Advent: December 23, 2024
Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV) 5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.’
Romans 10:4 (ESV) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV) And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As Christmas approaches, excitement builds. We eagerly anticipate time with loved ones, gifts, and joyful music. We celebrate, and rightly so.
What are we celebrating? We are celebrating what God promised, he has done!
Jeremiah 23:5-6 prophesies that on a future day, the Lord will fulfill his promise to David, establishing a righteous king from his covenant line on the world throne who will save God’s people. His name is Yahweh our righteousness.
Mary is given the name she is to give her child, and it is Jesus, Yahweh is salvation or Yahweh delivers.
This is on purpose because there is no mystery about the identity of the Christ child. He is the promised one who will sit on David’s throne as the Messiah, the one named Yahweh is our righteousness.
What’s in a name though? It’s one thing to name Jesus, Jesus. It’s another thing if he lives up to his name.
What is the testimony of the inspired authors of the New Testament? The answer to that question is that Jesus, in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, is the righteousness of God for all who would place their trust in him.
We celebrate Jesus’ coming for many reasons, as Jeremiah reminds us. He took our sin and gave us God’s righteousness, so we can be righteous like him if we trust in him by faith.
Advent. Jesus has come and provided the very righteousness of God for us to have as our standing before God.