Larry Devich
Monday, December 11, 2006
Advent 2: Monday
Read Malachi 3:1-7
Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Just 24 verses before the end of the Old Testament, the Lord is still
promising the Savior's coming. Just before the Bible goes silent for nearly 450
years of waiting, the Lord repeats His faithful promises. As in so many
prophecies before, He adds some additional details so that people will know for
whom to look: in this case, He declares that the Messiah will be preceded by a
messenger, by an Elijah (Malachi 5:5) to prepare the way. This is John the
Baptist (Matthew 17:12-13), who will prepare the way through his proclamation
of Law and Gospel. Along with the messenger, declares our text, “the Lord
whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple.”
On this promise, like all of God's promises, believers can hang their hat.
Jesus appears at the temple several times between birth and crucifixion, and
perhaps we do well to remember that the word “suddenly” can also be translated
“surprisingly.” Jesus comes to the temple as a 40-day-old baby for His
presentation (Luke 2:22ff). This is prophecy fulfilled—the Lord has come in the
flesh to His temple, but in such surprising form that few notice! Simeon and
Anna do, declaring that Yahweh's glory is hidden in infant flesh; but for most,
He's just another baby.
Jesus returns to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:41ff), speaking an acute and
surprising knowledge of the Word; but not even His parents understand that
He's about His Father's business.
Among other times, He comes and cleanses the temple, driving out
merchants and money-changers violently (Luke 19:49), surprising those who
expect a Messiah to conform to man-made expectations. Furthermore, the Lord
spends time teaching in the temple courts (Luke 21:37): believers cling to His
Word, while unbelievers plot His death.
If we might find some Law in this, I would suggest that we must also guard
against being surprised by our Lord's coming. Instead of infant flesh, He arrives
in our midst by Word and Sacrament—which is why we sing Simeon's song, the
Nunc Dimittis, after Holy Communion. This arrival is far too ordinary for many,
who want God to be more glorious in this world. Likewise, the Lord will strike
us with His Law to convict us of our sin, not leaving us to die in our man-made
expectations of what holiness should be. Let us not be surprised, but repentant.
The Gospel is clear and rich: the Lord comes. Jesus, who came in the flesh to
die on the cross and redeem the world, comes to you personally. He washes you
clean in your Baptism and speaks His Word into your ear. He feeds you His
body and blood for grace and life. He comes to you; and having come with
grace, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
In His Temple now behold Him, See the long-expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him—God has now fulfilled His word.
Now, to praise Him, His redeemed Shall break forth with one accord.
(TLH 139:1) ¶ 12/11/2006 05:45:00 AM 0 Comments
Behold, He is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)
Just 24 verses before the end of the Old Testament, the Lord is still
promising the Savior's coming. Just before the Bible goes silent for nearly 450
years of waiting, the Lord repeats His faithful promises. As in so many
prophecies before, He adds some additional details so that people will know for
whom to look: in this case, He declares that the Messiah will be preceded by a
messenger, by an Elijah (Malachi 5:5) to prepare the way. This is John the
Baptist (Matthew 17:12-13), who will prepare the way through his proclamation
of Law and Gospel. Along with the messenger, declares our text, “the Lord
whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple.”
On this promise, like all of God's promises, believers can hang their hat.
Jesus appears at the temple several times between birth and crucifixion, and
perhaps we do well to remember that the word “suddenly” can also be translated
“surprisingly.” Jesus comes to the temple as a 40-day-old baby for His
presentation (Luke 2:22ff). This is prophecy fulfilled—the Lord has come in the
flesh to His temple, but in such surprising form that few notice! Simeon and
Anna do, declaring that Yahweh's glory is hidden in infant flesh; but for most,
He's just another baby.
Jesus returns to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:41ff), speaking an acute and
surprising knowledge of the Word; but not even His parents understand that
He's about His Father's business.
Among other times, He comes and cleanses the temple, driving out
merchants and money-changers violently (Luke 19:49), surprising those who
expect a Messiah to conform to man-made expectations. Furthermore, the Lord
spends time teaching in the temple courts (Luke 21:37): believers cling to His
Word, while unbelievers plot His death.
If we might find some Law in this, I would suggest that we must also guard
against being surprised by our Lord's coming. Instead of infant flesh, He arrives
in our midst by Word and Sacrament—which is why we sing Simeon's song, the
Nunc Dimittis, after Holy Communion. This arrival is far too ordinary for many,
who want God to be more glorious in this world. Likewise, the Lord will strike
us with His Law to convict us of our sin, not leaving us to die in our man-made
expectations of what holiness should be. Let us not be surprised, but repentant.
The Gospel is clear and rich: the Lord comes. Jesus, who came in the flesh to
die on the cross and redeem the world, comes to you personally. He washes you
clean in your Baptism and speaks His Word into your ear. He feeds you His
body and blood for grace and life. He comes to you; and having come with
grace, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
In His Temple now behold Him, See the long-expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him—God has now fulfilled His word.
Now, to praise Him, His redeemed Shall break forth with one accord.
(TLH 139:1) ¶ 12/11/2006 05:45:00 AM 0 Comments
