History Speaks



Prayer: Dear Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is always my joy to worship and praise your name. At this season of the year, I remember with gladness the sending of Jesus into this dark world to bring His Light and there is much to celebrate in that fact. Please be with me today as I read Your Word. Open my eyes to Your truth as these Words inform my character and shape my existence. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Read: Psalm 2

Think about It: Jesus has been placed into the history of mankind both by the Scriptures we cherish and by secular historians.
 "The first-century church applied the second psalm to the Messiah as an explanation of the crucifixion of Christ by the rulers (Herod and Pontius Pilate), the nations, and Israel (the priests, scribes, and Pharisees). They had conspired together against the Messiah of God (Acts 4:25–28)."*

 Very few scholars today actually believe that Jesus didn't exist. They may not believe in Him for their salvation, but historians are largely in agreement - Jesus was real and had serious impact on humanity, even if only philosophically.

We do not possess an exact birth date for Jesus. God did not include that information into the Biblical text. Because of that, we have to assume it is not important for us to know. What the text does include are the name of the leaders at the time of His birth. This is all the information we need in order to know about His place in the historical record. All of the Old Testament points directly toward Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the promise made by God in Genesis 3:15 to send a Savior. All of the New Testament points back to Jesus Christ as the One who saves us from the sin that separates us from God. If we try to turn the Bible in something other than a Christ-centered exposition of the ways of God, we are making a mistake. It ALL points directly to Jesus. Each of the historical leaders presented in the text are there because of their relationship to Jesus for good or for bad. Psalm 2 stands as a presentation of the over-arching presence and power of Jesus in history.
*The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Volume 5

Prayer: Dear Lord God, please help me to remember that You have held the history of mankind in the palm of your hands. Every leader and king has been seated by your authority and for the purposes You declare. Help me remember that Jesus lies as the center of our lives - even those who don't know You, for He is the pivot point in history that leads us home. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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