Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog

by Al Linton, Elder

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

When I think of Jeremiah, my rock-and-roll mind goes to Three Dog Night’s Joy to the World: “Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine. Never understood a single word he said but I helped him drink his wine. Yes, he always had some mighty fine wine, singing joy to the world!”

So, who was Jeremiah? Did he have some mighty fine wine? Don’t know the answer to that, but I do know he was a prophet between 626-586 BC. The Scripture he wrote refers to the line of David being the fulfillment of God’s promise of the New Covenant. God would send His Son into the world as a human being to fulfill the relational demands of God’s covenant through His Son’s perfect obedience and His paying the price for our disobedience by His death.

Jeremiah prophesied the birth of Jesus, who was to come from the line of David, in fulfillment of the New Covenant of God to His people. We are forgiven through the sacrifice of our Savior for us. Joy to the world indeed! Jesus lives! The New Covenant is a relationship with God made possible by the forgiveness of sins. Through our faith, belief, and love, we are saved!

This Christmas season, may we be reminded of the story foretold to us: from the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior, which was for all of us.

Merry Christmas to you!

Prayer: Dear Abba Father, help us remember why You sent Your Son Jesus Christ here. Help us have the courage and faith that Thy will be done. Amen