The Long Expected Jesus: "He is the Expected Light"

I love to the facial expressions of people when they experience a moment of understanding. One minute they have this puzzled and inquisitive look, which is then replaced by a relaxed and peaceful look. I think we all enjoy and strive for those moments when something confusing comes into clear view and makes full sense. It is like an inner struggle has ceased and peace has arrived. To a greater degree, the arrival of Jesus was like that for those who believed and followed Him. For them Jesus became the answer to all the questions and expectation they had based upon the promises of God. The life of Jesus, when fully accepted, brings light to an otherwise darkened world. We can summarize this with the phrase, His life is our light.

At the time of Jesus’ birth the expectations for a messiah were based upon passages such as Isaiah 9:1-6. This passage and others like it built an expectation of a light giving Messiah. With these expectations, the people of Jesus day made three common mistakes. They settled for the initial fulfillment at the defeat of Midian. They also neglected the primary promise based on the initial covenant between God      and Abraham (Gen. 12-17). And finally, they ignored the spiritual aspects of God’s kingdom. May our expectations of God be based on the big picture of His promises.

With this expectation, the people should have accepted the teachings of John the Baptist which when observed closely teaches that humans have a natural intuition to reject lies (John 1:4-9) This in fact was one of the reasons Jesus revealed Himself as truth and John describes Jesus as light. We can understand this passage that way because, in this passage the word “life” is the Greek word “Zoe” meaning essential and ethical life. The word “light” here is the Greek word "Phos", meaning physical light emitted by any source and often used metaphorically as Gods truth which is exposed to the view of all. It is also used to speak of public reason and the ability to understand moral and spiritual truth.

This light of Jesus that is our life cast out darkness. Darkness represents ignorance of divine things and human duties. This darkness is accompanied by ungodliness and immorality. The life within every human being provides the capacity to fully comprehend spiritual and moral truth. Again, we see the reality of man’s rejection of those things that are absent of truth. This begs the questions, if by nature lies are rejected, why do so many choose to live in them?

The answer may be in John 3:16-21. In this passage, we learn, that people live in lies because they don’t want their true selves to be known. When Jesus arrives, He seeks to save those this state of condemnation (V.16-18). This state is described with the word evil. Before we this of this word describing the worst of mankind, we should not its true meaning. In this text the word evil means full of labors, annoyances, hardships, in a physical and moral sense. People stay away from Christ because they are entangled by the laborious, hard life brought on by their poor moral and ethical behavior.

With this text in mind, we can receive the challenge to live according to the light of Christ through His word (Psalm 119:103). May we not cover up the aspect of life that can make it laborious and hard. The invitation stands to allow the life of Jesus to be a light of truth within each one of us. If we choose to rise to this challenge our families and church will be a light giving church (1 Peter 2:9).

The Long Expected Jesus: Part 1 - He is Expected

            When something happens that I do not expect, I tend to react in extremes. One extreme is happiness to the point of hilarity, and the other is anger that prompts isolation. This is true in what I expect from others, myself, and God. We all have expectations and I would suppose that you have reactions that are like mine.

            Being that the Christmas is a season of expectation, it is applicable to ask, what can I expect from the arrival of Jesus? For some, we expect Jesus to meet our expectations. Others expect Jesus to exceed their expectations. In Jesus’ day, many expected a warrior king. Others expected a serving shepherding.  Their expectations were only as good as their understanding of Scripture not their understanding of their fellow human beings. Same goes for us today.

            There seems to be a common expectation among those who have accepted Jesus and those who have rejected Him. Both groups expect or expected Jesus to make things better. He is expected to make our past somehow turn out better than it would without Him. If Jesus is real than the future of the world should be better than it is right now. No matter how people feel about Jesus, there seems to be a common thought that today simply cannot be the best of times.  

            Expecting Jesus to make things better is an idea that we received from the prophecies spoken about Him. Paying attention to the prophet Micah we can see why people of Jesus’ day had expectations of a better world at His. Jesus is expected to make all things better. Micah 4-5

Considering these two chapters, Pastor Shawn Smucker state, “can we even begin to imagine this kind of universe, where worldly power is upended, where war is extinct, where nations no longer prepare for battle, but instead seek the mountain of the Lord? Can we even begin to imagine a world where no one is afraid?”

            As you read these two chapters along with this post, please consider the following points. The expectation of a future hope and unified peace (4:1-5). To have this expectation become a reality, we must learn how to walk in the ways He modeled for us. A better future is not just handed to us, but Jesus invites us into His work of a better future.

            This better future included the expectation of deliverance from distress (4:6-10) For this to become true, may we understand how and why God has brought us to a place where we wish for something better. If we can understand this, God will walk us through the process of His restoration making us watchtowers and stronghold for God’s people. In the book of Micah God has brought His people to a place where they would see their need of revival bringing repentance. Perhaps that where our better future begins as well.

            A third expectation was the expectation of victory from siege (4:11-13). Their enemies apparent thoughts of victory over God’s people was out of ignorance of God’s plan. I think this is similar to why we at times feel like our expectations have led to let downs. Ignorance of God’s plan usually leads to the attempt to complete our own. The speed of our victory often depends on our willingness to learn and accept the plans God has for us.

            The final expectation in our text was one that formed the expectations of the people during the days leading up to the arrival of Jesus. They expected to be moved from a helpless ruler to an ideal King (5:1-6). The initial fulfillment for those in Micah’s day was the revival brought about by the leadership of Hezekiah nearing the year 701B.C. and the ultimate fulfillment at the arrival of Jesus and the founding of His kingdom.

            As the people of Micah’s day, we to find ourselves waiting for Jesus, expecting things to be better in the future. I think this is a good thing because God has promised for this to be true. I also think this is good because as we have been created in the image of God, we innately understand that the world is broken and there must be something better. But until then we live with promises. As you wait, I pray that you begin to rest in the reality that you have all you need as you expectantly wait. 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

            Finally, as we wait for Jesus, may we be awake with expectation (Mark 13:32-37). Christmas is indeed a time of expectation. But may we not be spiritually asleep, imprisoned by our own expectations. If we find ourselves in such an imprisonment, I pray that God presents Himself to you in such a way that prompts a revival birthed in repentance.