Advent 2024: Christ

Throughout this Advent season, we’ve been reminded of the ways God has revealed Himself to His people prior to Jesus coming. He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, spoke to Moses through a burning bush, led His people with a cloud and a pillar of fire, and for hundreds of years only a high priest could intercede for sins in the Holy of Holies. The prophets kept speaking of a coming Messiah, but for 400 years, God was silent. 

But everything was about to change. Humanity would soon experience God in the most unexpected way using people that were humble, lowly, overlooked and unimportant by societal standards.

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given…” Yes, the prophets had foretold of a child, but was anyone actually expecting that? The prophet Isaiah also said, 

“and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” Isaiah 9:6-7

So when could they expect this government to finally rest on His shoulders? When would His justice and righteousness prevail? Who would announce his arrival?

But here He was… a baby. Our God, with flesh. He had come.

“He was supposed to look like justice, and instead he looks like love…

He was supposed to look like lightning, and instead he looks like his mother…

He was supposed to look like victory, but here he is sleeping so peacefully. And he doesn’t look like power, oh no, 

Instead…he looks like me.” 

- Waterdeep, “Why does God have to Look so Human”

Instead of speaking through a burning bush, He sits and has a meal with sinners.

Instead of leading his people with a cloud and pillar of fire, He walked among us, touching, healing, comforting those He encountered.

Instead of royalty and fanfare to announce his arrival, it was the lowly shepherds who share the good news of great joy with all people. 

The veil that once separated man from God was now torn from top to bottom through His death and resurrection, giving us full access to God Himself.

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son…From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” John 1:14-18 

Most people weren’t expecting God to come as a baby, and yet He did. Most people today don’t expect to see God at work among us, and yet He is. He is still near. He sent His Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to abide in us. We can come boldly to God, no longer needing a priest to intercede for us, because He has made us a royal priesthood, a holy people. And He is coming again for us one day. 

May we have eyes to see the unexpected places God is working. May we embody Christ to those in our circles. May we look around, notice, and not miss all the ways He comes near to us each day. May we sit with Him, talk with Him, behold him, allow Him to speak to us, heal us, and restore us into right standing with His Father. May we experience Emmanuel, God with us, this Christmas and always. Amen.

Advent 2022: His Presence

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Editor’s Note: The theme for this year’s Advent reflections is Immanuel, Jesus has Come Here. God has always been present in the world, but with the coming of Jesus as an infant, he is also made present with his people. Our sin separates us from God, but through a baby, Immanuel, he draws us close.

This week, as we explore the blessings of Immanuel, God with us, we reflect on Jesus coming here and the gift of his presence.

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Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Name him—Immanuel. It means God is with us.

Have you ever noted that sometimes it’s not the pain or seriousness of an injury that matters in the end? I have more traumatic memories from my childhood of splinters and scrapes than the concussion I sustained from gymnastics. And my first sickness, a cold, as a freshman in college was worse than the flu I had had at home with my parents in high school. The difference between each scenario was that I was alone with the lighter, seemingly easier afflictions, but held and comforted by my parents with the more serious maladies.

It is curious that Immanuel is the name God chooses for His Son in this passage. He could have named himself “Chesed,” (grace), “Shalom,” (peace), or “Hesed,” (love). God is in fact all of these things. Other places in the Bible God calls Him these exact beautiful words and more!  But when His Son was to be born, it’s almost as if God just didn’t want us (and Israel, the original recipients of this sign) to miss it. “I have come near. I am here. I am with you. You are not alone.”

During Christmas time there is both a beauty and magic about the celebration of Jesus’ arrival. Yet, there can also be sadness and grief. Perhaps you feel the loss of someone you love to sickness, or you have a wayward child, or a much desired expectation wasn’t met in your life.

The name God gives His Son tells us you are never by yourself in both these delights of the season—lights, gifts, food, friends—nor the strange heartache. He is with you. He is near.

Jeremiah 23: 23-24 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, “And not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, So I do not see him?” Declares the Lord, “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” Declares the LORD.

Psalm 139: 7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, Thou are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there thy hand will lead me, And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.”

When the God of the Bible draws near, it is to be like a balm to cracked skin. When Moses asked God to go with them as they travelled through the desert, it was to be a strong protection over the Israelites. And when Jesus came near as a baby who grew into a man who willingly died for people who would reject Him, it was to bring healing to our broken, rebellious and hurting souls. When God sends His Son to be “with” us, it is a very very good thing.

So when you feel alone…

•    When you have met yourself as a new Mom for the first time and are bone tired

•    When you have your grown children living outside your home for the first time.

•    When you are working with your difficult child NOT for the first time.

•    When you are up late studying for that impossible test and you’re running out of time

•    Or up late working on a budget that just won’t stretch any more

•    Or even up late flirting with temptation to sin and you just can’t walk away and you already feel the shame that inevitably comes when we choose sin.

In those times this season, let the beauty of the lights, the music, the unique tastes of this season remind you that the presence of our gentle, kind, forgiving, powerful, perfect Savior is with you. Though your feelings may try to convince you otherwise,  your prayers are not just hitting the ceiling. You are talking to your Savior. You are crying with your Savior. You are fighting the good fight against sin with Your Savior. When it seems no one else cares about the strange heartache of things that didn’t materialize, or things that did, remember and believe that Jesus came to show us just how near He wants to be with us.

Immanuel.

Reflection:

1. Can you remember a time that someone’s presence with you in a hard time brought comfort or peace?

2. In what situation you are currently facing do you need to remember that Jesus came to be with you on this earth?