could satisfy justice at the same time, open his arms (love) to us. If he wasn’t human, we just couldn’t be saved.
11. What was Keller’s point with Dorothy Sayer’s novels?
God wrote Himself into the world’s story so He could save us. Just as Harriet Vane was written into the story of Peter Wimsey, so she could save him from himself.
“He saw us. He saw us dying. He saw us flailing. And he loved us so much that he wrote himself in and he became a human being, though he was God, and he saved us.”
Friday
12. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond? Where in the Bible did Jesus claim to be God. He responded with Jesus saying “ego eimi,” the name that God told Moses, I AM. Before Abraham was, I AM. Jesus claimed to be THE SON, and claimed a mutual knowledge between Father and Son which claims equality. When Jesus told the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” that was a claim of deity as only God can forgive sins.
I was so impressed the Tim could point to scripture references for his examples. without hesitation. I could think of examples, but I would need to use my Bible to find the spot knowing the general book, but not chapter or verse.
13. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God? All of the I AMs in John, I AM the: light of the world, door, good shepherd, resurrection and the life, way-truth-life, bread of life, vine.
14. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ. O Come All Ye Faithful “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing…” Hark the Herald Angels Sing “Hail the Son of Righteousness, Light and Life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lay His glory by, born that man no more may die…” Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me…”
Great job on the carols!
Friday: When Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
12. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond?
—Her question was in the form of a challenge for him to give her 3 or 4 examples from the Bible where Jesus actually said I am God in response to people who say “There’s not anywhere in the Bible that Jesus claimed to be God.”
He quickly and clearly recited 4 examples from the Scripture demonstrating his apt and winsome way of teaching God’s Word. I loved it.
13. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God?
—Kathy Keller mentioned that Jesus said the Father and I are one. I think that particular exchange Jesus had with the people in the Temple at the time of Hanukkah from John 10 is an amazingly clear and bold claim that He makes in verse 30 “the Father and I are one”. That’s when they immediately picked up stones to kill him and responded to Him in verse 33 with the comment “You a mere man, claim to be God”. In verse 38 He concluded the argument with them by saying “But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.” To examine that passage of Scripture alone verifies that Jesus was claiming He was one with God.
14. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ.
—“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” There are specific references. “Christ the everlasting Lord”
“ veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Diety” but actually the whole hymn is speaking to Who Jesus is as God.
“Silent Night” refers to Jesus as “Son of God”
“O Holy Night” speaks to his deity when it proclaims “Christ is the Lord!”
“O Come all ye Faithful” repeatedly refers to Him as
“Christ The Lord!”
And one of the best is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel“
The meaning of Emmanuel is God with us. The entire carol speaks to that.
Love the carols you named, Bev! Amen!
4. Watch Keller through his second and third point and share what stands out to you and why.
The God of the Bible is completely in charge and nothing can stand against Him. There is no evil in Him. We cannot properly represent Him, if we are not totally committed to knowing that He is God and He is man. He is approachable because He experienced all that we experience. Because He is God and He is man, He is just and holy because He is God and He is man.
5. How do we know that for the believer there is love after death? Support your answer scriptually.
1Corinthians 13:12 “ For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain:faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
6. Listen to Keller through his third point and share what stands out to you and why.
7. What are some hard things that Jesus experienced that gives him understanding for you?
Jesus experienced rejection, pain, sorrow, death, all things that we will experience.
8. According to 1 Peter 2:23 how did Jesus handle injustice treatment? Is there an application for your life?
Jesus committed no sin. Though He was persecuted and hated, He never retaliated in return, He never threatened, He entrusted His life to His Father.
I need to always remember that there is nothing that I will experience that He has not experienced. He understands all that I am going through and that I do not have the ability to cope with my own sorrow or sin, without Him in my life constantly. He is the underpinning of my existence. I can go to Him with a simple or complex problem and receive no condemnation, only His hope, support and love.
I see you living this trust out, Patti.
9. Listen to Keller’s 4th point and share what stands out to you.
“But I need to punish sin in such a way that I can still love and forgive my people.”
It is possible to forgive and still love someone, although difficult for sure. I am trying to be better at this.
10. Explain why Jesus coming to earth shows that He is both just and loving.
He couldn’t just allow the people to continue to sin without recourse. He wanted them to understand that there would be consequences for sinning. However, he also wanted to show us and teach us how to love each other.
11. What was Keller’s point with Dorothy Sayer’s novels?
I love Dorothy Sayer! I used to watch the Harriet Vane/Lord Peter Whimsy episodes on PBS way back in the 90s. Keller says the story goes that Dorothy Sayer was a lonely person, and she recognized that Lord Peter Wimsy was also lonely in her stories. So, she wrote herself into the story so that he wouldn’t be lonely anymore. She saved him. Keller makes that an analogy with Jesus and his people. He had to write himself into our lives so that we would be saved from death and have eternal life.
Some of Sayers short stories are soooo dark — yet we do live in such a fallen world. Interesting you love her. I haven’t watched Peter Whimsey.
I don’t know anything about her short stories, just the detective series 🤷🏻♀️.
Saturday – take-a-way
The Lord Jesus Christ, fully God and fully Man. He came to live the life we should have lived, and He came to die the death we deserved. Meditating on these thoughts, and Keller’s example from Sayer, I had the tendency to think that Jesus might have come in response to my (man’s) weakness. And yet the scripture comes to mind in 1 Peter 1:19,20 concerning our redemption:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
“Before the foundation of the world…” What a mystery! What a plan! That the Almighty, Omnipotent God would design such a thing before Adam even drew a breath. That Jesus, fully God, would lay aside His glory and come to earth as a baby, fully Man, is such a wondrous thought! It’s beyond my comprehension, but I believe it and thank God for it!
My prayer is that we all have a Christmas filled with His Love, Joy, and Peace.
What a perfect takeaway, Cheryl. May each of us have a Christmas that fills our souls and our family time in a very real way with His presence.
“My prayer is that we all have a Christmas filled with His Love, Joy, and Peace.”
AMEN🙏
Friday: When Did Jesus Claim to Be God?
12. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond?
She asks her husband to show her where in the Bible does Jesus claim to be God?
He responds with all the “I AM’s” in John, which means Jesus is taking the divine name.
In John 5 He says He is the Son of God, not a son of God.
He tells the paralytic man in Mark that his sins are forgiven and only God can forgive sins.
In Matthew 11 He says no one knows the Father but the Son and no one knows the Son but the Father…”the father and the Son’s knowledge of each other is mutually exhaustive and it is a claim to be equal.”
13. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God?
In John 9:38 a blind man Jesus healed worshiped Him and the first commandment says, “You must not bow down to other gods or worship them, for I, the LORD your God am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.”
14. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Verse 2 it says, “Mild He lays His glory by. Born that man no more may die.”
Joy to the World the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King.
Angels From the Realms of Glory. Verse 2 says, “God with us is now residing.”
12. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond?
Kathy wanted Tim to name four places where Jesus said He was God. Tim gives several examples, and I love the one in John chapter 5, where He says He is not a son of God, but THE son of God.
This question reminds me that I need to spend more time in His Word. I would not be able to answer that question if someone asked me I’m a quick manner. One place, that I have over looked is John 3:16. This is a verse we all know, but when I recite it do I remember that it is Jesus saying it.
13. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in shall not perish, but have eternal life. This was my husband’s favorite verse.
14. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ.
The First Noel; Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
Hark the Herald angels sing; Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord…. Veiled in flesh the God-head see, Hail the incarnate Deity.
Mary Did you know? Mary did you know that your baby boy, was Heaven’s perfect Lamb, And this sleeping child you’re holding Is the Great I Am. Oh, Mary did you know?
Mary Did You Know?…one of my favorites and a beautiful choice Patti!
Saturday:
15. What is your take-a-way and why?
Thinking on the points he made, “because He’s God…
1. There’s no middle ground when it comes to Jesus Christ.
God has laid upon my heart the importance of others having an understanding of the doctrine of the incarnation. Jesus wasn’t just a prophet or a good person…He was God!
2. There’s no fearing the future.
This brings me such great comfort and I want the same for others who do fear the future…may I share this truth.
Because He’s human…
1. He understands.
And that is why He is our mediator. He suffered and died so that we could be reconciled to God.
2. We can be saved.
Thank You Jesus!
Amen Sharon! Love all these points. He is God!
Amen, thank you Jesus!
Friday:
8. What was Kathy’s question and how did her husband respond?
“There’s not anywhere in the Bible that Jesus claimed to be God. That was just made up by other people. He never actually said, I am God. Show me a place where Jesus said, I am God.”
Tim’s response: Okay, three or four places. I will give you that and then I’ll tell you a couple of other things just to think about. Well, for example, all the I am statements.
9. Can you think of any other places where Jesus claimed to be God?
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” – Revelation 22:13
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:17
For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” – John 5:18
10. Challenge: think of 3.lines from 3 different carols that speak of the Deity of Christ.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel / And ransom captive IsraelThat mourns in lonely exile here / Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel / Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O Little town of Bethlehem
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!
These last 2 I have not heard before:
By Michael Card To the Mystery
When the Father longed to show / A love He wanted us to know
He sent His only Son and so / Became a holy embryo
That is the Mystery / More than you can see
Give up on your pondering / And fall down on your knees
By Andrew Peterson (Gather Round, Ye Children, Come)
Gather ’round, ye children, come / Listen to the old, old story
Of the pow’r of death undone / By an infant born of glory
Son of God, Son of Man
Bing, love the songs you chose!