“At exactly the time when Jesus was growing up, there was a movement—call it a political movement, a religious movement, or (as Josephus calls it) a “philosophy”—that said that it was time for God alone to be King. The people were waiting for the cyclone. They were praying for it. Did they know what it would mean? They knew what it wouldn’t mean. They were fed up with their own ‘kings”—the Hasmonean dynasty of the last hundred years, such as it was, and then Herod and his second-rate sons.” (“Who Should Be King?”, Simply Jesus,  N. T. Wright, p. 41)

There are dictators – there are presidents – there are Prime Ministers – there are Kings and Premiers. We have all kinds of “names”, “positions” for those who rule the countries and nations across the world — and they have differing amounts of power. Where they differ greatly comes in their attributes – some are kind, others corrupt; some are greedy, others compassionate; some are full of hope, while others are full of themselves. For thousands and thousands of years there have been “human” rulers who run the gamut between greed and charity – ability and inability – and people have been either prospering or suffering under their rule.

Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all believe in the coming of the One whom they all call the Messiah. We Christians call Christ the Messiah. The concept of the Messiah in Christianity originated from the Messiah in Judaism. However, unlike the concept of the Messiah in Judaism and Islam, the Messiah in Christianity, Jesus Christ, is the Son of G-d. Jesus of Nazareth became the accepted Christian designation of Messiah because Christians believe the messianic prophesies in the Old Testament – and they were fulfilled in his mission, death and resurrection. As such, we believe that Christ will fulfill the rest of the messianic prophecies, specifically the prophecy of a future king who would come from the Davidic line and usher in a Messianic Age – that G-d’s kingdom, and G-d’s will come to earth, as it is in heaven.

What is common among us all is this – we all anticipate a Messiah – who will make things right, again.

Pastor Dave

“In Jesus’ day, the story of God came into its own. Jesus’ contemporaries believed, because their ancient prophets had told them so, that their God had promised to live in their midst, in the Jerusalem Temple, which was the lineal descendant of Solomon’s Temple, which was itself the successor to the wilderness tabernacle constructed by Moses. But–again, as the prophets had said—Israel’s God had abandoned the Temple at the time of the exile to Babylon. Ever afterwards, the same prophets had promised that he would one day return.” (“Who Should Be King?”, Simply Jesus,  N. T. Wright, p. 40-41)

The scriptures say it again and again – “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his Temple” (Malachi 1) What would it mean for us, today, in America, for us to have Jesus live in our midst? What would that look like, do you think? What if we, Christians, people of Christ, were following Jesus as he walked this land – preached his Gospel of love and forgiveness – and healed people at an unprecedented rate?

There are various “spiritual healers” in our land who claim to have the ability to heal – either through prayers, invisible surgeries, and other “folk medicines”. People flock to them with money and hope – and there is no lack of followers who are convinced of their ability to heal. They may have the ability to heal – and they may have a message of love and forgiveness – but does their ability come from G-d? Or are they just really good charlatans? We are told to expect Jesus to come again – it is a promise that we continue to live in – the same promises that the Israelites placed their hope—one day he will come. Be alert. Be prepared.

Pastor Dave