Advent Ii "Christmas Trees And Nativity Sets”

In Jesus Holy Name December 10, 2023

Text: Mark 1:1 Advent II Redeemer

“Christmas Trees and Nativity Sets”

We know that Christmas is just around the corner. Christmas tree lots are packed with visitors. Our homes and churches are decorated. Soon presents will be wrapped and placed under our trees. I love the new "Hallow" commercial by the Roman Catholic Church. As the commercial begins you see a man walking into his home with his arms overflowing with lots of presents. As he drops them on the floor he says: “Christmas is not about presents but about the birth of Jesus.”

As you walk into our church you’ll see the nativity set on display. My wife, Colleen, loves to collect “nativity” scenes. They were purchased in Norway, Iceland, Israel, Peru or Truckee. They are on display all year long, a reminder every day that God entered our world in the person of Jesus.

So it might seen unusual this morning to read the opening verse from the Gospel of Mark as he begins with these words: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark gets right to the point…. There is no time to tell the story of the angel appearing to Mary and Joseph. Nor does he have time to include the story of the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. God’s grand design from the beginning of creation was to come Himself and break the power of Satan by providing His own blood (Acts 20:28) on the cross and then verifies forgiveness and eternal life by His own resurrection from the grave. Mark simple begins: “Let me introduce you to Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Messiah.”

The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, have a total of 89 chapters. Of those 89 chapters, only about three chapters are about the birth of Jesus. Why is that? Because they want their readers to focus on the ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as the fulfilment of the promise of God to Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham, to Jacob and their descendants, the long awaited promise for a redeemer has arrived.

Mark quotes Isaiah the prophet: 'Behold, I send my messenger before you, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Mk 1:4

John is a child of the desert. Leathery face. Tanned skin. Clothing of animal skins. What he owned fit in a pouch. His walls were mountains and his ceiling the stars. His was a courageous voice of repentance. Unfortunately, his message was not accepted by all. Herod rejected repentance and eventually John lost his head. (quote from Max Lucado)

John invited people to step into the water and be baptized. He called for action. . Would you feel comfortable marrying someone who wanted to keep the marriage a secret? (probably not) Neither does God. It’s one thing to say in the privacy of your own heart that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. But it’s quite another to walk out of the shadow and stand before family, friends and colleagues to state publicly that Christ is your forgiver and Savior and you want to be baptized.

Baptism is like a marriage covenant. It is more than a personal commitment to a local church which you are joining. No, in baptism you are accepting the forgiveness of Jesus earned at the cross. You are making a commitment to step across the threshold into the “kingdom” of Jesus. It is a one time event connecting you to Jesus.

Baptism reveals the beauty of the cross and the cost of our broken commandments. Baptism brings: Cleansing. Renewal. Repentance, Forgiveness, and the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit On the day of Pentecost Peter was clear: “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is for you and your children. ….” . (Acts 2:38) The power of baptism rests not in the drops of water, but the water combined, infused with the promises of God. (Martin Luther) It is God’s mark of ownership. God’s promise of forgiveness. .

This action of being baptized with water is a public statement. Jesus commanded all his followers to prove it, to make the pledge, by public demonstration in baptism. Among his final words was the universal command to “go and make disciples of all people in all the world, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28:19).