Wow! Remember talking about the angels giving the shepherd their "sign"? Now approximately 33 years later, the angels give another very important announcement along with an accompanying sign: Jesus will return, and He will return in the same way that He left.
This is our transitional verse from those regarding Jesus first coming to those proclaiming His promised return. Because those first verses were s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d over a fairly long period of time, it probably is a very good idea to review them:
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on His shoulders. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,The mighty God, The eternal Father, The Prince of Peace."
Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people.' "
Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in a cloth and lying in a manger."
Now we hear the angels speak immediately after Christ's ascension into heaven. "This Jesus"...this Jesus that the disciples have spent the past three years of their life with...this Jesus that they have left their families and vocations to follow...this Jesus that they have watched die with agony, and with their remorse...this Jesus that they witnessed as their resurrected Lord and Savior, attesting to God's power over death...this Jesus, has now left them on their own to proclaim Him to the nations.
For right before Jesus was lifted into the heavens, He gave these departing instructions to His followers:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
The angels pronounced Jesus' birth, He lived, He died, He rose again, He ascended into the heavens. Now the angels tell us that He will return. This Jesus IS coming back...we will see Him come for us, whether at the time of our physical death, or when He comes in the clouds, riding a white horse, to rule the world for eternity. Just as the shepherds didn't doubt the angels the first time, let us not doubt them with their announcement to us. Let us not be among the scoffers that Peter (2 Peter 3:3-4) talks about who express their doubt saying things like, "People have thought Jesus was coming back for 2,000 years...hasn't happened yet, probably never will", or, "Life is going on just like it always has...nothing is ever going to change."
Yes, it has been 2,000 years, and yes, even the disciples probably thought Jesus would return sooner than He has. But remember how long Israel waited for their Messiah....and some are still waiting, not recognizing that the baby born in Bethlehem is the King they have been waiting for. God's timing is perfect and He alone knows when the trumpet shall sound, announcing Jesus triumphal return. Until then, keep looking for Him...and be among those who anticipate that day with great joy in our hearts.
Come Lord Jesus!
This is our transitional verse from those regarding Jesus first coming to those proclaiming His promised return. Because those first verses were s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d over a fairly long period of time, it probably is a very good idea to review them:
Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on His shoulders. And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,The mighty God, The eternal Father, The Prince of Peace."
Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people.' "
Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in a cloth and lying in a manger."
Now we hear the angels speak immediately after Christ's ascension into heaven. "This Jesus"...this Jesus that the disciples have spent the past three years of their life with...this Jesus that they have left their families and vocations to follow...this Jesus that they have watched die with agony, and with their remorse...this Jesus that they witnessed as their resurrected Lord and Savior, attesting to God's power over death...this Jesus, has now left them on their own to proclaim Him to the nations.
For right before Jesus was lifted into the heavens, He gave these departing instructions to His followers:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
The angels pronounced Jesus' birth, He lived, He died, He rose again, He ascended into the heavens. Now the angels tell us that He will return. This Jesus IS coming back...we will see Him come for us, whether at the time of our physical death, or when He comes in the clouds, riding a white horse, to rule the world for eternity. Just as the shepherds didn't doubt the angels the first time, let us not doubt them with their announcement to us. Let us not be among the scoffers that Peter (2 Peter 3:3-4) talks about who express their doubt saying things like, "People have thought Jesus was coming back for 2,000 years...hasn't happened yet, probably never will", or, "Life is going on just like it always has...nothing is ever going to change."
Yes, it has been 2,000 years, and yes, even the disciples probably thought Jesus would return sooner than He has. But remember how long Israel waited for their Messiah....and some are still waiting, not recognizing that the baby born in Bethlehem is the King they have been waiting for. God's timing is perfect and He alone knows when the trumpet shall sound, announcing Jesus triumphal return. Until then, keep looking for Him...and be among those who anticipate that day with great joy in our hearts.
Come Lord Jesus!
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