The Radiant Hope of the Returning King
"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2)
The One Who Will Return as King
“Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”
These words from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing are not mere poetry—they are rich with theological truth and filled with hope. Christmas is not just a celebration of the past; it’s an anticipation of the future. The baby born in Bethlehem is also the King who will come again to reign.
Malachi 4 paints a vivid picture of this future. In verse 1, we are confronted with a day of reckoning: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.” This is a sobering reminder that God’s justice will not be delayed forever. But then, in verse 2, we are given a glorious promise: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
These verses are both a warning and a comfort. They remind us of the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God’s judgment, but they also fill us with hope. For those who trust in Christ, the coming of the King will not be a day of dread but a day of joy.
The Humility of His First Coming
Think about how this King first came. The Sun of Righteousness—the eternal Son of God—entered the world not in power but in humility. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger, and raised in obscurity. The One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) took on the fragility of human flesh.
Why? Because His mission was not to conquer nations but to save sinners. His first coming was marked by humility because He came to lay down His life for us. He came not to bring judgment but to bear it, to take the punishment we deserved so that we might receive the healing described in Malachi 4:2.
This healing is not simply physical; it is spiritual, deep, and eternal. It is the healing of broken souls, the restoration of shattered relationships, and the redemption of lives that were once lost. The child in the manger came to bring light to our darkness, hope to our despair, and life to our death.
The Promise of His Return
But Christmas is not only about looking back; it is about looking forward. The Sun of Righteousness has risen, but the fullness of His light is still to come. Malachi 4:2 continues, “You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” What a vivid image! It’s a picture of uncontainable joy, of freedom, of life as it was meant to be.
Jesus’ first coming was like the dawn—the first light breaking into the darkness. His second coming will be like the full sunrise, driving away every shadow and flooding the world with His glory. On that day, the healing He began will be complete. Sin will be no more. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).
For those who fear His name, His return will be the culmination of all our hopes. But for those who reject Him, it will be a day of judgment. Malachi 4:1 warns that the arrogant and evildoers will face God’s justice, and they will not stand.
This dual reality of judgment and joy should sober us and comfort us. It reminds us that sin is serious, but it also assures us that for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Living in Light of His Coming
How, then, should we live between these two advents—between the humility of His first coming and the glory of His second?
We live in gratitude. The Sun of Righteousness has already risen, and His light has reached us. Jesus has brought us forgiveness, healing, and hope. Do our lives reflect the gratitude of hearts transformed by His grace?
We live in anticipation. The world is still broken, but it will not always be this way. Jesus is coming back, and He will set all things right. Are we living with that hope, or are we consumed by the temporary concerns of this world?
We live in preparation. Advent is a season of waiting, but it is not idle waiting. It is active, joyful preparation. We prepare for His coming by living holy lives, proclaiming the gospel, and worshiping the King who will come again.
A Question for Reflection
Malachi 4:2 describes a joy so profound that we will leap like calves freed from the stall. Is that the kind of joy you know? Is your heart filled with the hope of Christ’s return, or are you weighed down by the worries of this life?
The invitation of Advent is to lift our eyes, to remember that the King has come and that He will come again. The Sun of Righteousness will rise, and His light will shine forever. Let this truth fill you with gratitude, hope, and joy.
Throughout this Advent season, Pastor Josh is writing devotionals as a companion piece to Pastor Tim's sermons. This devotional was inspired by last Sunday's sermon, "Sun of Righteousness." You can find all sermons in this series at this link.
The One Who Will Return as King
“Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.”
These words from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing are not mere poetry—they are rich with theological truth and filled with hope. Christmas is not just a celebration of the past; it’s an anticipation of the future. The baby born in Bethlehem is also the King who will come again to reign.
Malachi 4 paints a vivid picture of this future. In verse 1, we are confronted with a day of reckoning: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.” This is a sobering reminder that God’s justice will not be delayed forever. But then, in verse 2, we are given a glorious promise: “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”
These verses are both a warning and a comfort. They remind us of the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God’s judgment, but they also fill us with hope. For those who trust in Christ, the coming of the King will not be a day of dread but a day of joy.
The Humility of His First Coming
Think about how this King first came. The Sun of Righteousness—the eternal Son of God—entered the world not in power but in humility. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger, and raised in obscurity. The One who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17) took on the fragility of human flesh.
Why? Because His mission was not to conquer nations but to save sinners. His first coming was marked by humility because He came to lay down His life for us. He came not to bring judgment but to bear it, to take the punishment we deserved so that we might receive the healing described in Malachi 4:2.
This healing is not simply physical; it is spiritual, deep, and eternal. It is the healing of broken souls, the restoration of shattered relationships, and the redemption of lives that were once lost. The child in the manger came to bring light to our darkness, hope to our despair, and life to our death.
The Promise of His Return
But Christmas is not only about looking back; it is about looking forward. The Sun of Righteousness has risen, but the fullness of His light is still to come. Malachi 4:2 continues, “You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” What a vivid image! It’s a picture of uncontainable joy, of freedom, of life as it was meant to be.
Jesus’ first coming was like the dawn—the first light breaking into the darkness. His second coming will be like the full sunrise, driving away every shadow and flooding the world with His glory. On that day, the healing He began will be complete. Sin will be no more. Death will be swallowed up in victory. Every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).
For those who fear His name, His return will be the culmination of all our hopes. But for those who reject Him, it will be a day of judgment. Malachi 4:1 warns that the arrogant and evildoers will face God’s justice, and they will not stand.
This dual reality of judgment and joy should sober us and comfort us. It reminds us that sin is serious, but it also assures us that for those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Living in Light of His Coming
How, then, should we live between these two advents—between the humility of His first coming and the glory of His second?
We live in gratitude. The Sun of Righteousness has already risen, and His light has reached us. Jesus has brought us forgiveness, healing, and hope. Do our lives reflect the gratitude of hearts transformed by His grace?
We live in anticipation. The world is still broken, but it will not always be this way. Jesus is coming back, and He will set all things right. Are we living with that hope, or are we consumed by the temporary concerns of this world?
We live in preparation. Advent is a season of waiting, but it is not idle waiting. It is active, joyful preparation. We prepare for His coming by living holy lives, proclaiming the gospel, and worshiping the King who will come again.
A Question for Reflection
Malachi 4:2 describes a joy so profound that we will leap like calves freed from the stall. Is that the kind of joy you know? Is your heart filled with the hope of Christ’s return, or are you weighed down by the worries of this life?
The invitation of Advent is to lift our eyes, to remember that the King has come and that He will come again. The Sun of Righteousness will rise, and His light will shine forever. Let this truth fill you with gratitude, hope, and joy.
Throughout this Advent season, Pastor Josh is writing devotionals as a companion piece to Pastor Tim's sermons. This devotional was inspired by last Sunday's sermon, "Sun of Righteousness." You can find all sermons in this series at this link.
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