After four weeks of reflection on the roots of the “stump of Jesse” (cf. Isaiah 11:1), our fifth and final message of Advent will turn to the tree that has sprung from Jesus, the shoot. Our final message is called Not Ashamed to Call US Brothers.

In Matthew 13:31–32 we read the following parable of Jesus, a vivid word picture about how God’s promise to bless all the nations through the seed of Abraham will look once fulfilled.

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

You can see the inspiration of this parable behind the image (above) that we’ve been looking at throughout Advent. Speaking to God’s people who’d returned from exile as they looked upon the rebuilt temple that was a shadow of its former glory (Haggai 2:3), the prophet Haggai prophesied with another powerful image.

For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Yet once more, 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, says the LORD of hosts. “(Haggai 2:6–7)

How appropriate that the very first worshipers Matthew shows us coming to adore Jesus on bended knee are pagan astrologers from the east… the first of many brothers Jesus came to bring to glory. And bearing treasure as gifts!

This Sunday, Fred Sanders will preach on Matthew 2:1-12 and Joe Orr will lead our sung worship. Would you pray for them as they prepare?

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

Crown Him (Christmas) by Chris Tomlin

Crowned by their royal gifts
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh
Wise men approach this manger throne
With honors from afar
Behold the Son of God
And bow down in this place
The Prince of Peace has come to us
O, crown Him with your praise