Tag Archives: Jesus

Bible

Advent – joyful expectation of the coming of the Redeemer

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Looking at the Advent markets, chocolate and nuts during the Advent season, it is hard to imagine today that Advent was once a time of fasting and repentance.

The four Sundays are symbolic of the four thousand years that people had to wait for the promised Redeemer to come (Genesis 3:17).

Others see four cardinal points, as the four seasons, the four elements (fire, water, air and earth) and the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice, prudence, bravery).

In Revelation 19, at some point in the apocalypse, God is praised with four hallelujahs. “Hallelujah” means “Praise be to God”. It is the cry of victory, gratitude and praise. Christ begins his dominion.

At the Council of Lerida in 524, Advent was established for four weeks.

The Orthodox Church celebrates Advent for six weeks.

The year of the Catholic and Protestant churches begin on the first Sunday in Advent.

What does the Advent season mean to you?

Bible

Why a sacrifice? Isn’t belief in a forgiving God enough?

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The image of the Passover lamb in Exodus 11 is a preview of the cross of Jesus.

In order to understand the picture, we have to look back to the first sacrifice. When human beings wanted to decide for himself what should be good for him, he lost the familiar relationship with God and hid from him. He realized that he had nothing to offer God and stood before God without anything. Mankind tried to cover himself, but it was only fig leaves.

God took an animal, slaughtered it, and gave them the skin for clothing. Only through a skin could man continue to exist before God. Man experienced the result of turning away from God’s orders. Someone had to die because of their disobedience. They were made aware of the consequences of turning away from God. Death is the result of missing the aim – of sin.

The Passover sacrifice adds a deeper aspect. The Lamb appointed by God protects from judgment. The point is to trust and do God’s instructions.

In Jesus we now have a place to put our sins away. At the same time, it is a place where the victim experiences reparation. God does not simply ask us to forget, but he carries our burden in Jesus. In this way he understands us even in our need because he has suffered through it himself. God is not a distant God, but a God who helps us. He is close to us.

At Passover, Jesus uses the bread of the Exodus and the cup of redemption as a sign of renewed faith. The Lord’s Supper is an expression of the belief that Jesus died for me on the cross as the Passover lamb and rose again at Easter and that I have a part in his resurrection power. Death does not have the last word in my life.

Death and resurrection of Jesus is an offer of reconciliation that we can step into. It is not about religious accomplishment and not about a fig leaf, but about trust in God. We don’t create a path to God, we take up His offer of salvation.

Bible

Worship God – even in misery

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“Then the people believed, and when they heard that the LORD had taken care of the Israelites and seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped him” (Exodus 4:31).

They recognized their misery. But they had not yet heard that God had mercy on them. They were still in the midst of misery. There was still nothing to be seen of salvation. The only new thing was God’s Word – His promise. And that was enough for them. They take it in faith. That was their insurance of salvation. That bowed them down and made them worship their God!

It’s the same for us today. As humans, we are mired in misery. But then comes the Good News: Jesus wants to free us from slavery! We can entrust ourselves to Jesus. The situation itself has not changed at this moment. But Moses and Aaron assured the Israelites: God will save them. This insurance is sufficient. They bow in worship.

Those who can praise God before completion gain the strength and courage to trust in God even in the face of difficulties. Whoever invites Jesus into his life also receives the certainty that he will accomplish everything. In Philippians 1:6 Paul writes, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Bible

The three messianic signs from God to Moses

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(Exodus 4:1-9)

The staff that becomes a serpent and then a staff again is an image that evil can only go as far as God allows. Jesus will defeat the serpent, the devil, through love for God. Genesis 3:15 says, “He (Jesus) shall bruise your head, and you (serpent) shall bruise his heel.” When Jesus healed the mute demoniac possessed man, it became clear that he had power over the devil and his demons.

The healing of leprosy is another sign of the Messiah. When Jesus healed the leper, the question of whether he was the Messiah was raised publicly for the first time. From that point on, the scribes came to Jesus and watched him.

The transformation of water into blood is also the sequence of symbolism found by Jesus. At his first miracle at the wedding at Cana, he turned water into wine. At Passover he pointed the cup of redemption to his vicarious death on the cross, where his blood was shed for the forgiveness of all human transgressions. This sacrificial death becomes effective for everyone who gratefully accepts Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and no longer builds on their own righteousness. Life (water) is obtained by protecting the blood of God’s vicarious Lamb, is the message of Passover. Jesus says it this way in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Bible, Jesus

God reveals himself in a thorn bush

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God introduces to Moses himself as the I AM. Not as the Creator. God is defined by being, not by action. This is exciting. We in the West are touched by action. In the East one defines oneself in being. It is important whose son or daughter I am and not what awards I have received. Maybe we should fix our identity more in being. If we have given ourselves to Jesus, then we are children of God and that is enough. We love God because he is and not because he does something for us.

The second thing to notice is that God does not reveal himself in a way that can be disposed of by calling his name. He doesn’t fit into our thinking box. He defines himself as a God who is related to us humans. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He spoke to all these forefathers. He promised everyone that through Israel he would bless all peoples. God keeps his promises. God keeps his word.

It is also noticeable that God reveals himself in a thorn bush. In fact, one would expect something else. Kind of like the shepherds in Bethlehem. Heaven opens and the glory of God becomes visible. Throughout the Bible it becomes clear again and again: God reveals his love in suffering. We see that by Job. Then when everything fails, then God is there. Not as a consuming fire, but as a light in the darkness. Just as he also appeared at Pentecost over the first church in tongues of fire and thus pointed out: In the midst of all your troubles I reveal myself by being with each and every one of you and enlightening you. Jesus endures our suffering and supports us in our suffering.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’

Jesus

Prepared for Life (Ephesians 6:10-24)

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Those who walk with Jesus can expect resistance. But children of God do not walk in their own strength (Ephesians 6:10). Her master equips them. Not to fight people, but to protect themselves and ward off cunning attacks. Evil must be overcome with good (Romans 12:21). Christians should not hide in fear but stand boldly for the truth (Ephesians 6:20).

Paul uses the image of a Roman soldier, which was well known to everyone at the time, as a reminder. Today we would perhaps speak of an antivirus program. Continue reading Prepared for Life (Ephesians 6:10-24) →

Jesus

A life of love

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Sin has made us unable to love anything or anyone without seeking our benefit. But God does not give up.

His love is a love that suffers because it endures the selfishness, the wretchedness, and all that is absurd in us until we repent, and God’s presence can be restored in our hearts.

Selfless love that suffers to save is the essence of God.

We are to be changed in his image (2 Corinthians 3:18) so that whoever meets us will see, know and love Jesus in us. When Jesus is revealed in us, that honours God the Father!

more https://www.obrist-impulse.net/ein-leben-in-der-liebe

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The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek

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David writes in Psalm 110 about the Messiah: “1 The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. … 4 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek means “My king of righteousness of peace”. He is a picture of the reconciling ministry of Jesus who is at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 / Luke 22:69).  Continue reading The Messiah – a king-priest like Melchizedek →

Jesus

Good news

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The angels announced to the shepherds in Luke 2: 10-11: ” I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

What’s the good news?

God loves (Hosea 14:4), seeks (Genesis 3:9 / Ezekiel 34:12) and visits us (Luke 1:68).

He does not impose himself on us, but he waits until we open the door for him (Revelation 3:20) or we turn to him (Isaiah 1:4).

Jesus died on the cross and rose again for our transgressions towards his life-enhancing instructions (John 3:16).

The Heavenly Father and Jesus come to us personally through the Holy Spirit (John 13:20). We are changed to the person God created us to be.

The key question is if we are open to God and if he knows us (Matthew 7:23). He knows us when we reveal ourselves to him.