Author: Japanese Congregational Church

Joshua 2:1-14

Joshua sends two men into the promised land to spy out Jericho. They stay at Rahab’s house, and the king of Jericho hears about it and sends men there to capture them. Rahab protects the spies by hiding them on the roof, while misleading the king’s men.

Rahab makes an agreement with the spies that she will keep their whereabouts a secret, if they will guarantee her and her family’s safety when Israel attacks Jericho. The spies agree on the condition that Rahab tie a crimson cord in her window and keep everyone inside once the attack starts. Rahab agrees.

Scholars wonder why this story of Rahab is inserted here. The narrative flows smoothly from Joshua 1 to Joshua 3.  The reason might be to highlight early how Israel will implement the command in Deuteronomy 20 where it directs to completely annihilate the people of the towns that the LORD is giving them as their inheritance. Even though the people of Jericho will be destroyed, Rahab and her family will be spared. So, there will be room for people to be saved who profess faith in the LORD.

We see the perfect planning of the LORD at work. All the big show of power that took place during the Exodus – The ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the Egyptian army – They were meant to drive fear into the hearts of all the people in the region. It was so effective that Rahab and the inhabitants of Jericho are still familiar with what the LORD did some forty years later.

So why did Rahab risk herself in protecting the spies? Rahab’s belief that the God of Israel is the one that rules heaven and earth is the starting point. Further, she believes that the LORD will give the land into Israel’s hands. She believes that the destruction of Jericho is imminent.  Her focus is the wellbeing of her family. To protect her and her family, she is willing to put herself at risk with the king’s men, while protecting Joshua’s spies. She is hoping that by protecting the spies, she can earn protection for her family.

It can be said that Rahab’s is an act of faith. Even though she knows little about the LORD except for His actions in the Exodus, she stakes her and her family’s life on her belief that the LORD is the God over heaven and earth and that He will keep His promise to the Israelites. She also believes that the LORD can act in mercy and spare her and her family.

So, she is willing to bet their lives on the future mercy of God, at the risk of the anger of her own earthly king.

We can see some parallels to Rahab’s story with the Passover. The Israelites locked themselves inside their homes with blood on the door frames. When the angel of death came, the households with the blood on the door were spared. In Rahab’s case, the crimson cord on the window would be the sign for the Israelite army to spare them from death.

It is also of note that according to the Gospel according to Matthew, Rahab is the mother of Boaz, who marries Ruth. This makes Rahab the great-grandmother of King David. The letter to the Hebrews mentions Ruth among the heroes of faith for her actions. And the letter of James mentions Rahab as an example of one who acted in faith, just before his famous words, “. . . faith without works is also dead.”

Back in Numbers, when Moses sent out the spies into the promised land, he did so because he was following the command from the LORD. There is no indication that the LORD commanded Joshua to send in the two spies. So, it seems that Joshua did this on his own initiative. It is puzzling as to the reason for doing this, right after the LORD directly assured him that He will bring victory and success in the conquest of the land. Moreover, all the two spies did were go to a brothel, hide for three days, and report to Joshua what they heard from Rahab. Not necessarily a successful espionage trip.

Although this story of Rahab seems like an insignificant narrative which does not really advance the narrative, it ends up being an important one. An example of an ordinary woman who acts according to her strong belief in the power and mercy of the LORD to save herself and her family stands as an example to all of us. Through Rahab’s act of faith in the LORD, she is saved from death and is allowed to live as part of the nation of Israel. She ends up being an ancestor to Jesus Christ. And she is such a good example that two separate books of the New Testament use her as a positive illustration of faith.

Rahab was able to act in faith, even though she had no guarantees that the LORD and the Israelites would spare her and her family. But through the Bible, we have guarantees. If we repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are guaranteed to have our sins forgiven, guaranteed to being accepted into the family of God as daughters and sons, and guaranteed that the final death will pass over us into eternal life with our Lord. And we are given a vocation from the LORD – To be witnesses to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

So, when the time comes to act in faith, let our faith move us into action, like it did for Rahab.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Shun Takano during our worship service on January 12, 2025.)  

Matthew 2:1-12

Today we begin the season of ephiphany. It’s not a word we often use in everyday language. It means a “manifestation, a revelation, sudden insight, or enlightenment.” Within our faith context, it refers to the time when Jesus, born as a human baby, is recognized as God’s Son, as a Savior, as a King.

Three new testament texts are often read and used during this season.

• The first is our text for today – the story of the Magi. These wise men from the east, although they are not Jews or perhaps even familiar with the Jewish prophecy of a coming Messiah, nevertheless leave their home country to follow a star and search for one who would be born a “king of the Jews”.
• A second epiphany text is the account of Jesus’ baptism. When Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descends on him in the form of a dove, while a voice from heaven is heard to say “This is my Son, whom I love…”
• A final text that is often read is the account of Jesus’ first recorded miracle, the turning of water into wine at a wedding party in Cana.

In today’s account, the wise men, thought to be Zoroastrian astronomers from Persia – present day Iran – come to Jerusalem in search of a baby who would become a king of the Jewish people. They say it has been “shown to them by a star”. While they begin with that star…it requires the Jewish scholars in Jerusalem to help them get the rest of the clues….as to where a Messiah King would be born. And that turns out to be Bethlehem.

A worried and jealous King Herod tells them to go and check things out… but to keep him informed, because he would like to worship the new king as well. Of course, we know from later in the text that he has no such plans but instead wishes to do away with this threat to his throne as quickly as possible.

The wisemen continue on their way to Bethlehem, and according to the text are once again led by the star which appears and directs them to the exact location where Joseph, Mary, and the child are. Upon arriving, they offer the baby gifts and worship. We can only imagine how Joseph and Mary would think and feel about the arrival of these foreign dignitaries. We are left with this final detail: that the wisemen have a dream which warns them about returning to Herod, and so return to their homeland by a different route which avoids Jerusalem.

This story is told simply, and with few details so we are left to imagine a great deal ourselves. A few thoughts that we may consider:

• God’s Spirit leads and communicates with people and nations in ways that often surprise us! Why would this clear message of a “king who has been born” been given to “foreigners” in a faraway land….rather than to someone right in the Jewish nation itself?
• I’ve always been interested in the ending of the story….”home by another way” as a phrase that describes a new journey, a different road, a realization that their lives have been changed forever….after meeting the King!

I’ve had what could be described as several “mini-epiphanies” in my own life. One of them happened between 1979 and 1984.

Following college, I went back to Japan where my folks were still working, for what I thought would be a short visit. Instead of just staying for the summer, I took a job teaching music at the Christian Academy, the same school where I had attended as a child. Following that year, I had an opportunity to work at three small churches in rural Japan to help a missionary family who were in the United States that year. Then my folks invited me to come and join them in their ministry. At first, I turned them down, thinking that after two years I really needed to get back to the U.S. and get on “with my own life”. However, I ended up going to Odawara to work with them….and within just a few months of my arrival, my father died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 56.

The Odawara Christian Center, where I was working, was just beginning an ambitious building project, and the board of directors asked if I would be willing to stay on, at least until the project could be completed. It seemed clear to me that a “yes” was the appropriate and obvious answer, so I stayed. That turned into three additional years during which the Lord changed my heart….. little by little. While I had never considered returning to Japan as a missionary, those three years opened my eyes to the possibility that God was calling me to serve there. I can clearly remember listening to a cassette tape of the gospel singer, Keith Green. The album was called “No Compromise” and the song that reached me was “Awake in the Light”.

The end result was that a short summer trip….had turned into 5 years….during which God had patiently and gently led me to the desire to serve Him in Japan. Having experienced those years following my father’s death…and having seen how clearly Jesus was leading me, and recognizing powerfully that he was the King of my life…I, too, decided to “head home by another way”, by a path that I had never ever considered prior to that. And I am so grateful that I did!

How about you? And how about JCC, our church family?

How do we recognize God today as our King and Lord?

How does that affect the road that we choose?

(the above is a summary of the message shared during worship on January 5, 2025.)

Joshua 1:1-11

¹After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, ²“My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. ³Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. ⁴From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. ⁵No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. ⁶Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. ⁷Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. ⁹I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ¹⁰Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, ¹¹“Pass through the camp, and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”

Back in Numbers 27, when Moses asked the LORD to appoint a new leader who would take the Israelites into the promised land, the LORD appointed Joshua. In preparation for the death of Moses, there was a public ceremony to appoint Joshua as the new leader, the one who would lead the people into the promised land.

After the death of Moses and when the people are about to enter Canaan, the LORD speaks directly to Joshua.

The LORD commands Joshua to lead the people into the land and assures Joshua that He will be with him, just like He was with Moses. The LORD tells Joshua that no one will be able to stand against him all the days of his life and that he will lead the people to possess the land that was promised to his ancestors, beginning with Abraham.

The LORD also tells Joshua about the importance of keeping all the laws that Moses had commanded. Joshua is to read the book of the law out loud and meditate on it day and night.

Now with Moses and the old leaders all gone, Joshua probably wondered how he was going to fulfill his duties. When and how to cross the Jordan was a problem for which he had no solution, and there was also the problem of the people who were already living in the land – The same people that the Israelites feared so much that they refused to enter the first time, some forty years previous.

So, it must have been a comfort to Joshua that the LORD speaks directly to him and reassures him that he is the chosen leader and that the LORD will never leave him and will give him and Israel success.

Since Joshua had been at Moses’ side for over forty years and had witnessed how the LORD had worked through Moses, it must have been a great comfort to hear the LORD say that He will be with Joshua, just like He was with Moses. Joshua, through his experiences, knew what it means when the LORD says He will be with him.

Although there were still misgivings in his mind, Joshua must have also felt excited, since the LORD had promised that all the promised land would be theirs. It can only mean that the LORD was going to do some great miracles to make it happen. Being one of a handful of adults left who had witnessed firsthand the great power of the LORD in leading the people out of Egypt, Joshua was fully aware of what the LORD can and is willing to do.

What is interesting about what the LORD says to Joshua is that He says “Be strong and courageous” three times. If the LORD is going to do all that He is promising, then why does Joshua need to be strong and courageous? It must mean that Joshua and the people are not just going to be spectators but are going to have some work to do. It most likely refers to needing to be strong and courageous in his faith in the LORD and His promises.

It is interesting that in verse 7, the LORD uses the words, “Be strong and very courageous”, when He tells Joshua to be in accordance with all the laws of Moses. So, will it take Joshua more courage to live according to the law, than to rely on the LORD to conquer the land? Apparently so.

This is the way things work in our lives living as Christians in this world. It is often easier to trust in the outcome that the LORD promises than to live according to His commands. It takes a much stronger faith and courage to be obedient to the LORD in the face of temptation and hardships.

Joshua was strengthened by the LORD’s promise to be with him, like He was with Moses. For us, reading the Bible about how faithful the LORD is to keep His promises should have the same effect.

It is striking that what the LORD says to Joshua is very similar to what Jesus tells His followers as He is about to leave this earth in Matthew 28:19-20:

 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.   ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,   ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are commanded to obey everything that Jesus has commanded us. And He assures us that He will be with us always.

This was going to be a new beginning for Joshua and the Israelites. They are going to do what their parents could not do – To trust in the LORD enough to boldly go into the land. There will be difficulties that will test their faith, but the LORD is guaranteeing success.

We are about to start a new year, and it can be a new beginning for us too. Whatever things we did or did not do in 2024 is in our past. We have a command to be witnesses to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. We also are reminded that we are to obey everything that the LORD has commanded. Commands like loving our enemies and putting others’ needs above ours are not easy to do. It will mean that we will need to be strong and very courageous in our faith in the LORD.

We will need to keep in mind and trust the LORD’s promise that He is with us.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Shun Takano during our worship on December 29, 2024.)

Last week we received a newsletter from Chris and Missy Takano. Please take a moment to read it and catch up on what’s happening in their lives in Kandern, Germany and at the Black Forest Academy where they teach.

NEW YEAR’S NEWS FROM CHRIS & MISSY TAKANO

Merry Christmas to Y’all!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Our hearts are filled with gratitude and reflection.  After many meaningful years serving in Japan and the US, we will be retiring from SEND this December.  It is a bittersweet moment, but we are filled with peace, knowing that our sovereign and gracious God faithfully guides our steps past, present and future.

We want to thank you, dear friends, for your unwavering support, prayers, and encouragement throughout these years.  Some of you have partnered with us since the very beginning.  Your generosity and commitment have made a profound difference for Christ and blessed our family.  Together, we have witnessed God’s amazing work through traditional churches, house churches, nursing homes, camps, conferences and the unforgettable Tohoku earthquake relief efforts in 2011.  We are deeply grateful to the Lord and to you for each moment shared and every life touched by His Spirit.

As we step into this new chapter we look forward to what the lord has planned for us.  I, Richard, will continue as Spiritual Life Coordinator at Nathan’s school.  I also have Marketplace Chaplain opportunities at a couple of local companies.  In light of His coming may we grow ever closer to Him and to each other in these days, ready to share the love and hope of Christ wherever He has planted us.

Thank you once again for being such a vital part of our journey.

To God be the Glory!

With Love and Gratefulness,

Richard and Keri Nakamura 

(New Email)    Rknakamura25@gmail.com

Luke 2:1-20 / Exodus 34:29-35

Merry Christmas!  We are still in the 4^th week of Advent and a couple of days away from Christmas…but what a joy to share in this worship together today!

Our theme during Advent has been “Eternal Light”.

• First, we looked at Isaiah 9:2 as we considered the “Dawning of the Light”.
• Then we visited John 1:1-14 as we looked at what it means to “Witness to the Light”.
• Last Sunday during our Children’s Worship we looked at Ephesians 5:8 and shared with the children how we could “Live as children of the Light”.
• Today, we will consider what it means to “Radiate the Light!” How Do we do this?

One of the most well-known blessings in the Bible is found in Numbers 6:24-26. We often use this as our benediction at the end of worship.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.”

• This is a visual image of God shining his face – radiating his glory – on the people, on us.
• Moses actually had his face shine after communicating with God. “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.” Exodus 34: 29
• Our faces may not radiate God’s light exactly as Moses’ face did, but our words and actions can radiate the light and love of God.

Christmas is a time of year when we consider the glory of God’s light. Warming together around a fire, the inner glow of Christmas memories past, spending time with family, singing carols, and enjoying favorite music and food are just some of the common activities. Even as we exchange gifts…our words and actions can be a way that we radiate God’s light.

But our challenge is for “after Christmas”. Come January, the tree will be taken down, decorations boxed up, lights put away, and that holiday “cheer” can fade pretty fast. How do we continue to radiate the light and love of God?

In Matthew 5 Jesus taught the following: ‘You are the light of the world’, and, as such, ‘Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 5:13-16)

Radiating Christ’s light isn’t to be a Christmas one-off experience….but to be a practice throughout the year. How do we do that? In Luke 2:8-15, we have some hints provided to us from the shepherds:

• Find the source of the Light – the shepherds weren’t satisfied with the splendor of the angels and the fanfare and dazzle of light, but they wanted to see the reason and source of the light. ‘Let’s go … and see …  ‘When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15
• Joyful worship – when the shepherds saw the glory of God and the light that ‘shone around them’, and visited the child in Bethlehem…they couldn’t stop themselves from breaking out in praise to God.

Do our lives radiate God’s light in such a way…that others will notice it, and be interested in seeking the source of that light?  To be honest, that question alone makes me feel deficient and unworthy. Can I really live my life in such a way that I’ll be a shining light? I’d love to…but often I do not.

• But here’s a secret that will relieve that stress. We were never called to actually BE the source of the light. Even though Jesus says to “let your light shine” he clearly means – let God’s light… shine in your lives.
• Just as the moon has no light of its own – but reflects the light of the sun, we too have no actual light of our own. We are merely called on to reflect the light of “the Son”

How do we do that?

1. Turn toward Jesus, face Jesus – in other words, have a close relationship with Jesus (remember our earlier example of Moses talking with God and actually having his face shine / reflect God’s glory?) The light can’t radiate from our face….if our face is not looking directly at Jesus.
2. Spend time with Jesus – our efforts to radiate God’s light begin with focusing on Jesus and his presence in our life. The natural result of spending time with, getting to know, and soaking up his light – is that our lives will then naturally begin to reflect that light.

A seminary teacher once told us, “Anybody can ramble for 30-45 minutes. But the key is to be concise and memorable. Can you put your whole sermon into one sentence that everyone can understand and remember?” 

So here’s my attempt to give you a special Christmas gift in the form of a “sermon sentence”:

Know Jesus…to reflect Jesus!

John 1:1-14

In the first four verses, John writes about the nature of Christ, by referring to Him as “the Word” or “Logos”. The Greek philosophers viewed Logos as the rational principle that created and sustained the world. Philo of Alexandria (20 BCE-50 CE), a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, saw Logos as the word through which God created and interacted with the world. John presents Jesus as the divine Logos, connecting Jesus with both Jewish and Greek audiences. John tells us that the Christ was not only with God from the beginning but is God, and all things that came into being came through Him. Christ gave life and is also the light of the world.

Verses 6-9 tells us that John the Baptist was sent by God to be a witness for Christ. John was not the Messiah but was getting the world ready for the coming Messiah.

John tells us that most of the people did not accept Christ, but those who did, He gave power to become the children of God.

Both Genesis and The Gospel According to John start with, “In the beginning”. Genesis tells of the creation of this universe, earth, plants and animals, and humans. John tells of a new creation, a new humanity who become children of God through faith in Christ.

When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John also testified that Jesus is the Son of God.

John the Baptist was a witness for Christ, telling the world that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. John the gospel-writer is being a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of the world but also the Son of God, by writing down his gospel.

Jesus referred to Himself as the light of the world in John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

There is a prophesy in Isaiah 9:2 about the Messiah – “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.” It is a great picture of what God has done for us by sending Christ to us. But sadly, as John points out, His own people did not accept Him.

Especially during the advent season, there will be opportunities to share the true meaning of Christmas with those who do not know Him yet. Just as John was called upon to be a witness to the light, we too are called to be witnesses to the light.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus says to us, “You are the light of the world”. It is helpful for us to accept that Jesus is the true light of the world. We cannot really shine on our own. We are more like mirrors, which can reflect the light of Christ and direct it towards the dark places. It is also important to keep in mind that the only way we can reflect His light is to have our surface cleaned, and then face Christ. Only then can we direct the light into the dark.

Over fifty years ago, I attended a service where John Stott was bringing the message. He asked whether we thought this world around us is one that is full of light or one that has many dark places. He also asked whether this world is a refreshing place or whether it has many rotten places. He proposed, and we all agreed, that this world could be less dark and less rotten.

So why doesn’t God do something about it? Stott’s point was clear. God is doing something about it – He is sending us. This is what Jesus meant when He told His followers that they are the salt of the earth and light of the world. We, who are the servants of the Lord, are to act as salt and light. Otherwise, like salt, we are to bring the refreshing and preserving power of God to those around us. We are also to bring light into the darkness.

All we say and do are supposed to witness to the love of God. The type of love that would love an enemy. The type of love that would send His only Son to the cross, even though most will reject Him.

Before we speak or act, we should ask ourselves whether what we are about to do or say would witness for the love of God? Will it further the good news of Jesus being accepted or praised? Will it reflect well on our Lord?

The Gospel of John acts as a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the World. In this advent season, let us reflect the light of Christ so that the people living in darkness can witness God’s love, grace and forgiveness.

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Shun Takano during our worship of December 8, 2024.)

Here is a link to Anna Rosengren’s Fall / Winter Newsletter that arrived the first week of December. There’s lots of news and reports…. as well as her new address. Read it HERE.

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Our text for today is from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was living in Jerusalem in the southern kingdom of Judah. He prophesied both about judgement and hope.

• Judgement, because the people of Israel had wandered far from God. They had rejected God’s teachings and law. They had worshiped other gods. They had stopped asking for God’s leading….and had begun seeking out mediums, spiritists, and fortune-tellers to get help. As a result, Isaiah described them as distressed, and living  in darkness.
• However, today’s text is also one of hope. Isaiah prophecies that people living in darkness will experience a great light. This light will come as the result of a child’s birth. A royal child who will reign on the throne of David.
• At the time, this may have simply been heard as a prophecy of an earthly king. However, as Christians, we now read these texts as God’s promise for Israel and the entire world. This text points to Jesus Christ, and the eternal light that came into a very dark world.
• Each year we remind ourselves of one of the main themes of advent. It is the contrast between darkness and light. It is the image of being in the dark….but waiting for the light.

All of us have experienced the inconvenience and fear of darkness. Maybe you’ve tried reading without enough light, going up or downstairs at night in the dark – feeling your way along, or holding a sick, feverish child through the night, wondering if you can make it to the dawn. For me, after living many years in Japan – earthquakes at night were one of the most frightening things to experience. They are also frightening in broad daylight, but not being able to see as you run downstairs, or run from your home was always a bit scary. In each of these examples – a bit of light, more sufficient light – would solve or at least alleviate the problem and take away some of the fear.

Light is essential for life.

• Isaiah 9:2 echoes the opening verses of the Bible (Genesis 1:2-3) ‘Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’
• The beginning of life….starts with light.
  • The Spirit of God hovered over the darkness of the physical world, ready for creation to burst forth…..
  • In the same way, God’s spirit moves and is at work in our spiritual darkness, preparing to bring new life.
  • In both the physical and spiritual situations, God’s answer for darkness is “LIGHT”.
• In Isaiah chapters 8 and 9, darkness is clearly a metaphor, an image, for sin. The people had wandered far from God. They were each going their own way. The result, according to Isaiah, was that they were living in darkness and distress. But Isaiah promised a time when a bright light would appear and bring salvation.

In our present world, we too experience spiritual darkness.

• War (Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, and many other locations)
• Hate and racism, injustice and inequality
• Just like Isaiah described the Israelites of old – ignoring God, seeking help from fortune-tellers, spiritists, and their own made-up religions, etc., – we presently do the same.
• We can’t escape the darkness and suffering and pain that this world brings. We’re surrounded by it.

But we have seen the dawning of a new and great light. This great light is Jesus and Jesus provides the beginning of new life. Do we really believe this?

We have 4 weeks until we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

How are you preparing your heart?

1. Perhaps today, on this first Sunday of Advent, we can prepare by accepting the darkness and brokenness of our world, of our own lives, of our need for a Savior. And then we can take time to wait quietly and consider the coming of Jesus into our lives. This is hard to do while buying presents and frantically “getting ready for the holidays” – but it’s well worth the effort.
2. What are your struggles today? Emotional, spiritual, financial, physical illness? We don’t need to pretend to be cheery. We don’t need to deny our deep need and longing for healing and wholeness. That is what ADVENT is about. Waiting in darkness, but with hope…. and desire…. and longing…. for a Savior.

Our world IS broken and in need of healing. But a Savior is promised!

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

(the above is a summary of the message shared during worship on December 1, 2024.)

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

¹Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, ²all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, ³the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. ⁴The LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” ⁵Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD’S command. ⁶He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. ⁷Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. ⁸The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. ⁹Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses. ¹⁰Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. ¹¹He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, ¹²and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

The LORD brings victories to Israel. One of the areas that they were victorious was the land just east of the Jordan River. The Reubenites and the Gadites had a great number of cattle, and they thought that the land was perfect for raising cattle. So, they, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, make a request to Moses that instead of settling in the Promised Land, they be allowed to settle in the Transjordan. Moses grants this request, as long as they still send their men across the Jordan along with their brethren to help with the conquest of the land.

Towards the end of his role as the leader of Israel, the LORD reminds Moses that although he will be able to look upon the Promised Land, he will not be allowed to enter it. So, Moses asks the LORD to appoint a new leader who will take the people into Canaan, and the LORD designates Joshua. They hold an official ceremony for the change of leadership in front of all the people.

The book of Deuteronomy is basically a series of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites to prepare for their entrance into the Promised Land. It includes the reiteration of the Law, the covenant with the LORD, love and obedience and the leadership transition.

The first four chapters give the historical review of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Moab and highlights God’s faithfulness and the people’s past disobedience.

Chapters 5-26 reiterate the Law – The Ten Commandments, various civil and religious laws and instructions for worship and daily life.

In Chapters 27-30 Moses outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience and emphasizes the importance of following God’s laws.

The final four chapters covers Moses’ farewell and death.

 Moses is considered the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. His actions and teachings are referenced throughout the Old Testament. He also makes an appearance in the gospels, appearing with Elijah to meet with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, to discuss the upcoming crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

In Jude 1:9, there is an interesting reference to the Jewish legend about Satan and the archangel Michael contending regarding the body of Moses. The legend has it that Satan wanted to find and use the body of Moses to tempt Israel into sinning and Michael prevented this.

In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses prophesies that someday, the LORD is going to raise up a prophet like Moses from the Jews. Many scholars believe that Moses is pointing to Jesus Christ. There are some well-known parallels between Moses and Jesus.

They were both born at time when there was a royal decree to kill all the male infants but were saved. Moses fled out of Egypt to escape being captured, while Jesus lived in Egypt for a time to escape King Herod.

Moses delivered the Law from God at Mount Sinai. Jesus preached about the Law in the Sermon on the Mount.

Moses performed many miracles through God. Jesus performed many signs and miracles.

Moses acted as an intercessor between God and the Israelites, pleading on their behalf. Jesus acts as the mediator and intercessor between God and humanity.

Moses delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Jesus delivers believers from the bondage of sin and leads them to eternal life.

The narrative about Moses and the Exodus is the central story of the Old Testament. Everything that comes before it leads to Exodus, and everything that comes after looks back at what God did for the Israelites. Likewise, the narrative about the cross and resurrection of Christ is the central story of the New Testament. Everything leading up to it points to it, while everything that comes after looks back on it.

About 3,500 years ago, God heard the need of His people and sent Moses to deliver them out of slavery. Two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus Christ to deliver humanity so that we can be freed from slavery to sin.

Through the death on the cross, Jesus Christ gave us the path to forgiveness and freedom from sin. All one has to do is to repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and not only forgiveness is granted, but eternal life with the Lord is also assured. We will become sons and daughters of God. This is what we celebrate during the Advent season, which is right upon us.

There are many around us who are still living in darkness and need to accept Jesus into their hearts. God so loved Israel that He sent Moses to them. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to us. The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Savior of the world is the good news that we not only need to appreciate and celebrate, but to spread to those who need to hear it.  

(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano during our worship of November 24, 2024.)