Ben Zornes

Bethlehem: The House of Bread

December 15, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Earlier, I mentioned that Bethlehem meant House of Bread. But I want to give some more attention to the history of this city, and why we should care.

Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob, died and was buried in Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19).

One of Israel’s judges, Ibzan was born and died in Bethlehem (Jdg. 12:8-10); he had sixty children: thirty sons, and thirty daughters. He married all of them off. He was a fruitful man indeed, with a very full quiver.

Ruth, the Moabite, returns with Naomi to Bethlehem; Boaz redeems Ruth (and by extension Naomi) from her barrenness and widowhood and restores them to their inheritance (cf. Ruth 1-4).

Ruth and Boaz are the great grandparents of King David; he was born and raised in Bethlehem (1 Sam. 16:4-13). By New Testament times, it is called the city of David (Lk. 2:4).

The prophet Micah once declared by divine inspiration:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2

He was prophesying during a period when the kingdom of Judah was deteriorating. Her kings were not glorious, they were often not godly. The Assyrians were threatening to destroy that once great kingdom. One commentator ¹Baker, David W., T. Desmond. Alexander, and Bruce K. Waltke. Obadiah: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1988. Pg. 182 points out the contrast which Micah wants us to see:

The kings born in proud Jerusalem failed; the Messiah incarnated in lowly Bethlehem triumphs.
Bruce Waltke

Seven centuries later, scholars and even the astute populace knew that the Messiah must come out of Bethlehem (Cf. Mt. 2:6 & Jn. 7:42). They knew that David’s promised seed would come from Bethlehem. They knew that this king would be from of old, from everlasting.

Notice the various OT events which are connected with Bethlehem. Rachel once barren, is buried there; and the city of her burial later gives rise to a judge who is clearly a very fertile fellow; Ruth comes to harvest barley seed in Boaz’s field, but ends up becoming his wife to bear his seed.

God sends his Son to be born in a city of Bread. A city where the barren become fertile. Where seed is multiplied and turned into bread. Where promised seeds sprout and begin a great harvest. Christ is the first fruits of the new creation work of God. Remember seed must be ground into flour in order for it to be then turned into bread. This promised seed would come, be ground to pulp, put through the oven of adversity, and a new loaf would come forth to feed this world. In Christ, the barren is turned to fruitfulness, and the hungry are fed.

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Stars and Angels

December 14, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

The nativity story is full of angels, stars, a heavenly host coming down to earth, and even a star that stops above a house in a small, Judaean town. Many unbelievers might snort in ridicule. They regard such narrative elements as embellishments at best, and at worst, evidence that the whole thing is just a fairy tale.

Before the Copernican revolution, mankind would look at the heavens with the sense of looking up, whereas we have the sense of looking out. The heavens weren’t perceived as the cold, empty vacuum of the materialist worldview. Rather, it was thought that the heavens were warm, full of life and song. It was our planet that was cut off from the perfect dance of the heavenly bodies, and we were left out of the heavenly choir.

We shouldn’t let modern materialistic thinking skew how we read Scripture. The materialist wants you to look at stars and see flaming balls of gas, the result of a violent explosion, placed in a void of outer space. Stars formed as the result of impersonal forces of time and chance. Now that is the makings of an outlandish fairy tale.

But Ramundu’s rebuke of Eustace in Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is what we need to hear:

“In our world,” said Eustace, “a star is a huge ball of flaming gas.”
“Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is, but only what it is made of.”
C.S. Lewis

Scripture repeatedly wants us to think of stars and angels as going together.

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20)
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7)
There is no speech nor language, where their [the heavenly bodies] voice is not heard. (Psa. 19:3).
[The dragon’s] tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth (Rev. 12:4).

This is not a matter to blush about. God made the heavenly host. We should not be surprised that He imbued them with personality, movement, dance, voice. Isaiah tells us, “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. (Isa 40:26).” God gave the stars names. They sang with him at the creation of the world. A third of them were led astray by the dragon.

At Bethlehem a host of them arrive to sing a song heralding the reunification of earth with heaven by means of this blessed Child. The ancients knew that the order and life displayed in the heavens was something we’d been cut off from. But the angels come to tell this silent planet that God was coming to make peace with us. The silent planet would be silent no more, but man, in Christ, might join in the heavenly songs of praise to our God. Then the angels “hyperdrive” back to their heavenly positions. Then, as if all of this isn’t marvelous enough, one star gets the job of guiding the wise men to the exact house in which Christ and his parents were dwelling.

Truly, it is good to sing:

All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
call us to rejoice in thee.
Henry Van Dyke (Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee)

Materialism cannot account for such an event. But it is the most likely of things to happen: when God became a man the stars and angels made sure we saw the signs for which they’d been appointed (Gen. 1:14). This was the beginning, after all, of a new creation.

Wise Guys Chasing Stars

December 13, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

Why would three or so wise men from the far east, after seeing an astronomical event, conclude that they should load up the camels, pile on the treasure, and head to Israel to worship a newly born king? Well, because of the prophecy about a Star. Now, in tomorrow’s post I will talk all about the stars, but for now stars are more than flaming orbs of gas, not less. Darwin teaches us that matter is all there is, but that’s just fool’s talk. Stars talk and dance after all.

The Magi (as they were called) knew to be watching for a star. How? First, because we know that a pagan seer once gave this oracle:

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
Numbers 24:17

The ancients didn’t toss aside such prophecies with the indifference of pitching out an empty coffee cup. It is the likeliest thing for these sorts of prophecies to circulate to various priests, cults, and stargazers would most certainly be interested in such a fortuitous Star prophecy. Which leads to another clue in this little puzzle. We forget that there was once a Jew of legendary godliness who was put over all the presidents, magicians, and soothsayers of the ancient far east. His name was Daniel. He was known for being an interpreter of dreams and visions. He is the likeliest source for the eastern astrologers to have come across this Moabite prophecy of a star arising in Israel.

Once more, we see that God is the hand behind the entire story of this universe. Stars in heaven do His bidding. Stargazers on earth who discern that heavenly dance follow His signs. Kings are His tools. Shepherds, carpenters, priests, Romans, handmaidens, Inn-keepers, all do His bidding. God’s story was coming to its denouement. This little boy was born, and the Stars were like neon signs to tell anyone who would look that here was the Main Character. The wise men were paying attention. Here was the King of the World. The takeaway? Come and worship Him.

While Shepherds Watched

December 12, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

God likes shepherds. Abel was a shepherd when God received his sacrifice. Abraham, after being called out of Ur, became a shepherd. Isaac, and later Jacob his son were shepherds. Moses was a shepherd when the Lord called him to him form the burning bush. David was a shepherd when Samuel came to anoint him to the Kingship, calling him to the work of “[feeding] Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance (Psa. 78:71). The prophet Amos was a herdsman. Jeremiah and Ezekiel rebuked the priests of their time for being wicked shepherds of the Lord’s flock.

While the broader culture perhaps despised shepherds, God seems to pick shepherds to hear important news, receive important callings, be given vital messages. God is likened to a shepherd in numerous Psalms. later in His life, Christ calls himself the Good Shepherd (cf. Jn 10).

The nativity story includes this wonderful portion of the angel announcing the birth of Christ to shepherds, while they were out in some remote area outside Bethlehem and Jerusalem. An angel appears to them, frightens them as often happens to people who see an angel, and yet are told not to be afraid. The news which the angel had to tell them was good news. It was joy-filled news. It was get out the fireworks, pop the champagne, and have a party sort of news.

The Messiah has come.

He has come to be a Savior. He has come to sit on David’s throne. He has come and is in a feeding trough, wrapped in rags, waiting to be a sign unto them. The stars had been given for signs and for seasons, and now the heavenly host appears in order to give a sign to lonely shepherds.

These herdsmen likely cared for the sheep for Passover sacrifice, and they are sent to see the child who would become the final Passover sacrifice, who was also the true––and good––Shepherd of Israel. The response of these men ought to convict us. They immediately heed the angelic message (Lk. 2:15-16), and after they saw, they told everyone, and it is evident that they believed, and their belief was vibrantly joyful (Lk. 2:18-20).

Indeed they demonstrate for us the proper response to the good news of great joy which the angels proclaimed. Believe it, rejoice in it, and tell the world. And this, dear reader, is why our Christmas celebrations should make quite a noticeable ruckus.

Herod the Not So Great

December 11, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

In 40BC the Roman Senate voted to make Herod the King of Jews.¹Josephus, Wars of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 14.4. So, imagine his shock when kingly astrologers arrive in Jerusalem and declare that they are seeking a newly born king of the Jews, to worship this new king. Top it off with a star being aligned in honor of this new king. Herod didn’t have a newly born son. If he had, he likely would have simply murdered his own son. He did that sort of thing.

Herod does not take well to these events. The heavens foretelling the end of his dynasty would not be what he had hoped to read in the galactic newspaper. Herod was of Edomite descent, and his ancestors had likely converted to Judaism at some point (cf. Obadiah). Edomites were Esau’s descendants. The Jews, from all accounts, had mixed feelings for this king. He was more respectful of their religion, and he was better than Roman governors, but he wasn’t a rightful heir to David’s throne. He was an ally, perhaps, but not a friend.

Thus, all of Jerusalem is in turmoil when news of a newly born king of the Jews is announced by these Magi (Mat. 2:3). Herod schemes and conspires to defend his throne. He finds out where the promised king would likely be born (Bethlehem). He gives the Magi instructions to return to him with news of this king––under the thinly veiled guise of wanting to worship this new king himself. Herod later massacres all the infant boys of Bethlehem, in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jer. 31:5).

Herod’s kingship was, to earthly rulers, lawful. But God is the one who does the seating arrangements for kings (Dan. 2:21). Like other wicked kings (think Pharaoh, Saul, Ahab, etc.) we see that they are merely servants to His purpose. When He is done with them, He gives them their stage directions: exit stage left.

Thus, Herod evidences to us that earth’s kingdoms were less than enthused by news that a new king had come. Indeed, Christ’s advent did not only have spiritual implications: our salvation from sin. It had implications for everything. In other words, Jesus was come to be the lawful king of the world (Ps. 72:8). Herod, like Saul of old, sought to kill the King whom God had anointed (Christ means anointed one) over Israel. But in the end, it was Christ’s government and peace which had no end. And even Herod’s malice and death was used to fulfill the words of the Old Testament prophet (Mt. 2:15, 23, cf. Hos. 11:1, Is. 11:1). All of this combined was a death-knell to the kingdom of man, informing the nations of this world that the Kingdom of God had come.

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Another Dreaming Joseph

December 10, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

The last mention of Joseph in Luke’s Gospel is a telling one. It summarizes the whole point of Joseph’s presence in the story. The story God is telling isn’t about him, but he’s a part of God’s providential purpose to save the world. We read:

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed ) the son of Joseph […]
Luke 3:23

Then begins Luke’s genealogy from Jesus back to Adam, the son of God (Lk. 3:38). Joseph raised Jesus, took him to the synagogue twice each week like the just man that he was, trained his supposed son in the trade of carpentry, brought him along to the religious festivals (Lk. 2:42), and then exits the story.

Joseph has links to three OT characters. First, his namesake, Joseph. God spoke to both men through dreams. God used these men to bring about His salvation of Israel. It is striking that in Matthew’s account of Christ’s nativity, Joseph is told explicitly that Jesus was going to save His people from their sin (Mt. 1:21). God had once saved the eleven patriarchs from their sin because of a dreaming Joseph who obeyed the Lord. Now, God would save Israel from its sin again, but this time through the presumed son of another dreaming Joseph.

The second character alluded to is King Ahaz. He was king in the prophet Isaiah’s day. When asked to pick a sign to assure him that Isaiah’s prophecy of deliverance would come true, he hems and haws. He doesn’t respond to the prophecy in faith, but with unbelieving indifference. It is in this story (cf. Is. 7) in which the prophecy of a virgin being with child is given (Is. 7:14). Ahaz was a son of David who was indifferent to the great messianic promise given to his forefather David. But with Joseph, we have a son of David (more on that in a second) who acts with the swift obedience of pious faith in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Mt. 1:22-23).

The third is mighty David. Matthew and Luke both go out of their way to show that Joseph was a lawful heir to David’s throne (Mt. 1:20, Lk. 1:27, 2:4, 11, 3:31). The house of David had been promised that one day a king would sit on the throne of David and would reign over Israel forever (1 Kg. 2:4). In the time of Joseph the heir of David’s throne was a humble carpenter, just beginning his career (thus his initial poverty, although carpenters were an esteemed, respectable, and even lucrative profession), in a fairly unimportant town.

Again, Joseph is what we all ought to be. Willing tools of the Lord’s redemptive purposes. Joseph, though heir to David’s throne, was not angling to be the Savior. But He gladly yielded to be used by God in His Salvation work. One other striking tid-bit, Joseph has no recorded dialogue in Scripture. But there he remains, the embodiment of a willing servant of the Lord. He wasn’t the fulfillment of the Davidic promise, but he did his level best to serve the Lord’s work in fulfilling that promise. As one commentator¹Edersheim, Alfred. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2000. put it:

The golden cup of prophecy which Isaiah had placed empty on the Holy Table, waiting for the time of the end, was now full filled, up to its brim, with the new wine of the Kingdom.
Alfred Edersheim

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Mary, the God-Bearer

December 9, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

A young girl. A Jewess living in the town of Nazareth. Roughly in her mid-teens. Betrothed (i.e. legally engaged to be married). Living in the age of the Roman occupation of Israel, underneath the pretender king Herod (more about that scoundrel in a future post). Thus far, that could describe quite a few girls living in Nazareth. But this girl, named Mary, is visited one day by an angel of the Lord. He greets her with these words, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women (Lk. 1:28).”

This was a divine curve-ball. It is evident that this visit is in the vein of miraculous OT angelic visits. But his greeting makes it clear that something quite unexpected is about to happen. The angel declares that the long-awaited Messiah would be conceived within her womb. He would become the King of Israel. And His kingdom would be an endless one.

All the prophecies and promises, teachings and traditions regarding the Messiah’s coming must have come rushing into the young virgin’s mind; along with the practicals of how she––a virgin––could get pregnant (Lk. 1:34). Gabriel tells her that all of this would be the result of the Holy Spirit overshadowing her (as He had done at creation and over the Mosaic tabernacle in the wilderness). Then, without objection, argument, or any more discussion, she yields to the Lord’s purposes.

Now, her great example of faith as well as her privileged position of blessing and favor with God has led some to reverence her beyond her due. Surely all generations should call her blessed (Lk. 1:48). But not because she did something noteworthy, but because God did mighty works through her (Lk. 1:49). Just like we ought to give thanks for Abraham’s faith, and the blessing which came through him, so too should we give thanks for Mary’s faithfulness and the blessing which came through her faith. Indeed, there are echoes and reminders of Abraham in Luke’s narrative.

Two things are of great importance when we look at Mary. First, is a theological one. She came to hold the title theotokos; most accurately rendered as “God-bearer.” This term was brought to the fore in 451AD, as the church debated in Chalcedon about the divinity and humanity of Christ. Mary was a human, and bore a human child in a human womb. But while this was a human child, He was also the son of God. The theologians and ministers at Chalcedon fought for the fact that Jesus was the divine son of God from His conception. Thus, it was not improper to say that Mary was pregnant with God. The story of Mary gives a Scriptural anchor for the doctrine of Christ’s two natures.

Which leads to the second way in which Mary is important. Mary displays to us a wonderful example of godly faith. Her response to the angel, and later to her cousin Elisabeth’s pronouncement of blessing over her, display that she knew the Scriptures well. She had hidden God’s word in her heart, and when the moment of obedience came, she did not sin. She believed. She worshipped the Lord. While she was certainly experiencing the early signs of pregnancy (the humanity of Jesus), she recognizes that what was going on in her was that God saving her (His divinity) (Lk. 1:47).

Mary embodied the best of faithful Israel, even as she bore the True Israel of God within her womb. We, too, should receive God’s Word with humble obedience, and see in Mary’s Son our Savior; the true, and eternal King of Israel.

Pass the Fudge

December 8, 2019 By Ben Zornes Leave a Comment

God overdoes things. All the time. He gives. And He gives over the top. We need oxygen. So He created phytoplankton––microscopic plants that bloom in the ocean. They bloom in massive amounts, producing a staggering amount of breathable air for this planet. He paints sunsets that make the gaudiest neon of the Las Vegas strip look pale by comparison. He made kangaroos, and arctic weasels, and beluga whales, and thousand-year-old sequoias.

Our giving, whether in July or December, is imitative of His. Our generosity is dependent on Him, because every molecule we can gift is a molecule that actually belongs to Him. And God gives lavishly. Whether it is simply the glorious gift of creation, or the even more marvelous gift of redeeming grace, God goes over the top. He made man, and all things, in the seven days of creation. That is marvelous on its own.

But when man fell, it didn’t cross our minds that the way God would save us is by becoming one of us, dying our death, and conquering death in order that we might be reunited with Him. Again, scandalous, over-the-top, get-outta-here sort of generosity is God’s M.O.

So, when we feast in celebration of Christmas, it ought not to be frittered with chains of diet-riddled anxieties. We should put extra dollops of cream on that pie. We should make the sort of fudge that tastes like ten or twelve extra pounds. We should make feasts that are as rich and savory and as abundant as we are reasonably able. If you’re trying to think of reasons to object to this it is because you haven’t grasped gratitude. Dietitians actually tell us that worrying about your diet is one of the best ways to gain weight.

It is the grateful heart that gulps in lung-fulls of oxygen and doesn’t feel a twinge of guilt about how that breath might impact the Amazon jungle. It is the grateful heart that freely receives the good gifts and enjoys the richest of fare with a carefree (not careless, mind you) joy.

If you want to put rules around this enjoyment and merriment, you’ve got things upside down. You’re on the White Witch’s side, not Aslan’s. If you don’t understand what that literary allusion means, may I suggest you make a big batch of fudge, and gather up the family for story time. It’ll be more wholesome for you than kale chips.

Here’s one of our favorite holiday treats if you needed any excuse to eat something delicious:

Martha Washington Candy