“The Meaning of Advent”
Luke 2:10-11
The Christian world celebrates the season of Advent on the four Sundays prior to Christmas. Today is the second Sunday of Advent. The dictionary gives two descriptions for Advent “Coming” and “Arrival.”
The message of Advent is about the coming and arrival of Jesus – Savior and long promised Messiah. An angel of the Lord appeared to Shepherds and announced, “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior – yes, the Messiah, (Xristos – anointed one) The Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:10-11)
Good news in the original is “euaggelizomai” – I bring good news or I preach the gospel. “Evangel” can mean either good news or Gospel. The coming and arrival of Jesus is good news. It was good news then and it is good news today.
Regardless of the circumstance, the pain, or problem, we look beyond the pain or problem to Jesus. Whatever the current circumstance, Jesus is good news.
As Christians we don’t hide our head in the sand like an ostrich. We face the reality that we live in a troubled world. We don’t deny the reality of 9/ll/01 like a successful author in England who says the United States staged 9/ll/01 in cooperation with Osama bin Laden. He claims the governmental leaders in the United States of America are the terrorists.
We know that bad news makes the headlines most of the time. What wrong with nations and people are highlighted and little attention is given to positive uplifting news.
Jesus ministered in a culture that was pro-Roman and not friendly to followers of “The Way.” The culture Jesus lived in was one of high taxes, roaming bands of renegades led by men like Barababus, and corruption in high governmental places.
Jesus didn’t attack his culture; he attacked false religions practices and he did focus on telling the Gospel of Good news. Jesus came bringing Light to a world in darkness, politically, intellectually, and spiritually.
Jesus was the fulfillment of what the prophet Isaiah foretold in Isaiah 9:2 and 6: “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light – a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”
The message of advent is about the coming of Jesus, He is good news of great joy to all the people.
In fulfillment of prophecy Jesus came as Prophet, Priest and King.
Three kinds of leaders were anointed with oil prophets, priests and kings.
Elijah was instructed by the Lord to anoint Elisha as prophet in his place. I Kings 19:16
The Lord instructed Moses to anoint Aaron with oil, setting him apart as a priest of the Lord. Exodus 40:13-15
Elisha the prophet commissioned his assistants to go to Ramoth-gilead and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat and pour oil on his head and say, “I anoint you to be the king over Israel. Then open the door and run for your life.” 2 Kings 9:1-3
Jesus came to earth as Prophet and the Teacher anointed by the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 18:15 states, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet.”
I. Jesus came as Prophet.
As Prophet Jesus preached God’s Word to all people (Mark 1:15) Jesus came proclaiming the good news of God, “The time has come”, he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus proclaimed truth to everyone (John 1:9) “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”
As prophet Jesus calls for a decision. Jesus wants to give meaning to your life. Jesus wants to stop you in your tracks. You are living your life at a fast pace. Your own pace. You are going nowhere fast. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, speaks and calls you to turn around and go His Way.
Jesus came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. (Luke 4:43) Jesus said, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus called fisherman, a tax collector and common ordinary men to follow him. Jesus told them to “come and see.” Come and see his life in action. Jesus did not separate his life from his message. The disciples of Jesus learned how to live a victorious Christian life through on-the-job training.
Jesus often spoke using word pictures that confused his followers. Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem and chased out men selling cattle, sheep and doves for temple offerings. Jesus used a whip made of rope to make his point and turned over their tables piled high with money. Jesus said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market? The Jews watching the event asked Jesus to show them a miracle to prove his authority to do what he had just done. (John 2:19) Jesus gave them his answer: “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
It was only after Jesus had risen from the grace and ascended into heaven that the disciples got the message. Jesus was not talking about the Temple in Jerusalem. He was talking about himself.
Just as he said, on the third day he rose from the rock tomb. A true prophet is distinguished from a false prophet by whether or not the prophecy comes true. Jesus is a true prophet. He rose from the grave and stated that He is coming again.
Jesus declared to His disciples “I go and prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)
II. Jesus Came as Priest
Jesus came as Prophet. He also came as Priest. Psalm 110:4 is speaking concerning the coming of the Messiah, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the Old Testament a priest is one who offered sacrifices at the altar, and who acts as mediator between men and God.
Jesus is not a priest from the order of Aaron, but he is Priest by Divine appointment. All the priests of the Old Testament were acting in the place of Christ until Jesus came. Jesus came as a perfect priest – “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” (Hebrews 9:24)
Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins forever. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the Cross and shed his blood as an atonement and covering for our sins. We no longer have to offer animal sacrifices we now go directly to Jesus. “…once at the end of the ages…(Jesus) has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:26) Jesus became our Lamb of God who takes away the sins of this world.
Jesus understands the deepest needs of every human heart. Jesus wants us to come to Him for forgiveness and help. Jesus is not a High Priest so High and Holy that he is unapproachable. Jesus wants us to come boldly to Him in prayer. He is waiting in compassion and mercy to hear our prayers. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
God told the priests Aaron and his sons to give blessings to the people of Israel in Numbers 6:22-27. They were to say to the Israelites:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
Before Jesus ascended into Heaven he led his disciples to the vicinity of Bethany and lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)
Jesus is standing ready to give you His blessing. Only those who have receptive hearts are blessed. Jesus cannot bless hard hearts or indifferent hearts.
# The Father of the prodigal son wanted so much to give blessing to his son. But the younger son refused to accept his father’s blessing and asked for his inheritance early and left home to go his own way. Only when the son came to his senses and returned home was he able to receive his father’s blessing.
God is still in the business of blessing His people. Through out history we realize that God’s blessing is a reflection of his incredible love for his creation. The Hebrew word “barak” blessed or blessing is used 330 times in the Old Testament.
Do you want to get in on the blessing of God? Then ready and study the Bible on a regular basis. Rev. 1:3 says, “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.”
Jesus is Prophet. Jesus is Priest. Jesus is King. The Advent of Jesus is about Jesus as Prophet, Priest and King.
III. Jesus came as King.
As King, Jesus ascended into heaven and reigns in infinite power. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus makes it clear that his Kingdom is not of this present world. When Jesus was arrested and taken to Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my Kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)
Jesus said that all authority is given to Him in Heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18) When Jesus comes in His Second Advent He will sent up his Kingdom. Only those who are Christ followers will become part of the Kingdom of God. The Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 3:13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
Jesus as King holds the universe together. Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Here is a view of Jesus the world has a hard time accepting.
Many people see Jesus as a sweet little Jesus boy. The life of Jesus makes a nice story to tell at Christmas. Of if you believe the ACLU Jesus is a story like any other story of make believe. As far as many Americans believe God is dead. But whether or not a person believes doesn’t matter. Jesus came in the First Advent as Prophet, Priest and King. Jesus Christ rules over the entire universe.
Secular society wants to remove God from Government and from our public schools.
You may have heard on Fox News that Stephen Williams a 5th grade teacher at the Stevens Creek Elementary School in Cupertino was asked not to use the Declaration of Independence in his classroom because of its reference to God.
People may deny the reality of Jesus Christ, but they cannot escape His sovereignty and rule over the universe. The sovereignty of Christ may be denied, blasphemed, insulted by His evil enemies, but He continues to rule as King of kings and Lord of lords. A day is coming when every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.
Last week Carollyn and I took our four grandchildren to see “Polar Express.” The film is all about “Belief.” It is a secular movie, but it has much to say about having faith to believe. To believe is to see. (Let’s look at one of the scenes in the movie)
Jesus came as Prophet, Priest and King. Will you believe and trust Him. He is waiting to give you good news. He is waiting to bless you. He is waiting to welcome you into His Kingdom. Only Believe.
