1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

2 asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

— Matthew 2:1-2

9 Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

— Isaiah 13:9-10

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

— Matthew 24:29

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

— 2 Peter 3:10

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

— Romans 3:23-25

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Peace and joy to you from the Lord Jesus.

God’s plan of redemption involves His whole creation. A star marked Jesus’ first coming. His second coming will also be announced by the sun, moon and galaxies. Jesus quoted Ole Testament prophets as He spoke of cosmic events prior to His return. Peter also repeated Joel’s prophecy that the sun would turn to weakness and the moon to blood before the day of the Lord. Revelation records interstellar signs appearing when Jesus opens the sixth seal on the scroll. The tumult in the heavens and earth is merely a prelude to the great day of the Lamb’s wrath.

God’s grace is wide and deep. In Joel’s prophecy, words of grace follow God’s warning of judgment on the dreadful day of the Lord. The God who judges is the God who saves. Centuries after Joel spoke, God’s sent Jesus, the Messiah, to live and die so that all who would believe in Him could be saved. The sinless Son of God took the judgment of sin on Himself. He rose from the dead in victory over death, offering assurance of new life, now and forever, for all who trust in Him. Joel promised this deliverance “on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.” All of God’s promises are true. All who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved from God’s day of judgment.