The First Days of Jesus by Andreas J. K&östenberger

Author:Andreas J. K&östenberger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crossway

REFLECTIONS ON JESUS’S BIRTH

Luke’s narrative of Jesus’s birth is tantalizingly brief but makes some significant points. First, the worldwide scope reflected in the reference to Caesar Augustus and the Roman Empire indicates that Jesus would have importance on a global scale. Second, this grand opening sharply contrasts with the humble and ignoble setting of the birth. God was going to turn the world upside down, but not in the way people were expecting. All of the birth announcements and hymns in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel are characterized by anticipation, the anticipation that God was finally going to fulfill his promises given throughout the Old Testament and act in and through the coming of Jesus to establish his rule over his people. The messianic Son had finally been born, but the setting of the birth gives Luke’s readers the first real hint that this King may not fit everyone’s expectations.

We will come back to this issue of expectations later, but for now it is worth reflecting on our expectations of God, his character, and his actions. Wrong expectations are a key source of disillusionment and disappointment. A cynical person might argue that we should never expect anything from anyone in order to avoid being let down. Such an approach to people and God, however, will surely lead to a bitter and lonely life. We need each other, and we need God. What happens, then, when God fails to meet our expectations or to act in the way that we thought, hoped, and prayed that he would?

In such instances, we need to reevaluate our expectations to make sure they align with the promises of God. God has not promised us that we will be free from all sickness and have lots of money in this lifetime. He has not promised that bad things will not happen to good people. He has not promised that we and our loved ones will never die. In this present age life is fatal; no one gets out alive. He has promised that he will be with us no matter what and that nothing can ever separate us from his love.34 He has promised that resurrection will triumph over death and that there will be a future day when he will personally wipe every tear from every eye and remove sickness and death from his creation forever.35 We will not always understand why things happen, but we can trust that God will fulfill his promises. He is faithful.36

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