Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said, “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.””
(Luke 2:27-35)

“Then you spoke in vision to your saints,
    and said, “I have given strength to the warrior.
    I have exalted a young man from the people.
I have found David, my servant.
    I have anointed him with my holy oil,
with whom my hand shall be established.
    My arm will also strengthen him.
No enemy will tax him.
    No wicked man will oppress him.
I will beat down his adversaries before him,
    and strike those who hate him.
But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him.
    In my name, his horn will be exalted.
I will set his hand also on the sea,
    and his right hand on the rivers.
He will call to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the rock of my salvation!’
I will also appoint him my firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
I will keep my loving kindness for him forever more.
    My covenant will stand firm with him.
I will also make his offspring endure forever,
    and his throne as the days of heaven.”
(Psalm 89:19-29)

God was fulfilling covenant. He was NOT promising that everything would be easy. Simple, yes. Easy, no. This was going to be divisive. It didn’t NEED to be, but people had chosen to focus on the RULES and not the HEART of the Law. They had stopped honouring God and were just honouring the dotted i’s and crossed t’s. But God had prepared this salvation before Creation. Jesus had chosen to be the Way back to God before the foundation of the world. They were not going to stop their plan. They were not going to deprive the people (Jew first, and then Gentile) from the Way back into proper and right restitution with God.

God made a promise. He made a promise to David fulfilled through his descendants through David’s son Nathan (physical right) and his son Solomon (spiritual right), through Jesus’ adoptive father Joseph and His biological mother Mary. The genealogy was clear. Everything pointed toward Messiah coming and coming in the personhood of Jesus. God’s plan would not be stopped. God’s enemies would not be able to withstand it. Jesus would overcome them all. Jesus would succeed. Jesus would not only open the Way, but He would BE the Way. Jesus would be Messiah. First as suffering servant, and then as conquering king. His reign would be eternal. It would never end. God wins.

Summary

Whether or not Jesus is good news or terrible news all depends on whether we are aligned with God. Do we love Him? Do we want to have a relationship with Him? Will we accept His objective point of view as THE point of view? Will we accept His TRUTH, His SALVATION, and His GRACE? Will we believe Him? Will we trust Him? These are the questions our hearts need to answer. These are the weighty matters of our souls. God brought His glory to us. Jesus came down and tabernacled with us. He came quickly. He asked the question. Will we repent and enter the kingdom of God through Jesus who sacrificed for us? Are we willing to align with God? He IS the Truth. He IS the Way. He IS eternal life. Do we believe Him? Will we trust Him? Will this be for His glory or for our sorrow?