Fourth Sunday of Advent – Sermon 325

Fourth Sunday of Advent

10.00am Holy Communion

22^nd December 2013

Prayer to Start

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

 

AMEN

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Signs – do we take notice of them?  Do they help us prepare for what’s ahead?

 

Certainly – if we drive a car – and didn’t take notice of road signs –things would soon be at a standstill – especially at – this time of year –

 

But what about other signs?

What about the signs that tell us Christmas is getting closer?

The Advent Calendar

Houses and gardens illuminated with flashing lights and Santas –

Christmas cards arriving on the doorstep

Supermarkets and car parks getting fuller and fuller

Carols being sung in church on Sundays

Cookery programs on how to use leftover Turkey

The Rotary Club Christmas float making its annual appearance in the street?

 

Not all signs are helpful or truthful –

But some are so important – that they are not to be ignored

 

Point 1        A sign of the Virgin Birth

 

In our OT reading we have an exchange between Isaiah and King Ahaz of Judah

 

Ahaz reigned for 16 years and unlike his father David – made every effort to destroy the peoples religious foundations – rather than build them up –

 

He was being threatened by two of his arch-enemies Syria and Israel –who had inflicted terrible suffering on Judah in the past – and who were set to invade – the very gates of Jerusalem –

Ahaz was afraid – and decided to turn to Assyria for help – which was a really bad idea – a case of out of the frying pan – into the fire –

 

But through Isaiah – God tells Ahaz that the threatened invasion will never happen – that his two enemies will not live another two years –

 

But he doesn’t believe it – he doesn’t believe anything religious – And Isaiah suggests he asks God for a sign –

 

He refuses – but God gives the sign anyway –

 

‘Look, the young woman is with child, and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel’ –

 

Immanuel means – ‘God is with us’

 

God will be with us – in this child – who will be called God is with us –

 

He will know – how to refuse evil and choose good’ –

 

Point 2  – Jesus from Joseph’s viewpoint

 

Now fast forward about 700 years to a carpenter named Joseph

 

Who decided to quietly divorce his recently betrothed because she is pregnant with a child that is not his –

 

Because of this choice – Joseph is visited by an angel – in a dream – who tells Joseph – he should not be afraid to complete their engagement – and be married – because Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit –

 

She will bear a son – and you will call him – Jesus

 

The name Jesus – means ‘The Lord saves’

The angel even says it explicitly – ‘for he will save his people from their sins’

 

In English Jesus – is short for Yeshua – or Joshua – a name significant in Jewish history – it was Joshua who 1200 years earlier – delivered the Israelite people into the land God had promised them –

 

who took the refugees wandering in the desert – and by God’s strength – gave them a home –

 

Jesus will be the new deliverer who will – complete the law of Moses – and fulfil two promises – to bring the lost home  – and to become ‘God with us’ –

 

Some modern large glass buildings – have a picture of a bird in flight – on their large glass sections – this is to stop birds flying into the glass and killing themselves –

 

It seems that the only thing that will persuade birds to change direction – is to see one of their own kind – doing the same –

 

Well – God wants us to change our direction – and follow His –

 

For years He has tried to communicate with us – through miracles and prophets – and has been ignored – Until finally God decided to come down as one of us – and helps us to change –

 

Through Jesus – God has come to tell us about Himself – and to show us what He is like and what He wants – us to do and become

Through Jesus – God has come to be a true example of His grace – an illustration of His  nature – a blueprint for us to copy and follow

 

Joseph awoke from his sleep – and did as the angel commanded him –

 

In Matthew we see the story of the birth – through Joseph’s eyes – in Luke –we see it through Mary’s eyes –

 

Luke gives a picture of an excited Galilean girl – learning that she is to give birth to God’s Messiah – Matthew shows us a more sober Joseph – who eventually accepts God’s will for his life –

 

Both show fear – at what is being asked of them – but both respond positively when they understand the importance and the responsibility – they have been given –

 

For Joseph and Mary – accepting Jesus into their lives – is the beginning of a journey – that will change their lives forever –

 

 

And they will become – who they are  – not because of anything they did  – but because God chose them  – and through His grace – and kindness – led them to become the human parents of ‘God with us’

 

Point 3  – Jesus is good news for us all

 

Paul in the opening verses of his letter to the Romans – makes a similar statement – about his apostleship – received – not because of anything he did – but because of the unmerited kindness of God –

 

His confidence about his calling stems from who he is – and what he is called to do –

 

In his letter he moves straight from his greeting to the heart of the gospel message – of who it’s about – and what we can learn – from Jesus –

 

‘Gospel’ means ‘Good news’  –  and we have been set apart for the ‘Gospel’ by God

 

That Jesus who is descended from David according to the flesh – is declared to be the son of God –

with power according to the spirit of holiness

-and by resurrection from the dead

 

through the gospel we are called to belong – called to be obedient through faith –

 

Jesus is here to transform our lives and our hopes – like nothing before – and because of Jesus – the world is a different place –

 

Jesus is the Gospel of God –which is good news for all – and like Joseph and Mary and Paul we are called to help reveal Him to the world –

 

ending

 

This evening we have a candlelight service of celebration – and – if you love carols – it’s a must – there will be much singing and praising  – giving thanks for the birth and life of the One sent to bring God and His love into our hearts –

 

In Advent we wait – we ponder – we reflect like Mary and Joseph – and Paul – of how our lives have been changed by the Christ child –

 

And like them  – we too need to sing praises – and thanks to God – for what has happened to us – and for the Mighty one who has given us the most important sign of all – ‘Himself’

 

Prayer

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

AMEN