Christmas 2020 1: The Gift of Hope
Notes
Transcript
Bookmarks & Needs:
Bookmarks & Needs:
B: Luke 1:26-38
N: None
Opening
Opening
Good morning! Welcome to our Family Worship service, which we are primarily streaming this week, due to the COVID health order here in New Mexico. Much of the praise band, church staff, and our families are here in the room, and we are all excited to be able to worship the Lord with you this morning. I pray that you all were able to spend some time this past weekend reflecting on all we have to be thankful for, even in the midst of a pandemic unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. I know that for many of us, we perhaps did not get to celebrate Thanksgiving in the way we would have liked. But I know that I am so grateful to have been able to celebrate at all.
But after today, the occupancy constraints for houses of worship are being taken back to where they were when we first started meeting again, to 25% capacity. Since our capacity in this building is about 1200, we can safely have 300 in the room for worship. We haven’t had near that many in here since COVID began, so we’re back to “COVID normal” (whatever that means at this point) next Sunday. I look forward to seeing many of you here!
But this morning, here we find ourselves, on the other side of Thanksgiving, standing squarely at the beginning of what we kind of collectively call “Christmastime.” This year, our Christmas series is called “The Gifts of Christmas.” Let’s open this morning by standing and reading Luke 1:26-38 as our focal passage:
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
PRAY
The first Christmas kind of “snuck up” on Mary, didn’t it? We’ll look at this more in a moment, but for me, in the midst of all of the craziness that’s going on right now, it feels almost like Christmas is sneaking up on us. Maybe that’s just me, but the weeks sometimes feel like they take months, and then at the same time, when I look at the calendar and discover that December is already coming on Tuesday, I’m like, “Christmas is upon us!” And in the process of this abnormal time, I find that my mind and heart tend to wander away from the real meaning of Christmas and what my focus is supposed to be. Usually, it’s the parties and shopping and presents and seemingly endless amount of dessert available at my house that threaten to derail my attention. All “positive” things, I guess. But this year, it’s the simple difference of it all that tries to distract me from a faithful and focused worship of Jesus. Can anyone relate?
I mean, sometimes I kind of feel a little like Charlie Brown. Do you? Do you ever want to just stand up and shout in exasperation like Charlie Brown, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”
Those of you who have grown up in this age of VHS to DVD to Blu-ray to streaming perhaps will be shocked by this, but there was a time that there was only ONE chance to watch holiday specials. Catching Rudolph and A Charlie Brown Christmas when they were on every year was a BIG deal to me growing up. A Charlie Brown Christmas has been airing since 1965 (and will air this year on PBS on December 13). That’s a pretty good run! Especially for a cartoon that was produced on a low budget and what was basically a last-minute production schedule for animation. It all came about when Coca-Cola came looking for a Christmas special to sponsor for holiday marketing. The cartoon Peanuts was wildly popular, so they asked for a meeting and ideas. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and the producers threw together an outline in a day, and the Coke execs went for it. Schulz had some unorthodox ideas, like a jazz soundtrack and no laugh track, which was a staple of TV shows in that era. Most of all, he was adamant that the true Christmas story be presented, complete with a scene read straight from the Bible. The TV producers worried that it would be too controversial to read the Bible on national television, but Schulz insisted. Controversial or not, you could say the show has done pretty well.
And you’ve probably seen it a time or two. If so, you know that Charlie Brown is surrounded by all the trappings of Christmas, but they all come up empty. When he wonders aloud what Christmas is really about, his best friend Linus sets him straight with a clear answer straight from Luke 2:8–14. Linus recites the passage in one of the most poignant scenes in television history. Let’s watch:
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.
In those words, Charlie Brown finds hope. It’s where the whole Christmas experience turns for him and Charlie Brown realizes the true meaning of Christmas. He goes from depressed by the season to inspired by it. He goes from an inward focus of questioning to an outward focus of sharing the season with others.
Today I invite you to hear the same words of hope as we enter the season of Advent in expectation for Christmas. Over the next four weeks, we will unwrap the gifts of Christmas as we journey through the Advent season. It is our chance to listen to the stories, to remember the true meaning of Christmas, to wait in expectation for the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. In this time of COVID, when much of what might be “normal” or “traditional” for our Christmas celebrations is at least shadowed by the spectre of the pandemic, if not altogether different or even nonexistent, this is when we need to stop for a second, reflect on those trappings and traditions and celebrations, not to criticize or condemn them or mourn them, but to take a purposeful journey through reflecting on them to more deeply experience the gifts of Christmas: hope, love, peace, and joy.
Entering Advent
Entering Advent
So what exactly is Advent? For some, this concept may be new. You may only know Advent from a calendar with little windows that open up revealing a gift or treat for each day of the month leading up to Christmas. But Advent is so much more.
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival,” and the season is marked by expectation, waiting, anticipation, and longing. Advent is not just an extension of Christmas—it is a season that links the past, present, and future. Advent offers us the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, to celebrate His birth, and to be alert for His second coming. Advent looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration, while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when He returns for His people. Hope is fulfilled in Jesus. And hope still to be completed in Jesus’s second coming. During Advent we wait for both—active, assured waiting.
As part of the church calendar in many denominations, there are some differences in the way people celebrate Advent. While the core is the same, some of the traditions and practices vary. One of the common traditions of Advent is the lighting of candles, sometimes on a wreath. The lighting of five candles throughout the season—one for each of the four Sundays before Christmas and one on Christmas Eve—represents Jesus’s coming to a world lost in darkness. As the prophet Isaiah wrote:
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
As we celebrate with our own Advent candles this season, we will light an additional candle each week. Each flame brings us closer to the arrival of the true Light of the world, born in Bethlehem.
In a season that is often marked by frenzied busyness, Advent is an opportunity to set aside time to prepare our hearts and help us place our focus on a story far greater than our own—the story of God’s redeeming love for our world. It’s not a season of pretending or covering over—it is a season of digging deep into the reality of what it means that God sent His Son into the world. It is a season of expectation and preparation, an opportunity to align ourselves with God’s presence more than just the hectic season of presents. So wherever you are on your own spiritual journey, I invite you into this season. It’s a time that allows for questions and doubt and struggle as we take time to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming.
Advent is not a celebration that God comes to fix things—from broken toys to broken computers to broken families to broken and hurting lives. Rather, simply, Advent is a celebration that God indeed comes. In the darkness, in the pain, in the chaos, He comes. He comes in Person to fulfill His promises, to join us in our humanity in Christ, and to make a way for hope to shine through.
As we unwrap each gift of Christmas over then next few weeks, we will seek to discover or rediscover together that we can trust in Immanuel, God with us. He is bigger than our greatest expectations or our deepest pains. His light shines in the darkness and bids us to draw near. As we do, we discover and realize the gifts He brings—but more so, we discover Him.
This first Sunday in Advent, we focus on hope. So let’s start by looking at what we mean by hope. What statements do you typically hear people make that involve hope?
I hope it doesn’t rain.
I hope I get the job.
I hope the world will be at peace.
I hope he gets better.
I hope she shows up.
I hope the pandemic goes away.
I hope . . . (you fill in the blank).
Do you notice a theme? This kind of hope is more like wishful thinking, characterized by doubt, uncertainty, and a lack of control. We hope for things that may or may not happen. But in Jesus, hope is a guarantee, a sure thing. Our hope is actually a “know-so” rather than a “maybe-so.” Let’s unwrap this gift of hope by looking at hope past, hope present, and hope future as we journey toward Christmas.
1. Hope Past
1. Hope Past
What is the longest you’ve waited for something? We aren’t really great at waiting. We’ve been waiting for almost nine months for the pandemic to resolve, and it has in some ways felt really long. But is there anything that you’ve been waiting for for your entire life? The people of Israel knew all about waiting. Their entire history was marked by waiting as they looked forward to the coming of a Messiah who would set them free. The Old Testament is full of prophecies about this Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 is one example:
14 Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.
And another well-known prophecy from Isaiah promises,
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.
These and other prophecies gave a clear expectation of God’s promised Messiah—hundreds of years before His arrival. The promise didn’t always make the waiting easy. As we prepare for Jesus’s coming this Christmas, we share in the waiting of the people of Israel. Like them, we all have situations and circumstances in our own lives that make it difficult for us to wait on God. And like them, we still wait for the complete fulfillment of God’s salvation for the world. Yes, many prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus’s coming, but others are yet to be completed, but will be when He comes again.
So what can purposeful waiting this Advent season do for us? As we look back on hope past, we gain confidence and renew our faith in God’s promises to us. Hebrews 11:1 says,
1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
We can find confidence in the fulfillment of Christ’s arrival—and in all He has done in our lives over time. But we can also find assurance that there is much more to come—that God will complete His good work in you and me and that He will fulfill His promises to make all things new and complete in the end. Let this season be a journey of building confident hope as you wait for His coming.
2. Hope Present
2. Hope Present
As we read in our focal passage earlier, in the first chapter of Luke, we see Jesus’s birth foretold again. But unlike the Old Testament prophecies, this is a much more personal and imminent foretelling. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her about the coming of Jesus.
26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”
As I mentioned earlier, Gabriel kind of “sneaks up” on Mary with the announcement that she is “favored” by God and that He is with her. Not surprisingly, it appears that Mary was speechless at this revelation, as she was “deeply troubled” and wondered about it. Gabriel plows forward, telling her what God is up to, and what He is in the process of doing.
29 But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Mary asks the obvious question of “HOW?”, and Gabriel answers her with an explanation and evidence of God’s miraculous work in the life of Elizabeth:
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
In the midst of life’s questions, do you ever find yourself wishing that Gabriel would just show up and let you know what to expect? I mean, wouldn’t it be easier to just know?
Well, maybe.
But in Mary’s case, perhaps it would have been easier not to know. What do you do with information like this? Mary was given a direct message from the angel Gabriel, but even (maybe especially) then it took faith to place her trust and hope in God. Thankfully, Mary responded in faith and held fast to the hope of the promise of Immanuel, God with us.
Today, as we begin Advent, those who have already trusted in Jesus know and hold fast to that hope. Jesus has come and made a way for us to be made right with God, through His forgiveness of our sin. His coming changes everything.
According to Scripture, we are all trapped in our sin, the ways that we don’t live up to God’s intention and purpose for our lives. And no amount of good that we can do will ever be good enough to erase the bad that we’ve done, when we compare our lives to God’s perfection. And so we deserve to be punished for our sins, and separated from God forever. We need to be rescued, set free from our sin. That’s why Jesus came: He came as a baby, lived a perfect life of obedience to God in our place, and then also died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve, so that we can be forgiven. And then He defeated death, rose from the grave, and now sits are the right hand of the Father. When we surrender our lives to Him, no longer trying to save or justify ourselves, we are forgiven and have also defeated death, just like He has. We have eternal life in Christ, which means a new life of hope now, and hope for the future (which we will get to in a moment).
As you sit here today, the present hope you hold on to may not seem to be changing things. Your heart and mind may be flooded with the concerns and stresses and hardships you, and in many ways all of us, face today. Any signs of change in your circumstances may be slim to none.
That doesn’t mean change isn’t happening. It doesn’t mean God isn’t working behind the scenes, inside other people or situations. It doesn’t mean He isn’t working inside our hearts to teach and shape us. There is hope, even if in the moment we might not “feel” it. Regardless of what outward results look like at any given moment, we can find hope in the words of Hebrews 6:19: (A only)
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Our present hope in Jesus doesn’t stop the storms of life. It doesn’t change the immediate situations we face. But like an anchor holds a ship steady against the wind and the waves, our hope holds us firm and secure in the midst of life’s storms. Let this season be one of secure hope in the midst of whatever storms you face.
3. Hope Future
3. Hope Future
While our focus leading up to Christmas is naturally on the birth of Jesus and His arrival in our world, Advent is also about the future. Advent is not just about preparing our hearts for Christmas but also about preparing our hearts for when Christ comes again. And you may find that waiting patiently for the second coming of Jesus is even harder than waiting for Christmas.
We long for the time when all will be restored and made new. We experience the pain and suffering of today and wait in eager hope for the future. That is where our hope lies: that the baby who was born in a stable in Bethlehem, who grew up and was crucified for our sins, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, He will return again:
27 And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment—28 so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
And in the meantime, we understand that we (as Paul put it in 2 Cor. 5) “groan” in this tent that we live in, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling—to be fully set free from even mortality itself in Christ. And that day is coming! This is the hope that we look forward to in the future: eternal life with God through our faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ.
Closing
Closing
And so we wait, placing our hope in Him for the past, the present, and the future. It’s the bigger picture of our faith and of God’s plans for our world. The apostle Paul explained,
24 Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
It’s hard to be patient. It’s hard to wait. But I encourage you to lean in and unwrap the gift of hope today. This isn’t a “wishful thinking” kind of hope, but that “looking forward to something with certainty” kind of hope—a gift that can overflow from you to those around you this Christmas, even in the midst of a pandemic. This is because our hope doesn’t rest on our circumstances, but upon our Savior.
If you have never trusted in Jesus for your salvation, then this morning, you can also receive this gift of hope—give up trying to go your own way, and trust in Jesus to rescue you from your sins. If you have questions about trusting in Jesus, or if you have received this gift of hope this morning, please reach out to me by email and let me know. I would love to help you on this new life of faith and answer any questions that you might have.
If you are already a follower of Jesus, and this morning you believe that God is leading you to join with this family of believers here at Eastern Hills through formal membership, please let me know that as well by email.
During our time of reflection in just a moment, take time to pray and ask the Lord to open your eyes and your heart to the beauty of Advent. No matter what the stores and online shopping ads try to tell you, Christmas has not yet arrived. This is Advent—a season of preparation, waiting, expectation. There is value as well as excitement in patient and expectant waiting. May this be a season of wonder as you discover the gifts Jesus offers to you this Christmas: hope, love, joy, and peace.
PRAY
Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks
Door hangers are available in the foyer.
Lottie Moon status.
Week of Prayer events (shorter than last week)
Bible reading plan: Genesis.
Benediction: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)