So Come Lord Jesus
When Christ Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, that humble yet glorious event launched a new era on earth. By His virgin birth, His life here on earth, His wonderful works, His death and resurrection and ascension, Christ Jesus revealed God’s Truth to man. First to the chosen race, then through that race to an ever widening circle, that Truth has gone out to all the world.
From its humble beginning that Christ Truth has expanded like the yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till the whole was leavened – (a parable of Jesus found in Matthew 13:33). In spite of organized opposition, that leaven of Truth continues to expand because it has all the Power of God behind it. From a human point of view it is radical and revolutionary. It presents a loftier idea of God, and of man created in God’s image and likeness. It dispels ignorant, limiting human beliefs and superstitions. It saves, frees, heals, redeems with God’s Truth brought to earth and made practical. It quells rebellion against God.
The inevitable effect springing from that humble beginning is set forth in Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” What a descriptive, all embracing, all inclusive, universal statement! The Psalmist foresaw the same truth; we read in Psalm 19:3, “There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.” Truly, His line is gone out through all the earth. That leaven, or Truth of God and man must expand until it fills all the world. Satan must flee before God and His Christ.
Christ Jesus, born in a manger, completed His God ordained work here on earth, He did His Father’s Will and fulfilled that work in every detail of His glorious life. His work is perfect. All that is required of His followers today is that it be better understood and so bring forth more fruit in our own times. It can be truly said that ignorance of God and of His Christ is the fountainhead of ever ill and every grief that flesh is heir to. Jesus, the Son of God, provides all the answers in a plain and simple way that all may understand. But the world is only partially aware of the divine blessing that came to earth – all the earth, all the universe – at the time when Jesus Christ was born. God’s Truth has no boundaries, it must finally prevail everywhere. That is the nature of Truth, to expand and prevail over false beliefs of all kinds.
When Jesus taught His followers He frequently used parables, using everyday, material things to illustrate spiritual truths, and sometimes we glimpse a spiritual truth hidden in the material world around us. For example, when a powerful volcano erupts from a rock ribbed mountain we know that its great power has been hidden there for a long, long time thousands of years perhaps. The material, stony resistance locks it in. Wherever the resistance is least, there it bursts forth, dazzling the world with its power and splendour. Although the simile is imperfect, it serves to partially illustrate the coming of the Christ Truth to earth. God’s Power burst forth in the place and the nation of least resistance. For centuries the prophets and spiritual seers of Israel had foretold the coming of the Messiah His humble birth, His mission on earth. Resistance to His appearing was least in Israel, and God’s Truth burst through in Israel when Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Many in that nation, informed by the Old Testament prophecies, were in great expectation, waiting for the Christ to appear, as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:17.
From the time of Jesus’ birth everything began, almost imperceptibly to change to conform to Truth. The leaven commenced to do its work. Old materialistic concepts of life and death, old limitations, old superstitions and myths which had held mankind captive began to dissipate often slowly, but nevertheless surely. The perception of the potential of man governed by God deepened and broadened. Jesus changed the water into wine. He multiplied the loaves and fishes. He walked on the water. He healed every sickness and every disease among the people. He raised the dead wrapped in grave clothes he said, “Loose him and let him go.” He broke every enslaving yoke and let the oppressed go free.
But His crowning achievement was yet to come, the most instructive of all. He died on the cross and was buried in the tomb. He rose from death and walked out of the tomb into the early morning. He comforted and instructed His followers. He ascended to His Father and our Father and a cloud received Him out of human sight. As His followers stood looking up toward the cloud, two angels stood by them in white apparel. They spoke the words which our Anglo Israel followers of the Christ treasure and believe implicitly: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).
Anglo Israel Christians are confident that the Second Coming of Christ will most certainly occur just as promised. So come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
