Semper Reformanda

“Father, glorify thy name” | The Advent of Christ | 6/25

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:27-28 (KJV)

These words reveal Jesus’ humanity. And his absolute dedication to glorify God by doing His Will, reveal His divinity. Henry writes, “innocent nature got the first word, but divine wisdom and love got the last.” Jesus came for this very purpose; to die for our sins. And no, it was not a comfortable endeavour; as evident from His own confession ‘my soul is troubled.’ It is of great privilege that we are invited to the revelation of this struggle. We witness the Son of God submitting to the Will of God; a feat only He could have achieved for us (being born without sin). But the most important part of this struggle is His commitment to glorify God; wherein, God glorifies Him. Sometimes people speak of how Christ’s dedication brought ‘more glory’ to God. The intention might not be wrong; but the phrasing of the words is problematic. God’s glory cannot increase in the quantitative sense. The sense of increment is subjected to us. As we grow spiritually, more of His divinity is revealed. That is one thing. In the other sense, it may refer to the growth of the ‘fruit of the spirit.’ So, as much as it is important to think of the advent with Jesus’ commitment to the Cross, it is also important to think of our own spiritual growth. Is God ‘more glorified’ in you this season?[1]

[1] Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, John 12:27-36

“… he destroys the works of the devil” | The Advent of Christ | 5/25

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin… He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:5, 8 (KJV)

We tend to think of Christ as a saviour of the world; He came to sacrifice for the sins of the world. This may be true. But it is important to not forget that His saving grace is also personal; it is for my sin He came to the world (singular). Christ is ‘categorically’ a different being. In Him there is no sin; while our genealogy is rooted in sin. Sin is not what we do, it is who we are. ‘The works of the devil’ is a hardwired rebellion against God that our existence has subjugated us to. The advent reminds us that Christ came to release us from this terrible state that is sinfulness; a state we acknowledge but we are never strong enough to break free from. We sin because we were conceived in sin. But Christ is sinless; one born of Christ is free from the habituated state of sinning. He came so that we can be born anew into a being that has no sin; free and redeemed.

“… the Son of man came… to minister” | The Advent of Christ | 4/25

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 (KJV)

Jesus declares explicitly the purpose of His coming, it is to die for our sins. Sometimes ‘to minister’ is implied as a Christian virtue; that may be accurate in other contexts. But in this specific scripture, ‘to minister’ has a divine purpose; one that indicates the fullness of time, the prophesy of the Old Testament. A disenchanted mind would wonder that perhaps Jesus is only obeying to the Will of the Father. That is true. But the nature of His obedience is not ‘passive resignation,’ it is out of His active Will and desire; a commitment to redeem humanity. The advent of Christ, inclusive of many other things, also a declaration of His voluntary dedication to save you and me.[1]

[1] Henry, M. (1706). Commentary on the Whole Bible, Complete, Mark 10:32-45