God's Gentle Power

Intro - Done with Preparations

We have been talking about preparations in our sermon series for the past 4 weeks.

Sure, for Christmas, but what now?

Were we preparing for something other than Christmas day?

For an evening service where we sing favorite hymns & get a glance of what things used to be like

An opportunity to relive our past or our childhood?

Isn’t God’s advent forward-looking? If so, what does it mean for our lives to prepare for him?

From On High

Do we recognize that Christ comes to rule in our lives?

The British Monarchy is a fascinating thing:

English monarchy used to be absolute

Over time, power has been moved from the sovereign

Now scholars would say there are only a handful of powers and one scholar says exactly three rights:

to be consulted

to encourage

to warn

What does this have to do with Christmas and Christ?

I’m afraid that we have begun to view Christ and His rule in our lives much like the British monarchy: it’s there, but really we hang on the power

However, look at the language of verse 10

The New International Version Chapter 40

10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,

and he rules with a mighty arm.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense accompanies him.

Jesus plans to rule whether we agree or not; he didn’t come to be a benevolent figurehead

Plans to do more than to be consulted, to encourage, or to warn

This goes against our democratic nature

We want to have a say; we want consent of the governed

We want a vote

Yet it also goes against our sinful nature

We have a rebellious streak in us

humanity is the teenager of creation

“I want you to do it this way.” v. “I’m doing it my way.”

“I love you.” v. “I hate you.”

I’m looking out for your well-being.” v. “You don’t want me to have any fun.”

So we have a lot programmed in us to resist Jesus’ rule and to view it as oppressive, draconian, puritanical.

However, we’re viewing it from a fallen perspective at that point.

Lowly, Gently

The stark contrast between verses 10 and 11 show that Jesus came to rule, but he comes to rule gently

The New International Version Chapter 40

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

It’s through our fallen eyes and minds that we fail to see this verse as clearly as verse 10

but when God comes to rule, God comes as a baby; not the image of power we expect

Mary - nursing infant; Herod - threat to power

John the Baptist - Lamb of God; Judas - misguided rabbi

We must keep sight of both aspects of Jesus’ gentle power

Power w/o gentleness —>God becomes a tyrant

Gentleness w/o power —> God becomes meaningless; a senile benevolence who does nothing but grant happiness wishes

The Lion, The Witch, & the Wardrobe: “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

The more we submit, the gentler Christ becomes

Advent prepares us for Christmas, the appearance of Christ & Christ’s rule.

Do we recognize this rule?

Do we recognize his gentleness?