Luke 3:37. The son of Noah, the son of Lamech
You’ve likely heard the story of Noah and his famous ark. It’s a classic tale of good and evil. The people that surround Noah and his family are quite evil. In fact, it’s nearly impossible for them to do anything good. Genesis tells us that every imagination in their hearts, and every thought in their minds was bent on the destruction of others. It got so bad that God even grieved his own creation. He was sorry he made us.
Does the world feel this way to you sometimes? So wicked, so evil, so anti-God, that you too are sorry to be a part of it. As we wait for Christ’s return do you just want to build an ark and escape from the reality of all the pain and power struggles that surround you?
Me too.
Usually Christmas offers us a bit of a rest doesn’t it. For a few weeks each winter we all try to get along a little bit more. Good will and the brotherhood of man take center stage. There’s just a bit more kindness in the air. A bit more patience. Even a bit more love. In a way, Christmas is an ark that we all climb into to find rest in the flood of life. For 25 days and 25 nights we take comfort in the lights, the trees, the carols, the gifts, and of course the baby born in a manger.
When Noah was born his father named him “Rest.” That’s what the name Noah means. Lamech prophesied that his son would bring us comfort and rest from the curse of the ground (Gen. 5:28).
When Jesus was born his father named him “Savior.” That’s what the name Jesus means. The angel told Joseph that his son would save his people from their sins. Rest from the curse of our hearts.
Noah built an ark that would save lives from God’s wrathful flood. All who entered would live. Jesus’ life is the ark that would be tossed and battered by God’s wrath on the cross. All who enter into his life shall truly live.
Noah’s faith in the unseen, the unseen God and his unseen rain, condemned the faithlessness of the world around him, and produced a long awaited gracious salvation. Jesus’ perfect faithfulness still condemns all we who are faithless. But his perfect faith also offers a salvation so full and so free that alone can rescue and restore all mankind to a place of peace and rest.
Noah saved his people from the sins of others. The treachery of the world around them. But Jesus wants to save us from our own sins. The treachery in our own hearts.
This advent, while we wait upon the Lord’s return, while we wait for God’s coming flood, may we run, not into the ark of Christmas, but into the ark of Christ. His faithfulness. His salvation. His rest.
Questions.
Is Christmas restful for you? Why or why not? Is Christ your ark of rest and peace? In what way?
To Live is Christ 