Bethlehem

A Sheep’s Reason to Embrace Advent

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Embracing the Gift of Advent: A Time to Draw Near

Dear friend, as the days grow shorter and the world around us twinkles with holiday lights, I want to invite you into something truly special—observing Advent. It’s more than just a countdown to Christmas; it’s a gentle whisper from God, calling us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the miracle of Jesus’ birth. In my own life, Advent has become a cherished rhythm, a way to step out of the hustle and find that quiet space where God’s presence feels so close. Let me share with you why I believe we should embrace this season, not out of obligation, but out of love for the One who came to us as a baby in a manger.

First, Advent reminds us of the profound story of God’s love breaking into our world. Think about it: over 2,000 years ago, the prophets foretold a Savior, and in the fullness of time, Jesus arrived. As Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Observing Advent helps us relive that anticipation, much like Mary and Joseph did on their journey to Bethlehem. It’s a chance to meditate on Scripture, light candles each week, and let the wonder of the Incarnation sink deep into our souls. In a world that rushes straight to the festivities, Advent says, “Slow down, my child—savor the promise fulfilled.”

But it’s not just about looking back; Advent also turns our eyes forward to Christ’s return. Jesus promised He’d come again, and this season stirs that holy longing in us. It’s like waiting for a dear friend to arrive after a long absence—our hearts ache with hope. The four weeks of Advent, themed around hope, peace, joy, and love, guide us to cultivate these virtues in our daily lives. Maybe you’ve felt the weight of uncertainty this year; Advent offers a balm, reminding us that Jesus is the Light who pierces every darkness. As we light the Advent wreath or read devotional passages, we’re not just marking time—we’re aligning our spirits with God’s eternal plan, preparing room in our hearts for Him anew.

On a personal note, I did not grow up in a religious tradition that celebrated Advent. I found it here in my later years. The Christmas season my favorite season for preaching and teaching God’s Word, sometimes felt overwhelming. Work deadlines, family stresses, the usual chaos. But committing to using Advent with my family, lighting a candle each week as we looked at Bible verses together, both about Christ’s first Incarnation and His coming return brought such peace with it that I was hooked. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about presence. It helped us to center our lives, reflecting on the true reason for the season. Observing Advent helped me see Christmas not as an event, but as an encounter with the living God. And friend, that’s available to you too. Whether you’re new to this or returning after years away, it’s never too late to start. Perhaps begin with a small step: find an Advent calendar with Scriptures, or join an online community sharing reflections. Let it be a warm embrace from the Father, drawing you closer.

As we journey through these weeks, may your heart overflow with the joy of expectation. Let’s pray together: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Advent, a season to remember Your Son’s humble arrival and to yearn for His glorious return. Help us to observe it with open hearts, finding hope in Your promises, peace in Your presence, joy in Your salvation, and love in Your endless grace. Draw us nearer to You, Lord, and let this time transform us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

With warmth and blessings,
Your friend in Christ

Exaggerating for Effect

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In an effort to drive home a point or advance an agenda, many people exaggerate a real event or occurrence. While some parts of the story may be true, or even technically correct, the whole narrative is skewed so as to become propaganda to further a cause. As Christians, we should strive to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” so as to not bring harm or slight upon the perfect person of Jesus Christ.

One such popular slogan tossed around today is that Jesus, Mary and Joseph were “refugees” because they fled to Egypt to avoid Herod’s persecution. That is an example of what I am talking about. People are trying to take a modern connotation of what a refugee is and superimpose it onto a historical event. Jesus did go from Israel to Egypt for a short period of time. However, both Israel and Egypt were Roman Empire territories. They did not flee to another country such as modern-day refugees fleeing war torn Syria for Sweden.

Jesus’ flight into Egypt would be more like someone fleeing Newsom’s California for DeSantis’ Florida. Still remaining in the United States but going to another jurisdiction to avoid political persecution. We would not call them a refugee. Also, the trip was self-funded. Mary and Joseph had received the gifts from the Magi – gold, frankincense and myrrh – which would have provided plenty of money for the young family to travel, find a home and set up shop in the large Jewish community already residing in Egypt. After a couple years, as soon as Herod dies, they return back to Israel and settle in Nazareth.

Now, under a very broad definition of refugee, a person fleeing from political violence, for a very short period of time, one might consider Jesus to have been a refugee. From a practical standpoint, no, He wasn’t. And He wouldn’t identify as one since He was under 5 when all this took place anyway. He would have little to no memory of it as His childhood was stable, growing up in Nazareth. Those who bandy this about are trying to drive an agenda that doesn’t need support from stretching the truth like this. We already have commands of Scripture to take care of others, to support the poor and indigent, to treat all people with dignity and respect, both countrymen and the alien among us.

Using an event like the Bethlehem slaughter of infants to try and score political points today does an injustice to Scripture. The flight to Egypt would have happened anyway because it was a prophetic event. This was done to fulfill the Scripture “Out of Egypt I have called My Son”. A temporary (estimated 3 1/2 years) of hiding and then a return to one’s homeland is not the same as permanent refugee status today inside another country. Temporarily fleeing political persecution would be a more accurate way to describe what occurred, although it wouldn’t fit the current political narrative being pushed. And this is too bad, because Jesus doesn’t need us to “spin” events for Him. He simply needs us to present the truth simply, cleanly, and clearly.

Rethinking Advent Part 2

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Advent, as we said last week, is designed for us to prepare our hearts and minds to truly celebrate the real meaning of Christmas, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is a time for us to reflect on what truly matters – not the glitz, glamour and gift giving of modern Christmas, but the giving of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. Christmas is a holy holiday but that has sadly been lost in today’s society. I know I cringe when Santa visits the churches around my area during this season. It is sacrilegious to let a fictional fat guy get more attention than our Holy Lord in His church.

This Sunday, the 2nd of Advent, saw the lighting of the Bethlehem candle or love candle (some traditions call this the faith candle.) It is during this week we ponder and meditate on Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. It would be in Bethlehem, where, according to prophecy, the Messiah would be born.

What a journey this must have been. Mary is very much pregnant and roads in 1st century Israel were not very good. Most likely they would have attached themselves to a caravan or group of fellow travelers for protection from bandits. Leaving their home, the journey would have been financially burdensome, but since Caesar had decreed it, they had to undertake the trip. Only 6 miles from Jerusalem, Jesus was born in the shadow of Herod’s fortress.

Today’s Scripture is Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose.”

Also, from Matthew 2 “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod,Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,  are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler  who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Phillip Brooks wrote a lovely Christmas carol that we can use this week to help us think about Christ being born in this little town in accordance with Scripture.

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

2. For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all on earth!

3. How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
o come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!

What the Virgin Birth Teaches Us About Salvation

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The following is an excerpt from our resource, Dominoes, available from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dominos-A-Dynamic-Commentary-Jude/dp/1490334610/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1387327369&sr=8-1-spell

The Virgin Birth starts with God approaching humanity, not humankind approaching God. The same is true of salvation. Salvation is God reaching down to man, not man reaching up to God. The fact of Mary being a virgin obviously disqualifies her from any active part in the conception of Jesus. The Bible goes to great pains to tell us that Joseph did not know her sexually until after the birth of Jesus. Just as Mary was acted on by the Holy Spirit to bring forth new life, so in salvation, the Holy Spirit acts upon us and a new life is brought forth.

In the Virgin Birth, all human autonomy was set aside. Joseph was not consulted until Mary is already pregnant. Jesus is not born of a husband’s will or action but by God.  Joseph’s only role is to provide for Mary and the Child after His birth. Mary, through the angel Gabriel, is told that she has been elected by God to be the mother of the Messiah. She is told that God has chosen her. She is told that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and she will conceive a son. Her permission is never asked. She receives the word and believes but this belief is not of her, but strength given to her by the Lord. She becomes the pattern for our faith.

It is not through our self-will or free-will that we are born from above. We are elected, chosen to salvation just as Mary was chosen, elected to be Jesus’ mother. As she was sanctified through her calling so are we. God sanctifies us. We receive Jesus by faith, belief, but God gives this faith to us, it isn’t produced by our own efforts.

The Virgin Birth is important because it shows the consistency of a Sovereign God who elects things to happen and by His might, what He ordains comes to pass. The sovereignty of God is not merely that He has the power and the right to rule all things, but that God actually does so, without any exceptions at all. God is not a beggar, wringing His hands and pleading helplessly, hoping sinners will decide to choose Him. He is a God who both can save and who does save whom He chooses.

While there are many other aspects of the Virgin Birth that are worth exploring, I trust that just this one part of the doctrine highlights how interrelated they all are. The same holds true about the doctrine of Jesus eternally existing, not coming into existence 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.

Do you begin to see how interconnected doctrines are? To deny that Jesus was sinless from birth is to deny that He is God because God cannot sin. It is a belief that Jesus was not the Divine Son of God come down in human form but a mere man raised to great heights by the power of God. Such a view misses the whole point of the gospel message. Humanity could not save himself. It took God Himself to extricate us from our sinful state. He did this by sending His Son to be born of the Virgin Mary, to illustrate from day one how this salvation would come about.