Readings on Advent from Heaven s Point of View

Transcription

1 II Readings on Advent from Heaven s Point of View by Phillip Simpson

2 Advent II What is Advent? Noel Piper gives a great introduction to the idea of an Advent celebration: Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25, sometimes in the last weekend of November, sometimes on the first Sunday in December For four weeks, it s as if we re reenacting, remembering the thousands of years God s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of God s salvation, for Jesus. That s what advent means coming We Christians on this side of Jesus birth are a God-blessed, happy people because we know God s plan. The ancient waiting is over. We have the greatest reason to celebrate. 1 To give a little more detail, here is how families and churches typically celebrate Advent. First, a wreath is placed on a table; four candles are placed around the wreath. There is also another candle in the center of the wreath. Sometimes the candles are colored purple (to represent hope, love, and peace) and pink (a symbol of joy). The center candle is typically white, to symbolize purity. The first Sunday, one of the outside candles is lit. This first candle is called The Prophets candle. A Scripture passage is read (like Isaiah 9:6), which reminds us that the birth of Christ was foretold by prophets centuries before His birth. As with all the candles, the Scripture reading may be followed by some discussion; a prayer is then offered related to the reading

3 The second Sunday, after relighting the Prophets candle another candle is lit this one is the Bethlehem candle, reminding us of the humble town in which our Savior was born. A Scripture reading for this candle might include Micah 5:2. After lighting the Prophets and Bethlehem candles, a third candle lit is the Shepherd s candle, reminding us that Christ s first visitors were humble shepherds; this was fitting, since Christ would become our Good Shepherd. The Scripture reading would likely include Luke 2:8-20. On the Sunday before Christmas the fourth candle is lit (after the first three candles are relit); it is called the Angels candle; a passage like Luke 1:8-38 might be read, reminding us of the divine messengers who first announced Christ s birth. On Christmas Eve (or Christmas Day), the 5 th and final candle the Christ candle is lit. It is fitting that Advent finds its culmination in Christ. His candle is the center candle, just as all other things surrounding Advent are external, but Christ is the center. Matthew 1:18-25 is a sample scripture reading for this candle. For several years my family has used the Advent tradition as a way to read about, discuss, and pray about Christ's birth. Advent readings have been a very useful tool to help us do this. Why an Advent II? A couple of years ago we noticed something happening that often happens with the familiar; it began to seem commonplace. Not that all of us didn't feel those truths were worthy of our awe and our delight. It just seemed that we had gotten to the place in our observance of the Advent season where our response (unfortunately) was almost, "Yeah, yeah, I know. Born in Bethlehem. Angels announced it. Shepherds saw it. I get it." Now this is a sad statement about our hearts--but I have a feeling our fallen hearts all tend to drift this way; truths that 2

4 are glorious may, because they become familiar, cease to thrill our hearts. When I saw this happening, I wondered if there was a way to present the Christmas story in a different way--perhaps show the jewel in a slightly different light, so that different aspects of that jewel can be admired. What I came up with and used last year, I'm making available here. If any of you find that your families could benefit from changing things up to consider other aspects of the Christmas story, this may be of help. How is Advent II different from traditional Advent? After a few years of celebrating the traditional Advent I realized that the readings focused more or less on events as they were witnessed on earth. But what if there were a second set of Advent readings--maybe called Advent II--that focused on the divine perspective of Christ's birth? That s the side of the story I hope Advent II celebrates. It s not meant to replace traditional Advent. It is not Advent 2.0, new and improved! It is simply another way to meditate on, pray about, and rejoice over the Greatest Story Ever Told! So, with no further delay, here is the basic idea of Advent II: It uses the same wreath; the same five candles are lit each week. Just like traditional Advent, there are Scripture readings each week. Multiple Scriptures are given, so you can pick one to read, or read them each throughout the week. After the Scripture reading, families are encouraged to discuss and thank God in prayer for the Scripture and themes discussed. Prayers are supplied; you can use these as they are by reading them out loud, but if you are comfortable doing so, it may be better to use these only as a guide for your own prayers (rather than simply reading them). (One note: Some heavier theology is considered in these readings. Advent II will focus on more abstract concepts than traditional Advent. If you have younger children, you may 3

5 need to modify or simplify these readings to suit your needs. Or you may wish to continue with traditional Advent readings until your children are slightly older.) 4

6 Advent II Week 1: The Divine Plan Readings: Psalm 33:10; Is 55:1-6, 10-11; Jn 17:4-8; Acts 2:23 We know that Mary found out that Jesus would be born sometime around 4 B.C. But when did God the Father, or God the Son for that matter, know that He would be born? Was it about the same time? Or was it in reaction to Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden? The Bible teaches that Jesus' birth was not an afterthought. Nor did God decide to send His Son into the world merely as a reaction to man's sin. Rather, God the Father and God the Son planned for this to happen, even before the world was formed. This was an eternal plan. They planned for the Son to be born as a man, live a perfect life, and die a death on a cross--a death which would pay the penalty sin requires for all who trust in Him. Not only that, but even every detail of His coming was planned out from eternity past, including where He would be born, when He would be born--right down to every detail of His life! This was a plan that could in no way fail! As Job said to God, No purpose of yours can be thwarted. (See Job 42:2.) Pray: God, thank You for being completely in control of all events, especially the birth of Jesus. Since we know that sending Jesus was planned by You even before you created the world, we know that You will accomplish what You promised when You sent Him from Your side. We can have confidence that our sins are forgiven because no plan of yours will ever be frustrated. What You say, You will do. In Jesus eternal Name, Amen. 5

7 Week 2: The Divine Purpose Readings: 1 John 3:5, 1 Tim 1:15 So why was it that Jesus had to come to earth and be born as a man? Why did God decide to send His Son to earth; why did the Son agree to be born as a human, and why did the Spirit overshadow Mary, placing Christ in her womb? 1 Timothy 1:15 tells us why: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. That s why the Godhead the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (which we call The Trinity ) went to such lengths to ensure that Jesus was born the way he was, with very humble beginnings, in a manger. His birth was for the express purpose of His death. He came into the world (his birth) to save sinners (his death). He literally came to die. Think about that for a moment. If Christ had not left heaven, had He not come to this earth, the we would be without any way to get into heaven. We would still be in our sins, separated from God. But Jesus loves us too much to let that happen loving us so much, He died for us. That s why Jesus said, Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 ESV). The Christmas carol entitled, Good Christian Men Rejoice puts it well: He has opened Heaven s door And man is blessed evermore Christ was born for this, Christ was born for this. Pray: God, thank you that You loved the world so much that You sent Your Son Jesus into the world, so that believing in Him I might not perish but have eternal life. Thank You for the greatest love I will ever experience; no one loves me as much as You. We are glad Jesus was born for this. In the name of our Savior, Jesus, who loves us eternally, Amen. 6

8 Week 3: The Divine Paradox Readings: John 1:1-5, 14; John 10:30 Why did Jesus have to be both God and man in order to pay the penalty for our sins? The fact that Jesus could be 100% God, yet also 100% man, is a great mystery yet that s exactly what the Bible teaches (compare Hebrews 1:8 with 1 John 1:1-3; see also John 1:14 and Gal 4:4-5). But why was it necessary for Him to become a man? Why couldn t He have remained in heaven as God, and simply forgive us our sins? Or, why couldn t another man have died for the sins of the world? Why did it have to be the God-man, Jesus Christ? If Jesus is not fully man, then He could not have died as a man, paying the penalty for all mankind. A man had to pay for the sins of men so Jesus became one. On the other hand, if Jesus weren t fully God, He would have been born with sin, just like the rest of us. One sinful man can t pay for someone else s sins, because He has his own sins to pay for. Gladly for us, He was both God (sinless and able to pay for sin), and man (made of the same flesh and blood that had sinned against God and required punishment). Because Jesus is God and man, we can be sure that His payment for sin is enough, and that it is accepted by the Father. Pray: God, thank You that although Jesus was in heaven, perfect, complete, fully happy and without any needs, yet He chose to assume a human form, taking on a body of flesh and pitching His tent on earth for 33 years. Thank You that He has a body now in heaven, and this is all because of sinners like me. I am amazed that He went to such lengths to save me, because I am so undeserving. Your plan to save me by sending 7

9 Him shows me what lengths You went through to save me because of Your great love for me. How can I not be thankful? In the name of God become man, our Savior Jesus, Amen. 8

10 Week 4: The Divine Passion Readings: Luke 2: 13-14; Eph 1:11-14; Ro 11:36 What was God s motive in sending Jesus to earth? It was certainly to save us. He was also motivated by love for us. But are these the highest motive God could have in sending Him to be born here? Those are certainly great motives. What could be a higher than God s love for us? Only one thing: His own glory. God is the Highest Being in the universe. If we try to be satisfied in anything that He has made, we will find that to be a fool s errand. It will never happen, because God has designed us to find our chief joy in Him. Psalm 16:11 says that In your presence is fullness of joy. Full joy is not found anywhere else. When God planned a way to save sinful man, He was motivated by the desire to bring Himself glory. This isn t selfishness; it would be selfishness in us, because none of us are worth asking the universe to praise us. When God tells us to glorify Him, it is just our acknowledging the greatest of the best and most glorious Being in the universe and when we do so, we find that this brings us the most joy. That s why worship in the Bible is never seen as a boring thing. It fills the worshipper with awe and tears of joy. That s why we were made, and because Jesus died, we can become worshippers like we were meant to be if we only trust Him and the death He died in our place! O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! Pray: God, Thank You that You chose to bring glory to Your Name through the death of Your Son to save helpless sinners. Your mercy and Your grace are put on display, paraded before our eyes every day as we consider Your love. We pray that the whole rest of our lives will be lived in order to further 9

11 that purpose to bring fame to Your great Name. May we live lives which glorify You in this earth, as we wait to glorify You in heaven for all of eternity. In Jesus Name and for Your glory, Amen. 10

12 Christmas Reading: The Divine Person Readings: Php 2:5-10. Mark 10:45 We have learned a lot about how and why Jesus came to earth. Today, we need to remember that this season is all about Him. All of the wonderful things we ve learned are meant to cause us to focus our thoughts on just how wonderful a Savior Jesus is. It s fitting that this candle is in the center, because we need to always keep Jesus at the center of our lives. He is the focal point of all history, but should also be the focal point of our lives. After his birth, Jesus lived a perfect life, died a death on a cross in our place, and three days later was raised again. He sits on a throne in heaven right now. All who believe that He died in their place will have eternal life. He guarantees it. (See John 3:16 and John 5:24.) He is a Savior loving enough to die in our place; He is perfect enough to be pleasing to the Father; and He is faithful and true to His promise to forgive us if we trust in Him. Just imagine what it would be like to be God from eternity past, perfect and without any needs. Yet out of love, He laid aside all the glory of heaven that was rightfully His, in order to be born as a man. And not only was He born as a man, but in the most humble beginnings, He was born as a man of meager stature not a king or a prince or an emperor, but into the home of a carpenter. Imagine what it would be like for the King of Heaven to walk around on earth, largely unrecognized not only that, but to receive scorn, scoffing, ridicule, and even torture whenever the slightest suggestion of His deity was suggested. Imagine further that this God-man lived on earth, not to have others serve Him, but to serve others though deserving worship, instead to become a servant. Imagine the God-man dying on a cross, paying the penalty for every sin that you or I ever committed (though He Himself was without sin; see Heb 4:15). Finally, imagine that same King being brought back to life after three days, being brought back into heaven to assume His rightful throne but not empty-handed; He brings 11

13 with Him, one by one, everyone who believes that He died in their place. Let s take a moment to thank God for sending His Son Jesus to earth; without that, we would have no way to get to heaven and to enjoy His company we would only be able to face a future of paying for our sins with eternal punishment. This is the greatest story ever told, because it is about the greatest Person who ever lived. His sacrificial love allows us to be with Him for a perfect eternity if we trust His dying for our sins on the cross. Have you done that? If not, why not do that today? O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the Soul felt it's worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born; Pray: Father, we love You. As we meditate on Your Son Jesus, We are awestruck at How wonderful a Savior He is. We have read many things about Jesus this Advent season, and they all teach us one thing We have a wonderful Savior. His unimaginable love for us was nothing we deserved, but something He delighted to show when He died for our sins. As the old hymn says, What wondrous love is this, O my soul?... Christ laid aside His crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing. Thank You for the birth of Jesus. May our lives be lived in such a way as to celebrate that and point to that each and every day. In Jesus beautiful Name, Amen. 12