Text: Luke 1:5-38
A few months ago, we marked Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary. Many celebrated. Many did not. For various reasons. What relevance does this have for us as we re-learn Jesus?
Last week, we looked at how some of the prophecies dating back from the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and from Abraham were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus the Messiah. And Jesus being for all time, for all mankind and for all nations. That includes Nigeria and the various ethnic nations and states that make up our country and our continent.
In January 2021, we only have to look at our nations – Nigeria as a whole or the various ethnic nation states that existed before colonialism, the United Kingdom, America, Russia, France etc. -to know that they are all dysfunctional and there is no justice and peace for all. Even leading democracies such as America are under threat from various groups and forces – internal & external. All our nations are sick. With injustice, crime, corruption, oppression, disease, poverty, hatred etc. Yet, there are promises and prophecies that God will judge the nations, settle their disputes and bring them healing and justice. For example, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied that:
“He (God) will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, Nor will they train for war anymore.”
What an incredible promise. One day, the various conflicts between nations and different groups which have been the cause of so many wars and taken peace from the earth will cease. This is good news! All the killings, hatred, racism, corruption, injustice, poverty and horrors we see will be no more. God promises us that a day is coming when he, through Jesus, will judge the nations, including Nigeria, for these ills and restore them to His original plan – of no death, full justice and full peace. Where His kingdom will truly show itself – where He will be King and reign.
John the Baptist got to be the announcer and preparer of the way for this Saviour and this great Personage. John the Baptist himself came in full power and spirit of a great Prophet – Elijah as foretold by Malachi 400 years before he came on the scene.
God had a plan then. He still does today. What is our own part to play?
Like John the Baptist, we are to faithfully pursue the cause of Jesus. The path that He has set forth already – that of knowing Jesus and proclaiming his return by living as people under his reign so that even as our nations struggle to live rightly, we will be preparing the way for the return of Jesus. Like all the prophecies which were eventually fulfilled, this one of the nations being put right and there being no more wars will be fulfilled. So as we navigate these troubled times in our nation, let us live in practice for the new nation that will emerge when Jesus comes into His glory. This is part of the good news. Next week, we will look at John the Baptist and his role in preparing us for the coming of Jesus Christ in greater detail.
Prayer:
Thank you Lord for our nation and for your promise of peace for all nations that will come through the Prince of Peace. Give us hope and faith for our nation Nigeria and other nations. And may the times of peace, justice and prosperity for our various nations come quickly. Amen.
- Ier Jonathan-Ichaver is a Bible student, striving Jesus follower and social worker.
