Advent 2023

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# The events of Christmas seem random. They seem chaotic. Without looking at the meaning of the event let’s just take a look at the event itself.

# Birth of Christ from an unwed mother

**[^18 ]**Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt1.18&off=26&ctx=rth+of+Jesus+Christ%0a~18%C2%A0Now+the+birth+of+)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 1:18.

# Likely divorce from an unwed father

**[^19 ]**And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt1.19&off=0&ctx=om+the+Holy+Spirit.+~19%C2%A0And+her+husband+J)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 1:19.

# An inconvenient trip to an unknown city

**[^4 ]**And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, **[^5 ]**to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Lk2.4&off=0&ctx=ch+to+his+own+town.+~4%C2%A0And+Joseph+also+we)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 2:4–5.

# A difficult birth story

**[^6 ]**And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. **[^7 ]**And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Lk2.5&off=65&ctx=+who+was+with+child.~+6%C2%A0And+t%EF%BB%BF%E2%80%A2while+they)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 2:5–7.

# News from no name influencers with zero views

**[^15 ]**When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” **[^16 ]**And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Lk2.15&off=0&ctx=m+he+is+pleased!%E2%80%9D4+%0a~15%C2%A0%E2%80%A2When+%E2%80%A2the+angels)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 2:15–16.

# Death threats

**[^16 ]**Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt2.16&off=25&ctx=+Kills+the+Children%0a~16%C2%A0Then+Herod%2c+when+)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 2:16.

# Refugees

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt2.13&off=20&ctx=The+Flight+to+Egypt%0a~13%C2%A0Now+when+they+had)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 2:13.

# we need to face the randomness and apparent chaos of life and still stand up to say Jesus is Lord

# This is learning the ethic of a “waiting and watching” church. How do we live well while we wait and watch. Waiting in advent shows us that we aren’t adding to what God is doing but are participating with what God is already acting in. The world will continue on toward progress and innovation. The church learns to wait expectantly

# But we wait within the meaning that God has injected into the story. He has shown us why we wait and moreso what kind of world we are waiting in.

# Birth of Christ from an unwed mother

Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. **[^31 ]**And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. **[^32 ]**He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, **[^33 ]**and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Lk1.30&off=31&ctx=angel+said+to+her%2c+%E2%80%9C~Do+not+be+afraid%2c+Ma)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 1:30–33.

# Likely divorce from an unwed father

**[^20 ]**But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. **[^21 ]**She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” **

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt1.20&off=0&ctx=ivorce+her+quietly.+~20%C2%A0But+as+he+conside)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 1:20–24.

# An inconvenient trip to an unknown city

**[^2 ]** But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

from ancient days.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mic5.2&off=1&ctx=el+%0aon+the+cheek.+%0a+~2%C2%A0+3+q%EF%BB%BFBut+you%2c+O+Be)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mic 5:2.

# A difficult birth story

**[^11 ]**And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt2.11&off=0&ctx=gly+with+great+joy.+~11%C2%A0And+going+into+th)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 2:11.

# News from no name influencers with zero views

**[^8 ]**And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. **[^9 ]**And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. **[^10 ]**And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. **[^11 ]**For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Lk2.8&off=29&ctx=erds+and+the+Angels%0a~8%C2%A0And+in+the+same+re)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 2:8–11.

# Death threats

**[^12 ]**And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

*~[The Holy Bible: English Standard Version](https://ref.ly/logosres/esv?ref=BibleESV.Mt2.12&off=0&ctx=ncense+and+u%EF%BB%BFmyrrh.+~12%C2%A0And+v%EF%BB%BFbeing+warne)~* (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 2:12.

# Refugees

**[^13 ]**Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” **[^14 ]**And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt **[^15 ]**and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

# We are all looking for meaning. We experience things and then want to inject meaning into that experience.**

You will attach meaning to everything.

# Where or to whom are you looking for meaning?

# Advent shows us that Christ has entered into every unknown we occupy.

And because He came in unknown, fragile, and unassuming as a baby. He knows us, He knows who we are and what we are facing.

That means when God has spoken meaning into these random events, He is speaking the reality of those situations. He knows us, He knows the situation. He shares the reality of that situaiton.

As we participate in Advent. We are saying yes to the random and sometimes chaotic events in our lives and world because we have said yes in Christ. Christ speaks into them, He participates in them. Advent shows us that He has come.

WH Auden makes one of the greatest advent claims I’ve heard.

*Then who is the Unknown*

*Who answers for our fear*

*As if it were His own,*

*So that we reply*

*Till the day we die:*

*“No, I don’t know why,*

*But I’m glad I’m here”? (pg 39)*

He answers their fear as if it were His own. That is how close He is to their fear. That is His Advent.

Christ’s entrance into our world is the reality that God speaks into our fear as if it were His own. His Advent is a reminder that He takes up our weakness and darkness as if it was His own. He does not treat us as our sins deserve but treats us with a kindness and a love that is otherwise inconsiderable.

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