The Final Reality Is Here

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. . . . They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” (Hebrews 8:1–2, 5)

We’ve seen it before. But there’s more. Christmas is the replacement of shadows with the real thing.

Hebrews 8:1–2, 5 is a kind of summary statement. The point is that the one priest who goes between us and God, and makes us right with God, and prays for us to God is not an ordinary, weak, sinful, dying priest as in the Old Testament days. He is the Son of God — strong, sinless, with an indestructible life.

Not only that, he is not ministering in an earthly tabernacle with all its limitations of place and size while getting worn out and being moth-eaten and being soaked and burned and torn and stolen. No, Hebrews 8:2 says that Christ is ministering for us in a “true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” This is not the shadow. It’s the real thing in heaven. This is the reality that cast a shadow on Mount Sinai for Moses to copy.

According to Hebrews 8:1, another great thing about the reality which is greater than the shadow is that our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. No Old Testament priest could ever say that.

Jesus deals directly with God the Father. He has a place of honor beside God. He is loved and respected infinitely by God. He is constantly with God. This is not shadow-reality like curtains and bowls and tables and candles and robes and tassels and sheep and goats and pigeons. This is final, ultimate reality: God and his Son interacting in love and holiness for our eternal salvation.

Ultimate reality is the persons of the Godhead in relationship, dealing with each other concerning how their majesty and holiness and love and justice and goodness and truth shall be manifest in a redeemed people.

John Piper 

December 13

John 18:1-18

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” [10] Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) [11] So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

[12] So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. [13] First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. [14] It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, [16] but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. [17] The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” [18] Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

Revelation 10

The Angel and the Little Scroll

[1] Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. [2] He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, [3] and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. [4] And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” [5] And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven [6] and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, [7] but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

[8] Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” [9] So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” [10] And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. [11] And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

Job 34:1-20

Elihu Asserts God’s Justice

[1] Then Elihu answered and said:

    [2] “Hear my words, you wise men,

        and give ear to me, you who know; 

    [3] for the ear tests words

        as the palate tastes food. 

    [4] Let us choose what is right;

        let us know among ourselves what is good. 

    [5] For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,

        and God has taken away my right; 

    [6] in spite of my right I am counted a liar;

        my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ 

    [7] What man is like Job,

        who drinks up scoffing like water, 

    [8] who travels in company with evildoers

        and walks with wicked men? 

    [9] For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing

        that he should take delight in God.’

    [10] “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:

        far be it from God that he should do wickedness,

        and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. 

    [11] For according to the work of a man he will repay him,

        and according to his ways he will make it befall him. 

    [12] Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,

        and the Almighty will not pervert justice. 

    [13] Who gave him charge over the earth,

        and who laid on him the whole world? 

    [14] If he should set his heart to it

        and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 

    [15] all flesh would perish together,

        and man would return to dust.

    [16] “If you have understanding, hear this;

        listen to what I say. 

    [17] Shall one who hates justice govern?

        Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, 

    [18] who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’

        and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’ 

    [19] who shows no partiality to princes,

        nor regards the rich more than the poor,

        for they are all the work of his hands? 

    [20] In a moment they die;

        at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,

        and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

Jonah 1

Jonah Flees the Presence of the LORD

[1] Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” [3] But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

[4] But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. [5] Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. [6] So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah Is Thrown into the Sea

[7] And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” [9] And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” [10] Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

[11] Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. [12] He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” [13] Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. [14] Therefore they called out to the LORD, “O LORD, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.” [15] So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. [16] Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

A Great Fish Swallows Jonah

[17]  And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2

Jonah’s Prayer

[1] Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, [2] saying, 

    “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,

        and he answered me;

    out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

        and you heard my voice. 

    [3] For you cast me into the deep,

        into the heart of the seas,

        and the flood surrounded me;

    all your waves and your billows

        passed over me. 

    [4] Then I said, ‘I am driven away

        from your sight;

    yet I shall again look

        upon your holy temple.’ 

    [5] The waters closed in over me to take my life;

        the deep surrounded me;

    weeds were wrapped about my head 

    [6]     at the roots of the mountains.

    I went down to the land

        whose bars closed upon me forever;

    yet you brought up my life from the pit,

        O LORD my God. 

    [7] When my life was fainting away,

        I remembered the LORD,

    and my prayer came to you,

        into your holy temple. 

    [8] Those who pay regard to vain idols

        forsake their hope of steadfast love. 

    [9] But I with the voice of thanksgiving

        will sacrifice to you;

    what I have vowed I will pay.

        Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

    [10] And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Jonah 3

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

[1] Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” [3] So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. [4] Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” [5] And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The People of Nineveh Repent

[6] The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. [7] And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, [8] but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. [9] Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

[10] When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Jonah 4

Jonah’s Anger and the LORD’s Compassion

[1] But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. [2] And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. [3] Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” [4] And the LORD said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

[5] Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. [6] Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. [7] But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. [8] When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” [9] But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” [10] And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. [11] And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Satan Blinds Our Hearts

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12

Ponder This

If you visit Carlsbad Caverns, at one point the guide turns out all the lights and the darkness is so deep that you can almost slice it. Even if you have perfect vision, you can’t see in that dark cave because there’s no sight without light. There is no sight without light, but there can be light without sight. A man could be standing blind at high noon and still not see. Men need more than light to be saved.

In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Paul said, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Satan cannot put out the light. So, what does he do? He blinds the heart; he blinds the mind. Once you have the light, you must learn to see. That’s the way people come to the Lord. God has to open their eyes. The Holy Spirit must give them spiritual insight, and then they begin to grow in knowledge.

Where do you need spiritual insight from God?

How have you pursued God’s truth in your life?

Practice This

Make a list of situations in which you have been struggling with discernment on what to do. Ask God to give you spiritual insight in these situations.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Replacing the Shadows

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Hebrews 8:1–2)

The point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, has not just come to fit into the earthly system of priestly ministry as the best and final human priest, but he has come to fulfill and put an end to that system, and to orient all our attention on himself, ministering for us first on Calvary as our final Sacrifice and then in heaven as our final Priest.

The Old Testament tabernacle and priests and sacrifices were shadows. Now the reality has come, and the shadows pass away.

Here’s an Advent illustration for kids — and those of us who used to be kids and remember what it was like. Suppose you and your mom get separated in the grocery store, and you start to get scared and panic and don’t know which way to go, and you run to the end of an aisle, and just before you start to cry, you see a shadow on the floor at the end of the aisle that looks just like your mom. It makes you really hopeful. But which is better? The hopefulness of seeing the shadow, or having your mom step around the corner and it’s really her?

That’s the way it is when Jesus comes to be our High Priest. That’s what Christmas is. Christmas is the replacement of shadows with the real thing: Mom stepping around the corner of the aisle, and all the relief and joy that gives to a little child.

John Piper 

December 12

John 17:20-26

[20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. [24] Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. [25] O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. [26] I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Revelation 9

[1] And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. [2] He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. [3] Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. [4] They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. [5] They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. [6] And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

[7] In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, [8] their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; [9] they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. [10] They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people for five months is in their tails. [11] They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.

[12] The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.

[13] Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, [14] saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” [15] So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind. [16] The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. [17] And this is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode them: they wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths. [18] By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. [19] For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound.

[20] The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, [21] nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Job 33:12-33

    [12] “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

        for God is greater than man. 

    [13] Why do you contend against him,

        saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’? 

    [14] For God speaks in one way,

        and in two, though man does not perceive it. 

    [15] In a dream, in a vision of the night,

        when deep sleep falls on men,

        while they slumber on their beds, 

    [16] then he opens the ears of men

        and terrifies them with warnings, 

    [17] that he may turn man aside from his deed

        and conceal pride from a man; 

    [18] he keeps back his soul from the pit,

        his life from perishing by the sword.

    [19] “Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed

        and with continual strife in his bones, 

    [20] so that his life loathes bread,

        and his appetite the choicest food. 

    [21] His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,

        and his bones that were not seen stick out. 

    [22] His soul draws near the pit,

        and his life to those who bring death. 

    [23] If there be for him an angel,

        a mediator, one of the thousand,

        to declare to man what is right for him, 

    [24] and he is merciful to him, and says,

        ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;

        I have found a ransom; 

    [25] let his flesh become fresh with youth;

        let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’; 

    [26] then man prays to God, and he accepts him;

        he sees his face with a shout of joy,

    and he restores to man his righteousness. 

    [27]     He sings before men and says:

    ‘I sinned and perverted what was right,

        and it was not repaid to me. 

    [28] He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,

        and my life shall look upon the light.’

    [29] “Behold, God does all these things,

        twice, three times, with a man, 

    [30] to bring back his soul from the pit,

        that he may be lighted with the light of life. 

    [31] Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;

        be silent, and I will speak. 

    [32] If you have any words, answer me;

        speak, for I desire to justify you. 

    [33] If not, listen to me;

        be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Obadiah 1

[1] The vision of Obadiah. 

Edom Will Be Humbled

    Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom:

    We have heard a report from the LORD,

        and a messenger has been sent among the nations:

    “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!” 

    [2] Behold, I will make you small among the nations;

        you shall be utterly despised. 

    [3] The pride of your heart has deceived you,

        you who live in the clefts of the rock,

        in your lofty dwelling,

    who say in your heart,

        “Who will bring me down to the ground?” 

    [4] Though you soar aloft like the eagle,

        though your nest is set among the stars,

        from there I will bring you down,

    declares the LORD.

    [5] If thieves came to you,

        if plunderers came by night—

        how you have been destroyed!—

        would they not steal only enough for themselves?

    If grape gatherers came to you,

        would they not leave gleanings? 

    [6] How Esau has been pillaged,

        his treasures sought out! 

    [7] All your allies have driven you to your border;

        those at peace with you have deceived you;

    they have prevailed against you;

        those who eat your bread have set a trap beneath you—

        you have no understanding.

    [8] Will I not on that day, declares the LORD,

        destroy the wise men out of Edom,

        and understanding out of Mount Esau? 

    [9] And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,

        so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

    Edom’s Violence Against Jacob

    [10] Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,

        shame shall cover you,

        and you shall be cut off forever. 

    [11] On the day that you stood aloof,

        on the day that strangers carried off his wealth

    and foreigners entered his gates

        and cast lots for Jerusalem,

        you were like one of them. 

    [12] But do not gloat over the day of your brother

        in the day of his misfortune;

    do not rejoice over the people of Judah

        in the day of their ruin;

    do not boast

        in the day of distress. 

    [13] Do not enter the gate of my people

        in the day of their calamity;

    do not gloat over his disaster

        in the day of his calamity;

    do not loot his wealth

        in the day of his calamity. 

    [14] Do not stand at the crossroads

        to cut off his fugitives;

    do not hand over his survivors

        in the day of distress.

    The Day of the LORD Is Near

    [15] For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations.

    As you have done, it shall be done to you;

        your deeds shall return on your own head. 

    [16] For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,

        so all the nations shall drink continually;

    they shall drink and swallow,

        and shall be as though they had never been. 

    [17] But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,

        and it shall be holy,

    and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions. 

    [18] The house of Jacob shall be a fire,

        and the house of Joseph a flame,

        and the house of Esau stubble;

    they shall burn them and consume them,

        and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,

    for the LORD has spoken.

    The Kingdom of the LORD

    [19] Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,

        and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;

    they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,

        and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 

    [20] The exiles of this host of the people of Israel

        shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,

    and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

        shall possess the cities of the Negeb. 

    [21] Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion

        to rule Mount Esau,

        and the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.

Do You Act on Your Faith?

Pray Over This

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

Ponder This

Suppose you wanted to see the NBA playoffs, so you went to the ticket counter several days early and waited in a long line. But then a buddy comes up to you and says, “Hey Man! I’ve got two tickets, right down front. Best tickets available. I got them. Come on, let’s go!” Would you get out of line? Yes, if you believed him.

You see, Jesus says, “It is by grace, but it’s through faith. You just obey me. You just trust me.” The paralytic man in John 5 put his faith into action. Faith is belief with legs on it. You are saved by grace through faith unto good works.

Was the man healed because he walked, or did he walk because he was healed? He walked because he was healed. You’re not saved by doing good works, you’re saved unto good works. It is by grace through faith unto good works. You live the Christian life not to be saved but because you’re saved. Jesus did not say to this man, “Walk, take up your bed, and rise.” He couldn’t walk until he was up, and you cannot live the Christian life until after you receive the Christian life.

How did your life change once you began following Jesus?

What are some ways you put your faith into action?

Practice This

Share with a friend a testimony of a time you put your faith into action.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Why Jesus Came

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

This, I think, is my favorite Advent text because I don’t know any other that expresses so clearly the connection between the beginning and the end of Jesus’s earthly life — between the incarnation and crucifixion. These two verses make clear why Jesus came; namely, to die. They would be great to use with an unbelieving friend or family member to walk them step-by-step through your Christian view of Christmas. It might go something like this, a phrase at a time:

“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood . . . ”

The term “children” is taken from the previous verse and refers to the spiritual offspring of Christ, the Messiah (see Isaiah 8:18; 53:10). These are also the “children of God” (John 1:12). In other words, in sending Christ, God has the salvation of his “children” especially in view.

It is true that “God so loved the world, that he gave [Jesus]” (John 3:16). But it is also true that God was especially gathering “the children of God who are scattered abroad” (John 11:52). God’s design was to offer Christ to the world, and to effect the salvation of his “children” (see 1 Timothy 4:10). You may experience adoption by receiving Christ (John 1:12).

“ . . . he himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood] . . . ”

This means that Christ existed before the incarnation. He was spirit. He was the eternal Word. He was with God and was God (John 1:1; Colossians 2:9). But he took on flesh and blood, and clothed his deity with humanity. He became fully man and remained fully God. It is a great mystery in many ways. But it is at the heart of our faith — and what the Bible teaches.

“ . . . that through death . . . ”

The reason he became man was to die. As God pure and simple, he could not die for sinners. But as man he could. His aim was to die. Therefore he had to be born human. He was born to die. Good Friday is the purpose of Christmas. This is what most people today need to hear about the meaning of Christmas.

“ . . . he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil . . . ”

In dying, Christ de-fanged the devil. How? By covering all our sin. This means that Satan has no legitimate grounds to accuse us before God. “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33) — on what grounds does he justify? Through the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:9).

Satan’s ultimate weapon against us is our own sin. If the death of Jesus takes it away, the chief weapon of the devil — the one mortal weapon that he has — is taken out of his hand. He cannot make a case for our death penalty, because the Judge has acquitted us by the death of his Son!

“ . . . and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

So, we are free from the fear of death. God has justified us. Satan cannot overturn that decree. And God means for our ultimate safety to have an immediate effect on our lives. He means for the happy ending to take away the slavery and fear of the Now.

If we do not need to fear our last and greatest enemy, death, then we do not need to fear anything. We can be free. Free for joy. Free for others.

What a great Christmas present from God to us! And from us to the world!

John Piper