The season of Advent is upon us, the beginning of the Church’s year, and the opportunity to remember that God is neither distant nor aloof, he came not just near, in the person of Jesus he wrote himself into our story. Advent means ‘arrival,’ we will reflect over these weeks on the significance of Jesus’ arrival as we consider the implications of the incarnation from the letter to the Hebrews. As we do, we also stir up and spur one another on to live in light of the day of his return.
Sunday 1st December
This week we begin with ‘revelation.’ Jesus, the Son taking on flesh, is the final and living word of God, the exact representation of his being. If we want to know what God is like, we look to him, and not just look, but also listen, if he is God revealed, then his words are God’s own.
Readings: Mark 9:2-7 & Hebrews 1:1-3
Reading: Hebrews 1:1-3
Sunday 8th December
In the first of our Advent reflections we considered the Son according to his Deity, he is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of his being. If we want to know what God is like – look at Jesus. This second week of Advent we turn our attention to the Son according to his full humanity. In Jesus we see the perfect example of what it means to be human, imaging God and delighting in him. Secondly, because in Jesus the Son share our humanity, he knows what it is like to be us, he can sympathise with us in our weakness and temptation. Thirdly, and wonderfully, as man, he can stand as our representative: “O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame, a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.”
Sunday 15th December
This Advent we’ve considered the two natures united in the person of Christ. According to his divinity, he is fully God, the final and ultimate revelation of who God is. According to his humanity, he is fully man, Jesus knows what it is like to be us. He is more than a sympathiser however, he is also our representative, what he did he did on behalf of all his people. He came to live the life we ought to have lived and to die the death we deserved to die. By faith, united to him, we share in all that he has done and all that he is as approved and beloved of the Father. Truly we can sing ‘peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled,’ therefore ‘let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.’
Sunday 22nd & 29th December
Over the next two Sundays we conclude our series on the significance of Jesus’ birth by considering his kingship. The angel revealed to Mary ‘he will reign over Jacob’s descendants for ever; his kingdom will never end’ (Lk. 1:32-3 3). What does it mean for our present and future that Jesus has been crowned ‘everlasting Lord,’? What will our response be to his righteous rule?
