The Coming King

Titus 2:11-14; Mark 13; Psalm 24; Psalm 96

Christmas day Prayer from Anglican Book of Common Prayer (2019)

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born [this day] of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.
– Martin Luther

On this side of heaven, the conjoined deity and humanity of Christ is impossible for finite human minds to understand. It was too much for Jesus’s siblings and his hometown (Mark 6), and they knew him. It was too much for the disciples who abandoned him, even though they had been his closest companions for three years (Mark 14). After his resurrection, some people began to understand, albeit imperfectly (Acts). Throughout history, people have tried to comprehend the unity of the God-head made manifest in a human baby as he grew, like any other boy, into adulthood. The best scholars just admit, as Luther did, that the humanity of God is beyond our ability to understand.

Why did he come? Why was it important for the Creator of all things to take on flesh, to become one of us? Because God promised he would be our salvation. Vance Pitman, in his 2020 Christmas Eve service, offered a succinct explanation here. Erick Erickson dug a little deeper into the prophecies on his Christmas radio show, which should appear on his podcast in the next few days. Most simply, Jesus came for us.

For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.
Titus 2:11-14

So, what’s next? This first Advent for our salvation and reconciliation with the Creator is part of the story, but it is not the whole story. Jesus, Himself, told the rest of the story in Mark 13. The prophets spoke of the Messiah coming, not as savior, but as judge and King of Glory. This second coming, for which we now prepare, will be beyond our wildest imaginings. “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty…the LORD of Hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24). Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus tries to capture that day. On that day, Jesus will descend from heaven with a blast of the shofar, and the whole world will see His glory. There will be no mistaking Him for anyone but who He is. The first coming of Jesus was for our salvation. The second will be for His justice and glory. And we who have believed at His first coming will join the “great multitude, that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7: 9-17).

Now and forever, we gather in awe and wonder at the inexplicable love the Father has lavished on us. He came, wrapped His deity in our humanity so that He could fulfill the law and the prophets for us. He came as the suffering servant, the One who bore the consequences of sin for everyone, regardless of whether we choose to submit to His sacrifice on our behalf. He defeated death, returning His followers so they could see Him in His fullness. He ascended to heaven, where He sat down as the King and High Priest. FOR us. We have reconciliation with God because of Him. And reconciliation becomes rejoicing when Jesus comes again to rule.