Infant Jesus at the Temple and Testimonies about Him

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own side also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’ “ -Luke 2:34-35 (ESV) [Read Luke 2:21-38]

Mary and Joseph as pious Jews had obligations concerning Jesus’ birth that had to be performed according to the law. On the eighth day after His birth they followed the command to circumcise a male child (see Genesis 17:12-24, 21:4, and Leviticus 12:3). This was a ritual act in evidence of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants. It indicated a devotion to Yahweh God. In Old Testament times, the father might perform the rite on his child. Later, the Jews had those who specialized in the operation, and it may have been to one of those that Mary and Joseph took Jesus. Circumcision also indicated that the person would not be cut off from the covenant of God. It was a solemn and binding agreement between parents and God and ceremonially passed on to the infant with the outward act of circumcision.

After forty days, the Jewish time set for purification of the mother after the birth of a male child (see Leviticus 12), Joseph and Mary went to the temple and presented the required offerings, two turtle doves or two young pigeons. This offering was for the poor. The more well-to-do couple would have offered a lamb. Their desire to follow Jewish law prompted them to do this. By not having the money to purchase a lamb, the act was symbolic: Jesus Himself would become the Lamb, Himself offered years later for the sins of the world. Mary and Joseph’s desired to follow Jewish law prompted them to follow purification rites. Had it not been for following the law, they should not have had to go for this purification rite, for Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and therefore holy. Their conformity to Jewish law shows their faithfulness and obedience in keeping the covenant.

Two people in the temple interact with the Baby. First came old Simeon. “Waiting for the consolation of Israel,” was a term meaning a sign that God would soon come to comfort and rescue Israel. Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed Him. His psalm of gladness in Luke 2:29-32 echoes some of the Messianic words of Isaiah (see Isaiah 42:6, 49:6, 52:10) and Psalms (98:2). Following his outburst of praise, Simeon turned to Mary and made a prophecy of his own. He told her that her son would “cause the fall and rise of many in Israel.” Fall indicates judgment upon the arrogant; rise foretells salvation for those who will accept it. He also tells Mary her heart will be pierced as though by a sword. We know that Mary watched years later as her beloved Son was crucified. Old Simeon’s prophecy came true.

Next came old Anna, a prophetess and long-time widow who was given to fasting and prayer. She also recognized Baby Jesus as the Messiah and declared Him “the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Not only did Mary and Joseph know of the mission of the Son, but now two elderly people recognized Him as the promised Messiah. From Mary and Joseph, we learn the lessons of piety and obedience. From old Simeon and old Annah we learn the importance of living close to God and watching for His revelation.

Prayer: Lord, whatever acts of piety and obedience You call us to do, may we perform them with sincerity and devotion in fulfillment of a binding covenant we make with you. Amen. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.27.2015

Wise Men Visit Jesus

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him…And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way.” -Matthew 2:1-2; 11-13 (ESV) [Read Matthew 2:1-12]

Scholars hold that as much as two years had passed since the birth of Jesus when wise men from the east came to Bethlehem searching for the king whose natal star they had observed, and which they had followed until they reached Bethlehem. Who were these wise men—Magi, as they have been designated, from the Greek word Magos, meaning scientists or wise men. These travelers were probably form Persia. The nova—new star—they had seen in their own country was interpreted by them to mean that a new King had been born to the Jews. The logical place to look for a new king of the Jews was in Jerusalem, so they inquired at the court of Herod, the Roman ruler at his palace there. Since Jews had been in exile in Persia and Babylon—lands of the East—perhaps the Magos had read about prophecies of the coming king of the Jews. Numbers 24:17 was held as a prophetic scripture forthtelling this king: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

The Jewish scholars Herod summoned could quote from Mica 5:2, giving Bethlehem as the expected place of the new king’s birth. But it is interesting to note that neither the Jewish learned men nor Herod accompanied the wise men from the East on their further search. They continued to follow the star, and it led them to a house in Bethlehem where they found Mary and her baby, Jesus. They fell down and worshiped him. Notice the holy reverence with which they regarded the child. And being warned in a dream, they did not return to Jerusalem to tell Herod they had found the young king. They went back to their own land another way. Did these men recognize the impact the child they adored would have on peoples everywhere? It is not likely that they did at that time, but in their action was a foreshadowing of a time when all Gentile nations will acknowledge and recognize the Lord Christ. The presentation of gifts was significant: gold to represent Christ’s royalty; frankincense His divinity; and myrrh His passion and sacrificial death. In the Wise Men’s visit and adoration is deep symbolism of Jesus coming not just for the Jews but as the Savior of the World.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.20.2015

In Expectation of a Visit from God

“What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?”

-Psalm 8:4 (NKJV)

Christmas is coming, and no doubt many of us are expecting company. It has long been a practice (especially among Southern families) to welcome home at Christmastime those who have moved away. And if a Grandfather or Grandmother lives near or with one of her family members who has stayed “near the old homeplace,” Christmas is certain to be a time when those away will return home to visit parents and also visit the relatives who live in the home community. Such was the visitation at Christmas and other times from those relatives living away. 

 

Early in the creation period, God walked and talked with Adam. But after Eve was tempted by Satan, she also invited Adam to partake of the fruit of the forbidden tree,. They heard God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and tried to hide themselves from God, feeling guilty to be in His holy presence. That visit from God was not welcomed by the couple because they felt guilty before God for the sin they had committed. It was their choice to separate themselves from the presence of God and from communication with Him. God’s visits were not welcomed by them under the circumstances.

Man then became in great need of visitation from Holy God. Many were the efforts from Adam to Christ to restore the lost fellowship, but any measures taken by the leaders of God to bring the people back into communion with God were short-lived. People sinned again and again and knew the biting separation from a holy and righteous God. Jeremiah wrote: “ ‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord (Jeremiah 23:23-24).

In the fullness of time the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, came to earth. To paraphrase Psalm 8:4, the Father was sending His Son because He was ‘mindful of man” and wanted ‘to visit him.” John records God’s visitation with mankind in this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NKJV). Christmas if the time when we celebrate the visitation of God to mankind. “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us!” Christmas is Immanuel, “God with us.” God was mindful of man, and came to visit us. We know the marvelous story, told by the angels, repeated by disciples from that first Advent to the present and even into the future. Someone has already come, and His name is Jesus—because God was ‘mindful of man’ and wanted ‘to visit him.’ Praise be to God!

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.13.2015

An Everlasting Kingdom ~ A Messianic Prophecy

“How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endures from generation to generation.” -Daniel 4:3 (ESV).

The amazing context of this declaration about the Lord God and His everlasting kingdom is that the words were written by King Nebuchadnezzar, pagan king who ascended the throne in Babylon in 605 B. C. He made a golden image and commanded the people to worship (see Daniel, chapters 2 and 4). He became temporarily insane, but was restored to sanity, and with his association with the godly Daniel, acknowledged God. Daniel became his mentor and instructor about the one true God. In a letter “to all people, nations, and languages that dwell in the earth” (Daniel 4:1.), King Nebuchadnezzar prefaced his statement about the one true God and His kingdom with these words: “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.” (Daniel 4:2).

How did the statement about God foretell the qualifications of the Messiah?  “His signs and wonders are great”: When Jesus was upon earth, He went about doing good. He fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes. He said “Peace be still,” and the winds and waves obeyed Him, the sea became calm, and the storm stilled. He cast out demons, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, raised persons from the dead, and forgave sinners and outcasts. And these are but a few of “His signs and wonders.” 

“His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom”: In His testimony before Pilate as He stood on trial before him, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). As He was ready to ascend into heaven following His resurrection, his disciples asked Him: “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). He answered them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). 

 

Only through the revelation from God could the prophecy King Nebuchadnezzar wrote in 600 B. C. have been about Christ’s kingdom. Certainly Christ could speak of the kingdom while He was upon earth. 

 

Also in Nebuchadnezzar’s declaration were these prophetic words, “and His dominion endures from generation to generation.” This shows the responsibility one generation has to another to tell of the King and His kingdom, to “pass on” the good news. In our observance of Christmas, if we truly seek the Spirit and truth of the Lord’s coming to earth, and, living after the event, we know how we have responsibility to “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, that Jesus Christ is born!” The gospel came to us from someone, and it goes to someone else through our telling others the story of Jesus and His love. Thus “His dominion endures from generation to generation.” A scholar once said, “We are one generation from paganism.” If someone had not witnessed to us (as Daniel, the captive Hebrew, witnessed to King Nebuchadnezzar long ago), we might not now know of the Lord Christ. 

 

I read a story of how a pastor, when Christmas fell on Sunday, asked his congregation not to attend church that day but to “go out and be Christ to people you meet.” Remarkable testimonies came of how people shared Christ and many came to believe as a result of “going into the highways and hedges” to tell others of the Christ who, because He loved us all, came to earth to restore mankind’s fellowship with God. “Go, tell it on the mountains…and everywhere” that Jesus’ Kingdom is everlasting, and we can be a part of it through faith and belief in Him.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 12.06.2015.

Every Morning Mercies New

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion sayeth my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”–Lamentations 3:22-24 (KJV).

Sometime poetic lines pound themselves against the parameters of my mind until I have to grab a pen and paper and write the thoughts so that my mind can move on to other things. Maybe this is a gift—maybe just a pastime that I’ve been practicing most of my life. Maybe it is inspiration; I like to think that some of the lines indeed are inspired by the Spirit of God. Here is one entitled simply “Every Morning Mercies New.” The lines of the poem bear truth worth considering. The poem itself is not a Keats, Shelley or Wordsworth quality piece, but sincerely rendered from a heart overflowing with joy. The poem is old—written in 2005 when I had heavy caregiving responsibilities. God was faithful to provide what we needed and bring me triumphantly through that journey. Praise be to God.

Oh! The delight of morning

When birds are on the wing;

When squirrels scamper for their food

And Nature wakes to sing!

Another day to embrace life,

To rejoice with exultant thanks;

To know that whatever happens

God keeps us in His ranks!

What beauty for our eyes to see,

What joy within our hearts

When Spring in all its splendor

With bursting new birth starts!

Then comes Summer’s verdure

With life-blessings in store;

And fall comes softly tripping

With abundance—more and more!

Sometimes in Winter we wonder

Will darkness and nighttime cease;

But when dawns the Springtime morning

Joy floods with amazing peace.

As duties call and crowd me

May this day etch its rightful place

Of reassurance on this journey

That God assists me in life’s race. (-EDJ. From March 7, 2005)

May you be blessed on this Lord’s Day with a song in your heart. –Ethelene Dyer Jones 11.29.2015.

Thanksgiving, a Time to Count Blessings

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name.

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 100 (KJV)

I memorized Psalm 100 when I was in third grade at Choestoe School. In those days, it was not “against the law” to have Bible reading in at the beginning of each school day, have the pledge of allegiance to the flag (we learned these for both United States and Georgia flags), and have quote the Lord’s Prayer in unison.

Furthermore, my third grade teacher in our one-room country school, Mrs. Mert Collins, was my teacher in public school and also in Sunday School at Choestoe Baptist Church. At both places, she encouraged her pupils to memorize verses from the Bible. Among those I memorized early was Psalm 100. At a program for our parents and community citizens at our school at Thanksgiving, the children stood on the raised platform before our gathered guests and quoted Psalm 100. In those early years, it became a favorite passage and I wanted early to live by the precepts noted in the Psalm.

I learned long after my wonderful seven years at Choestoe School when I studied Bible in college that this Psalm was specifically “A Psalm for Giving Thanks.” Although of Israelite origin, the Psalm invites people “of all lands” to join in thanksgiving and to sing praises to God. The Psalm makes it clear that we are “the sheep of His pasture,” a metaphor used in several places in the Scriptures, and noteworthy in “The Shepherd Psalm,” Psalm 23. A shepherd gingerly and carefully looks after his sheep, leading them beside still waters and to green pastures. In like manner, the Lord provides for those who love Him. And for His care and provision, we ought always to give thanks.

Besides memorizing and quoting Scriptures in our country school, we also learned songs of Thanksgiving. A favorite was “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come,” with words written by Henry Alford (1810-1873) and set to the music “St. George’s Windsor” by George J. Elvey (1816-1893).

Since we lived in a farming community, we could relate well to the words of this Thanksgiving hymn. We loved to sing this song when our parents and neighbors came to hear our Thanksgiving program at school. Mrs. Mert Collins had to explain the meaning of some of the words in the hymn to us, but when we learned the words and tune, you can imagine that we sang it with gusto. She told us that to sing hymns like this one was a good way to give thanks to God: “Come, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest home!/All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin; God, our Maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied;/Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest home.”

What is your favorite Thanksgiving Scripture? Your favorite Thanksgiving hymn? Would it not be timely to share them as you gather this Thanksgiving to celebrate? -Ethelene Dyer Jones 11.21.2015

Going to the House of the Lord

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.” –Psalm 122:1, 9. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” –Psalm 27:4. “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. –Psalm 84:10. “And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to tech and preach Jesus Christ.” –Acts 5:42. (KJV).

Going to the house of the Lord—for worship, praise, prayer, learning, listening, being challenged in the Christian life, for quietness and meditation, knowing that God is God, enjoying Christian fellowship! When it comes time to go to church, are you like the psalmist who exulted, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’ ”?

Each cited scripture above exclaims with what gladness the writers considered going to the house of the Lord and what a privilege for the worshiper. Even a lowly task, that of a doorkeeper, one who greeted people when they came to worship and bade them farewell when they left worship to go from the temple or sanctuary or place of worship into the work-a-day life, even a doorkeeper is better than considering wealthy dwellings of wickedness. And when the early Christians met to worship, even the threat of being jailed and persecuted (a very real possibility), they “daily in the temple and in every house” did not cease to meet, to teach and to preach Jesus Christ.

What has happened in our modern age to take away the love for and the help from assembling ourselves together at the house of the Lord? What has occurred to harden our hearts and remove our zeal for the church? I have heard many excuses as I have tried to encourage persons to renew their faithfulness to the Lord and their faithful attendance at church. The writer of Hebrews 10:25 admonishes: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as we see the day approaching.”

Some of the excuses offered for non attendance at church are: “I work on Sunday”—or “I work hard during the week, and I must sleep-in or rest on Sundays.” Another is “I can worship as well at home or wherever I am on the Lord’s day; I don’t have to go to church to worship.” Then this excuse, a bit more bitter: “I don’t like to associate with those ‘hypocrites’ at church.” Still others claim, “I can hear good sermons on television or radio; it’s not necessary for me to go to church.” And the excuses go on.

A person must develop his/her own commitment to the Lord that includes a love and longing for fellowship with other Christians in the house of the Lord, the church. For me, this is vital and necessary. I pray that, if going to church is not a regular and necessary part of your spiritual life, that you will pray about it until you, like the psalmist, can exclaim: “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord!” On this Lord’s day, I am eager to got to church and worship! -Ethelene Dyer Jones 11.15.2015