The Love of Advent | Christmas at DC
Christmas at DC
The Love of Advent
The Love of Advent: “Jesus at the Center”
Matthew 2:1-12 (ESV) 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
SOUL TATTOO: In advent, Jesus should always be at the center.
In Advent, God’s love is promised in the stars, embodied in the manger, sacrificed on the cross, and fulfilled in eternal glory—Jesus is its radiant center.
- God’s love PROMISED to us.
Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV) “…After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 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.’”
Numbers 24:17a (ESV) 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob…
Micah 5:2 (NLT) 2But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV) 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
God’s love is a promise that never fails.
- God’s love in HUMAN form.
Matthew 2:11a (NIV) 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.
John 1:14 (NIV) 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 (MSG) 14The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.
In Jesus, love moved into the neighborhood.
- God’s love SACRIFICED on the CROSS.
Matthew 2:11b (NIV) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Romans 5:8 (NIV) 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The cradle points to the cross, and the cross reveals love’s cost.
- God’s love FULFILLED eternally.
Matthew 2:12 (ESV) 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV) “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Advent love looks forward to the day when all is made new.
SOUL TATTOO: In advent, Jesus should always be at the center.
3 Reasons Why Love is Central to Advent for us:
- Christ’s coming reveals God’s love to me.
John 3:16 (NIV) 16For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
- Christ coming shows love in action up close and personal.
John 1:14 (NLT) 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us.
- Christ coming is a call to share God’s love with others.
1 John 4:7 (NIV) 7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Advent is the season where God’s hope, peace, joy and love breaks through the silence, wrapping the world in the gift of Christ.
SOUL TATTOO: In advent, Jesus should always be at the center.