“Come, Lord Jesus!” [Matt's Messages]

“Come, Lord Jesus!”

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

December 28, 2025 :: Revelation 22:20

“Come, Lord Jesus!” 

That’s the very last prayer in the Bible. 

It’s in the last book of the Bible. It’s on the last page, in the last paragraph, in the second-to-last verse. And we’re studying it on the last Sunday of 2025.

“Come, Lord Jesus!”

Have you ever prayed that prayer?

I think it’s a good one for us all to learn to pray and pray often. It only has three words, and I want to focus on each one in turn.

#1. COME!

You may have already noticed that this fits with our theme for Advent this year.

We’ve been focusing on this banger of a Christmas carol written by Pastor Charles Wesley 250 years ago, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” It was on everybody’s Spotify Wrapped in 1775.

We just sang it together. I love that little part where we go, “Dear Desire of ev’ry na-ai-ai-tion. Joy of ev’ry longing heart.”

That song is also a prayer. To Jesus, for Jesus to come. 

That means, of course, that Jesus has not yet come. 

Not again. He came once. That was what we celebrated on Thursday, the first coming of our Lord Jesus. He was born. “Born His people to deliver. Born a child and a yet a king.”

But we Christians believe that after His birth, after His life and death and resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on High. The Son of Man ascended to the Ancient of Days. The Son of God went home to be with His Father (and our Father).

So He’s not here right now. Not like He was. But He promised to come again.

On the night before the Cross, Jesus comforted His followers by saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

And that’s not the only place where He promised to return. He promised it many many times in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and He promised it right here in this last chapter of the Bible in the Revelation that God gave to His servant John exiled on the island of Patmos. Jesus speaks, and John quotes Him in this chapter, chapter 22, verse 7 and verse 12 and right here in verse 20...

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’”

That’s Jesus. He promises to return.

So, here’s a big question that comes up again and again:

When is Jesus going to return?

“Soon,” He says in verse 20. And that’s all we’re told. That word “soon” could be translated, “quickly,” so that when it happens, it will be all of sudden. Everything will unfold rapidly in short order.

When is Jesus going to return?

We’ve learned this year to say, “I don’t know. And...that’s okay.”

This year we’ve been focusing a lot on the return of Jesus Christ. We’ve studied the Book of Daniel together and the Letters to the Church of the Thessalonians. And the coming of King Jesus has been a key subject for our church family all year long.

And along the way, we’ve learned that the Bible emphasizes that it’s going to happen not when it’s going to happen.

And it’s better that we do not know when. That’s how He wants it. He doesn’t want us to know when. He wants us to be ready and stay ready all the time. Even if it’s a long time. A long-expected Jesus.

He wants us to wait.

And while wait, we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Now, remember, that’s a prayer. That is not a command. We don’t tell Jesus what to do. Jesus tells us what to do. He is Lord. We are not.

This is not like you calling your dog in from the cold. “Hey! Lord Jesus, come. Get over here."

No. This is a prayer, a request that, in the Lord’s perfect timing, He would keep His perfect promise to come.

“Please, Lord, come.”

This prayer here is in Greek, but the Bible also has a similar prayer in 1 Corinthians 16:22 in the language of Aramaic. “Marana tha” which means in English, “Come, Lord!” Maybe you’ve seen that word before, “Maranatha?” It is this prayer, “Come, Lord!” The Bible says that the church is to pray that prayer while we wait.

In verse 17, John the Revelator says that it’s the prayer of the Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ. Verse 17.

 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’”

Now, it’s possible that this is the Spirit and the bride inviting other people to come to trust in Jesus. That’s the point of the second half of the verse. It’s an invitation. It says, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (cf. Isa 55:1, Jn 7:37).

We just sang about that in the song Cody led, “Let living water satisfy the thirsty without price” (“All Glory Be to Christ,” Dustin Kensrue).

Salvation is free.

Salvation is by grace.

Salvation is satisfying our deepest thirst. 

Jesus is the "joy of every longing heart."

And we are all invited to drink of Him.

That’s true!

But I hear longing in the first part of verse 17. I hear the Holy Spirit praying through the Church (the holy Bride of Christ) for the Lord Jesus Christ fulfill His promise to come. 

And I hear an invitation for any and all of us who have come to Jesus to ask Him to come to us. Verse 17, “And let him who hears (believers) say, ‘Come!’”

Come!

Do you pray that prayer? 

I think some people find it weird to pray for something that has already been promised and planned. If Jesus said that He would come, and He’s trustworthy, then why do we need to pray that Jesus would come? It’s not like we make Him come by praying this way.

But that’s exactly what prayer in the Bible is like. We are told to pray the promises of God back to God. If He said that He is going to do something, that gives us license to ask for it! We are authorized to pray for the return of Christ because He promised to return. And because we trust Him. V.20 again:

“He who testifies to these things (and I think that’s everything in the Book of Revelation) says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’”

So John says (and we say with him in response), “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Come.

Second word in the prayer. Don’t miss it.

#2. LORD.

When we pray for Jesus to return, we are praying for the King to come.

We are recognizing His lordship, and we are praying that He would exercise His lordship.

We praying for the King to come and for His kingdom to come!

Come, Lord!

Come, be Lord!

It’s a lot like what Jesus taught us to pray in the Disciples' Prayer, isn’t it? He told us to pray to God as our Father, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Now, John says that to Jesus, “Come, Lord. Bring your Kingdom.”

Which is, of course, the same kingdom. The Father has given the kingdom to His Son. The Ancient of Days gives the kingdom of kingdoms to the Son of Man.

We memorized Daniel 7:14 all winter and then came back to it in December.

“He [the One like a Son of Man] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

That’s the King and that’s the Kingdom that we are praying to come when we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Does the Book of Revelation scare you? It’s got a lot of scary things in it. Just like the Book of Daniel did. We live in a scary world full of terrifying things. And God Himself has made real threats. You see the warnings in verses 18 and 19.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book [Yikes!]. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (vv.18-19). 

Double yikes! Those are some serious threats to handle this book with care...or else.

This message is perfect. Do not alter it. Do not customize it. Do not change its message to suit your own desires. Do not add false teaching. Do not add false religion. Do not ignore God’s word or you will gain everything bad and lose everything good that could have been yours. 

That’s scary, and we should take it seriously. Because the King is the One threatening to do it. Verse 20.

“He who testifies to these things (things like verse 18 and 19) says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.'" "I’m going to bring the judgments and the blessings.”

And John prays (and we pray with him), “Amen. Come, Lord!”

Does the book of Revelation scare you?

It sure doesn’t scare John. John says, “Bring it!” 

So many Christians get scared by the End-times. And the End-times are scary in the short run, but not, ultimately, for the people of God! We should be wanting the end-times to come. Because that means the King is coming! And He’s going to bring His kingdom.

Have you ever prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus!”?

I have prayed it many many times, and I think I pray it the most when I am the most aware of how broken the world is.

 

This world is broken. This world is not the way it’s supposed to be. Suffering. Pain. Injustice. War. Racism. Greed. Oppression. Cancer. Death. This world is incredibly broken.

And it’s not going to get all better through our efforts. Not that we shouldn’t work at improving things in our little domain. We need to live out the values of the kingdom in small ways while we wait. But we can’t fix the world. The world is cursed. We need the Return of the King!

That’s what we’re praying for when pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” 

“Come fix things. Come make everything right. Come flip everything right-side up again. Just like we saw at the end of Esther. That was a foretaste of the world to come. Remember we are living in a comedy, in the classic literary sense. There is a happy ending on the way. 

“Come, Lord Jesus and reverse the curse!”

“No more let sins and sorrows grow

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found!”

- Isaac Watts

That’s what we’re praying for when we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Remember, “Every bad thing must come to an end.”

And, yes, that means all rebellion must end. All injustice must end. All rebels must be stopped and punished. That’s what Hell is. It is perfect justice.  And that’s also what we’re praying for when we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!” “Bring perfect justice.” That’s “the glories of His righteousness” that He will make the nations prove. He’s going to bring judgment, and He’s going to fix everything.

And I say with John, “Bring it! Come, Lord Jesus, come!”

#3. JESUS.

We don’t just pray that the kingdom will come. We pray for this particular King to come. Jesus. This person Jesus. The same Person Who was born of the virgin Mary. The same Child that the choir urged us all to celebrate. The One Who is “Immanuel,” God with us. The same One who died for us on the Cross.

That’s why in our statement of faith we say, “We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We don’t just believe that the kingdom will come on its own. We believe that Jesus Himself, the nail-scarred man Himself will come in His resurrected body and bring His salvation for all who are waiting for Him (see Hebrews 9:27-28). For all who have come to Him. For the thirsty (v.17). For all who have been saved by Him.

Remember what His name means. “Jesus” means, “The LORD saves.” 

The angel told His parents, “You will give Him the name ‘Jesus’ because He will save His people from their sins” (see Matthew 1:20-25).

And He saves His people, not because of anything we have done, but because and through His amazing grace. That’s why the Bible ends with this benediction...

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with God’s people (the Bride!). Amen” (v.21).

His grace alone can save us, and His grace alone can preserve us while we wait for His return for us.

Because, you know, Heaven won’t be Heaven unless Jesus is there. Some people have the idea that the point of Heaven is being with our loved ones who have died before us. And, wonderfully, that will be true for God’s people whose loved ones  knew the grace of God. But if that’s all that we have in the world to come, just our loved ones who have gone ahead of us, that’s actually Hell. Because Heaven is Heaven because Jesus is there.

And the new Heavens and the new Earth will be heavenly because the Lord Jesus will be there and will make all things new.

Jesus! That’s Whom we are praying to come.

“Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha. Bring it! Bring Your Kingdom. Bring Yourself.”

It’s the last prayer in the Bible, and it’s the lasting prayer of our hearts.

Come, Lord Jesus!

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“Born a Child and Yet a King” - Christ Candle Lighting - Christmas Eve

“Born a Child and Yet a King”

Christmas Eve Candlelighting Message

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

December 24, 2025 :: Daniel 7:13-14, 27

“Advent” means “coming.”

Christmas is coming...in just a few hours. 

Jesus Christ has come and is coming again, we don’t know when.

This year for the Advent season, our church family has focused our attention on the classic Christmas carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” which was written about 250 years ago by Pastor Charles Wesley.

This is one of the greatest worship songs ever written in the English language. Charles Wesley was a hymn-writing genius. One of the best of all times.

And this song was popular as soon as he wrote it. It was on everybody’s Spotify Wrapped in 1775.

Something like that, actually. Wesley put it in a little booklet entitled, “Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord,” and it was reprinted twenty times in his lifetime.

And how many times have we sung it? As a church, we’ve sung it every Sunday for the last four weeks. And we had a little group go caroling on Sunday afternoon, and we sang it over and over again at people’s front doors.

It’s beautiful, especially set to the Welsh tune “Hyfrydol” (pronounced: “Hev-rrrol-dul”) which is the one most people are familiar with, and we’ll sing it in just a minute.

It does work with other tunes. Try it out some time to the theme from the Flintstones. (Dads, lead that one on the way home tonight!) It doesn’t carry the same weight when you do that, though.

And make sure you get the right version. This week I saw some alternative lyrics by the Church Curmudgeon:

“Come, Thou Badly-Needed Coffee.”

“Come, thou badly needed coffee;

Come to make thy people see.

From our weary slumbers wake us;

Let us end our rest with thee.

This real bracing consolation

bids us from our beds arise;

Water, beans in combination, 

open up our sleeping eyes!”

Some of you parents might need that first thing tomorrow morning when the kids pull you out of bed for opening presents!

But the real words, the original words, are wonderful, in many ways drawn from the holy Scriptures themselves. 

It’s beautiful poetry, and one of the things I really love about it is that while  it’s clearly about Jesus’ first coming, His first advent that first Christmas, Wesley wrote it so that it also applies to Jesus’ second coming. His second advent which we have been focusing on as a church family all this year especially as we’ve studied the Book of Daniel and the letters to the Church of the Thessalonians.

Jesus Christ has come and is coming again.

And this song is a prayer directly to Jesus to do that!

“Come, O You Long-Expected Jesus! Please, come! We’re ready for you.”

Is that the prayer of your heart this evening? 

Sometimes we get so excited about Christmas Day coming, we not only forget that Christmas Day is about Jesus but we forget that Jesus is coming again, and we need to make sure we are ready for that.

So, let’s contemplate this song once again.

[LIGHT CANDLE #1.]

On the first Sunday of Advent, the Englishes lit this first candle and said that it was a candle of freedom. And they read to us the first few lines of the carol:

“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.”

Do you hear the plaintive cry for freedom? Not just freedom from earthly captivity. Not just from being imprisoned in a detention center, a boot camp, a county jail, a state or federal prison. But being freed from...all fear and sin!

Can you imagine what that will be like?! To have no fears and no sins? A life unshackled by worry, concern, anxiety, dread, and fright. Are you scared tonight? This time of year can be scary for many people.

And not just free from fear but free from sin. From the sin of other people and from our own sins.

No more doing the wrong thing.

No more wanting the wrong thing!

No more someone doing the wrong thing to us.

No more wickedness, iniquity, evil in any form. Freedom!

I can hardly wait.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of One who would one day bring such freedom. He wrote, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:1-3).

That was written seven hundred years before Jesus was born!

And after Jesus was born and grew into manhood, one Sabbath day, he read that very prophecy from Isaiah 61 in a synagogue and then proclaimed, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (see Luke 4:16-21).

The Savior has come to bring us freedom.

But we are still waiting for the full freedom that will come when Jesus  returns. Then our sins and fears will be gone forever, and we will find our rest in Him. Come, Thou-Long Expected Jesus!

[LIGHT CANDLE #2.]

On the second Sunday of Advent, the Suhoneys lit this second candle and told us that it was a candle of joy. And they read the next few lines of the carol:

“Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear Desire of ev'ry nation, joy of ev'ry longing heart.”

Again, it’s a prayer. It’s saying, “Jesus, You are all this. Everything the Old Testament promised you would be! Please come.”

The title “Desire of ev’ry nation” comes from one of the most under-read books in the Old Testament, Haggai. Haggai prophesied of a time when there would be a great upheaval, a great shaking of all things. He wrote:

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty” (Haggai 2:6-7).

He’s talking about Jesus. Haggai was saying that all of the people of the earth may not realize it now, but they all really want Jesus to come. 

Not just true Israel (who will be consoled when He comes) but all nations! Jesus is the fulfillment of all of their longings. If they could only understand that He is what they have been chasing all of their lives. Only He can truly satisfy.

That’s why we send out missionaries (like those people whose picture is on the back wall)–to tell the nations that Jesus is our only hope and that when He returns He will not just shake the world, but He will fill the world with His glory and His people with un-ending joy. Come, Thou-Long Expected Jesus!

[LIGHT CANDLE #3.]

On the third Sunday of Advent, the Cowfers lit this candle and said that it was a candle of hope.

And they read from a brand new stanza that was just added to this old hymn this year by singer-songwriter Kristyn Getty. It’s new, but we’ve been signing it together this month.

“Come, O promised Star of Jacob, rise upon this harrowed earth; fill the silence of our waiting with the cry of holy birth.” 

This name for Jesus comes from a very unlikely source. Some of you will remember that we talked about it last year at Christmastime. A pagan prophet from the East named Balaam tried to place a curse on Israel, but all that came out of his mouth was blessing. It’s a hilarious story!

In Numbers chapter 24, Balaam shared a vision he received from the LORD. He said:

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).

That was more like 1500 years before Jesus was born. But Balaam caught a glimpse of Him. He saw down the corridors of time that Jesus was the light of the world (see John 8:12 and Revelation 22:16). And that’s where our hope comes from. When Jesus comes, He will dispel the darkness with all of its coldness, emptiness, depression, and despair.

That’s why the sky was lit up with the army of angels!  And one day it will be again, and the Light will shine forever.

I can’t wait! And, yet, we must wait. But while we wait we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!” Come, Thou-Long Expected Jesus!

[LIGHT CANDLE #4.]

On the last Sunday of Advent, the Kepharts lit our fourth candle and said that it was a candle of nearness. And they finished reading the newest stanza by Kristyn Getty: 

“Son of heaven, son of Mary, hear the song of angels tell, Thou hast come to save Thy people, God with us, Emmanuel.”

That’s what our choir was just singing to us a moment ago. Jesus is Immanuel which means “God with us.”

That was predicted by Isaiah, as well, in his chapter 7. Isaiah said that a virgin would give birth to son who would be given the name “Emmanuel.”

We just talked this last Sunday morning about that mind-blowing wow of an idea–that a virgin would conceive! That’s not how it normally works! And if that happened, then of course, you’d call her son, “Emmanuel!” And that’s exactly what did happen! The Son of the Most High came and was formed in the womb of Mary. “Son of heaven, son of Mary.” Same Person.

God is with us! So we are not alone. We are never abandoned. We are never forsaken! Our God is close. And yet...He will be closer. One day, when Emmanuel returns, we will be near God in the fullest way forever–as we will see His face (see Revelation 22:4!).

I can’t wait. Can you? And, yet, we must wait. But while we wait, we long. We cry, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!” Come, Thou-Long Expected Jesus!

[LIGHT CHRIST CANDLE.]

Tonight on the last night Advent, we light the last candle of Advent, the Christ Candle. And we contemplate the last stanza of Wesley’s song which emphasizes the kingship of Jesus. 

“Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King; born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.”

Do you hear all of the king-words in there? Yes, He was born a child. Helpless. Weak. Needy. A baby! Ever see a newborn? I got to hold one last week. So tiny and helpless. And yet at the same time, this child was born a king. He was born to rule, to reign, to be sovereign over a kingdom.

And not just any kingdom, but the kingdom of kingdoms!

We started 2025 by studying the Book of Daniel with its wild and wonderful mysterious visions (including fantastic beasts, Daniel is where to find them!).

And at the very center of the book of Daniel there is a vision of God where He is called, “The Ancient of Days.” He is pictured as seated on His throne, ruling over the universe, untroubled by all of the evil monstrous terrifying kingdoms of this world. You can read about it in Daniel chapter 7. 

The Ancient of Days is not threatened by the kingdoms of this world that so often threaten us. In fact, it says that He will one day destroy all of those kingdoms so that they threaten His people no longer.

It’s incredibly encouraging. But there’s more. Because the wise-man Daniel sees another Person enter into His vision.

Listen to what he says. Daniel 7:13, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man [human and yet more!], coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. [Who is welcome in His presence?!] 

He [this one like a Son of Man] was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Who could that be? What is His name?

Yes, it’s Jesus.  “Born a child and yet a king.”

Or as Revelation 11 says it, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

And you can just hear Handel’s Messiah reverberate with those words!

Jesus is the King of Kingdoms! He is Lord. Trei read to us that the angels sang, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). He is Lord!

And we pray with Wesley’s carol that Jesus would come and bring His kingdom forever. “Now thy gracious kingdom bring!”

“Come, Lord Jesus, come!”

The song ends with these words:

“By thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.”

Is that your prayer tonight?

Do you pray for Jesus’ kingdom to come? For His will to be done in your life and in the world to come?

Think about it. Do you really want a king? Do you really want to be ruled and reigned? Do you really want someone to tell you what to do?

So often we do not want a king. We would rather be our own kings, thank-you very much.

And sometimes there’s a good reason for that. We’ve seen how kings can be. And sometimes they are the worst.

But what if the king was like this king? What if His kingdom was gracious? 

What if His kingdom was a kingdom of freedom, joy, hope, and nearness to God Himself?

Well, then if we knew what was good for us, we’d want this kingdom. And yet, there is something wrong with us that still fights against this perfect kingdom and this perfect king. Something inside of us. It’s our sin. Our rebellion against our perfect king.

But our perfect king has done something about that, too. He has solved our sin problem by sending this King to be our Savior. The Son of Man came that first Christmas to seek and to save those who were lost in sin (see Luke 19:10). That’s one of the reasons why He took on human flesh, so that flesh could bleed for you and me.

The Son of Man was mocked, flogged, and crucified (see Matthew 20:17-19). And then He was raised!

And then Son of Man was raised to the throne of the Ancient of Days. That’s how you and I can join this kingdom. That’s why Wesley says, “...by thine all-sufficient merit.” He’s talking about the previous blood of Jesus Christ. All of His merit, all of His righteousness, covering us and taking away our sin. So that we can share in His kingdom! 

Wow! That’s mind-blowing, I’ll tell you. Because we sure don’t deserve it.

Near the end of Daniel chapter 7 it says, “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to... the saints, the people of the Most High [that’s us!]. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him” (Daniel 7:27).

We will possess the kingdom with Him?!!! Can you imagine?

“Raise us to thy glorious throne!”

Is that your prayer tonight?

Do you pray for Jesus to come?

Do you pray for Jesus to bring His gracious kingdom?

Are you ready for Jesus to return?

So many are not ready.

I invite you to turn from your sin and trust in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ Whose all-sufficient merit is all-sufficient to save you and me forever.

And I invite you to put yourself under His perfect rule. Submit yourself to Him as your King forever. He is what you have been longing for.

And get ready for His second Advent. Because the Bible says it will be very soon.

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“The Son of the Most High” [Matt's Messages]

“The Son of the Most High”

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

December 21, 2025 :: Luke 1:26-55

There is a theological word that we all need to know and understand to properly respond to this passage of holy Scripture.

You ready?

Here’s the word. It’s three letters: W-O-W. 

Wow!

Are you familiar with that word? Wow! Go ahead and practice it. We’re going to be using it a lot this morning. Wow! Wow! Wow!

Because this story is sort of familiar, we can lost sight of how WOW it really is.

This story is the announcement by an angel (wow!) to that humble young Jewish woman named Mary that the first Christmas was coming, that the Christ was coming, not just someday but now, and not just to her house, but to her very womb. Wow!

In this story, Mary is going to find out that she is going to be pregnant with a very special child. In fact, she’s going to be told that her son is going to be called “The Son of the Most High.” Wow!

Let’s see it for ourselves in the Bible. Luke chapter 1.

Luke has already told the story of another angelic visit to a man named Zechariah to announce the coming birth of his special son, John the Baptist. Zechariah was doing temple duty at the altar of incense when the angel appeared and told him that his very old wife Elizabeth was going to bear him a son. Zech didn't really believe the angel and was made unable to speak until John was born. But Elizabeth then did become pregnant as predicted and lived in seclusion for five months. And then our story for today begins. V.26

“In the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy], God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.” 

God is up to something special. And He announces it to this precious young woman. Probably 12 or 13 years old?  Her name is Mary. She’s pledged to be married. That’s more than an engagement and less than a marriage. She and Joseph are betrothed–exclusively promised to one another–but have not yet come together physically as husband and wife. She is a virgin. 

And she lives in a little backwoods dot on the map called Nazareth. It’s Nowheresville. 

And it’s to that young virgin in that tiny place that God sends an angel named Gabriel.

Now we’ve already met Gabriel in our studies this year. Where did we meet Gabriel earlier this year? Anybody remember? Only two angels are named in the Bible. Michael and Gabriel. And where did meet Gabriel?

Back in the book of Daniel! Chapter 8 and chapter 9 and perhaps chapter 10.

In Daniel chapter 8, Daniel had a vision that he was not in Babylon but in Susa where Esther and Mordecai were to live, and he had this vision of a ram and a goat. Remember that? And then God sent Gabriel to explain the vision to Daniel. And when Daniel (who saw so many amazing things in his life) saw the angel Gabriel, he was terrified and fell flat on his face! Wow! He hit the dirt. Gabriel had to pick him up. 

Imagine if one of the two angels named in the Bible showed up at your house, what would you think? What would you do? Verse 28.

“The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’”

Wow! This angelic being shows up and says, “Hi there!” And He says, “You are highly favored.” The Greek word there is “charitoo” which comes from the word for grace, which is a gift.

Gabriel is basically saying, “God has such a gift for you, Mary!”

In fact, the word translated “Greetings” is also derived from that same word for grace, and it’s often translated “rejoice” because you’ve been so graced, so gifted by God.

“Grace to you, O graced one!”

Here’s how gifted you are, “The Lord is with you.”

And Gabriel means that in a special way for Mary that has never been true for another person and never will be again. “The Lord is with you.” Wow!

Can you imagine what Mary must have felt?

I think she was wigged out. Look at verse 29.

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [What is going on here?!] But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God [God has a gift for you. Here’s what it is...]. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end’” (30-33).

Say it with me, now! Wow! Just wow. If you don’t think that is WOW then there’s something wrong with you.

An angel has shown up and told this young woman that she’s going to have a baby. And she’s supposed to name him, “Jesus,” which means “Yahweh saves,” “The LORD saves.” And He’s going to be great. In fact, He’s going to be a king! He’s going to inherit the throne of his ancestor King David.

In chapter 3, the gospelwriter Luke is going to lay out Jesus’ genealogical claim to the throne.

This is the throne that was promised a thousand years before this moment by God to King David in 2 Samuel 7. The throne of Jacob, also known as Israel.

He’s going to be king over Israel even though his mother is from Nazareth?

And not just any king, but a forever king! Gabriel says (v.33), “his kingdom will never end.”

And that’s not hyperbole. That’s not an exaggeration! Gabriel expects this son of Mary’s to rule forever and ever and ever and ever and ever. Wow!

This Son is going to be the fulfillment Daniel 7:14. Our memory verse from earlier this year. Joe just led us in reciting it once more.

Remember Daniel had this frightening vision of all of these terrible beasts attacking the people of God. But then He saw the Ancient of Days seated on His throne, untroubled by any beast. Sovereignly ruling over everything.

And then Daniel saw somebody else enter his vision. He said, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14).

Gabriel says, “That Son of Man is going to be in your womb, Mary.”

And “His kingdom will never end.”

In fact, He’s not just the Son of Man. He’s the (v.32) “Son of the Most High.” In other words, He’s the Son of God!

That name, “The Most High,” is one that Luke uses several times to refer to God. And it shows up several places in the Old Testament, as well, including one of those names for God...in the Book of Daniel, especially Daniel chapter 7.

It’s a great name for God because it places God where He belong, where He truly is. He is the Most High! He is above all other beings in the universe.

Think about Who God is! What do we mean when we say, “God?” We mean the ultimate Being who is above and beyond all things! “Holy, infinitely perfect...limitless knowledge and sovereign power” (see the EFCA SOF Article #1).

That is Most High! Worthy of all of our worship forever and ever.

And He has a Son? And His Son is going to come and be born from the body of this young woman, Mary. Mary sees a possible problem with this. A potential snag. Look at verse 34.

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ [I know how this works. This is not how this normally works. Gabriel says, “I know. No problem. It’s going to be a miracle.” Verse 35.] The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God’” (vv.34-37).

That’s mysterious. Gabriel doesn’t really explain how it’s going to happen except that God’s power is going to do it.

“The power of the Most High.”

A virgin will conceive! That’s just WOW. Right?!  Wow!

And God can do that, right?! He’s all powerful. He’s the Most High. He made the world. He made the rules for how babies are made. He can break those rules if He wants to.

Want proof? If He can open the womb of ancient Elizabeth who is 6 months pregnant even though she’s a member of the AARP, He can also put a baby inside of you Mary through His mysterious power from on high. 

A baby that is like any other because He’s fully human. He comes from Mary. He will be everything that it means to be a human. But at the same time He is holy. He is unlike every other human being because He is also (v.35) the Son of God. “The Son of the Most High.”

We call that the mystery of the incarnation. God in flesh. And theologians call it the hypostatic union. Two natures in One Person. Wow!

This year we’ve been celebrating the 1700 anniversary of the Nicene Creed. First written in 325 AD and improved in 381, it’s been 1700 years since the church produced it. We’ve been saying it together every Sunday this month because it so beautifully captures the biblical truth that Jesus is fully human and fully divine at the same time.

Let’s say it together now. I’ll ask whom we believe in, and we’ll all answer with all three of the Persons of the Trinity, but the Nicene Creed says the most about the Son of the Most High.

LEADER:

Christians, in Whom do we believe?

CHURCH:

WE BELIEVE in one God– 

the Father Who rules over all,

the Maker of heaven and earth, 

of all things seen and unseen.

AND WE BELIEVE in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only begotten Son of God,

eternally begotten from the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one essence with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

[And this next part is what our story is all about...]

For us humans and for our salvation

He came down from heaven and became incarnate 

by the Holy Spirit and through the Virgin Mary

and became human.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried,

and on the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory 

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

AND WE BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, 

the Lord and giver of Life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

AND WE BELIEVE in one holy, whole, and apostolic Church.

We recognize one baptism symbolizing the forgiveness of sins.

We look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the age to come.

Amen.        

We believe in the Son of the Most High!

“Wow” just doesn’t do it, does it?

Mary has just been told the most fabulous news that anyone has ever heard. And look at how she responds. Look at verse 38.

“‘I am the Lord's servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’”

What do you say to that? Except, “Wow.”

What a response of humble faith! What an example for all of us today!

Some Christians have made too much of Mary over the years. They have  treated Mary almost like a fourth member of the Trinity. That’s a mistake. She was just a human like you and me.

But we can make the opposite mistake of missing how great her faith was and what we can learn from Mary’s example. “May it be to me as you have said.”

“I’m not sure how this can be. But it sounds wonderful. All of that grace. All of that promise. All of that power. Count me in. I will be the mother of the Son of the Most High.”

And then she went go see her relative Elizabeth. Verse 39.

“Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored [graced], that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’” (vv.38b-45).

Wow! What a moment that must have been. These two women. And baby John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother’s womb. And Elizabeth can see just how blessed Mary. Not just because she’s carrying the special baby but because she believes. 

The blessing is tied to the believing.

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

The blessing is tied to the believing.

And Mary is showing us how. Mary is teaching a masterclass for all who want to be blessed by believing and receiving what God has said.

Do you believe all of this? Do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of Mary and the Son of the Most High? Do you believe that an angel named Gabriel came to Mary and told her that all of this was going to happen?

I do. I believe that this is one of the greatest miracles of all of time, and it’s all true.

I’ve staked my happiness on it.

I’ve staked my life on it. 

I’ve staked my eternal life on it.

I have my moments. I have my doubts. I have my questions.

But I believe. And I want to be like Mary, believing and receiving and trusting and hoping and being blessed.

How did Mary do it? How did she get to where she could receive this incredible announcement like this? 

I think that her song tells us a lot. Verses 46 through 55 are Mary’s song. It has often been called “The Magnificat” from the Latin for “Magnify,” because some translations say, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” 

I just call it, “Mary’s Song.”

And it’s a wonderful song full of rich theology. 

Mary was one of the greatest theologians of the ancient world. She had read her Bible again and again and meditated on it day and night. So that she knew God. She was steeped in Holy Scripture and Who God was and what God was all about. Mary knew the Most High! 

So that when the Most High sent His messenger to tell her something almost impossible to believe, she believed it anyway. And she wrote this song. 

I don’t think this like a musical theater sort of thing where she just broke out in song right there. Maybe? What I think is that she meditated on everything she had heard and learned and was told and then crafted this song to capture how she felt and what she believed for those who came after.

I think she probably sang it as a lullaby to the baby Jesus. Contrary to “Away in a Manger,” I think the baby Jesus cried a lot. It’s not sinful to cry. It’s just human, especially for baby humans. And I can see her singing this song to Jesus as she rocked him back to sleep. Verse 46.

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is his name. 

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers’” (vv.46-55).

Wow! What a beautiful expression of worship and theology that is!

This time of year there is often a debate online about the song “Mary Did You Know?” about whether it’s a good one or not. Do you know which song I mean? Some of you are rolling your eyes and some are like, “Yeah!” Some people like it. It’s pretty and poetical. And focused on the Person of Jesus. Other people don’t like it so much because they think the songwriter assumes Mary’s ignorance. Or it’s just not their kind of music.

I don’t have a problem with the song because I know it’s poetry. But I think it is obvious from Mary’s own song that she knew an awful lot about what Her Son was going to be. And she definitely knew the Most High.

Here are three things she knew about the Most High:

#1. THE MOST HIGH IS MIGHTY OVER ALL.

Look at verse 46.

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me–holy is his name.”

She sings from her heart. And Her heart is full of joy and gratitude. She glorifies, magnifies, the Lord. Not making Him bigger than He is but elevating Him in her heart and song to His right place above all! He is Most High! And He does great things. She calls Him, “The Mighty One.”

This God does miracles! "Nothing is impossible with this God!" He is omnipotent. He is all-powerful. He is all-mighty. 

WE BELIEVE in one God– 

the Father [Almighty] Who rules over all,

the Maker of heaven and earth, 

of all things seen and unseen.

Mary would say, “Yes, yes, yes,” to the first line of the Nicene Creed.

And He has blessed me. In fact, He has saved me. Notice that she calls him, “God my Savior.” She needed saving. Don’t believe anyone who tells you that Mary was sinless. There has only been one sinless human, and He was her son. But He was also her Savior. And He has done great things for Mary. Great things! He has gifted her with a child even though she is a virgin.

And what a child?! This God is WOW! And Mary knows it. And she knows that God has been gracious to her not because she is great but because He is great. Mary knows that she is not great. She is humble. But God is great and He loves to grace those people who know that they are not great but needy. That’s point number two. Mary knows...

#2. THE MOST HIGH IS MERCIFUL TO THE HUMBLE.

You hear it in verse 50.

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty” (vv.50-53).

God has reversed the order of the world. The world normally gives great things to great people. If you have wealth, power, or prestige then you get more wealth, more power, and more prestige. If you are great you get great things. Our celebrity culture is built on that principle. But this says that God has turned it all upside down. God gives great things to not-so-great people who recognize their bankruptcy and fear Him alone.

James puts it this way, “God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

You know what story Mary might have been thinking about? I know that her song is a lot like Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel chapter 2. But as I was reading Mary’s song this week, I kept thinking about the Tale of Queen Esther that we’ve been reading the last two months.

Put Esther’s story in there. Wicked old Haman with all of his pride and power, and wealth? And what did it get him? Reversal! 

The Most High has “brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” The Lord has turned everything right-side-up.

Mary’s Son would soon say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

The Most High is merciful to the humble.

Are you humble? Or is everything all about you? We must humble ourselves to receive the grace of God. Mary knew that! And she exulted in it.

You know, that’s how we are saved. We are not saved by being good or doing good or being strong! 

We need rescued from trying to be strong. We need rescued from our sins. We need the Most High to be strong and to rescue us from ourselves.

We need Mary’s Son to take our place on the Cross and to come back to life by the Power of the High to give us live forevermore.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried,

and on the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory 

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

Just as He promised. That’s the last thing that Mary knew about God. He always keeps His promises. 

#3. THE MOST HIGH IS MINDFUL OF HIS PROMISES.

Look at verse 54 of Mary’s song:

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers’” (vv.54-55).

God has made some big promises. He made them to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (also called Israel), the patriarchs, the fathers. And He has not forgotten any of these promises. And He has not failed at keeping any of them either.

We still have to wait for some of them. Like the promise of His Son’s return.

But Mary knew, and we know, that God is faithful always keeps His promises.

So we can trust in Him and sing. Like Mary did! We can glorify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior. We can say, “Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!”

And we can humbly say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

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Advent Candle #4: "God With Us, Emmanuel”

LEFC Family Advent Readings: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Matthew 1:20-23 :: December 21, 2025

Week #4: “God With Us, Emmanuel”

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

As we light each Advent candle, we are anticipating the arrival of our Lord by reflecting on the scriptural truth embedded in the classic carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]

Our first candle was a candle of freedom. When Jesus comes, He will release us from our fears and sins. We will find our rest in Him.

[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE AGAIN.]

The second candle was a candle of joy. Jesus is the true fulfillment of all of our longings. When He returns, He will fill the world with His glory and His people with unending joy.

[LIGHT THIRD CANDLE AGAIN.]

Our third candle was a candle of hope. Jesus is the light of the world. When He comes, our Lord will dispel the darkness with all of its coldness, emptiness, and despair. The bright promised Star of Jacob will shine His light of hope upon us.

[LIGHT FOURTH CANDLE.]

The fourth candle is a candle of nearness. The newest stanza of this carol reads:

“Son of heaven, son of Mary, 

hear the song of angels tell 

thou hast come to save thy people, 

God with us, Emmanuel.” 

The ancient prophet Isaiah predicted that a virgin would give birth to a son who would be given the name “Emmanuel” which, in Hebrew, means “God with us.” Then Matthew the Evangelist revealed that this prophecy was fulfilled by the Son of Mary when he wrote of what the angel told Mary’s husband Joseph in a dream.

[READ MATTHEW 1:20-23.]

When Jesus was born, God came near. The Son of Heaven made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). Because  God is with us, we are not alone. We are never abandoned nor forsaken (Hebrews 13:5). Our God is close. And when Emmanuel returns, we will be near God in the fullest way forever–as we will see His face! (Revelation 22:4) 

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus!

***

Photo by Jonas Von Werne

Lyrics of new stanza 2 by Krystin Getty.

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Advent Candle #3: “Come, O Promised Star of Jacob”

LEFC Family Advent Readings: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Numbers 24:17 & Revelation 22:16 :: December 14, 2025

Week #3: “Come, O Promised Star of Jacob”

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

As we light each Advent candle, we anticipate the arrival of our Lord by focusing on the biblical truth captured in the beloved carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]

Our first candle was a candle of freedom. When Jesus comes, He will release us from our fears and sins. We will find our rest in Him.

[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE AGAIN.]

Our second candle was a candle of joy. Jesus is the true fulfillment of all of our longings. When He returns, He will fill the world with His glory and His people with unending joy.

[LIGHT THIRD CANDLE.]

Our third candle is a candle of hope. A brand new stanza of our song begins:

“Come, O promised Star of Jacob,

rise upon this harrowed earth; 

fill the silence of our waiting

with the cry of holy birth.” 

This predicted name for Jesus came from a very unlikely source. A pagan prophet from the East named Balaam tried to place a curse on Israel, but all that came of his mouth was blessing! In Numbers chapter 24, Balaam shared a vision he received from the LORD:

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. 

A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17).

More than a thousand years before Christ was born, Balaam caught a glimpse of Jesus–the light of the world and our only hope. When Jesus comes, He will dispel the darkness with all of its coldness, emptiness, depression, and despair. 

“The Bright Morning Star” will shine His light of hope on us (see Revelation 22:16).

Come, Thou-Long Expected Jesus!

***

Photo by Jonas Von Werne

Lyrics of new stanza 2 by Krystin Getty.

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Advent Candle #2: “Joy Of Every Longing Heart”

LEFC Family Advent Readings: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Haggai 2:6-7 :: December 7, 2025

Week #2: “Joy Of Every Longing Heart”

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

This year, during the Advent Season, we are anticipating the arrival of our Lord by meditating on the biblical truth embedded in the vintage carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” 

Our first candle was a candle of freedom.

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]

When the Messiah comes, He will release us from our fears and sins. No more worry, dread, or fright. No more wickedness, iniquity, or evil. We will find our rest in Him. How joyful we will be to be free!

[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE.]

Our second candle is a candle of joy. The carol, a prayer to the long-awaited Messiah, goes on to describe Him to Himself like this:

“Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart”

The name “desire of every nation” comes from the Old Testament book of Haggai who prophesied:

[READ HAGGAI 2:6-7]

The LORD promised to bring upheaval–a great shaking of all things–which will surely happen. But He also promised that the “desire of all nations will come,” which is the Lord Jesus Christ! 

The peoples of the earth may not realize it now, but they all want Jesus to come. Not just Israel, but all nations. He is the true fulfillment of all of their longings. If they only could understand that He is what they have been chasing with their lives! Only Jesus can satisfy. 

Jesus is our only hope, and when He returns, He will fill the world with His glory and His people with unending joy.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus!

Photo by Jonas Von Werne

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Advent Candle #1: “From Our Fears and Sins Release Us”

LEFC Family Advent Readings: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”

Isaiah 61:1-3 :: November 30, 2025

Week #1: “From Our Fears and Sins Release Us”

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

During this year’s Advent Season, we will anticipate the arrival of our Lord by reflecting on the scriptural truth captured in the classic carol, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” It begins with this plaintive cry:

“Come, Thou long-expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee”

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE.]

Our first candle is candle of freedom.

This song by Charles Wesley, first published in 1774, expresses intense longing for the Messiah to come and bring true freedom–freedom not simply from earthly captivity but from all fear and sin.

Imagine a life unshackled by worry, concern, anxiety, dread, and fright!

Imagine a world unfettered by wickedness, iniquity, and evil in all its forms!

The Prophet Isaiah spoke of One who would one day bring such freedom. He wrote:

[READ ISAIAH 61:1-3.] 

Many centuries later, after the Lord Jesus had been born and grew into manhood, one Sabbath day, he read that prophecy of Isaiah in a synagogue and then dramatically proclaimed, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21).

The long-anticipated Messiah had come to release His people from our fears and sins, and one day soon, our sins and fears will be gone forever, and we will find our rest in Him.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus!

Photo by Jonas Von Werne

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“The Bright Morning Star” [Matt's Messages]

“The Bright Morning Star”

The Bright Star of Bethlehem

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

December 29, 2024 :: Revelation 22:16

Our first message in this series went almost back to the very beginning of the Bible, the Law of Moses, Numbers chapter 24.

Our second message was drawn from the highpoint middle of the Bible, the Gospel accounts. Matthew chapter 2.

This last message comes from the culmination, the very end of the Bible. The Revelation of Jesus Christ written down by the Apostle John, John the Revelator. Listen now to Revelation chapter 22, verse 16.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” 

Who is the “I” in verse 16?

In Numbers 24, the “I” of “I see Him, but not yet” was Balaam a pagan prophet who, under the surprising inspiration of the Holy Spirit, squinted down the corridors of time and saw a Star rising out of Jacob.

In Matthew chapter 2, it had “we.” “We have seen his star.” That “we” was the Magi, those mystery men who wisely followed a star of wonder and delight westward leading until it proceeded to take them to see and bow before the youngster Jesus.

Who is the “I” in Revelation 22:16? It’s Jesus Himself!

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.”

Now, these words were written down by John. Who I think was the very same guy that ran with Peter to the tomb on that first Resurrection Sunday which we just studied a few weeks ago (see also Revelation 1:9 and 22:8).

Many decades later, John has continued to believe in and follow Jesus, and it has gotten him into trouble. “In this world, you will have trouble...” (John 16:33) Well, that was true for John!

In fact, John has been imprisoned on the Island of Patmos in the Mediterranean. Kind of like an Alcatraz situation. He’s stuck there because John has been testifying to the truth of Jesus.

And while John was there in exile on this little rock (just 32 square miles) out in the sea off the coast of Turkey, Jesus gave John a revelation. Jesus sent an angel to John who showed John all kinds of amazing things! I’m sure you’ve read it. It’s called the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” Or the “Apocalypse” or “Unveiling of Jesus Christ.” (See Revelation 1:1-2.)

It’s a book of wonders and mystery and prophecy and worship. I read it every December as part of my annual Bible reading plan, and it often makes me shake my head in confusion and bow my head in humility and worship.

You know that phrase we learned last week, “I don’t know, and that’s okay.”?  I have to use that a lot when I read Revelation. “I don’t know, and that’s okay.” 

But there is a lot that is clear, as well. And one thing that’s clear in verse 16 is that it’s Jesus who is speaking.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.”

Jesus speaks several times in this last section of Revelation (22:6-21), and His main message is, “I am coming soon.” He says it in verse 7 and verse 12 and one last time in verse 20.

“I am coming soon.”

And we need to be ready! What a good reminder as we finish up another calendar year? We are all that much closer to the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus has sent His angel (notice that the angel belongs to Jesus!) with this revelation, this testimony, to share with all the churches. And what does He reveal in verse 16?

He reveals His identity. He tells us Who He is. And He uses the same Greek words that He used again and again in the Gospel of John, “ego eimi.”  “I am.” How many times in the last year and a half have we talked about His “I Am” statements?

We just did on Tuesday night, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

Well, Who He does claim to be in verse 16? “I am...”

“I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 

There it is! I guess we don’t have to wonder anymore if Numbers 24:17 was about Jesus! I think He pretty much says it right here.

At least, He’s the culmination of the fulfillment of Numbers 24:17. Again, I think the first fulfillment was King David. Remember the prophecy? Balaam said, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city” (Numbers 24:17-19).

We said that was King David to a T. He was the original star beating in the foreheads of Moab and conquering Edom. But verse 16 shows us that Jesus is from David and that David is from Jesus. Did you catch that in verse 16?

“I am the Root and the Offspring of David.” The “root” and the “shoot.”

He’s referring back to Isaiah chapter 11. A few years ago, we studied the prophecy of Isaiah 11 at Christmastime. It’s another one of those great Advent passages. Maybe take some time this afternoon and read it again?

The idea is that the Messiah was going to come from King David, so He would be David’s Son. But He was also going to be the root of David. The source of David. He comes from David, but David comes from Him. 

How is that possible? How can He be both before and after David? It’s only possible if the Son of David is also the Son of God! So that He is Great David’s Greatest Son (see 2 Samuel 7). Even greater than David Himself (see Psalm 110)!

So that whatever was fulfilled in King David as a messiah, an anointed king of Israel, would be fulfilled even more in Great David’s Greatest Son, THE Messiah. Filled to overflowing as far as the curse is found. David was the “under star.” But Jesus is the Root and the Offspring of David, and the “bright morning star.”

Wow! It takes some chutzpah to say that, doesn’t it? 

“I am the bright morning star!"

If I start talking like that about myself, call the people with the white jackets with the special sleeves for your arms.

“I am so bright! I am so luminous. I am so shiny. I am so splendid. I am worth looking at. I am worth admiring. I am worth your attention and your worship. I am the bright morning star.” 

You better be if you’re going to talk that way.

Do you believe that about Jesus?

I have four very brief points of application for this verse before we celebrate Janell’s baptism, and the first one is simply to decide.

#1. DECIDE.

Decide if you believe that Jesus is what John says the angel says that Jesus says He is. I know that’s a lot of “says.” But that’s what verse 16 says. Jesus sends an angel to tell John to tell the churches that Jesus is the bright morning star. Do you believe that?

Interestingly, the “you” in verse 16 is plural. It’s “you all.” “Y’all.” It’s “y’inz” in  Western PA lingo.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give [y’inz] this testimony for the churches.”

Do you believe this testimony? Janell Creek has come to believe it. And that’s what she’s telling the world today with her baptism. 

What about you? Do you believe that, or do you think it’s just noise? Do you think it’s just egotism or narcissism or arrogance that Jesus says that He is “The Star?” The Star of stars! Do you believe that this is His true identity? Do you believe that Jesus commands angels? Do you believe that He is Son and the Source of King David? Do you believe that He died for your sins and came back to life to give you life? Do you believe that He is the Bright Star?! You have to decide.

And, if you decide that He is, then you have to repent.

Verse 14 talks about that. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:14)

And verse 15 talks about those who refuse to repent. “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”(Rev. 22:15). The unrepentant.

I know which one I want to be. I want to be inside the eternal city.

The next verse, verse 17, invites you and me to come to Him and receive salvation. 

“Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life” (Rev. 22:17). It’s free. Completely free because Jesus paid it all when He said, “It is finished.” But you have to decide. You can’t hang around in indecision trying to the sit on the fence. There is no fence. You’re either in or out. Do you believe this testimony?

What does He mean by “morning” star?

I think that “bright” is pretty obvious. 

But why “morning?” Balaam didn’t say anything about “morning” in his prophecy. Is Revelation 22 actually alluding to Numbers 24? I think so. Like many things in apocalyptic writing, there are ambiguities and layers of meanings. But I think the two are definitely connected in deep ways.

What does He mean by “morning star?” I know He’s not claiming to be a Christian bookstore in State College, though that old bookstore was probably named for this verse!

I went into this week assuming that He meant the sun. Because that’s the star of the morning, right?

And Jesus is like the Sun. Remember the prophecy of Zechariah about his son John who would become The Baptist? And what Zech said about what John would do? It’s in Luke chapter 1. 

Zechariah prophesied, “ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:76-79).

Jesus is the rising sun (see also Revelation 21:22 and 22:5)!

We’re about to sing it again in just a minute:

“Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!”

- Charles Wesley

But I learned this week that the sun was not thought of as a “star” by most of the ancient people. Some Greek astronomers had suggested that idea, but it wasn’t widely known as it is now that the sun is a star. The sun was the sun.

The heavenly body that they used to call “the morning star” is one that we often still call “the morning star” and that’s the planet we often call “Venus.” Second planet from the Sun.

After the Sun and the Moon, it’s the brightest natural thing in the sky.

And sometimes, we call it the Evening Star because of its orbit, but every 584 days it switches to being called the Morning Star. And when it’s the Morning Star, it heralds the coming of the new day.

It’s going to happen again this March. When you see Venus in the sky, it means that morning is nigh. It’s the harbinger of the dawn. Sunrise is coming. A new day is coming. 

And in this case, it’s the “Day of the Lord.” Does that make sense?

Jesus is like that morning star in that He is bright and He ushers in a new day.

Which leads us to application point number two which is simply to:

#2. YEARN.

To long for the new day to come.

I’ve had the privilege of seeing a number of beautiful sunrises over the last month. My morning walk and the sunrise have coincided a great number of times in the last few weeks, and I’ve felt the sun on my face and seen it go up the trees of Lanse and show off their beauty and herald a new day coming.

Most of the time, we love it when the dawn comes. We can hardly wait. Especially if we expect it’s going to be a good new day. 

Like a child going to bed on Christmas Eve yearning for the morning to come. 

We have to wait. We have to wait for the Return of Jesus. We have to wait for the Second Advent, when Jesus comes again. But we know that He’s coming. We can see the first rays of light coming over the horizon. 

And there’s the bright Morning Star telling us that the new day is sure to come and soon!

That’s why the very next verse is the prayer of our hearts. V.17

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ [The bride is the Church!] And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’” (Rev. 22:17).

If you hear verse 16, your heart should leap, “Yes! Come! Come, Bright Morning Star! Come! We’re ready for you. Come!”

We want the Star to rise.

We want the Star to win.

We want the Star to reign.

We want the Star to shine!

Forever.

Isaiah prophesied of that new day. He said in chapter 60, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Is that the prayer of your heart?

“Let him who hears say, ‘Come!’”

It’s dark right now. We all feel it. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33). 

“I am the bright morning star.” “Behold! I am coming soon.”

A new day is coming. Do you long for that day? Are you living your life today in light of that day? Or have you gotten too comfortable with today and stopped thinking about living for that day? Because Jesus is the bright morning star, we need to be living for the new day coming.

Our eyes on the star! We need to get our eyes up and on that bright star.

And we need to tell others. We need to get other people’s eyes up on that Star.

And that’s point number three.

#3. TESTIFY.

Once we decide that we believe that Jesus is all of this, we need to start telling others. Like John did to the church in verse 16.

In verse 10, the angel from Jesus told John to not seal up the words of this prophecy because the time was near. He wasn’t supposed to keep quiet, but to shout it from the mountaintops of that little island in the Mediterranean. 

“Amen! Go Tell It on the Mountain.” 

And that’s what Janell is doing this morning by giving her testimony. She’s standing before this church and saying that she believes. That she has crossed over from death to life through faith in Jesus (John 5:24). And we all need to do the same out there. Who could you tell this week?

Because we not only believe that Jesus is the Bright Morning Star, but we have actually have Him in our hearts.

This is not the first time the Morning Star is mentioned in the Book of Revelation. It’s actually mentioned in chapter 2 in the letter to the church at Thyatira. Some day, Lord-willing, we’ll study all seven of the letters to the churches in chapters 2 and 3.

In each one, the Lord promises to give all kinds of blessings on those who “overcome.” Same root word as what Jesus says He did in John 16:33. But the emphasis here is that they overcame unbelief and persevered in faith. They believed and they continued to believe. And they continued to testify to that belief.

And listen to what the Lord promised to those all those who would overcome in Revelation 2:28.

“I will also give him the morning star.”

You and I–if we have true faith in Jesus–we get the Morning Star Himself as our gift. And we get to enjoy Him forever. 

That’s our last point for this morning. Point number four.

#4. BASK.

We get to bask in the light of this Star forever.

He will shine forever, and we always get to enjoy His light.

Earlier in this chapter (verse 5), John reports that the New Heavens and the New Earth, the darkness of evil will be totally gone. He says, “There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever”(Rev. 22:5-6).

We sang it this morning already:

“Behold our God shall live with us

and be our steadfast light

and we shall ere His people be. 

All Glory be to Christ!” 

- Dustin Kensrue

We will forever bask in His bright light.

Right now, we have to wait. But the dawn is coming and coming soon. I think that’s what the Apostle Peter was alluding to in his second letter when he told us to pay attention to the Old Testament (like the book of Numbers?) while we wait for the dawn.

Peter said, “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).

And then we will enjoy Him forever!

Jesus Himself says so.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

***

Messages in This Series:

01. "I See Him, But Not Yet" - Numbers 24:17
02. "We Saw His Star" - Matthew 2:1-12

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