ADVENT - “Fulfilling Prophecy”
Toddlers are curious, with their favorite question being "WHY?" As we grow older, we continue to ask, "WHY?" but the weight and seriousness of the issues we're trying to understand are more profound. At one point or another, we've all pondered the question, "WHY JESUS?" Why did He come? Why was He needed? Why does He matter? Fortunately for us, Jesus welcomed that question and was more than willing to provide an answer, and it's the answer we want to look at today. But, before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pray and consider how you would respond to the question of WHY JESUS?
To reflect God's heart, we must know God's heart, and the Bible helps us see His heart, character, and ways. The Bible is a collection of writings demonstrating God's love, pursuit, and promise of redemption. God-breathed and sovereignly preserved, it reveals to us who God is and what He has to say, ultimately pointing us to Jesus Christ as the most apparent revelation of God. Jesus echoes this point in Luke 24:44-48. It reads:
44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses,the Prophets and the Psalms."
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 You are witnesses of these things.
From poetry, parables, and prose to historical accounts, prophecy, laws, and letters, Scripture contains various writing styles but a single message. Different authors living in different times, facing specific circumstances, and holding varying perspectives, but telling one unified story of God's redemptive purposes. Cultural, yet timeless. Written by people inspired by God. The Bible is a collective story leading us to a compelling Jesus. Everything contained on its pages points to Him.
God's heart for humanity is Jesus, and encountering this truth in Scripture elicits a response - joy, obedience, confession, etc. We look to Scripture for communion rather than mere explanation or application. We not only catch a glimpse of Christ when we reflect on the words but also shine a light on who we are and who God made us to be. We read Scripture, but Scripture also reads us.
God creates by breathing life and working through human agency; His Spirit orders and animates. So, it's no surprise that what we have recorded with intentionality and care is a cooperative effort of God and His people - both human and divine. These preserved words reveal God's purpose and teach us how to live as His people until our reunion with Him and the complete redemption of all God intended in this world.
REFLECT
Before we begin to wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you. First, take a moment to process this question…What are the implications of all God's promises finding their fulfillment in Christ
Another question to consider is this...What makes Christ compelling to you?
PRAYER
Father God, everything comes back to Jesus. He is my hope and my joy. He offers unlimited forgiveness, boundless love, and amazing grace. It is through Him, and Him alone, that I found my way back to You; for that, I am forever grateful. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.