Advent Thoughts, Week 1 - The Tree

The pastor of my childhood church, Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church, used to say to us every Sunday, “Merry Christmas,” no matter what season of the year it was. He did this, I think, because he rightly realized that the celebration of the incarnation, the celebration of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us in the person of Jesus Christ ought not be limited to one day or one month out of the year. The significance of God the Son taking to himself a human nature is immense.

As we enter the Advent season we would do well to remember that the significance of the incarnation is not limited to baby Jesus being born to Mary and Joseph in a feeding trough in Bethlehem. As we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ, putting up and decorating pine trees in our homes (which my family has already done), let’s remember to focus on the tree at the center of human history, his cross. What’s more, let’s focus on what it means to be united to him by faith. The apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

I really don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade this Christmas, but Peter makes this statement in the context of exhorting Christians to glorify God while enduring unjust suffering. Peter actually has the audacity to say in v.21 that we have been called to this. He says the radical implications of being united to the Christ crucified on the tree is enduring sorrows while suffering unjustly. He says this endurance through unjust suffering is a gracious thing. He says if you sin and endure the beating, the consequence of your sin, that’s no big deal. You’re just getting what you deserve. Ah, but if because you’re doing good you suffer and endure it, this is grace before God. 

This is a message that shakes us up. It’s strange to us and hard to hear. It’s strange because on places like The Baal Network [TBN – thanks for that Pastor Lance Lewis; http://blaquetulip.blogspot.com/], we’ve been sold a bill of goods. We’ve convinced ourselves that the most effective way to witness the grace of God in Christ to the world is to show people how God in Christ wants to provide all of your material desires, how you can have the American dream in Christ. But that’s not the testimony of the Bible.

The testimony of Scripture is that our most effective witness to the world of the grace of God in Christ is when we’re suffering well. When we’re enduring the sorrows of unjust suffering because we’re doing right, that’s gracious in the sight of God. That’s the witness he’s looking for. Contrary to popular belief union with Christ does not mean that you will be healthy, wealthy, and wise in this life. It does not mean that God wants me to have the gifts that will make me happy wrapped up under the Christmas tree on December 25. Peter's point is that the Christian life is indeed the best life now. But it’s the best life because the blessedness of the Christian life is joy in the midst of suffering. The blessedness of the Christian life is being able to witness to this world of the power, glory, and grace of God in the middle of intense trials and suffering. It is the reality that when Christians suffer unjustly it brings glory to God.

Where did we get a Christianity where Jesus does all of the dying? Where did we get a Christianity where Jesus is the only one who bears a cross?

If (when) you find your self unjustly suffering as a Christian, it’s not because you don’t have enough faith. It’s not because you’re not praying enough. It’s not because you haven’t fasted in a while. Its because the past suffering of Christ is the present condition of believers, while the present glory of Christ is the future glory of those who follow in the steps of the suffering Christ.

1Pet. 4:12-14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Irwyn Ince