Love Revealed in the Emptiness

Today, or at least this morning, we will not read the story of the birth of Christ.

If you were with us as this Advent season began, you know that we began our series with the birth of Christ.

Yet, we have held two words close over the last couple of weeks: joy and favor.

As much as we have held those words close, we come into today with a desire to focus in on the heartbeat of one of those words: FAVOR.

We recognize that each of these words come from the same Greek word that we translate “grace” — “charis”

So what does it mean that we are favored as Mary was favored with the fullness of Immanuel.

Luke 24:1–10 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

We don’t celebrate the manger, but to the empty tomb.

If we see a baby in a manger and fail to see the death on the cross, the tomb/the stone rolled away, the risen Savior, and the ascended King…we miss the reason for the season.

When those shepherds came to see the babe…they looked not at the moment, but at the future.

They looked not at the lowly estate, but of the prophecy of deliverance.

Luke 24:1–3 ESV

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus connects His birth with His resurrection.

John 6:38–40 ESV

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Empty with a Purpose

Luke 24:4–5 ESV

4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Some of you, one’s who know their Bible well, are saying to yourselves: “Matthew and Mark speak of an angel and a young man respectfully”.

Why does Luke say “two men”?

The writers are not disagreeing, but writing per the perspective...

Matthew describes an angel

Mark describes a young man

Luke describes two young men.

The first two are writing based on the what they were told as was Luke.

Two witnesses were necessary as proof in a case study

Notice the clothes: Luke is describing the same thing the others saw.

Luke also is the only one that tells us the women were afraid and bowed their faces.

Notice that Luke reminds us that Jesus is living.

Acts 2:24 ESV

24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Empty with a Promise.

Luke 24:6–8 ESV

6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,

The angels remind us of the predictions/promises Jesus made:

He must be delivered.

He must be crucified.

He will rise.

Luke 9:22 (ESV)

22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Luke 9:43–45 (ESV)

43 And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,

44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”

45 But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

You see, Jesus did not say these things only once. He repeated them again and again.

“He came down not to do His will, but the will of the Father.”

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Walking Away, But In...

Know you are loved. (John 3:16)

Love in the Emptiness. (Eph. 2:8-9)

Turn to Him (Is. 45:22)