Jesus Fulfilled the Foretold

What Did Jesus Do?

“I have not come to abolish...but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5.17

There was a time when marketers used to remind us how many “shopping days” were left until Christmas. “Shopping days” is of course an archaic term, now that every day, 24/7, is a shopping day. In what is day by day becoming the more and more remote past, businesses used to close on Sundays, and some on Saturdays as well, thus creating a distinction between days when one could “shop,” and days when one was supposed to devote one's self to other pursuits.

Similarly, there was a time when, in most churches, the season of Advent was distinguishable from Christmas. Mercantilism swallowed up every day of the week, with Christmas season so expanding as to all but obliterate Thanksgiving in its own right (Turkey Day is now little more than a green flag for an all-out spending bacchanal that consumes just about every second of every day right up until the last online shopper clicks one final “submit order” button on Christmas Eve.). Similarly, celebrations of Christmas occupy most of the time and energy of congregations throughout the weeks of what once was Advent, so that there is little or no preparing of hearts and minds to receive Jesus at the observance of his birth. Not unlike merchants, many churches simply want to make the “sale,” to get people to “buy” Jesus, even before they truly get to know who and what they are being offered.

So, as you may have surmised by now, I for one am still a fan of Advent, though I am hardly slavish about the liturgical calendar. I believe there is much to recommend a season of preparation to receive the Lord and Savior. And I believe the Father also felt a considerable time of preparation was necessary before he sent the Son into the world. Otherwise, why would there have been more than a millennium of waiting and anticipation on the part of the Jews for the Messiah to come?

Ironically, many were critical of, even violently opposed to, Jesus because they were convinced that he was determined to abolish what they had long held on to as the foundations of their faith—the Law and the Prophets. But Jesus was quite clear that his mission was just the opposite, not the abolishment of the Law and the Prophets, but their fulfillment. What did Jesus do? Jesus fulfilled what had been foretold. And one of the best things about Advent is that it intentionally provides the Church a season of preparation, a time to study and ponder the foretelling, that we might better celebrate the birth of, the Fulfiller.

Consider this: While some anticipated that the Messiah would suddenly appear as a man, a powerful liberating king, it had in fact been foretold that he would come as a baby. There was a child to be born, a son, actually, The Son would be given. (See Isaiah 9.6) And Israel had been privileged to have had centuries of advance knowledge of the coming of the One who would fulfill the words of Isaiah and the rest of the prophets, that she might be ready to receive him when, in the fullness of time, he was born. Sadly, foreknowledge does little good when it is either ignored, or twisted to suit personal or political agendas. Rightfully, faithfully, looking forward to the Messiah's coming, Israel envisioned what will be the Second Advent. They did not understand that the Messiah first had to die for their sins (And ours!), liberation from sin and death had to come before any political deliverance. And so, Pharisees and Sadducees and priests largely condemned Christ as the abolisher, rather than the fulfiller, of all that God had promised. And God had promised a lot!

Just think, for a moment, on a few of the names given to the Fulfiller. The names tell us much about who he is, and what he did/does: Wonderful Counselor—far better than any analyst or psychologist Jesus knows the hearts and minds of men and women, and has a comforting, compassionate, and healing word for all who are troubled; Mighty God—all dominion, majesty and power belong to Jesus, our shield and defender, who is able to accomplish what we need, which is even greater than all we could ask or imagine; Everlasting Father—the Son and the Father are one, through Jesus we have seen the Father, and know him personally.

In stark contrast those who in the ancient world, and the modern, who make outrageously bold and grandiose claims for themselves, Jesus comes to us humbly to point to the words which he has fulfilled. One of the great things about Advent is that it gives every heart an opportunity to prepare Him room, which is to say that unlike children who wonder what Santa might bring them, we can know, through the foretold word, all that the Father has given us in and through the Son. How? Because Jesus fulfilled the foretold.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4