This Sunday, here at Society, we kick off our newest teaching series called Prince of Peace. This advent teaching series, Prince of Peace, will explore how Jesus came to our world during a time of cultural confusion and how he still comes to bring clarity today. How he came to Israel during a time of political and racial division and he comes with his kingdom to bring peace today. He came to the least of society, and as the least of society and he still meets us there with his “good news of great joy for all people” today.
Advent Reflection: Week 4 – Love
Generations of waiting on a promise.
Different super powers, different leaders, an unsuccessful revolution.
A long period of longing for God to remember his promise.
The answer to that, was a baby.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For a child has been born for us;
a son has been given to us.
And the dominion will be on his shoulder,
and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His dominion will grow continually,
and to peace there will be no end
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
now and forever.
The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.
God’s fulfillment of this promise wasn’t to just swoop in and topple the enemies of his people. There was more to it than that.
God’s fulfillment would be a different way, a way that spoke a different way right from the beginning of it. In a world where military might and conquest determined who was in charge, God’s method was love.
John 3:16-17
For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life. For God did not send his Son in to the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.
Incarnation.
Immanuel.
God with us.
God would fulfill his promise to his people by entering into the story of his people.
This was not a God at a distance, but a God amidst his people. Even entering into this, in the way his people were, by being born and entering the world as a baby.
Jesus, even in simply being born, was already a sign of God’s love for his people.
This is why we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
And while we may not be looking and longing for God to show up in our lives by being born a baby once more, we are still are hoping for God to enter in our lives in real ways.
In ways that we can see and feel.
This season is a reminder that no matter how impossible it may feel or seem, that hope, desire, longing is not in vain.
