24 December 2009
Psalm 45, 46; Baruch 4:36-5:9; Gal. 3:23-4:7; Matt. 1:18-25

What a wonderful vision of the glory of Jerusalem returning. We don’t really have a picture of what it means to be in exile. I have seen a glimpse of what it looks like in Rwanda. Many of the people I have met there have spent most of their lives in exile from their homeland and as soon as it was safe to return after the war in 1994, they came back. At that time the country was desolate with the stench of death all around and most of the buildings in the capital were full of holes from the shelling in the war. Nonetheless, they saw it for what it once was and what it could be and chose to return and rebuild. The eternal city of Jerusalem will be of a glory all its own and, with the coming of Jesus, we shall see that glory and the book of the Revelation tells us that nations will stream to its light, just as Baruch sees in this prophetic vision.

Joseph was a righteous man in that he was obedient to the heavenly vision in the same way that Mary was obedient to her vision. It must have been a difficult thing for the man to believe, who can blame him for hearing her story and deciding to put her away? Matthew tells us what had to have been first hand information regarding Joseph and Mary in order that we know that she remained a virgin until after the birth of her son, Jesus. They both sacrificed for the sake of the fulfillment of God’s will in their lives and for the world.

The law was our guardian prior to the coming of Jesus. Does that mean that we are now no longer under any obligation to live according to the law? No, it means, however, that we are no longer under the penalty of the law for transgressions, there is plenteous forgiveness in Christ Jesus. It does not mean that we should sin greatly so that mercy may abound. The law has not passed into meaninglessness, it still governs our conduct, but it is now written on our hearts by the Spirit of God who leads us into real righteousness. That righteousness is apart from the law but it is in keeping with the law, not just the letter but the spirit of the law. Jesus did not come to break the law or change the law but to interpret it by being the living Word. The glory of God revealed to us allows us to see the Word made flesh in order that we might be clothed in Christ and enabled to live like Him, in keeping with the will of the Father.

"Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.