December 16

John 19:1-16

[1] Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. [2] And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. [3] They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. [4] Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” [5] So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” [6] When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” [7] The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” [8] When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. [9] He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. [10] So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” [11] Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

[12] From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” [13] So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. [14] Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” [15] They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” [16] So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. 

Revelation 13

[1] And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. [2] And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. [3] One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. [4] And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

[5] And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. [6] It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [7] Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, [8] and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. [9] If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

    [10] If anyone is to be taken captive,

        to captivity he goes;

    if anyone is to be slain with the sword,

        with the sword must he be slain.

    Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. 

[11] Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. [12] It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. [13] It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, [14] and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. [15] And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. [16] Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, [17] so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. [18] This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Job 36:1-15

[1] And Elihu continued, and said:

    [2] “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,

        for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. 

    [3] I will get my knowledge from afar

        and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 

    [4] For truly my words are not false;

        one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

    [5] “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any;

        he is mighty in strength of understanding. 

    [6] He does not keep the wicked alive,

        but gives the afflicted their right. 

    [7] He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,

        but with kings on the throne

        he sets them forever, and they are exalted. 

    [8] And if they are bound in chains

        and caught in the cords of affliction, 

    [9] then he declares to them their work

        and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly. 

    [10] He opens their ears to instruction

        and commands that they return from iniquity. 

    [11] If they listen and serve him,

        they complete their days in prosperity,

        and their years in pleasantness. 

    [12] But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword

        and die without knowledge.

    [13] “The godless in heart cherish anger;

        they do not cry for help when he binds them. 

    [14] They die in youth,

        and their life ends among the cult prostitutes. 

    [15] He delivers the afflicted by their affliction

        and opens their ear by adversity.

Micah 6

    [1] Hear what the LORD says:

    Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

        and let the hills hear your voice. 

    [2] Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,

        and you enduring foundations of the earth,

    for the LORD has an indictment against his people,

        and he will contend with Israel.

    [3] “O my people, what have I done to you?

        How have I wearied you? Answer me! 

    [4] For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

        and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

    and I sent before you Moses,

        Aaron, and Miriam. 

    [5] O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,

        and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,

    and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,

        that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

    [6] “With what shall I come before the LORD,

        and bow myself before God on high?

    Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

        with calves a year old? 

    [7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

        with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

    Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

        the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 

    [8] He has told you, O man, what is good;

        and what does the LORD require of you

    but to do justice, and to love kindness,

        and to walk humbly with your God?

    [9] The voice of the LORD cries to the city—

        and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:

    “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it! 

    [10]     Can I forget any longer the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,

        and the scant measure that is accursed? 

    [11] Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales

        and with a bag of deceitful weights? 

    [12] Your rich men are full of violence;

        your inhabitants speak lies,

        and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 

    [13] Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,

        making you desolate because of your sins. 

    [14] You shall eat, but not be satisfied,

        and there shall be hunger within you;

    you shall put away, but not preserve,

        and what you preserve I will give to the sword. 

    [15] You shall sow, but not reap;

        you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;

        you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine. 

    [16] For you have kept the statutes of Omri,

        and all the works of the house of Ahab;

        and you have walked in their counsels,

    that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing;

        so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”

Micah 7

    [1] Woe is me! For I have become

        as when the summer fruit has been gathered,

        as when the grapes have been gleaned:

    there is no cluster to eat,

        no first-ripe fig that my soul desires. 

    [2] The godly has perished from the earth,

        and there is no one upright among mankind;

    they all lie in wait for blood,

        and each hunts the other with a net. 

    [3] Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;

        the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,

    and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;

        thus they weave it together. 

    [4] The best of them is like a brier,

        the most upright of them a thorn hedge.

    The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come;

        now their confusion is at hand. 

    [5] Put no trust in a neighbor;

        have no confidence in a friend;

    guard the doors of your mouth

        from her who lies in your arms; 

    [6] for the son treats the father with contempt,

        the daughter rises up against her mother,

    the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

        a man’s enemies are the men of his own house. 

    [7] But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

        I will wait for the God of my salvation;

        my God will hear me.

    [8] Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;

        when I fall, I shall rise;

    when I sit in darkness,

        the LORD will be a light to me. 

    [9] I will bear the indignation of the LORD

        because I have sinned against him,

    until he pleads my cause

        and executes judgment for me.

    He will bring me out to the light;

        I shall look upon his vindication. 

    [10] Then my enemy will see,

        and shame will cover her who said to me,

        “Where is the LORD your God?”

    My eyes will look upon her;

        now she will be trampled down

        like the mire of the streets.

    [11] A day for the building of your walls!

        In that day the boundary shall be far extended. 

    [12] In that day they will come to you,

        from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,

    and from Egypt to the River,

        from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. 

    [13] But the earth will be desolate

        because of its inhabitants,

        for the fruit of their deeds.

    [14] Shepherd your people with your staff,

        the flock of your inheritance,

    who dwell alone in a forest

        in the midst of a garden land;

    let them graze in Bashan and Gilead

        as in the days of old. 

    [15] As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,

        I will show them marvelous things. 

    [16] The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;

    they shall lay their hands on their mouths;

        their ears shall be deaf; 

    [17] they shall lick the dust like a serpent,

        like the crawling things of the earth;

    they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;

        they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,

        and they shall be in fear of you.

    [18] Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

        and passing over transgression

        for the remnant of his inheritance?

    He does not retain his anger forever,

        because he delights in steadfast love. 

    [19] He will again have compassion on us;

        he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

    You will cast all our sins

        into the depths of the sea. 

    [20] You will show faithfulness to Jacob

        and steadfast love to Abraham,

    as you have sworn to our fathers

        from the days of old.

We Are God’s Little Nobodies

PRAY OVER THIS

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

 

PONDER THIS

God has chosen the weak things of the world. Consider the word “weak.” The word “weak” here literally means those who are physically weak, what we would call anemic, emaciated, run-down, without physical strength, or even sickly. It is these that God has used to confound the mighty. God uses nonintellectuals to confound PhDs. God uses the weak to confound the All-Americans. The word “base” means ignoble, of low degree, without the proper pedigree, not a blueblood, people from the wrong side of the tracks. God has chosen the base things of the world and things which are despised. The word “despised” means those things that are looked down upon, things that the world scorns, ridicules, and laughs at. He has also chosen the things which are not. You say, “It's not that they hate me; they don’t even know I’m here.” You, you’re included here. These are God’s little nobodies. These are the people the Bible says God has chosen. These are God’s simple people.

When was a time you felt weak, base, or despised as used in this passage?

Why is it better to be a nobody God has chosen than a somebody who does not have a relationship with God?

PRACTICE THIS

List the ways you’ve been hurt by feeling weak, base, or despised. Thank God that He chooses those like you for His purposes.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Life and Death at Christmas

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

As I was about to begin this devotional, I received word that Marion Newstrum had just died. Marion and her husband Elmer had been part of our church longer than most of our members had been alive at the time. She was 87. They had been married 64 years.

When I spoke to Elmer and told him I wanted him to be strong in the Lord and not give up on life, he said, “He has been a true friend.” I pray that all Christians will be able to say at the end of life, “Christ has been a true friend.”

Each Advent I mark the anniversary of my mother’s death. She was cut off in her 56th year in a bus accident in Israel. It was December 16, 1974. Those events are incredibly real to me even today. If I allow myself, I can easily come to tears — for example, thinking that my sons never knew her. We buried her the day after Christmas. What a precious Christmas it was!

Many of you will feel your loss this Christmas more pointedly than before. Don’t block it out. Let it come. Feel it. What is love for, if not to intensify our affections — both in life and death? But oh, do not be bitter. It is tragically self-destructive to be bitter.

Jesus came at Christmas that we might have eternal life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Elmer and Marion had discussed where they would spend their final years. Elmer said, “Marion and I agreed that our final home would be with the Lord.”

Do you feel restless for home? I have family coming home for the holidays. It feels good. I think the bottom-line reason for why it feels good is that they and I are destined in the depths of our being for an ultimate Homecoming. All other homecomings are foretastes. And foretastes are good.

Unless they become substitutes. Oh, don’t let all the sweet things of this season become substitutes of the final, great, all-satisfying Sweetness. Let every loss and every delight send your hearts a-homing after heaven.

Christmas. What is it but this: I came that they may have life? Marion Newstrum, Ruth Piper, and you and I — that we might have Life, now and forever.

Make your Now the richer and deeper this Christmas by drinking at the fountain of Forever. It is so near.

John Piper 

December 15

John 18:28-40

[28] Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. [29] So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” [30] They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” [31] Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” [32] This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

[33] So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [34] Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” [35] Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” [36] Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” [37] Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” [38] Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” 

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.  [39] But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” [40] They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Revelation 12

[1] And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. [2] She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. [3] And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. [4] His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. [5] She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, [6] and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

[7] Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, [8] but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. [9] And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. [10] And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. [11] And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. [12] Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

[13] And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. [14] But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. [15] The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. [16] But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. [17] Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Job 35

[1] And Elihu answered and said:

    [2] “Do you think this to be just?

        Do you say, ‘It is my right before God,’ 

    [3] that you ask, ‘What advantage have I?

        How am I better off than if I had sinned?’ 

    [4] I will answer you

        and your friends with you. 

    [5] Look at the heavens, and see;

        and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 

    [6] If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?

        And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? 

    [7] If you are righteous, what do you give to him?

        Or what does he receive from your hand? 

    [8] Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,

        and your righteousness a son of man.

    [9] “Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out;

        they call for help because of the arm of the mighty. 

    [10] But none says, ‘Where is God my Maker,

        who gives songs in the night, 

    [11] who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth

        and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’ 

    [12] There they cry out, but he does not answer,

        because of the pride of evil men. 

    [13] Surely God does not hear an empty cry,

        nor does the Almighty regard it. 

    [14] How much less when you say that you do not see him,

        that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him! 

    [15] And now, because his anger does not punish,

        and he does not take much note of transgression, 

    [16] Job opens his mouth in empty talk;

        he multiplies words without knowledge.”

Micah 4

    [1] It shall come to pass in the latter days

        that the mountain of the house of the LORD

    shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

        and it shall be lifted up above the hills;

    and peoples shall flow to it, 

    [2]     and many nations shall come, and say:

    “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

        to the house of the God of Jacob,

    that he may teach us his ways

        and that we may walk in his paths.”

    For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

        and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 

    [3] He shall judge between many peoples,

        and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;

    and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

        and their spears into pruning hooks;

    nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

        neither shall they learn war anymore; 

    [4] but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,

        and no one shall make them afraid,

        for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. 

    [5] For all the peoples walk

        each in the name of its god,

    but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

        forever and ever.

    [6] In that day, declares the LORD,

        I will assemble the lame

    and gather those who have been driven away

        and those whom I have afflicted; 

    [7] and the lame I will make the remnant,

        and those who were cast off, a strong nation;

    and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion

        from this time forth and forevermore.

    [8] And you, O tower of the flock,

        hill of the daughter of Zion,

    to you shall it come,

        the former dominion shall come,

        kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

    [9] Now why do you cry aloud?

        Is there no king in you?

    Has your counselor perished,

        that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 

    [10] Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion,

        like a woman in labor,

    for now you shall go out from the city

        and dwell in the open country;

        you shall go to Babylon.

    There you shall be rescued;

        there the LORD will redeem you

        from the hand of your enemies.

    [11] Now many nations

        are assembled against you,

    saying, “Let her be defiled,

        and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 

    [12] But they do not know

        the thoughts of the LORD;

    they do not understand his plan,

        that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 

    [13] Arise and thresh,

        O daughter of Zion,

    for I will make your horn iron,

        and I will make your hoofs bronze;

    you shall beat in pieces many peoples;

        and shall devote their gain to the LORD,

        their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

Micah 5

    [1]  Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;

        siege is laid against us;

    with a rod they strike the judge of Israel

        on the cheek. 

    [2]  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

        who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

    from you shall come forth for me

        one who is to be ruler in Israel,

    whose coming forth is from of old,

        from ancient days. 

    [3] Therefore he shall give them up until the time

        when she who is in labor has given birth;

    then the rest of his brothers shall return

        to the people of Israel. 

    [4] And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,

        in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.

    And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great

        to the ends of the earth. 

    [5] And he shall be their peace.

    When the Assyrian comes into our land

        and treads in our palaces,

    then we will raise against him seven shepherds

        and eight princes of men; 

    [6] they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,

        and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;

    and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian

        when he comes into our land

        and treads within our border.

    [7] Then the remnant of Jacob shall be

        in the midst of many peoples

    like dew from the LORD,

        like showers on the grass,

    which delay not for a man

        nor wait for the children of man. 

    [8] And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,

        in the midst of many peoples,

    like a lion among the beasts of the forest,

        like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

    which, when it goes through, treads down

        and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. 

    [9] Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,

        and all your enemies shall be cut off.

    [10] And in that day, declares the LORD,

        I will cut off your horses from among you

        and will destroy your chariots; 

    [11] and I will cut off the cities of your land

        and throw down all your strongholds; 

    [12] and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,

        and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes; 

    [13] and I will cut off your carved images

        and your pillars from among you,

    and you shall bow down no more

        to the work of your hands; 

    [14] and I will root out your Asherah images from among you

        and destroy your cities. 

    [15] And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance

        on the nations that did not obey.

Are You Faithfully Walking Each Day?

PRAY OVER THIS:

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)

PONDER THIS:

Do you want to know what victorious Christian living looks like primarily? It’s not soaring like an eagle or running like a deer; it’s walking day by day for Jesus Christ. It’s fixing breakfast, dressing the kids when you can’t find but one sock, getting them off to school on time, and praising Jesus all the way.

Being faithful in the small things may seem simple, but it’s no small task. It’s cleaning toilet bowls, doing the game-old grind on the job. It’s serving God in good days and bad days, hot days and cold days, every day, every way, day after day, night after night, week after week, walking with Jesus. In many ways, it is more difficult to be faithful in the ordinary things of life than it is in the biggest moments of life. It’s one thing to have soaring power; it’s another thing to have surging power, but it's something wonderful to have sticking power to stay, to walk and faint not, to “keep on keeping on” for the Lord Jesus.

What are the ordinary things of life that God has called you to be faithful in today?

Why is it often easy to overlook these things in search of “more important” pursuits?

PRACTICE THIS:

As you practice the ordinary things of life today, seek to continually be mindful of God’s presence with you and to lean on Him for continued faithfulness in everything.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Making It Real for His People

Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

Christ is the Mediator of a new covenant, according to Hebrews 8:6. What does that mean? It means that his blood — the blood of the covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 13:20) — finally and decisively purchased and secured the fulfillment of God’s promises for us.

It means that God, according to the new covenant promises, brings about our inner transformation by the Spirit of Christ.

And it means that God works this transformation in us through faith — faith in all that God is for us in Christ.

The new covenant is purchased by the blood of Christ, effected by the Spirit of Christ, and appropriated by faith in Christ.

The best place to see Christ working as the Mediator of the new covenant is in Hebrews 13:20–21:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The words “working in us that which is pleasing in his sight” describe what happens when God writes the law on our hearts in accord with the new covenant. And the words “through Jesus Christ” describe Jesus as the Mediator of this glorious work of sovereign grace.

So, the meaning of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with Reality, but also that he takes the Reality and makes it real to his people. He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation under the tree, so to speak, for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts it in your heart and in your mind and gives you the seal of assurance that you are a child of God.

John Piper