Understanding the Importance of Jesus
56Mary and Elizabeth
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
Luke 1:46-55 (KJV)
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
Mary was in a good mood… a real good mood, and it wasn’t because of what her cousin had just said to her. The news that made her burst out in a song was the reason she went to see her cousin in the first place. What the messenger had told her was no ordinary bit of news, and she knew it. It was hard to accept… even harder for her to understand; but Mary took what was told her on faith, and didn’t try to understand it. Instead she just took it all in with joy and gladness. You know the kind that makes you want to get up and move kind of gladness. There was no way she was going to sit still… she went to see her cousin. Mary knew right away that this news was a revelation from God, and she understood just how important it was. How many of us, when God has made it as plain as the nose on our face, can accept what we should?
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
Before answering that question so quickly, just think about how much of God’s Word we put faith in as it is. Mary’s song carries within it much in the way of God’s revelation about people in general; not just in her time, but in our time as well.
The Children of Israel were God’s chosen; a people that had His blessings, His favor, the law, and the prophets. God’s strength was displayed through mighty works over and over again; but still, with all of this display they managed to not recognize the revelations and promises of God. The prophet Isaiah brought the word of God’s coming punishment because of the people’s sin, rebellion, and worship of false gods.
Isaiah 1:4 (KJV)
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Although his message was given for all of Israel, its focus was to the magistrates, priests, and prophets in Jerusalem; the very leaders who were positioned to lead the people. These were knowledgeable men who knew the law as well as the history of how God had stood on the side of Israel. You would think that they would be able to see the promises of God as they unfold, and recognize what was being revealed.
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
The whole of scripture, the history of Abrahams’ descendants, serves as an illustration of what can be expected as a result of sin… death. It also gives clear indication of how difficult it is to stand in God’s favor when we are rebellious and disobedient. However, God has not turned His back on us even in the midst of our troubled condition. We have the promises given to Abraham, David, and now Mary as revealed through our text. What does it take before God’s revealed promises can be recognized and paid attention to? For an answer we need only to attend more closely to what God is telling us… consider these words, also from Isaiah.
Isaiah 1:16-20 (KJV)
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel was given notice, yet it fell to the Assyrians. The leaders of the Southern Kingdom of Judah watched as it took place. They too had been given the warning, as well as the grace of God to be spared from Assyrian rule. You would think that they would have the good sense to be obedient… to recognize what God had revealed and promised through Isaiah His prophet, and repent. But just like their brothers to the north, they fell at the hands of the Babylonians. As we look around at the conditions we face today; is God’s message clear?
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament was written about a hundred years after the end of the Babylonian captivity. Jerusalem has been resettled, the Temple has been rebuilt, and worship restored. Repairs to the wall are near completion, and the people for the most part have turned from worshiping other gods. They have seen what God has done and are now waiting for the promised messiah. However the priests and religious leaders have become impatient and self serving and not much attention is on God or what HE has revealed. The prophet Malachi is sent with a final warning. His message addresses a need for true justice and honesty, as well as a call to exercise real faith. God took issue with imperfect sacrifices, the withholding of tithes and offerings, and unfaithfulness. There was little in the way of real commitment in marriage, in relationships between neighbors, or the covenant to keep God’s laws. People started to question what the point was of having faith. Through Malachi, God reveals His promise.
Malachi 3:1 (KJV)
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Notice how it says the LORD, whom ye seek...
Does the world seem to be really seeking Him today?
Malachi 3:5-7 (KJV)
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
It would appear that we still practice a few things that are upsetting... things that still need addressing today as they did back then... things that quite a few of us refuse to recognize.
Malachi 3:16-18 (KJV)
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
After the prophet Malachi there was 400 yrs of silence, a time of no prophets, no Man of God, and no word from God. But a faithful few held real faith and hope in the promise of God. Waiting patiently until that day when the angle Gabriel visited Mary with the long awaited news. It was news of a promise that filled her heart with joy and gave her a reason to sing.
The birth of Christ was the fulfillment of a promise that was long awaited. The event brought a living message to the Jews, and to the world itself. It broke the silence that had lasted for over 400 hundred years to reveal some much needed understanding on the things we were doing and how God felt about it... and us. It was "Good News"... good news indeed. The coming of Jesus was not just important back then, but remains important for all of us; and even now these questions still remain...
Can We Recognize the Revealed Promise of God?
Can We Understand the Importance of Jesus?
"Blessings",
Matt.
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Dear Hyphenbird,
You're right, there is a difference between understanding, and the recognition of where that understanding is to be found. It's a question of value and a matter or recognizing that the values we hold to have been misplaced. That's the shift, what you call crossing over, and the point where we accept the importance of faith in Christ.
Thank's for being first to check in...
"Blessings"
Can you imagine no revealed truth or personal Word for 400 years? No Wonder Mary was so full of joy. What an honor to not only hear the Word but to give birth to the Word. God set the stage well for His entrance by creating a hunger for Him. And oh how hungry and thirsty we are today as you well pointed out.
I thought of as well the joy that comes with revelation and also the pain that is necessary to bring it to birth.
I enjoyed your invitation to receive revelation including the call to return to and or become one of His.
A thought provoking and inspiring article and great ending questions.
Dear Tamarajo,
Thanks for stopping by, your visit is most appreciated.
One of the beauties of the Biblical story as a whole is found in God’s ability to set the tone by being longsuffering. Our creator is willing to give time for our return to Him in closeness. Increasingly, our society is insistent on immediate results. We expect God to move at our pace according to our expectation. The whole idea of grace is to allow us the opportunity to become obedient through patience. As the passage in Isaiah urges… “let us reason together”; the key is in being willing and obedient… taking the time to understand and submit to His Will. Hopefully, the time spent outside Our Fathers Will can help the desire to be in it.
Continue to find joy through the revelation of "His Word."
“Blessings”
This is a very thoughtful hub. When I look around at the world today, it seems we have still fallen into the same traps and unbelief the Jews had even though we now have the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the ability to have a personal relationship with God that Jesus gave us. We truly should be joyous. Those prophets longed to have what we have and yet even Christians seem to struggle with the reality of God's presence in our lives. Thank you for the reminder to stop and Rejoice!
Dear April,
Faith, by its nature, will be a struggle. There would be no need to seek out His righteousness if this were not the case. As Isaiah said, we must reason together with God and be willing to make an effort toward obedience. The struggle is the condition that makes our faith a work that we participate in with the help of the Holy Spirit. Many of us forget that work was a blessed institution given before the fall into sin. As a Father, God prepares us and Christ leads the way as a shepherd teaching us to walk the path. While we may view the work of faith as a struggle and a burden, we can find comfort in knowing that the “burden is light.”
Remain faithful and encouraged.
“Blessings”
This Jesus you speak of is it the one before Constantine of after, the one created and Arius spoke out about?
Hyphenbird Level 8 Commenter 5 months ago
I do understand although there are such great spiritual significances that we cannot fully "get" it until we have crossed over. Certainly if one cannot distinguish us from ones that do not know Him, we are not in accord with His arrival and Kingship.
Thanks for a great article on this critical subject.