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  <a href="/holy-mystery-advent-devotional/blog/7118261/day-5">Day 5</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>““Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” </p>
<p>‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭ESV‬‬ </p>
<p>The Prince of Peace and a Rock of Offense. Do you ever read a quote from Jesus and think, “Ouch?” If you haven’t, you’re probably not reading your Bible right. The Gospels are full of the wisdom, the gentle encouragements, and the grace that Jesus offered. There are also plenty of occurrences when Jesus would drop some bombs! It’s become a super catchy modern teaching that Jesus’ strongest rebukes were reserved only for those in the pious religious leaders. Ok. Tell that to the Canaanite woman whom Jesus called a dog in Matthew 15. Or the multitude that He told to eat His flesh and drink His blood in John 6. </p>
<p>Now, in all of these instances Jesus was kind. He was giving each of them precisely what they needed to hear in those moments. But, it’s important to recognize that the kindness of God does not always feel “nice.” So often, we picture Jesus like He is meek and mild guy with the warm, inviting eyes just waiting for us to engage with Him. Very frequently in scripture, however, Jesus was the friend you aren’t always comfortable inviting to the party because He just might say the thing that everyone is thinking but doesn’t say so they don’t make people uncomfortable. </p>
<p>Make no mistakes about it; closeness to Jesus will make you very uncomfortable… until you learn to become more comfortable with Him than you are with your sin. </p>
<p>That’s the good type of uncomfortable. That’s the uncomfortable that we all need to become more comfortable with and, as you do, you’ll notice that certain people around will start to have problems with that. </p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong, we don’t need to go out of our way to be offensive. We should also be less inclined to say the harsher truths from a safe distance. Even when done in all sincerity, a convicting Facebook post aimed at the general mass of unbelievers on your friends list is almost always not the best way to go about it. That being said, when it is the right time to proclaim truth and shine your light into the darkness, be aware that few things are more offensive than turning on the lights in a dark room. </p>
<p>So, how can Jesus be both the Prince of Peace and bring a sword between us and our friends and families? The peace that Jesus brings is not the mediocre “peace” between family members who choose to overlook the truth in order to not ruffle feathers. No, He gives us peace with God. His atonement on our behalf has satisfied the wrath of God and allowed us to experience true peace with our Heavenly Father. When we enter into the kingdom of heaven, however, our former masters and those who still walk in darkness will be increasingly aware of their enmity with God when they see our relationship with Him as well as our unity and love for one another. This will either cause them to be convinced of their own sinfulness and coming destruction (Phil. 1:26-27) or cause them to hate you as they hate our Master. (John 15:18) </p>
<p>He is peace but He also divides.</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2022-12-05T20:50:42-06:00" title="December 05, 2022 20:50">12/05/2022</span></p>

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  <div class="message"><p>“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” </p>
<p>‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ </p>
<p>Jesus is the Lion of Judah; the fierce, powerful, majestic Lion. Jesus is also the Lamb that was slain. </p>
<p>This is one of the most seemingly contradictory descriptions throughout all of scripture. Top of the food chain. One of the most defenseless creatures you can think of. How can both of these images be talking about the same being and how can that being be the Son of God? The best one word answer: humility. </p>
<p>Yesterday, I shared about how immeasurably powerful our Lord is. The incredible immensity of His omnipotence is beyond anything we could strain to think of. When He walked on earth people saw a man but when He spoke, whether they knew it or not, they heard the voice of God. Men sought to contain Him, even the disciples at times tried to limit Him, and He would respond in ways that let you know you were on the wrong side of the Lion! </p>
<p>“Get behind me, Satan.” </p>
<p>How many times a day does it cross our minds to invite Jesus into our day? How frequently do we seek His input before setting the large and small plans of our lives? And how absurd would it be to approach a Lion with our day planner and let Him know we’ve decided to pencil Him in for 15 minutes after lunch? Do we even have the faintest notion of who it is that we are talking to??? The Christian life is not “inviting Him” into ours but recognizing that every breath in our lungs is His and then seeking to find how He wants us to utilize the next one. This is the proper way to approach the Lion! </p>
<p>And yet, He is also the Lamb. </p>
<p>To understand His humility, you have to start to understand the power that is being restrained. He, in His holiness - He who dwells in unapproachable light - chose to take on flesh and walk among His rebellious creation. We get glimmers of that restrained power when we read verses like these: </p>
<p>“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”” </p>
<p>‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬ </p>
<p>“No one takes my life from me.” </p>
<p>The lamb was only slain because He chose to be. He chose it before time began. </p>
<p>I think we can sometimes get comfortable with the Lamb. We love the Lamb. We experience true sorrow at the death of the Lamb and joy at His resurrection, but we must never forget that the Lamb is also a Lion. </p>
<p>On the other hand, when John laments that there is no one worthy to open the scroll, He is told by the elder that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has come and He is worthy and then, in walks the Lamb that was slain. He is humble because He is the Lion who restrains Himself. He is worthy because He is the Lamb who was slain.</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2022-12-04T22:38:23-06:00" title="December 04, 2022 22:38">12/04/2022</span></p>

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  <div class="message"><p>“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” </p>
<p>‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬ </p>
<p>The Lion and the Lamb. I don’t know how many songs I’ve heard utilizing this descriptive imagery. A lot. So much so that it’s easy to just hear the words, song along and not at all think about what is being sung. </p>
<p>Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah: the majesty, the fierce strength, the raw power. When we approach our Lord, it is right to draw near with a sober understanding that, as C. S. Lewis wrote of Aslan, “He is not a tame lion.”  He is gloriously untamed and unbound by our whims and fancies. When you come face to face with a Lion, you change to accommodate Him. When he roars, you get low real quick! </p>
<p>So many of us have a very neutered view of God. Some have even bought into the notion that He needs us! Let me be perfectly clear; He does not. He needs nothing. He is completely self sustaining, fulfilled in the eternal co-existent relationship of the Trinity. No, God has no need for you or me. </p>
<p>How much more beautiful is it then that He wants us? </p>
<p>We have nothing to offer this King of kings, this Lion of Lions. And yet, He chose to create us because He wanted us. He did it knowing the cost. He did it knowing that we would rebel. He did it knowing that most would reject Him throughout their whole lives, all the way to the gates of Hell. But for those of us who would, He endured all the pain of the cross, all the rejection and rebellion of humanity, even our own sin even after we professed devotion to Him. By rights, by nature, we should have been eaten, but the Lion of Judah, has chosen to endure it all because the Lion loves us. </p>
<p>Tomorrow, we’ll talk about the Lamb.</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2022-12-03T18:43:47-06:00" title="December 03, 2022 18:43">12/03/2022</span></p>

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  <div class="message"><p>Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV) </p>
<p>15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. </p>
<p>What does the phrase “firstborn of all creation” mean? Is Jesus the first created being? </p>
<p>A few years back, I was at my house on a Saturday morning when I heard an unexpected knock at the door. Most of us have probably gotten a knock like this at some point in our lives but, unlike most people I’ve talked to, I actually get really excited when I get to engage with these types of unexpected visitors. It was a young husband and wife couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses! </p>
<p>From that initial knock, we carried on a weekly meeting every Saturday morning for the next few months, comparing their beliefs with scripture, both sides hoping to convert the other. (We were both completely upfront about our goals in these interactions, so there were no false pretenses or misplaced expectations.) One of the clearest examples of the differences in our Christology came from this passage in Colossians. Their “translation” of the scriptures makes just a slight variation from the text, but that small change introduces a monumental shift in their understanding of Jesus. </p>
<p>Colossians 1:15-20 (New World Translation) </p>
<p>15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become the one who is first in all things; 19 because God was pleased to have all fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all other things by making peace through the blood he shed on the torture stake, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. </p>
<p>Ok. So, there are more than a few changes! Torture stakes aside, there is something even more subtle, a one word addition to the text, which changes everything. </p>
<p>16 because by means of him all other things were created </p>
<p>Did you catch it that time? All other things were created. According to JW doctrine, Jesus is not eternally God, but just the first being that God the Father created and whom then proceeded to co-labor with God in the creation of everything else. Christian doctrine, thoroughly presented in the Athanasian Creed, claims that Jesus, while distinct in personage from the Father and the Holy Spirit, is like them, God. This means He is uncreated, immeasurable, eternal, almighty and one being with them. Thus, we can say that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary roughly 2,000 years ago. We can also say that Jesus is God. It would become theologically precarious, however, to say that God was born about 2,000 years ago. Welcome back to the mystery. </p>
<p>So, just how important is it that Jesus is recognized as uncreated? Well, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is important enough that they will unjustifiably add a word into their text in order to alter its meaning and even admit to doing so because the accurate translation so greatly undermines their beliefs about Him. In their own NWT Study Bible, the liner notes make it clear as to why they added the word, </p>
<p>“all other things: A literal rendering of the Greek text would be “all things.” (Compare Kingdom Interlinear.) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself.” - New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Col. 1:16 </p>
<p>If Jesus is uncreated, then He is eternal. If Jesus is eternal, then He shares one of the singularly divine attributes with the nature of God. In short, Jesus is God. He is not the Father. He is not the Holy Spirit. He is distinct in person but same in Being. Jesus is God. </p>
<p>So, what does it mean that He is firstborn of all creation? Terminologically, this word is not describing a birthing order (that wouldn’t even make sense since He came long after everyone written about in the Old Testament.) No, firstborn is being used in the Greek context of the time, a statement of rank. It is saying that He is preeminent, in the highest position of authority over all of creation. And the reason that He has the right to rule in that role of authority is because He is God.</p></div>
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  <a href="/holy-mystery-advent-devotional/blog/7115208/day-1">Day 1</a>&nbsp;
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  <div class="message"><p>For to us a child is born, <br>    to us a son is given; <br>and the government shall be upon his shoulder, <br>    and his name shall be called <br>Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, <br>    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. <br>7 Of the increase of his government and of peace <br>    there will be no end, <br>on the throne of David and over his kingdom, <br>    to establish it and to uphold it <br>with justice and with righteousness <br>    from this time forth and forevermore. <br>The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. </p>
<p>Isaiah 9: 6-7 (ESV) </p>
<p>The book of Isaiah was written roughly 700 years before the birth of Christ. The passage above is just one of the many messianic prophecies tucked away throughout the pages of the Old Testament. Although most of the writers of these prophecies only understood in part what they were really writing of, it’s difficult for us today to read verses like these and think that they could be talking about anyone or anything other than Christ. The names and titles given to this prophesied child are wonderful, indeed, but can you imagine hearing all of this back then? A child will be born, a boy, and he will lead our government. Ok. We can follow that. This is probably a child who will be in the line of kings, a future prince who would one day become king, perhaps. “Lovely.” Wonderful Counselor. “Great!” Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace! “Wait, what was that?” Prince of Peace? “No. I mean that sounds nice, but before that.” Everlasting Father? “I mean, that’s potentially problematic, we’ll come back to that, but before.” Mighty God. “Yeah, that’s the one. How can God be born? It makes no sense!” </p>
<p>“Oh, how can it be? The birth of the Creator. King of everything. First breath of the breath of life.” </p>
<p>Holy Mystery, I Am The Pendragon </p>
<p>Dr. William Lane Craig, a prominent Christian apologist, teaches that in order to be the Creator of the universe, God must be “beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful.” How can the beginningless be born? How can the changeless condescend? How can the immaterial become matter? How can the timeless enter time? How can the spaceless be contained in the body of an infant? How can the enormously powerful be a helpless baby? These seeming contradictions all perfectly coexist within the person of Jesus. These impossibilities are only possible if He truly is God. He has to be God! </p>
<p>In light of the chaos in our world today, most of us would gladly accept Him as Prince of Peace. Probably fewer but I would still bet a good number of us would even be willing to vote Him in and place the government on His shoulders (as if it was ours to bestow.) One of the true social pandemics of our age is fatherlessness, and there are countless abandoned children who would gladly accept Him as the Eternal Father who will never leave. But God? </p>
<p>God? </p>
<p>My friends, unless He is God, He can be none of the other things. It’s more than a package deal, acknowledging His deity is the cost of admission – you can’t enter in without believing that! </p>
<p>As you drive by the nativity scenes in your neighborhood, when you see the tiny baby in the manger, remember, “This is how God chose to enter the world that He created.” It’s probably not how you would have done it if you were Him. It’s definitely not the way I would have made my grand entrance, but we are not God. He is. And thank God that He does not do things the way we would. It won’t always make sense to us, but it is, in the end, always good. We can’t always see the end from the beginning; how He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28), but He does it. This is just the beginning of understanding the Holy Mystery that is our God.</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2022-12-01T19:43:53-06:00" title="December 01, 2022 19:43">12/01/2022</span></p>

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  <a href="/holy-mystery-advent-devotional/blog/7115207/introduction">Introduction</a>&nbsp;<span class='reset-font'>&nbsp;<span class="podcast"><img src="//assets-app-production-pubnet.bndzgl.com/assets/usersites/podcast-ff0f451d9e650aa49c1c887f1b4eab6655e151de0aba4c11a992f6637163c058.png" /></span></span>
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  <div class="message"><p style="text-align: center;">Holy Mystery </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Introduction </p>
<p>When I wrote “Holy Mystery,” I had a few specific goals in mind. For one, I am not a fan of the genre of “Christmas music,” although, if my wife had her way, we would be playing it year round. I definitely don’t like the commercialization of a holiday meant to celebrate the advent of our Lord, turning it into a shining city on the hill of self-indulgence and greed. I can appreciate the rich theology of the old hymns; “Oh, Holy Night” probably being my favorite for both its lyrics and the musical gut punch of the “Fall on your knees/Christ is the Lord” sections. For our song, I wanted to try to thematically pull from some of those same weighty concepts brought forth in the hymns, marrying those thoughts with our weird, loud, noisy genre of music that we play. Specifically, I felt that so many of the words have been sung so many times that they have lost much of the impact of what they truly mean. When we talk about the birth of Christ, we can say it with such nonchalance that the average listener would have no idea that we were speaking of the literal entrance of God the Son into the world that He created. We’ve become so comfortable with the sweet nativity scenes decorating our yards that we have largely forgotten how profound, how scandalous, how preposterous, how mysterious all of this actually is. (I use the word “preposterous” not in a critical or diminishing way, but in the way that our Lord uses foolish things to confound the wise. - 1 Cor. 1:27) It’s an absurd thought that the Almighty would condescend to the level of being born as a baby, completely dependent on his mother, needing to be fed and clothed and cleaned and changed. These types of befuddling juxtapositions are what I sought to capture in the message of this song. In that same vein, I will be sharing a daily advent devotional, each day focusing on one of these crucially counter-intuitive yet fully intentional aspects of our sovereign God and the first coming of Christ into the world. My hope is that you would be challenged, encouraged, strengthened and drawn closer towards Jesus, the Christ. We, as people, don’t typically do so well with tension and yet it is so often that we find it is in the tension that God reveals Himself to us throughout scripture. Join me over these next few weeks as we dive into the holy mystery that is the advent of our Lord. </p>
<p>-Jerrod Cunningham </p>
<p>12/1/2022</p></div>
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    <p class="post-info"><span data-time="2022-12-01T19:43:01-06:00" title="December 01, 2022 19:43">12/01/2022</span></p>

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