Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 2:40

October 11, 2012    My Escape into Egypt        Page 27-28   Matthew 2:13-23; Luke 2:40

In 2007, the movie “No Country for Old Men” was released. In this adaption of the Cormac McCarthy novel, Tommie Lee Jones played a sheriff in his futile attempt to track a brutal killer. The movie’s closing scene caused quite a controversy because so few people could grasp its meaning. In the scene, Ed Tom Bell, Jones’ character, is telling his wife about a dream he had. In the dream, Bell and his father were traveling on horseback on a cold and snowy night. His father rode past him carrying a fire in a horn. Bell said he knew that his father was going on ahead, and that he was going to make a fire somewhere out there in the dark and cold. He knew that whenever he got there, his father would be waiting by the fire. The movie cuts to black immediately following Bell’s last word. There are stories that in some theaters people jumped to their feet and hollered, “What the heck was that all about?” (Or words similar thereto.)

I saw the movie, and the end made perfect sense to me. However I understand why so many people were confused. In our culture, there is precious little discussion of eschatology, in or out of the church. Eschatology is the teaching about Jesus coming again in final victory. While most people immediately head to the Book of Revelation to find end times prophesies, the New Testament is replete with these references. (See  Matthew 24:4-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 5:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Peter 3:3-13, and Jude 1:6-7) Included within eschatology is the understanding that this present world is not all there is; there is more to come. Christ has gone ahead to prepare a place for us; when Christ comes again in final victory, everything will be made right and the people of God will be vindicated. For me, the final scene in the movie “No Country for Old Men” pointed to this promise of God.

Jesus’ telling of the visit of the wise men, and his escape to Egypt, cited at least five Old Testament references. (Micah 5:2; 2 Samuel 5:2, Hosea 11:1, Jeremiah 31:15 and Judges 13: 5, 7) All of these references show that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send His Messiah. The Messiah “was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven,    and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” (The Apostles’ Creed)

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

October 12, 2012    I Reasoned with Religious Teachers       Page 31        Luke 2:41-52