The Righteous Branch Advent 1 C Jeremiah 33:14-16

I will be posting comments on the Advent passages at least weekly, sometimes more. Check back often for updates.

(All Scripture from NRSV) 14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called, "The Lord is our righteousness."

Jeremiah is confined in the court of the guard when he receives this message. God certainly uses those who are jailed for his purpose. The chapter and vision begin quite negatively. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) are coming to fight. God has hidden his face in anger and will allow this tragedy to happen. But in verse 6 he says he will 'Bring it to recovery and healing; I will heal them..." The focus suddenly moves from doom and destruction to hope and healing.

The metaphor for healing in this passage is the righteous Branch.
What do we know about this righteous Branch?
Simply from the passage itself.

1. It will spring up.
2. It will spring up for David.
3. It is a he.
4. He shall execute justice in the land.
5. He shall execute righteousness in the land.
6. Because of this Branch, Judah will be saved.
7. Because of this Branch, Jerusalem will live in safety.

Multiple green lights flash to the listeners.

To spring up, a plant must be ALIVE.


The Disney movie, Wall-E, the main character is post-apocalyptic story about a robot left on the planet earth for clean up after humans leave the earth because they destroy it with trash. Wall-E's only companion is a cockroach until ship lands and a sleek robot named Eve emerges. Wall-E immediately falls in love. He shares everything with Eve; until Eve finds a living plant, opens a compartment, houses the plant and shuts down. Wall-E sits by her for what seems like forever until a the ship returns to collect Eve. He attaches himself to her ship and travels to her mother ship where he finds humans who have lived for generations. There the captain discovers that Eve has brought a sign of life on earth and that is safe to return.

Wall-E was not marketed as a Christmas movie. But it is.

The Branch grew out of a dead land and brought life to the people. The Branch (plant) changed every person's (and robot's) life.

This is what the Righteous Branch will do. He will bring light and life to a dry, dead, parched land.

And with Life he will bring Justice. Hebrew: Mishpat. 
This is a great Word study on Mishpat.

To be continued....

Advent 4B Luke 1:39-56 The Magnificat

I once read, "What if God had sent  Gabriel  to many women before he came to Mary many times and they had all refused?"  Was he giving Mary a choice? She seems to voice consent. What if she had said no?

Mary said, "Let it be to me according to your word." Wow. What faith it took to say that. She had no idea what she was getting into. None of us who sign up for parenthood, or have it thrust upon us "surprisingly," really know what we are getting into until we experience it. But Mary has more ahead of her than just parenthood. She has the potential disgrace of being unmarried and pregnant. She has the prediction of Simeon, "A sword shall pierce your heart." She has the pain of watching her son leave for ministry; and then the unspeakable horror of watching him die a tortured death.

Confederates Hugging Yankees and Other Impossibilities our Church Promotes - Nazarene Grace and Peace Magazine

Confederates Hugging Yankees and Other Impossibilities our Church Promotes - Nazarene Grace and Peace Magazine

This is an article I wrote, just published in Grace and Peace Magazine.

advent week two 2B Mark 1:1-8

John the Baptist seems to have a lot of humility. Sure, he is screaming in the wilderness that there is one coming. It seems that is not very humble, to call attention to one's self in such a way. But he is not yelling about his own fame, but he simply prepares the way for another.

Is humility something we think about just before Christmas? It doesn't seem that our culture speaks to humility in any way shape or form. Two days before the beginning of Advent, we see people knocking each other down to get a good deal on toys. I don't think that has anything to do with humility.

If you find yourself on the floor of Wal-mart sometime in December, think humility.

advent week one 1B

"It all started with a mouse and a dream" Walt Disney
How big that dream became.

But what about God's dream for his son? What about God's dream for us? What is God dreaming for you this advent? Ask him. He will show you.

Where will that dream take you? God's imagination??? It is limitless...

Garden pictures of God's great creation John 1:9

Today I was overwhelmed by the beauty of my fall garden. This summer in Oklahoma was extremely hot and dry. I watered and watered, thinking I would lose many of my perennials. Thankfully, the loss was minimal. This mum was planted last year in the fall. It has bloomed beautifully. The one shiny yellow flower reminds me of Jesus, a lone light in the dark world. John 1:9, NIV, The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

And the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. 

These are my Oklahoma roses. They are a smaller rose, seem to grow wild. This bush has been whacked and cut and pruned and it still comes back every year. It has been covered in disease and dried. I have cut it down almost to the ground, but it still blooms. May our lives do the same. 

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:5

Reformation Day

Above is the door of the castle church in Wittenberg, Germany, where Luther is said to have nailed his 95 Theses on that day 494 years ago.

Oct 31, Reformation Day, celebrated by Protestants all over the world. October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 Thesis to the Wittenberg Door. This would be the equivalent of posting the Theses on a popular facebook page today. He protested certain practices of the Roman Catholic Church, thus, "PROTESTant." 

The work is not done. John Wesley (1703-1791) said in his sermon "On the Church" that differences must be allowed to exist in the church or continued reformation will not happen. Advancement of the church depends upon our toleration of each other's differences. 

We don't all have to have the same opinions. We know what we agree upon: The Trinity, The incarnation, the resurrection. Let us seek unity among all Christian churches, even in our diversity. We do not have to be one denomination to work together for the cause of the Gospel.