He Will Come Again

The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to this earth again. However, it will be much different from when he was born a baby in Bethlehem’s manger. With his second coming, he will destroy sin, death, and the devil. Join us this week as we talk about three situations in which death would have been a real enemy were it not for Jesus returning to this earth.


Scripture: John 8:31-32
Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”


Renewing Reflections
It is our prayer that Renewing Reflections will be a blessing in your life this coming week. This quote is taken from the sermon Watch and Be Ready delivered on Christian Crusaders December 2, 2001.

As we have been made ready to meet the Lord when he comes, enjoy life and serve Him. Jesus mentions Noah in our text. Noah lived in a wicked generation and was often ridiculed and made fun of as he continued to build the ark as commanded by God. But Noah was ready to meet God, and so life went on as usual. It is only when we are ready to meet the Savior, either in his second coming or in death, that we are ready to live and enjoy each day. What a comfort to know that we are ready. Our fears, though they come, are under control. Our values, though influenced by the world, are corrected as we live with the Savior and learn what is really important in life.


The Origin of Some Best-Loved Christmas Hymns
Wake, Awake
Many songs have been inspired by happy times, but this song was inspired by the worst of times. Philip Nicolai was a Lutheran pastor in Unna, a small town near Dortmund, Germany during the plague of winter 1597-1598 taking the lives of more than 1,300 people in his community. He kept busy all winter conducting funerals, as many as thirty a day, and comforting the sick and grieving. He wrote this hymn as an encouragement –– a statement of faith in the coming of the Christ who overcame death on the cross –– and who overcomes death for us as well.

Nicolai wrote both the words and the music of this hymn. When Johann Sebastian Bach came across Nicolai's hymn, he made some small changes to make it more singable. In the process, Bach also helped to popularize it.

The hymn begins with watchmen crying, "Wake, awake!" Watchmen would be on guard against disaster, such as enemy soldiers or fire or flood. In this case, however, they rejoice as they awaken the town to greet the Bridegroom –– Jesus Christ –– who has come to redeem them. The hymn pictures the hosts of heaven and earth singing to the accompaniment of harp and cymbal –– singing joyfully to welcome Jesus.

All too often, we think of the Second Coming (if we think of it at all) as the view of religious fundamentalists whose proclamation of the Second Coming casts an ominous rather than a joyful tone. To be faithful, we need to recover the joyful character of the Second Coming –– of the great banquet that Jesus has prepared for us. Joy is the true meaning of the Second Coming –– and joy is the message of this hymn.

(Written by Richard Nieli Donovan, Copyright 2007, www.lectionary.org)

Donations

As the year comes to an end, Christian Crusaders would like to thank all our listeners and donors for their prayerful and financial gifts. All donations to Christian Crusaders are completely tax-deductible. You can also make a contribution online instantly at ChristianCrusaders.org.

On the Light Side

Knock Knock

- Who's there ?
Holly
- Holly who ?
Holly-days are here again !

Knock Knock
- Who's there ?
Wayne
- Wayne who ?
Wayne in a manger!

Knock Knock
- Who's there ?
Oakham
- Oakham who ?
Oakham all ye faithful . . . !

Knock, knock.
- Who's there?
Wenceslas.
- Wenceslas who?
Wenceslas bus home on Christmas Eve?