Greater Glory

Psalm 132:1-10                 Haggai 2:1-9                   Luke 2:36-40

Greater Glory

Rebuilding any kind of ruin is always a difficult task regardless of whether it is the rebuilding of a war-ravaged country, rebuilding a damaged building, or rebuilding the lives of people who have been shattered by some or other traumatic event. There are always so many factors to consider as one proceeds. Such as, realistically assessing the extent of the damage, clearing the rubble, testing the remaining structures for soundness, deciding on what remains and what must be removed for the sake of safety, deciding whether to rebuild in the same old style or to build something radically different, and then drawing up new plans etc. All these factors apply to the process of rebuilding, whether that rebuilding be physical, emotional, or spiritual.

The word of the Lord recorded in our Old Testament lesson came approximately one month after the difficult task of restarting the rebuilding process of the ruined temple. Extensive renovations had already been made on the city of Jerusalem during dangerous and difficult times. The endurance level of even the most enthusiastic had no doubt been taxed to the limit, and the need for some encouragement was great. 

During the seventh month, the time when the prophet received this word from the Lord, progress had been delayed by the major feasts and sabbaths on which no work was allowed to be done. The first day of that month was the Feast of Trumpets, the tenth day the Day of Atonement, and on the fifteenth day the Feast of Tabernacles started during which the entire population moved out of their homes and into makeshift leafy shelters as a reminder of their Exodus wanderings. It was also a time when the people celebrated the harvest, giving thanks to God for his bountiful provision. As such, this was a time for reflection as well as rejoicing, but it was also a time of delay, and one can only imagine how the patience of those who wanted to move forward was being tested. 

On the final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, twenty-one days later, Haggai the prophet was instructed by God to speak encouraging words to the governor and the high priest as well as the small group of returnees. Those who remembered the previous temple of Solomon before its destruction by the Babylonian forces, more than likely often spoke of its former beauty and grandeur, perhaps even offering unwanted pessimistic comments of how impossible it would be to recapture that past glory. Those were the post-glory days…

All too often disappointments in the past cast a shadow of doubt over present and future hope…and, in this case, there were many reasons to be negative. It didn’t take much to make an unfavourable comparison between their past and their present. Solomon’s kingdom had been one of the wealthiest at the time, but all that had changed. These few returnees from exile in Babylon did not have those kinds of resources available, other than what had been given to them when they left their place of captivity. They couldn’t pay skilled contractors or import luxury goods or duplicate the costly furnishings and accessories. 

If anything was to be done, they had to do it themselves with the little they had at their disposal. The delays, the lack of skilled labour, the lack of adequate funds, tools, and resources, as well as the nagging negative comparisons had begun to erode their incentive to persevere. One can only imagine what kinds of conversations took place. 

As the younger generation skimped and saved simply to get by, the impoverished older generation looked on and said: “Do you call that a Temple? That’s not a Temple. This,” at which point they pulled out a BC equivalent of polaroid photographs of Solomon’s Temple, “This is a Temple.”

“Look,” fumed a frustrated and fatigued farmer acting as a stonemason, “I’ve been working my hand raw on making stones for this building. If you can do better, be my guest. I can’t help it if we have no funds, no proper tools, and a limited work force. I’m doing the best I can.”

The older generation sighed and shed a few tears as they remembered the good old days. “Ah, the gold of the Temple shone like the sun. Ah, the carvings and the curtains and the vestments and…” Well, I’m sure you’ve got the picture.

Enter Haggai the Prophet. Turning first to the older folk he said, “Who is left among you who saw this Temple in its former glory?” A few gnarled hands were raised. “And how do you see it now?” Quivering lips opened and shut without making a sound. “In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”

“Now, wait a cotton-picking minute, Haggai, that’s not very encouraging,” the sweating farmer acting as a stonemason starts to say, but before he can utter another syllable, Haggai booms out enthusiastically. “Yet now be strong…and work! I am with you,” says the Lord of Hosts. Now, if this were a movie, a rising swell of dramatic orchestral music would be growing stronger as Haggai begins to pace up and down. Or if Netflix was involved, he would be on horseback galloping back and forth before a mass of cheering people as the camera-drone whirls around him in ever-widening circles. Prophetic theatre even Joel Osteen couldn’t beat. 

“Be strong,” was a command repeated many times during Israel’s chequered history, but in this particular case, the words evoked images of the Exodus and the Conquest. “I am with you…according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not!” There is a striking resemblance between these words and those spoken by Jesus in Mark 6:50 as he walked towards the terrified disciples on the Sea of Galilee. “Take heart;” he said. “It is I. Do not be afraid.” Also, his final words spoken prior to his ascension: “Make disciples of all nations wherever you go – I am with you, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) You see, the personal presence of the Lord himself, bolsters courage and rekindles determination as we realise that the Almighty Creator, by whose will all things exist and continues to exist, is not only with us, but he is also well able to bring to completion whatever he has begun. 

The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians and the ensuing 60-70 years of exile was fertile soil for seeds of doubt and despair. But here through the words of the prophet Haggai, the Lord reaffirmed his faithfulness to the very same covenant he had made with them when he delivered them from bondage in Egypt. As he was with them then, he was with them now. His cause would not fail despite their faults, their failures, and their frailty. 

“Yet once more,” said the Lord, “in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory...” The image of the convulsing of the universe is a common one in the prophets usually indicating political upheaval and the collapse of principal powers or even empires…NOT to be taken literally, if you please, as others have done in the not-so-distant past. 

But while it is difficult to say what Haggai would have thought about as he spoke these words, if we compare Scripture with Scripture, the Lord was more than likely referring to the coming of the one who would shatter human kingdoms to set up an eternal kingdom that would fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:37-45; 7:13-20), through which all the nations of the earth would be blessed in keeping with the promise God had made to Abraham concerning his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). 

At that time, the treasures of the incoming Gentile nations would serve to beautify a non-geographical, spiritual, and heavenly Temple until it becomes a spectacular edifice filled with a splendour far greater than anything Haggai or his listeners would have been able to comprehend. God is never short on funds because he is the owner of all things. The silver and gold is his and he will dispense with what is his whenever and to whomever he sees fit. 

Which reminds me of the scene in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye is discussing wealth and poverty with Perchik, the man who would later become his son-in-law. “Money is the world’s curse,” Perchik says. To which Tevye responds, “May the Lord smite me with it! And may I never recover!”

Be that as it may, it is interesting to note that shortly after Haggai spoke these words, his prophecy was, in fact, partially fulfilled in a way few would have thought possible. According to Ezra 6:8-12, those who had initially opposed the rebuilding of the Temple and who had tried unsuccessfully to bring the work to a halt, were ordered by the Persian monarch to not only desist in their attempt to stall the labour, but to also cover the cost of the builders in full and without delay from the royal revenue. And whatever was needed was to be supplied…bulls, rams, sheep, wheat, salt, wine, or oil. And then, later Herod, the unpopular Edomite King of the Jews, built a Temple that quite literally surpassed the glory of the Temple of Solomon.

Yet I believe this prophecy was primarily fulfilled in the coming of one greater than the Temple (Matthew 12:6) who supplanted it (John 2:13-22). At that time the promise of peace was fulfilled outside the walls of the city of peace by the Prince of Peace himself, and that peace was taken into the whole world by the Israel of God, restored and rebuilt with the old (the Jews) and the new (the Gentiles) through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The prophecies of Ezekiel foretold that healing waters would flow from the threshold of the renewed Temple (Ezekiel 47:1). Jesus said that out of him would flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). It is little wonder then that John described the establishment of God’s reign over all the earth in terms of a River flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the midst of the Tree of Life whose leaves bring healing to the nations (Revelation 21:22; 22:1ff).

Ultimately, the prophecy of Haggai, although fulfilled temporally and temporarily at the time of the Restoration and later under Herod, the prophecy of Haggai was primarily and finally fulfilled in the Word made flesh who came to Tabernacle among us (John 1:14) and whose glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, was seen by all who beheld him then and all who behold him now, crowned with glory and honour and seated at the right hand of God. As the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16; 3:28-29; Romans 9:6-8) and as the New Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22-24), the Church is filled with the glory of the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb radiating from the New Temple (Revelation 21:22).

Haggai’s stirring prophetic words were intended to empower and galvanise a demoralised people into completing a project that seemed impossible. His call was for a renewed focus on the one who was with them just as he had been with their forefathers when they had faced the impossible. This was a call for renewed faith in the Lord, renewed holiness of life, renewed courage, and a renewed vision. They were not to despise the day of small beginnings, but to press on, ever anticipating God’s timely intervention. 

I don’t think I need to remind you of the sad state of the Church in North Holland. Like the remnant in Haggai’s day, we too may be tempted to despair when we look at what the Church had been just a few generations ago. We too may shed tears with the older folk who remember the glory of those days or sigh with the younger folk who struggle to rebuild against all odds. But the same God who was with them is with us and he speaks the same words now as he did then. “Yet now be strong…and work! I am with you,” says the Lord of Hosts. “Do not fear, for my Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.”

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025

The Man Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:4-9                      John 1:19-28

The Man Christ Jesus

Anyone who seriously attempts to study first-century history cannot avoid grappling with the question of Jesus and his followers. While they might believe the evidence is too sparse to draw significant conclusions, or they might worry about theological implications, or suspect there’s little new information to uncover, the question remains: why did this particular group – the followers of Jesus – why did they, among countless others of the time…why did they evolve so uniquely, crossing national boundaries, transcending cultural differences, and demolishing class distinctions…and why did they grow so quickly?

Why did early Christianity spread so rapidly and so widely, embracing people from radically different backgrounds and customs and belief systems and practices? When we seek to answer these types of questions genuinely and honestly, we find that their ethos as well as their explosive expansion had very little to do with structure, schemes, or strategy. Rather, it had something to do with the uniqueness of one single Person, the Man Christ Jesus. 

The Early Christians believed that what had been revealed to them was true and consequently true for everyone. Pagan authors at the time wrote about Christianity spreading swiftly like a poison despite harsh resistance and persecution. So, one might well ask, why would men, women, and children risk everything to engage in mission? What was the reason that Christianity spread so rapidly throughout the known world from a tiny country in the Middle East? I believe the answer is quite simple. To the early believers, what they communicated was far more than a simple new existential self-improvement religion. No, to them the act of telling others about their faith was not about anything other than this Divine Person whose incarnation we celebrate during the Christmas season. They did what they did because of what they believed about Jesus.

Jesus was fundamentally different from the leaders of the other groups and his teachings had fundamentally different aims and therefore fundamentally different results. He was a controversial figure right from the start, deliberately avoiding celebrity status, revelling in humble self-sacrificial service, deflecting any glory, and obediently following the will of his Father, even to the point of death on the cross. The many messiahs before him were all political or military revolutionaries and zealots who sought to reestablish the ethnic and geographic kingdom of Israel through violent insurrection. 

So, you can imagine how the messianic expectation, reignited by the preaching of John the Baptist, and the messianic reality, as Jesus’ ministry unfolded must have puzzled many. Speculations and anticipations multiplied as John announced that the Kingdom of God was at hand. It is no wonder the authorities in Jerusalem sent delegates to enquire as to his identity. Was he just another rabble-rouser, or a crackpot, or could he possibly be the one they had all been waiting for? The latter would have been a terrifying prospect for those who owed their prosperity to collaboration with the hated Roman oppressors. 

To us, John’s replies appear to be maddeningly mysterious, but the typical rabbinical teaching method at the time was to answer questions with answers that would provoke more questions and so on until the questioner arrived at the desired conclusion. Because John did not wish to muddy the waters for the as yet undisclosed messiah, he categorically denied that he was the Christ. It is imperative for any messenger or ambassador to clarify his position. We too must remember that as ambassadors of Jesus, we are to represent him not our own opinions…we must be weary of exclusively basing our message on any interpretation of his Word. While it is not wrong to quote scholars, reformers, theologians, great preachers, sermons, confessions, or declarations, we must remember that the Word of God alone is divinely inspired and therefore we must always hold human interpretation or tradition lightly and keep them accountable to the Scriptures. 

Of course, John’s denial that he was the messiah raised more questions and so the delegation turned to the next possible candidate – Elijah. You may remember, the prophet Malachi had stated that God would send the prophet Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord…but John once again denied the identification. “I am not Elijah,” he said. 

But John’s denial here has often confused readers of the Gospels simply because Jesus later affirmed that he was, in fact, Elijah (Matthew 17:10-12). The interesting thing about Jesus’ statement is that it was spoken shortly after the transfiguration where both Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus and conversed with Jesus, clearly indicating that Jesus knew full well that Elijah and John were two different people. So, it seems that what John was denying was that he was Elijah himself…in other words, he was saying that he was not a reincarnated or resurrected Elijah. And in that sense, what Jesus was affirming then, was that John had come in the ‘spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). 

You see, as a prophet, John served as a herald announcing that what the Law and the Prophets pointed forward to was about to be fulfilled. In many ways, he was the bridge between the Testaments, between shadow and reality, promise and fulfilment. And as such he was Elijah, but in a prophetic sense, not in a literal sense, the latter possibly being what the delegation had in mind when they asked the question.

Their next question referenced an enigmatic figure mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. “The Lord said to me, “Moses told the people, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall be that whoever does not hear his words, which he speaks in my name, I will require it of him.”

Now, if you know the Gospels well, you would have recognised words and statements Jesus used from this passage in reference to himself. You see, as a human, he was a Jew raised up from among his brethren. However, as God incarnate, he spoke only that which the Father told him to speak (John 8:47; 12:49-50). Nevertheless, that this Prophet was considered to be the messiah by the Early Church seems clear from passages such as Acts 2:22-26 and 7:37…but because 1 Maccabees 14:41 (an historical, post-independence, Hasmonean apocryphal book from the Hellenistic Period) indicated that the messiah and this prophet were two separate offices, the delegation from Jerusalem might have been confused. Either way, John claimed that he was neither.

Exasperated, the delegation then asked him to give them something to take back to those who had sent them. In reply, John quoted Scripture: “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: make straight the way of the Lord.” This prophesy from Isaiah 40 ought to have brought the delegation to their knees because the chapter is filled with direct references to the coming of God himself, but, sadly, it seems as if they were either unwilling or unable to make this connection. 

Their primary objection, remember, had to do with authority. If John was not one of the three exalted persons mentioned before, well then by whose authority was he calling Jews to repentance, and by whose authority was he baptising them? Remember, baptism was an Old Testament cleansing ritual usually performed by a priest to prepare them to meet with God – something first done at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-11). Clearly, as a priest, he had not been sanctioned by the priesthood. 

(See also, Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 11:24-28; 14:8-9; 15:5-13; 16:4, 24; Numbers 19:11-22; Deuteronomy 23:10-11; Psalm 51:2,7; Isaiah 1:16-18; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Zechariah 13:1; Matthew 3:11; Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22. Interestingly the Hebrew word “mikvah”, a cleansing baptismal ritual in Jewish tradition, is used first in Genesis 1:10, where it refers to the dry land emerging from the primeval waters.)

Now, this question of authority later became an issue for the Jewish leaders in their rejection of the ministry of Jesus as well. The crowds marvelled that Jesus spoke as one with authority rather than one under authority. Such a person either spoke as an individual which would render his witness suspect, or he was directly sanctioned to speak by God himself, a conclusion the Jewish leaders could not bring themselves to accept. 

But neither John nor his greater cousin, Jesus, needed human endorsement or approval. In both cases, their authority and the exercise of their respective ministries were backed up by the Scriptures, and, as such, both were authorised by God. John was the forerunner, the messenger, the herald. Jesus was the fulfilment of prophecy, the long-awaited Messiah. And so, neither John nor Jesus needed to defend their claims nor were they answerable to anyone with regard to their authority. 

From the beginning, John claimed to be only what he was…a voice, no more, but no less. A voice heralding the coming of the King and his Kingdom…the arrival of God himself as foretold by the Law and the Prophets. Right from the start his focus was on Jesus and therefore his message remained centred and singular despite challenges and adversity. 

The same was true for the early Christians. They were voices…messengers…witnesses to Jesus. No more, but certainly no less. Likewise, with us today. This same undiluted message, when delivered without addition or embellishment, still brings peace to the hearts of those who focus on the Person of Jesus. If we, like John and like the Early Church remain fixed on him in our proclamation, then what happened in the first century can and will happen again.

The person of Jesus is as controversial today as it was before, during, and after John the Baptist’s ministry. The exclusive claim of Jesus is an affront to our modern pluralistic society just as it was in the pluralistic society of the ancient world. But we have a message which must not be changed to seek the world’s endorsement or approval. 

Jesus remains the one and only universal King. Denial, dismissal, or denunciation does not change the truth. Unlike the other religious groups and movements throughout the centuries, the message of Jesus continues to break down barriers, promote peace, unify the divided, and expand his kingdom through the faithful witness of the Church. Why does Christianity continue to spread so widely despite attempts to ridicule or eradicate it? I believe that the answer has very little to do with structure, schemes, or strategy. Rather, it has something to do with the uniqueness of one single Person, the Man Christ Jesus. 

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024

A Special Christmas Tale

The Nativity Story: A Special Christmas Tale

I think you all know the story about the very first Christmas. Some people call it the Nativity (from the late Latin word meaning ‘birth’), because it’s all about the birth of someone very, very special: Jesus.

Now, we’ve already heard how Jesus’ birth was foretold by the prophets in the Old Testament era, but I’d like us to jump on in the middle and start our journey in a small town called Nazareth. 

There lived a young woman named Mary who was engaged to a man by the name of Joseph. One day, an angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary. Can you imagine how surprised she must have been? The angel
told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God has chosen you to have a very special baby, and you will call him Jesus. He will be the Son of God.”

Mary trusted God and said, “I am God’s servant. Let it be as you have said.” What amazing faith Mary had!

Some time later, Mary and her husband, Joseph, had to take a long journey from Nazareth to a town called Bethlehem. They had to go because the ruler of the land wanted to count all the people in his kingdom and Joseph was a direct descent of King David and that family was originally from Bethlehem. Mary was expecting her baby very soon, but they had no choice but to travel. Can you imagine walking so far (or perhaps riding on a donkey) when you’re about to have a baby? Either way, it must have been very hard for Mary!

When they finally got to Bethlehem, the family home was already so crowded with other family members that there was no room for them to stay in the upper room usually reserved for guests. So they had to stay on the ground floor with the owners and their animals. Those days people kept their animals inside their homes in a separate section. It wasn’t fancy, but it was a warm and safe place for Mary to have her baby.

That night, something wonderful happened. Mary gave birth to baby Jesus! She wrapped him in strips of cloth to keep him warm (perhaps the same strips of cloth the shepherds used to protect newborn lambs from injury so that they would be without blemish for the sacrifices) and laid him in a manger, which is a feeding trough for animals, usually made of stone in those days.

That humble home in Bethlehem became the place where the Saviour of the world was born.

Not far from Bethlehem, some shepherds were in the fields taking care of their sheep. Suddenly, an angel appeared in the sky. The shepherds were scared at first, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. Today, in Bethlehem, a Saviour has been born. He is Christ the Lord!”

Then, the sky was filled with more angels, all praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.”

The shepherds were so excited! They hurried to Bethlehem to see this special baby. When they found Jesus lying in the manger, just as the angel had said, they were filled with joy. But can you imagine what they must have thought when they saw the baby wrapped in the strips of cloth they usually used to protect the sacrificial lambs from injury? They later told everyone they met about what they had seen and heard.

A while later, far away in the East, some wise men saw a bright star in the sky. They knew it was a sign that a new king had been born, no doubt because they had been told about the prophecy in the book of Numbers by Daniel who had been appointed as head of the wise men in Babylon so many years before. They followed the star all the way to Bethlehem, bringing gifts for baby Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were treasures fit for a king.

When the wise men saw Jesus, they bowed down and worshipped Him. They knew He wasn’t just any baby – He was the Saviour God had promised to send – and so they returned to their home rejoicing.

But the story of the Nativity is not just a story about a baby being born; it’s about God’s love for all of us. Jesus came to bring peace, hope, and joy to the world. That’s why we celebrate Christmas – because it reminds us of the greatest gift ever given: God’s Son.

So, when you see a Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the wise men, remember the story we shared today. And remember that Christmas is all about love, kindness, and giving, just like God gave us His Son.

Merry Christmas and may God bless us, everyone!

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024

Introduction to the Christmas Pageant

This is only an introduction to the Christmas pageant, not the pageant itself...but it also gives a very brief explanation of why Christ Church, Heiloo is so family oriented...

Welcome, everyone, to this special celebration of Christmas! 

Before I introduce this very special Christmas Pageant, I’d like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this nativity play possible…and this includes people from the past who made costumes and taught in the Sunday School…some are still here and some are not. You know who you are and we all thank you this evening. To those who worked behind the scenes to create backdrops, props, more costumes, advertisement flyers, the beveridges and snacks, and all the other wonderful things, thank you. To our Sound and Visuals Team, thank you! To those who have worked diligently with our children, teaching them to love Jesus and to serve him and helping to make Bible learning fun, thank you. 

To our parents…thank you for teaching your children the truth. I believe in the priesthood of all believers and especially when it comes to the home where parents play the primary role in bringing up their children in the fear of the Lord. You are super heroes in my book…it is not easy to raise children in a world that is constantly seeking to undermine you, but God has blessed you all…and we thank you all.

But then, my thanks go to our very special children, from the youngest to the oldest. You provide us all with such joy. Thank you for being such a source of blessing to everyone. And thank you for working so hard to make this pageant such a special time…thank you for teaching us what faith is all about…Jesus said that we ought to be more like children because you believe with such purity and humility. So, before we go any further, would you please give the stars of this evening’s pageant a great big round of applause.

So, this evening, we are not only rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, our Saviour, but we are also rejoicing in his blessing us with so many precious children.  From the very beginning, God’s love and promises have included our children, making them a vital part of His story of redemption.

In the Old Testament, we see children woven into the fabric of covenant life. At least from Abraham onward, children of believers were considered holy, set apart by God for God, and were included in all aspects of the the covenant. Not only were the signs of covenant inclusion applied to them and not only did they participate in all the festivals and rituals and sacrifices, but they also played leading roles at times, most notably in the Passover celebration, as families retold the story of God’s deliverance from Egypt in question and answer form, ensuring that His mighty deeds were remembered by every generation. (cf. Exodus 12:26ff)

So, as we watch this pageant unfold, told to us this evening mostly by our children, let’s remember that God’s covenant is centred in and around families. Just as children were included in all aspects of the Old Covenant, so too are they an integral part of the New. God’s love and promises remain unchangeable, and children, like all of us, are invited to be part of His great story of salvation.

Narrator, over to you…

Advent Assurance

Psalm 19:1-14                         Romans 15:4-13                         Luke 21:25-33

Advent Assurance

King Lear is probably one of the darkest of Shakespeare’s tragedies and the king’s youngest daughter, Cordelia, the most tragic of heroines. Yet, the play holds a rich store of lessons for us concerning the nature of truth as opposed to falsehood.

In Act One, the aging King Lear decides to divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters, an idea that no doubt would have shocked the original Elizabethan audience. Lear’s plan was to ensure his own future by granting the largest portion of his realm to the daughter who professed the greatest love for him. His reasoning was that the one who loved him most would take care of him best as he aged. 

Goneril, Duchess of Albany, and Regan, Duchess of Cornwall, both speak enthusiastically, falsely flattering their father and so earning his praise. In stark contrast, when pressed to speak, Cordelia, the youngest daughter, honestly and truthfully declares that while she does love and honour her father, to make him the sole recipient of her love would be false as once she was married, she would promise to love and honour her husband as well. Misunderstanding his daughter, Lear disowns and banishes her from the kingdom. He also banishes the Earl of Kent, who had taken Cordelia's side against the King.

As the disgraced Cordelia prepares to leave, she says to her false sisters: “Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides; who covers faults, at last with shame derides. Well may you prosper!” Cordelia understood what her sisters did not, namely that in time all falsehood will be exposed for what it is. Truth, on the other hand, will always stand up to the test of time and will triumph in the end. 

In Shakespeare’s tragedy, the triumph of the truth comes at a cost. When his false daughters drive him away from their homes, Lear goes mad and wanders around in the wilderness. Goneril poisons her rival sister Ragan and then, overcome by guilt for what she has done, takes her own life. Cordelia returns with an army to save her father but is captured and hanged. Her death devastates an already frail Lear who dies of grief soon afterwards. By the end of the play the consequences of greed, ambition, and betrayal are clear, and the audience is left with no doubt as to who was right and who was wrong.

Similarly, the Scriptures and those who believe in them have often been dragged before the courts of humanity, villainously accused of various falsehoods, and yet they have emerged unscathed time after time. Many Old Testament Prophets were killed for speaking the truth. The same is true during the New Testament era…many have been martyred for their faith. Their fault in the eyes of the world is that their message conflicts with worldly wisdom, but despite the many attempts to discredit them, their words remain true. 

In our Gospel lesson for this 2nd Sunday in Advent, Jesus, having predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, added the words: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” This statement served as a solemn and grave foundation for all that he had said before. 

If you remember, one of the false accusations brought against Jesus at his trial was about this prophecy concerning the destruction of the Temple, but his execution did not prevent the inevitable. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed 40 years later, just as he predicted. Reading the eyewitness accounts of the siege in the writings of First Century historian Flavius Josephus is like reading Jesus’ words in the Gospels. Nevertheless, my point is that the words of Jesus proved true and reliable. Banishing, murdering, silencing, mocking, or misrepresenting the witnesses to the truth, whether these witnesses be the Lord himself, his followers, or the written Word of God, will never succeed in burying, changing, or obliterating that which cannot be denied.

Now, this should serve as a great encouragement for those who trust in the reliability of Scripture. The Old Testament predictions concerning the coming of Jesus were confirmed by his incarnation. Jesus’ predictions concerning the judgement on apostate Israel and the birth of the Church were confirmed by the destruction of the remaining vestiges of the old covenant. It follows then that our Lord’s promise concerning his return to consummate his kingdom will also be confirmed in due time.

Heaven and earth may pass away but his Word in its entirety remains for ever.

In Romans 15, Paul developed this theme of the trustworthiness of Scripture by outlining its purpose. Firstly, the Scriptures were written for our learning. As Psalm 19:7 says, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” However, note that it is not only the Scriptures that teach us about the Lord. The Psalmist informs us that the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. But also, the lives of God’s people in the Scriptures as well as in the rest of history…their faults, their failures, their triumphs, and their tragedies…all serve as examples from which we can learn.

Indeed, the life of Jesus also provides us with a model by which we can measure ourselves. And so, Paul could encourage others to imitate him as he imitated Jesus. John tells us that “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). In other words, if we say we are followers of Jesus we must show that by how we behave – what we say and what we do. 

Be that as it may, all 66 canonical books of the Bible provide us many examples of how to live godly lives. As Article 6 of the 39 Articles states: “Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture, we do understand those Canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.”

However, it is important to note that the world often has no other Bible than the Church. It is what they read from the pages of our lives that inform their opinion of the one whom we profess to follow. That is why it is so important that we…the only pages the world may ever read…it is important that we read, study, memorise, and apply the Scriptures to our lives. We are to learn and to change accordingly. The words of Scripture are to shape our lives and to mould our characters and to govern our speech and our behaviour until we reflect most clearly the one who is the Word. The lives of the Old and New Testament characters provide us with sufficient evidence of the futility of resistance and the wisdom in surrender. It is in our own best interest to learn our lessons quickly.

The second purpose Paul gives us is that the Scriptures provide us with hope, both in the present as well as in the future. The Israelites of old always looked back to the event of the Exodus for comfort in times of trouble. They reasoned that if God delivered them from bondage in the past, he would most certainly deliver them from whatever their present predicament might have been. 

God has proved himself true time after time. His character and his behaviour have been consistent…he has and never will change…if God changes, well then he cannot be reliable or trustworthy…but Scripture presents him as a God who is always constant…and therefore his promises can never fail. In this light, what then, in all of creation, could ever provide us with sufficient evidence for doubt? Nothing…absolutely nothing. Indeed, let God be true though everyone were a liar (Romans 3:4).

However, Paul tells us that hope comes through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures. Even when our experiences in life appear to challenge what the Bible reveals to be true, we must endeavour to choose to believe that in which we have placed our trust. Modern godless society is no different from that of the 1st Century. How many times didn’t Jesus warn his disciples not to follow false teachings? Paul warned Timothy, among others, not to be led astray by worldly philosophies. And yet, many believers down through the ages have buckled under the pressure of conforming to what appears to be wise.

I think that one of the greatest trials we face as believers today is a lack of trust in the authority of God’s Word.  If the world can undermine this one foundational principle, then all else is a downhill slide. The collapse of many mainline denominations today in the face of modern theology, social trends, woke philosophy, and the like can be traced to this one sad fact. A failure to believe God’s Word. 

Indeed, was that not how sin entered our once perfect world? “Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?” In fact, I believe that every temptation can be prefaced with the question: “Has God really said…?” A single doubt brings in many friends. 

And the accuracy or reliability of the doubt does not matter…very few will do the hard work of discovering the truth for themselves. Much easier to believe the lie as long as it sounds intelligent and researched. But the problem is that once you open the door to falsehood your faith collapses. Doubt the virgin birth and you end up with a sinful, human Jesus and no salvation…a nice moral story to be appended to a copy of Aesop’s Fables.

Make no mistake, our faith will be challenged, from outside the Church as well as from within. And yes, we do not yet see all things as they will be when all is fulfilled…but the Scriptures have been tried and tested for millennia and not once have they been found wanting. The Word of God has always held true despite the many onslaughts from many different angles.

But be of good cheer. Those who contend against the Scriptures are like chaff in the wind. “Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides; who covers faults, at last with shame derides.” Or from another of Shakespeare's plays, the Merchant of Venice: "Truth will come to light…in the end truth will out." 

Hope is established through patient trust and by taking comfort that he who spoke all things into existence and who upholds all things by the word of his power is also well able to bring all things to completion according to his eternal decree. And as a guarantee to this trust, God has given us his Spirit who guides us in truth and whose power enables us to stand when our faith is tested. The same one who once inspired the Scriptures now illuminates them and applies them to our hearts and minds and so gives us hope…hope in a Word that has never failed and that will never fail.

The third purpose Paul gives us is that the Scriptures were given so that we might be united in truth. If you remember this is what Jesus made crystal clear in his prayer as recorded in John 17. If we are to be one in the same way the Trinity is one, then our unity must be based on the truth as contained in God’s Word because it is God’s Word that sanctifies us and makes us like him. (John 17:17) 

The Collect for this 2nd Sunday in Advent was written by Archbishop Cranmer at a time when the reading of Scripture was greatly encouraged by the Church. Taking his cue from the Romans 15 passage he wrote: “Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.” 

The main thrust of Cranmer’s prayer is a call to conformity to the teachings of the Scriptures. It seeks the Lord’s grace to not only grant us the ability to hear, read, mark, and learn from the Bible, but also to inwardly digest it…to make it part of the warp and woof of our very existence. Again, unity in the Christian Church can only be founded upon our diligent submission to the teachings of God’s holy Word, all of which has been inspired by the same God who spoke all of creation into existence. Add anything or subtract anything and the result is error and misconduct. Truth cannot and must not be diluted if it is to be truth.

Tradition as well as the writings and deliberations of godly people and church councils are all subject to the Word of God and, in as far as they reflect the teaching of Scripture, they are to be accepted and used as the need dictates. We are not anti-reason, anti-intellectual, nor are we anti-tradition, anti-ritual, or anti-symbols…no, rather we are pro-Scripture and pro-everything that is in accord with it. We may retain all that which promotes or enhances our understanding of Scripture just as we also discard all that detracts from it or obscures the plain meaning of Scripture. 

If the Christian Church pursues this worthy goal, we will be united with each other. The like-mindedness Paul called for in the Romans passage and in other passages such as Philippians 2 refers to the humble and single mind of Jesus. Unity is founded and maintained on the revelation of that mind, and we can only be like-minded in as far as we strive to pattern our lives in accordance with his Word. Biblical like-mindedness transcends all our differences, whether they be of race, or language, culture, or practice. 

Paul encouraged both Jew and Gentile towards a mutual reception of each other especially in matters of cultural ceremonies and dietary practices, but this could only be maintained as long as both parties were committed to living according to the essentials of the Gospel. Steadfast commitment to the truth unites and builds up, while individualism leads to falsehood, schism, and ultimately to destruction.

The kingdom of King Lear was divided by pride, vanity, falsehood, ungodly gain, and selfish individualism and the result was devastatingly tragic. Self-centredness is never satisfied with one prize only…it has an insatiable lusting for more. By the end of the play, the two false sisters had not only turned against their father, whom they had professed to love so much, but they had also turned against their husbands, and eventually each other. Sadly, their treachery led to the deaths of many including Cordelia, the one who had been faithful and truthful all along. And yet, truth did triumph as all falsehood was uncovered and exposed. Lear himself died with the knowledge that he had erred and judged unwisely.

God’s Word is truth. Although many have challenged it, rejected it, attempted to disprove it, change it, or even destroy it, they have all failed and will continue to fail. The defence of Truth has also had its fair share of casualties…from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Jesus, the Apostles, and believers down through to the present. But time has proved that our assurance is not founded on sinking sand, but upon a Word that cannot be shaken or doubted. To doubt God’s Word is to foolishly challenge centuries of evidence that demands a positive verdict. Our lives are built on that which, through patience, comfort, and the power of the Holy Spirit, provides us with hope.

Shall we pray?

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Johann and Louise: Training Disciples to Make Disciples in the Netherlands What are you grateful for? As we are reminded of the importance of thanksgiving this season, our hearts are filled with gratitude for all that God has done and continues to do here in Heiloo.  But we are also grateful for you because you play a very important role in this work. Your prayers, your encouragement, and your generosity…these are all vital to our ministry here in Heiloo, where Christians are a small but faithful minority.  One Dutch person recently told me that the Dutch had outgrown God.  So we are also grateful that this year, God has opened numerous doors for outreach. Through community events, Bible studies, and many meaningful conversations, we’ve witnessed hearts beginning to soften to the Gospel. One lady Louise has been speaking to for a while has recently started attending our services. A gentleman we chat with on our daily doggie walks is asking questions about my sermons and our events.  It is a joy and privilege to see His Church being built, even in a place where our faith can often feel overshadowed by the overwhelming darkness in North Holland Province. Having worked in other countries where needs are obvious and so physically evident, it is hard to imagine that there are needs in a country that is considered one of the wealthiest in the world.  But the needs here are hidden just below the surface. It is estimated that over half of the Dutch population struggle with anxiety and that general mental health and stability among young people has worsened alarmingly over the past few years.  One of our young men recently gave his testimony at our All Age Sunday service. He spoke openly about his struggle with loneliness and depression before encountering Jesus. Praise God that this young man is now a witness for the kingdom! But there are so many more we can reach! Yes, the going is slow, but the results are worth the time and energy. Precious souls are coming to know Jesus!  We’re eager to continue these efforts in the coming year with events designed to share the hope and love of Christ. However, these opportunities also come with financial challenges.  If you feel led, we would deeply appreciate your support to help cover the costs of upcoming outreach initiatives. Our special projects fund is very low in funds. We really do wish to keep these events free of charge so that there will be no hinderance for participation. If you would like to contribute to these outreach events, please do send your tax-deductible gifts to SAMS-USA earmarked for Vanderbijl Special Projects.  See here: https://give.samsusa.org/project/missionary-special-project-vanderbijl Please do check out our new website for all the events we have planned for next year: https://christchurchheiloo.nl/agenda Thank you for partnering with us in this mission. Your involvement reminds us of God’s faithfulness and provision, and we are so thankful to walk this journey with you. Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving, Johann & Louise van der Bijl Support Us Johann and Louise spent two years helping to develop the St. Frumentius Seminary in Gambella, Ethiopia. They then worked in Southern Africa, serving in seven southern African countries, while continuing to work with the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa through engaging in a disciple making movement in order to grow the body of Christ. They are now serving in Heiloo, the Netherlands. We are sent  through the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, a missionary sending community, engaging in building relationships with the worldwide church to experience the broken restored, the wounded healed, the hungry fed, and the lost found through the love and power of Jesus Christ.  Support SAMS Copyright © 2016 Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, All rights reserved. www.sams-usa.org      Our mailing address is: PO Box 399 Ambridge PA 15003 Attention to: Johann and Louise van der Bijl Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

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All Age Service: Preparing for Advent

Isaiah 9: 6-7          Matthew 1:20-24; 2:13-15; 2:19-23

Next week, we celebrate the First Sunday in Advent. 

Can anyone tell me what Advent is?

Advent is a special time of promise, of waiting, longing, and preparing. There are – how many Sundays in Advent? Yes, there are four Sundays in Advent with four separate candles that represent messages that make us focus on Jesus.

But what did we all learn and talk about today? 

Yes, the way God spoke to different people at different times about what he was doing or going to do in their lives as his people and what he was going to do for the life of the world.

So, now I want us to explore how the season of Advent mirrors the powerful way that God revealed his plans to some people through dreams in the Bible. Just as those dreams foretold what God would do, Advent reminds us and prepares us for what he has done in the coming of Jesus and what he will do when Jesus comes again. 

As we have already seen, throughout Scripture, God often used dreams as a way of giving people a glimpse of his divine plan. Think of Joseph in the Old Testament, who dreamed of a future where he would rise to a position of leadership. Despite the many challenges he faced, his dream revealed God’s intention to save many people from famine and starvation. 

At another time, Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams revealed that the human empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome would rise and fall, but that God’s kingdom would ultimately prevail. 

In these dreams, God’s people saw glimpses of his unfolding plan, sometimes long before it fully came to pass. These dreams were invitations to trust in what they could not yet see and reminders that God’s timing is always perfect. 

Advent is a bit like those dreams. It is a season that invites us to look backward to something God has done as well as forward to something God will still do that is greater than what we currently see. For four weeks, we light candles, read Scriptures, and prepare our hearts, not only for Christmas Day, but also for the return of Jesus one day in the future. 

But today we were reminded that Jesus’ coming was foretold not only by the messages of the prophets but also by dreams. 

Remember the dreams of Joseph in the New Testament? When Joseph was worried about Mary, God sent an angel in a dream to reassure him, saying that the child Mary bore was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 

Later, in another dream, God warned Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt to protect them from Herod’s anger. 

And then there was one more dream. Can you remember what that dream was all about?

Yes, God told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Nazareth as it was safer there than in Bethlehem. These dreams guided Joseph as God unfolded his plan to save his people from their sins. 

So, when we celebrate Advent, starting next week, we are invited to experience this same excitement and anticipation. Just as God communicated through dreams to prepare His people for the future, so he communicates hope through the four messages of Advent to help us prepare our hearts for Jesus. 

Each week, as we light another candle, we remember that the light of the world is drawing near. Like the dreams of old, Advent reminds us that God’s promises are not distant or abstract. They are personal and real and are meant to change us and bring us hope. 

In our world, full of uncertainty and challenges, Advent reminds us that God’s promises are steady, and that his plans are in motion, and that his plans will never fail, even if we can’t yet see the whole picture. 

So, as we continue through Advent, may we remember that, in many ways, we are like Joseph, Daniel, and all those who received divine dreams. We are waiting, trusting, and preparing for the fulfilment of the promises God has made. 

So, let’s use this time to open our hearts, to lean into the hope that Advent brings, and to prepare ourselves to receive Jesus, who once came as a child born in Bethlehem, but who will one day come again as the King of the world.

© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2024