Jews, in Jesus' time and I suppose even today had and have a hard time believing Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ because He seemed nothing like what they were expecting. They were expecting a King, someone who would not only restore Israel but who would defeat all her enemies. The last thing they were looking for is a humble Child born in a manger because no where would have Him. They expected this beautiful stately man, and what they got was a humble man who showed no physical signs of distinction.
Though they had read what Moses, the prophets and psalms have to say about Him they didn't recognize Him. They were expecting the Judge and found the servant in His place. They were not expecting anything but wrath, and were completely unprepared for Grace.
So, given that the Jews were studious, legalistic and highly trained and still completely missed the nature of God. Even with everything going for them, they still inserted their own wants and sensibilities into the Word. What might we do today with our lax attitude towards the Bible? Our constant seeking for something that pleases our sensibilities and doesn't offend anyone. Will our expectations be any closer to the mark than those of the Jews were?
Here's my point. We are told to be watching for His return. We are all interested in the topic. Yet, do we really know what we're looking for? Lets all remind ourselves that God's Word is true no matter if we agree with it or not. Once the believers are taken up in the sky to be with Our Lord, and once He returns to judge the world.. once the thousand year reign is over.. once Satan is finally sent for final judgment.. then we'll know exactly how it all happens. Then we'll see prophesy confirmed.
The danger is, if we insert our own ideas into the Word now we might have to wait until it's all happened before we realize it's going on at all. We should all read the psalms and ask ourselves how the people didn't see the Son of God written in them. Then go back and read the prophesies which have not been fulfilled yet and ask God what they are saying, not ourselves.
Blessings all, the walk we are on is incredible isn't it? Let's keep our eyes open for He who was, and is and is to come - lest He come like a thief in the night.
1 comment:
I've always thought that God had some purpose, not grasped by Christians in the world, for keeping million of people in the original Covenant with Moses, long after the Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. In the past year, I have corresponded by email with an Orthodox rabbi, who is very helpful in explaining the original Hebrew meaning of Old Testament passages. I have found that he is confident of the truth of what he has learned, but has no desire to convert me to his faith. He carries a role God assigned to him, and to the body he is part of, as a service to God and to the entire world. But the nations do what the nations do. (You and I know that the nations are called to the One God through Jesus, but that isn't necessarily a contradiction). I think perhaps God wanted Jewish synagoges and rabbis to preserve the ORIGINAL word, knowing mortal man would make mistakes as it went forth to the gentiles.
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