Advent in Review- Go Tell It- Lee McDerment

Jesus is the true and better Jonah

I saved this one for last... Jesus is the true and better Jonah.  Let's review Jonah for a second, refused to go where God was sending him.  He whined about it, telling God he didn't want to be persecuted.   Instead, he went the other way.  He got in a boat and traveled away from God's destination for him.  While he was in a boat, he fell asleep and a storm came.  Jonah feared the storm.  

Jesus stayed the course of God's plan.  He got into a boat and headed for his destiny- ultimately, the Cross.  Jesus didn't fear the suffering he knew was coming.  Jesus, like Jonah, fell asleep in the boat.  When the storm came, he didn't fear the storm.  He stood up and told it to "be still."  

"We needed someone who was willing to run into the storm.  We needed someone who wouldn't flee from persecution and death.  Jesus ran into the heart of the darkness so we wouldn't have to." - She Reads Truth

 So what's my take away?  What have I learned during this Advent season and in looking back at 2015... This song...

Go tell it on the mountain

over the hills and everywhere

go tell it on the mountain

Tell them He loves them, tell them the truth.  

Tell them he died upon the cross for me and you

tell them your story how he made you new 

isn't he the best thing that happened to you.

He saved your life

he saved your life

he came through right in the nick of time

He saved your life he saved your life

He is  the best thing that's happened to you

Go tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is Lord.  

It is my prayer that as we peek into 2016, I will remember the truth that Jesus is the True and Better... everything.  From Old Testament giants of our faith, to pop culture movies and music... Jesus is True and Better.  Like Jonah, God is calling each of us to impact the world, no matter how small our influence, to the gospel... 

The good news... 

Jesus is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Advent in Review- Downhere-How Many Kings-lyrics video

Jesus is the King

Jesus as King has always fascinated me.  

I don't think I would have been able to make the journey from Heaven to earth under any circumstance. But Jesus did.  I cannot comprehend how anyone could leave perfection to be born into an imperfect world.  He was born in a stinky stable- dirty animals, probably dirty water, no one to celebrate his birth other than lowly shepherds.  He came into this world quietly.  But the people didn't recognize him.  They thought the Son of God would come in and rescue him.  He would ride in on a white horse, with trumpets playing... yet when he came- no one recognized him.  Even at his death, and resurrection, people didn't recognize him nor the sacrifice he made for them.  

Advent in Review- By His Wounds

Jesus is the true and better Jacob

Jacob and Jesus both wrestled with God.  When Jacob wrestled with God he demanded a blessing from God.  During his wrestle with God, God changed his name to Israel, of course which would later yield God's chosen people.  Jacob was wounded during this encounter with God.  He had a limp from his hip, no doubt to remind him of God's strength.  

Jesus wrestled with God in the garden.  He didn't demand a blessing like Jacob.  In fact he did the opposite, He asked God if the cup he was about to drink could be passed from him. But he wrapped his request with, "not my will but thine be done."  

This reminds me that the trials and tribulations that I go through in life are times when God calls me to "wrestle" with Him.  They are painful, they are not fun but when I look back, I see those times as the moments when God intends to sanctify me and make me more like him.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

Advent in Review- His Name Is Wonderful

For unto us a child is born

to us a son is given.

and the government shall be on his shoulders

and he will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there shall be no end.

He will reign on David's Throne

and over his kingdom

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

-  Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

This is a familiar song from my childhood.  I would consider it one of the first praise chorus' that were sung in my church.  As soon as I began reading the names Isaiah gave for the Promised on, I began humming this song.  

Advent in Review- Selah - How Deep The Father's Love For Us [with lyrics]

Jesus is the true and better Isaac

Like I said in my last post, I want to record a few thoughts I have had over this advent season.  It is always amazing how God can speak to us through day to day living, journaling, Bible Study and music.  I am in awe of Him and how he can bring little reminders of his goodness into each day.  

During She Reads Truth Advent, we looked at Jesus as the true and better Issac.  Abraham was asked by God to offer his son, Issac as a sacrifice to him.  Issac was a promised child to Abraham and Sarah...you know the "Miracle child."  Abraham trusted God with a bling faith that was demonstrated on Mount Moriah.  

Then Issac spoke to his father Abraham and said, "My father."  and he replied, "Here I am, my son."  Issac said, "The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"  Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son."  Then the two of them set out together.  - Genesis 22

I can't imagine the pain and agony as Abraham climbed that mountain.  He knew what God expected of him and he trusted God but that doesn't take away the heart ache. That didn't make answering questions posed by Issac any easier.  Yet, Abraham chose to follow God.   

Jesus was a better sacrifice.  God offered his prized posession, his own Son. But God knew there was no hidden ram for Jesus.  God knew he was going to have to watch his son die a bloody, gruesome death.   The sacrifice of Jesus was perfect.  He was the perfect lamb, without fault, without blemish, with any sin.  He was PERFECT.  Yet, God willingly sent Jesus to earth knowing how hard his life would be.  He did this because of his great love for us.  For me.  

Behold the Father's love for us, so vast beyond all measure, that he who sent his son to die, would make this wretch his treasure.  

Chris Tomlin - Noel (Live) ft. Lauren Daigle

Advent is a time when we prepare our hearts.  This time of year, we pause to prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ.  I've spent this Advent season reading She Reads Truth with a group of ladies from our church.  I'm not sure I've ever participated in an Advent Bible Study and this one has been great.  During the study, I was challenged to see God preparing a way for Jesus in the Old Testament. 

The themes, 

"Jesus is the true and Better Abel, 

Jesus is the true and better David, 

Jesus is the true and better Esther, 

Jesus is the true and better Boaz, 

Jesus is the true and better Passover Lamb"

were a blessing and a challenge.  Some days it was easy to see how Jesus was a direct correlation to these Old Testament "giants of our faith."  Yet sometimes it was tough to see how Jesus was true and better.  On those days I was thankful to have a commentary or friends willing to talk through this with me.

Of course, anytime I begin a new study, songs seem to pop off the pages and into my heart.  I thought I would take the next few minutes and blog about different songs that stood out to me as I read this Advent season beginning with this song.  It is a song of celebration.  A celebration of the true meaning of Christmas.  It beckons us to "come and see what God has done."  It reminds us of a perfect person willingly coming to an imperfect world because of his great love for us.  Jesus knew what coming to earth meant... he knew it meant beginning as a helpless baby, growing up under rules, suffering, shame and death.  He knew it meant that through him we would have access to the Father and live with him forever more.  His gift of life and death gives us the gift of adoption and joint heirs. Eternal life with our Savior.  

I've spent almost two years waiting.  Waiting for peace, longing for companionship, and missing "what should have been."  This year is no different.  The grieving process comes and goes but this year I choose to listen to the story of amazing love.