ADVENT: Peace
CHRISTMAS 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.
INTRO—
INTRO—
[[VID: Lighting Advent Candle 3]]
Light our advent Candle 3
ADVENT… [One of my favorite Christmas albums is “The Promise” by Michael Card…Great music. Great comprehensive perspective—prophecy to fulfillment!]
Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I perceive him, but not near. A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will smash the forehead of Moab and strike down all the Shethites.”
[Michael Card - “We will Find Him”… ‘From Jacob shines a star...’]
Matthew 2:1–2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.””
[Approximately TWO YEARS after Jesus was born (which is why we ‘finished up’ our Advent 2021 celebration a few Wednesday nights ago as we talked about the fact that this is most likely when) the Magi arrive in Jerusalem…then Bethlehem.]
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” - Charles Wesley
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
GREAT PEACE
GREAT PEACE
MICAH [contemporary of Isaiah; Micah to Judah/Southern, Isaiah to Israel/Northern; c. 700 years before the First Christmas Day]
Micah 5:2 “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.”
Matthew 2:5–6 ““In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.””
[God didn’t just ‘know’ where Jesus would be born, he planned (prepared) it that way!; the PEACE of knowing God is on the throne…he’s in control.]
Jesus is the co-eternal, co-equal second person of the Trinity.
Micah 5:4–5 “He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace. When Assyria invades our land, when it marches against our fortresses, we will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.” [U = v. 5]
[[PEACE — ‘shalom’ (Heb); ‘eirene’ (Gk)]]
SIMEON [Luke 2.25-35; c. 40+ days after the First Christmas Day]
Luke 2:25 “There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.”
He was ‘looking forward to Israel’s consolation.’ [Consolation — encouragement, comfort, aid… conditions establishing/of PEACE; this ‘circumstance’ Simeon sought!]
Luke 2:28–29 “Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said, Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised.” [U = v. 29]
The one ‘looking forward to peace’ for Israel…himself received the peaceful blessing of God’s promise. [He was content to hang around and also thankful for the fulfilled promise likely indicating he would soon be ‘heading home.
Luke 2:30–32 “For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.”
Simeon’s song — was borne out of: (1) “That this moment happened;” gratitude for the personally fulfilled promise; & (2) “What this moment meant;” the fullness of what God’s ‘consolation’ would be/would accomplish.
CONCL—
CONCL—
John 14:27–31 ““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me. “Get up; let’s leave this place.”
Peace…Jesus says…to his disciples…as he prepares to head directly to the cross.
Peace…Jesus is ‘leaving.’
Peace…Before the storm, Jesus knows.
INVITATION:
Salvation
Peace
Reconciliation
Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised.