December 21

1.1 Growing up, I did not enjoy Christmas. It was not part of our family tradition, and my parents were rarely home because of their work. As I have shared before, my sister and I often spent Christmas evenings alone. In fact, our parents usually left for work earlier than usual to serve the holiday rush of guests and customers.

1.2 One year, however, my parents promised that we would celebrate together with a cake, so we were filled with excitement. When I returned home from my part-time job—I was a high school student then—I bought a cake, and we sat waiting for our parents. But they did not come. Eventually, my sister and I celebrated Christmas by ourselves and ate the cake. Yet, I still clearly remember the progression of emotions I felt while waiting: excitement at the beginning, followed by disappointment, and finally, anxiety.

1.3 Today is Christmas Sunday, and we gather to celebrate the coming of Jesus. But in reality, the first Christmas was not immediately a happy moment, for God’s people had been waiting for a very long time—over 400 years. Yet, He finally came. Through Malachi chapter 3, let us explore God's promise and the coming of Jesus. Let us read Malachi 3:1-4. 

Malachi 3:1–2 ESV

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 

Malachi 3:3–4 ESV

He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 

2.1 To understand this scripture, we must first understand the world into which Malachi spoke. His ministry took place in post-exilic Judah, roughly 460–430 BC. This was a period of crushing disappointment. Decades earlier, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah had promised that once the Temple was rebuilt, a new Messianic age of immense glory and prominence would begin. However, nearly a century had passed since the Temple was completed, and the reality was bleak. There was no king from David's line, the nation was a tiny, insignificant state of the Persian Empire, and the glorious "Shekinah" presence of God had not returned to the Temple. The people felt like children waiting for parents who had promised a celebration but never showed up.

2.2 This "gap" between God’s promise and their daily reality led to a dangerous spiritual state called "apatheism"—a bored, cynical worship where people went through the motions but their hearts were cold. They began to offer sick and lame animals as sacrifices, reasoning that if God didn't care about their plight, why should they care about His rituals?. They looked at the injustice around them—the wealthy exploiting the poor and the wicked prospering—and threw a cynical question at heaven: "Where is the God of justice?". Malachi 3 is God’s sudden, startling answer to that cry.

3.1 When waiting becomes long and the presence of God feels distant, human nature tends to cling to "forms" while losing the "essence." We see this throughout church history. For example, in the Catholic tradition, the liturgy was originally designed to help the congregation actively participate in the mystery of worship. It was meant to be a vehicle for the soul to meet God. However, over time, for many, the essence faded and only the rigid form remained. People began to view these rituals as burdensome or unnecessary rules rather than life-giving encounters. The same thing can happen with seasons like Advent. We decorate trees, light candles, and follow traditions, but if we lose sight of who we are waiting for, the season becomes nothing more than a religious habit.

Isaiah 1:11–13 NLT

“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.

Matthew 15:8 NKJV

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. (Isaiah29:13)

3.2 In Malachi’s day, this is exactly what happened. The people kept the "form" of the Covenant—they still brought sacrifices to the Temple—but because they no longer expected God to actually show up, they brought their "leftovers" (the blind and lame animals). They practiced a religion of convenience rather than a relationship of conviction. What Malachi 3 reminds us is that the meaning behind the season is more important than the observance of the season itself. God’s promise isn't about maintaining a religious calendar; it’s about a living Covenant where He breaks into our reality to be "God with us." As we celebrate Christmas, we must ask ourselves: Are we just eating the cake of tradition, or are we truly waiting for the Guest of Honor who was promised long ago?

4.1 When the people asked, “Where is the God of justice?”, they were looking for a political revolution. They wanted God to change the Persian tax laws, punish their enemies, and restore their national pride. But God’s answer in Malachi 3:1 is far more radical. He says the Lord whom they seek will come “suddenly” (pit’om) to His temple. This “suddenness” tells us that God’s arrival often interrupts our expectations.

• A Different Kind of King: The people expected a military conqueror; instead, the "Lord" came to His temple as an infant in the arms of a poor family.

• The Messenger of the Covenant: Jesus is identified here as the "Messenger of the Covenant". His birth was not just a beautiful story; it was the formal, legal fulfillment of God’s ancient promise to Abraham and David.

• Not Just "With Us," but "One of Us": The name Emmanuel means "God with us". Malachi shows us that this proximity is radical—God didn't send a representative or a new set of rules; He came Himself as Ha-Adon (The Master) to dwell in our midst.

4.2 The "peace" of the first Christmas was not a political peace between nations, but a Covenantal peace between God and man. The people wanted God to change their circumstances, but God came to change them. The arrival of Jesus is a holy disruption—it is terrifying to a world comfortable with its own darkness, but it is the ultimate anchor of hope for those who realize that God has finally kept His word.

5.1 When we look at the birth of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we see a striking contrast between human expectations and divine reality. The Jewish people were looking for a king in a palace, a leader with political power who would fulfill their desire for national prestige.

Luke 2:8–12 NASB 2020

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

5.2 But God’s plan was not about satisfying human expectations; it was about the completion of His Covenant. * Not Form, but Substance: If we only follow the "form" of Christmas, we focus on the bright lights, the festive music, and the grand events. But the true meaning is found in the humility of the manger.

• The God Who Understands: Jesus did not come in a way that distanced Him from us. He came in a way that made Him one of us. By being born in a stable, He entered into our poverty, our vulnerability, and our everyday struggles.

• A God Who Dwells With Us: This wasn't just a "happy event"—it was God keeping His promise to never abandon His people. He didn't come to a palace to be served; He came to a manger to be with us, to understand our pain, and to bridge the gap that sin had created.

5.3 The real joy of Christmas is not that our "wish list" was fulfilled, but that God’s "promise list" was completed. Jesus is the proof that God is not a distant observer, but a participant in our lives. He chose to be with us, exactly as we are, so that we could eventually be with Him, exactly as He is.

Galatians 4:4–5 NIV

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

1 John 3:2 KJV 1900

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

6.1 As we look at the image of the Refiner in Malachi 3, we must connect it to the manger in Bethlehem. Why did the "Messenger of the Covenant" come as a helpless baby? Because a refiner must be close to the silver. God didn't just stay in heaven and command us to be holy; He entered the "heat" of our human experience. He felt our hunger, our rejection, and our pain. The miracle of Christmas is that the Refiner became the silver. He became one of us so that He could sit beside us in our trials. When you look at the baby Jesus, you see a God who says, "I am not just watching your life; I am sharing it."

Malachi 3:6 ESV

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

6.2 The reason we can celebrate today is found in verse 6: "For I am the Lord, I change not." Our hope doesn't depend on how well we keep our holiday traditions or how perfect our lives are. It depends on God’s unchanging character. We are not "consumed" by our failures or the darkness of this world because the "Consuming Fire" of God’s judgment fell on Jesus at the Cross, leaving only the "Refining Fire" of His love for us today.

6.3 Practical Living: Becoming a Messenger of the Real Christmas: As a young boy, I was focused only on the "forms" of Christmas—the family gathering, the joy, and the lighting of the cake. Because those forms were missing, that boy felt only deep sadness and loneliness. But today, that boy stands before you as a pastor who has discovered the true essence of Christmas. I have learned that the meaning of this day is not found in the outward traditions, but in the profound reality of Jesus' coming to be with us.

6.4 Now, I strive to live my life sharing this truth: that God is with us regardless of our circumstances. Just as I found hope in the "Messenger of the Covenant," we are called to be His messengers this week. Let us move beyond the "form" and embrace the "essence":

• Embrace the "Sudden" Interruptions: Just as Jesus came "suddenly" to a world that wasn't ready, God often speaks in ways we don't expect. When your plans fail this week, ask: "Lord, are you refining me through this?"

• Find Peace in His Presence, Not Your Circumstances: The first Christmas didn't change the politics of the day, but it changed everything because God was there. Stop waiting for problems to disappear to be happy; instead, celebrate that the Covenant-keeper is standing in the fire with you.

• Be a "Messenger" to Someone in the Dark: Jesus came while we were still "dross." Think of someone who feels as "disappointed" or "anxious" as that young boy waiting for his cake. Reach out to them. Your presence can reflect Christ’s presence to them. Let us spend this week as messengers who deliver the true meaning of Christmas.

6.5 Closing Prayer: Lord, we thank you that Christmas is not about our efforts to reach You, but about Your faithfulness in reaching us. Thank you for being the Messenger of the Covenant who keeps His word. We pray for those who, like that lonely boy, are searching for meaning in the forms and traditions of this world. Help them to find the true Guest of Honor, Jesus Christ. As we leave this place, help us to trust the Refiner’s hand, to rejoice in the Savior’s birth, and to be Your faithful messengers to a world in need. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Short-Answer Quiz

Instructions: Answer the following ten questions based on the provided source material. Each answer should be approximately two to three sentences long.

1. Describe the historical and spiritual context in which the prophet Malachi delivered his message.

2. What specific, cynical question did the people of Malachi's day ask, and what did it reveal about their spiritual condition?

3. Explain the concept of "form versus essence" in worship, using an example mentioned in the text.

4. According to Malachi 3:1, how did God’s promised arrival differ from the people’s expectations?

5. Who is identified as the "Messenger of the Covenant," and what is the legal significance of this title?

6. The text distinguishes between the "peace" the people wanted and the "Covenantal peace" God delivered. What is the core difference?

7. How does the description of Jesus's birth in Luke 2 (in a manger) serve as a sign that directly counters human expectations for a king?

8. Explain the theological meaning behind the statement, "the miracle of Christmas is that the Refiner became the silver."

9. According to Malachi 3:6, what is the ultimate foundation for a believer's hope, and why does this prevent them from being "consumed"?

10. The sermon concludes by calling the audience to be "messengers of the real Christmas." Identify two practical actions suggested for fulfilling this role.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer Key

1. Malachi’s ministry took place in post-exilic Judah (c. 460–430 BC), a period of great disappointment. The people felt abandoned because the promised Messianic age of glory had not arrived despite the Temple being rebuilt, leading to a spiritual state of "apatheism."

2. The people cynically asked, "Where is the God of justice?". This question revealed their cold hearts and bored worship, as they saw the wicked prospering and concluded that God did not care about their plight or His own rituals.

3. "Form versus essence" describes the danger of clinging to religious rituals (form) while losing the heart of worship (essence). An example given is Advent; if one focuses only on decorating trees and lighting candles without remembering who is being awaited, the season becomes a meaningless religious habit.

4. The people expected a political revolution led by a military conqueror who would change their circumstances. Instead, God promised that the Lord would come "suddenly" (pit’om) to His temple, interrupting their expectations with a holy, refining presence.

5. Jesus is identified as the "Messenger of the Covenant." This title signifies that His birth was not just a story but the formal and legal fulfillment of God's ancient covenant promises to Abraham and David.

6. The people wanted political peace, which would have meant God changing their external circumstances like Persian tax laws and national standing. God delivered Covenantal peace, which is a restored relationship between God and humanity that changes people from the inside out.

7. The people expected a king born in a palace, symbolizing political power and prestige. The sign of a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger represents the opposite: God entering into human poverty, vulnerability, and everyday struggles to be one with His people.

8. This statement means that God (the Refiner) did not remain distant while commanding humanity to be holy. Instead, He entered the "heat" of the human experience by becoming human himself (the silver), sharing in our pain, hunger, and rejection in order to purify us.

9. The foundation for hope is God's unchanging character, as stated in the verse, "For I the Lord do not change." Believers are not "consumed" by their failures or darkness because God's consuming judgment fell on Jesus at the Cross, leaving only the refining fire of His love for them.

10. Two suggested actions are: 1) Embrace "sudden" interruptions in life as potential moments of God's refining work, and 2) Be a "messenger" to someone feeling disappointed or anxious by reflecting Christ's presence to them.