mark-duncan

[mark-duncan]

Waiting for Christmas

Waiting.

There is joy at Christmas in the waiting. The children impatiently wait all season to see what lies beneath the paper and bows. The family plans and prepares after a season of being apart, waiting expectantly to be reunited again. Christmas trees and decorations go up a month or more in advance, or advent rather, of what is to come.

There's just something striking about waiting for Christmas. Something better is coming, but for now we wait. The waiting brings our joy, for the Object of our waiting is our joy, and that joy grows in the waiting.

We're all waiting for something better.

Like Adam and Eve pined for life as it was in the Garden, waiting for the offspring of the serpent to be crushed underfoot. Waiting.

Like Noah and his family waited as the waters receeded to begin a new life. Waiting.

Like Abraham waited for the fulfillment of the promise of a great nation. Waiting.

Like Jacob waited and worked those many years for Rachel's hand. Waiting.

Like the Hebrew slaves who waited in Egypt, under Pharoah's cruel rod. Waiting.

Like the weary nation who wandered for years in the wilderness, waiting to see the Promised Land. Waiting.

Like the defeated captives awaited salvation and rescue for the remnant. Waiting

Like the young virgin and her betrothed waited on the message of the angel. Waiting.

Like the people waited for Messiah to break their Roman oppressors. Waiting.

Like His followers waited after that dark Friday to see the hope of the following Sunday. Waiting.

Like the young church waited for the promise of the Comforter, that promise of His presence. Waiting.

Like Paul waited in prison, singing hymns and rejoicing at the honor to suffer. Waiting.

Like John waited on the Island of Patmos when he saw a glimmer of what we wait for. Waiting.

Like the world who waited for the birth of the Promised One, the hope long anticipated. Waiting. Long awaited, now long past. Waiting.

This season is a celebration, the advent of Messiah is come, praise be to God!

But we celebrate in the midst of waiting. Messiah has come, Messiah will come again! The celebration today is incomparable to that which will come at the end of our waiting.

The anticipation complete, the pain and suffering gone forever, justice realized, peace on earth at last. The waiting will be over. The joy is in the waiting; and for now, we wait, with joy.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. We are waiting. 

[mark-duncan]

In a society that not only does not believe in a metanarrative or in exclusivity but also rejects the notion of objective truth, ours is a monumental claim. We proclaim one way to God—Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we lay claim to truth in such radical terms, it is imperative that such truth be undergirded by love. If it is not undergirded by love, it makes the possessor of that truth obnoxious and the dogma repulsive. I believe it is vital that we understand this.

Carson, D. A. (2009-09-01). Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns (p. 22). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. 

[mark-duncan]

Sanctification: That beautiful perfecting work of the Spirit done in me and to me, through me and for me, but not by me.

Reflections on Romans 12

[mark-duncan]

“Not being heard is no reason for silence.”

Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

[mark-duncan]

"For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise."

Les Misérables

[mark-duncan]

Somewhere beyond the fading sunset of yesterday and the foreboding of tomorrow's dawn, I bask in the warmth of today, in light and shadows.

"Today"

[mark-duncan]

The Law says, "By grace, you have been shown that you are condemned." But Jesus' sacrifice says, "By grace, you have been saved from that."

Condemned No More

[mark-duncan]

"The burden of the OT law was also the 1st grace - the grace that made us keenly aware of our need for the 2nd grace: the man Jesus Christ."

Gracious Burden

[mark-duncan]

He is Risen!

"Why do you seek the living among the dead?" The third day is upon us all. And for what do you bring the spices?The decay of death does not hang in this place. What was designed to conceal, did then and now reveal: "He is not here, but He is risen..." "...as He said." Do not our hearts burn within us when we hear His words of truth? Death is consumed by His victory. He is risen! Hallelujah, He is risen still!

[mark-duncan]

Sabbath Rest

Sleep would not come that night. How could they sleep? The spices were prepared, but the annointing deferred. No, sleep would not come, but today they would rest. They would rest because of the commandment, they would rest because He did on the seventh day. In Him they found their rest, rest in waiting, rest in hope. On the third day, Victory.

Sleep would not come for these also. How could they sleep? The “liar” was silenced, but what of the wake of His destruction? No, sleep would not come, not until the matter was secured. They would not enter His rest, they would attempt to keep Him at rest. In fact, they despised His rest, waiting in fear, hoping in soldiers. On the third day, Crisis.

On this, the sabbath, we rest and wait.

[mark-duncan]

Good Friday

Good Friday. Dark Friday. Gethsemane's prayers of anguish A light of hope as night descends. "Not my will." A kiss is placed, Dark Friday. Good Friday. Angry Friday. "Are you the son of God?" Mocked, the Lamb before the slaughter. "Blasphemy, Blasphemy!" Conspiracy bears its fruit, Angry Friday. Good Friday. Bloody Friday. Scourged beyond recognition, The stumbling, sanguined sovereign. "Crucify Him, He is not our King" A sacrifice is presented, Bloody Friday. Good Friday. Blessed Friday. Nails in hands and feet, held firmly between man and Holy Father. "It is Finished." A payment is accepted, Blessed Friday. Good Friday.

[mark-duncan]

Maundy Thursday

On the eve of betrayal, He humbly knelt. Soon His body would be broken, for now bent. The Master, their servant.

He washed the dirt away. He washed their pride away. Tomorrow, He would wash their sins away.

"A new covenant I give to you, Love each other as I have loved." Body & Blood, this is Holy Communion.

By this will they know that we are His disciples.

[mark-duncan]

Faith is CONFIDENCE, the perfection of hope; the EVIDENTIAL, not the intangible. The VICTORY declaration amid the heat of battle.

Hebrews 11

[mark-duncan]

The God of Joshua

Without the account of God the Covenant Keeper in Joshua, who graciously upholds His promises despite His oath-breaking people, we cannot truly appreciate the promise of victorious hope in Genesis 3:15 nor the deep love of the Father in delivering to us the object of our hope and His affection: the man Jesus.

[mark-duncan]

Hope in God. Hope in His Salvation. And I will sing a song of praise, For from sin's tomb my soul He raised. But why O soul are you cast down? And why in turmoil do you drown? Your God is hope and He will save, So wait upon His word and way. Hope in God. Hope in His Salvation.

"42:11" Taken from Ps. 42:11

[mark-duncan]

Though I His wrath against was stored, My cup upon the Son He poured. Securing pardon and a sonship more And hope of Heav'n's celestial shore.

Propitiation

[mark-duncan]

In time, the wise doth travel back, illuminating future paths. In time, the fool looks fore alone, forgetting whence his path was borne.

Nothing New