ADVENT: Love

Isaiah 53:2 CSB

He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.

INTRO—

[[Lighting 4th Advent Candle (& video)]]

ADVENT… [Isaiah says of the Messiah…; AND the result is Isa. 60.1ff]

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 9:6 “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 11:1 “Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.”

Isaiah 11:10 “On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious.”

…

Isaiah 60:1–3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.” [U = v. 1]

Getting to the wonderful result of Isaiah 60, we must go through Isaiah 53—that terribly awesome picture of the ‘Suffering Servant’…a picture of (GREAT LOVE)…

GREAT LOVE [Isaiah 53.1-12]

ISAIAH [c. 700 years before the First Christmas Day; Key vv. = 2, 3-6]

Isaiah 53:2 “He grew up before him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him.”

This Suffering Servant—would come from and thrive in an unlikely/impossible circumstance (rebellious, complacent Israel; a lost world)

Isaiah 53:3–5 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.”

This Suffering Servant—suffered for others (someone(s) else)

Isaiah 53:6 “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.”

This Suffering Servant—did this for straying sheep…all over the world; all throughout time.

[[Isaiah 53.7-12… These verses show us the detailed, loving extent to which God would go to redeem for himself a people.]]

[[Lighting 5th Advent Candle (& video)]]

Which brings us to a special part of today’s service…we light the fifth candle of Advent—the Christ candle!

GREAT LOVE [Matthew 1.18-25]

JOSEPH [c. 40 weeks before the First Christmas Day; Key vv. = 20-21]

Matthew 1:18 “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.”

Joseph becomes aware of—a situation. He formulates a plan (to the best of his ability/awareness)…

Matthew 1:20–21 “But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”” [U = v. 20]

An angel of the Lord steps in to make clear God’s plan…in the immediate matter; AND HIS PLAN through the current situation.

[[Matthew 1.22-25… God himself was orchestrating the greatest act of LOVE—EVER!!!!!]]

CONCL—

1 John 4:9–10 “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” [U = v. 10]

INVITATION:

Salvation

Love

Peace

Joy

Hope

Matthew 1:21 CSB

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”