Meeting Jesus On The Way

Introduction

Each week of Advent we have focused on a different aspect of God’s character embodied in, brought into our world, and lived out in Jesus: hope, peace, joy, and love.

This is His arrival into our world as described by Luke:

Luke 2:8–20 ESV

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. 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. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 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.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Shepherds

Guides and protectors.

Considered unreliable; not allowed to be witnesses in court

Very dependable routine.

AND, the framing for a lot of how we understand God and our relationship with him.

Messengers

Major interruption to the routine with some ground breaking news.

Your deliverer is coming; the healing of your union with God is about to happen.

And then the second place in scripture that would make a great musical: Angels began worshiping.

They couldn’t get there fast enough.

It’s such a humble birth, such an understated beginning to life, yet such a normal entry into our existence. Human birth as a fragile, helpless baby. Jesus is one of us, able to understand everything we go through, all of our longings and struggles and pain. Yet Jesus is God. He is hope, joy, peace, and love personified, here to restore these characteristics in us as a byproduct of restored life in relationship with God.

Jesus is life that breaks in our existence.

And the shepherds couldn’t keep quiet about it.

When Jesus Breaks In

Stories

That’s a Wrap

Friends, if you are struggling this year, asking, “Where is Jesus?” let me offer this.

Jesus meets us...

In our mundane routines,

In our uncertainties, struggles, discouragement, and differences.

In our celebration and mourning.

In our crying and rejoicing.

In our fear and in our triumphs.

In our losses and our victories.

In our brokenness and healing.

In our sickness and our health.

In our life and our death.

Wherever you are and wherever you are going, Jesus is there.

And He is working, and He is moving. He is offering life and forgiveness. He is calling us to trust and to see beyond our immediate circumstances to His deeper, bigger, broader, wider, higher picture and work.