ANTICIPATING
GREAT THINGS
Steve W. Reeves
The
Christmas season brims with anticipation. Children anticipate the arrival of
Santa Claus and his sleigh full of toys. Teachers and students anticipate a
break from their studies. Families and friends anticipate joyful gatherings.
Retailers anticipate an increase in sales. Even preachers anticipate an
increase in church attendance.
Such
anticipation pales when compared to the excitement of two women who lived around
the year 4 B.C. (for an explanation of this date do some research on Dionysius
Exiguus, a 6th century historian who established the “Christian”
calendar). The Gospel writer, Luke, provides the greatest detail of two
couples, one young and one old, who anticipated two very special births.
The
first couple, a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth, were past the
age of childbearing. When Zacharias was serving in the temple an angel of the
Lord appeared to him to announce that Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son
who would be the forerunner to the Messiah (Luke 1:5-25).
Six
months later the angel Gabriel appeared to a young virgin named Mary to announce
the upcoming birth of her first child. “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have
found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb
and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the
throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of
Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke1:30-33). Can you imagine
the anticipation that filled the hearts of Elizabeth and Mary as they awaited
the births of their God-given sons?
Our
anticipation of Christmas fades quickly after gifts have been opened. Life
quickly returns to normal and we busily prepare for the beginning of a new
year. The anticipation of Jesus’ birth, however, did not end in Bethlehem. From
His humble beginning came the anticipation of hope and healing. From His death
came the anticipation of redemption. From His resurrection came the
anticipation of eternal life. From His ascension comes the anticipation of His
return (Acts 1:10-11
Thus,
we anticipate, Maranatha! “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
