Hi, it’s Mick here and welcome to Monday’s Podcast at STC. Not just any Monday but Christmas Eve Monday! I loved Liam’s reflections last week on Luke’s account of the Christmas story; this week’s podcasts are a little different. Today is a thought for Christmas from me followed by a revisit to four excellent podcasts by Bryony from last year as she took us through reflections on some famous verses from the prophet Isaiah speaking about the coming of Jesus. They were so good I thought it would be good to hear them again. No podcasts next week, but we begin our 2019 podcasts on Monday 7th January.

REFLECTION:

So, a thought for Christmas Eve 2018. Now, we are still in the season of Advent – from a Latin word which means ‘coming’ – three aspects to the coming of Jesus; first, the coming of Jesus Christ as a baby, second, the coming of Jesus into our lives and finally the anticipation of his return as King. It’s a season of expectation and preparation but most of all it’s a time to WAIT.

John1:14 (MSG)

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. 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. We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.

This wonderful Bible verse shows us that Jesus identified with us – he knows our human condition. He’s lived it. He knew joy and sadness; weariness and excitement; being alone and knowing friendship. Jesus lived in our world; he was flesh and blood, yet fully God.

When Jesus speaks, God speaks. When Jesus appears, God appears. Jesus is not just a ‘good’ person, or a great teacher, or a moral philosopher. Here is an amazing, controversial truth – Jesus is God!Jesus came to redeem the world – to put us right with God.

The word became flesh & blood & moved into the neighbourhood!

I have reflected many times this year as I have watched the news, on a world in need of a saviour, a church in need of its Lord and particularly a young generation in need of hope – that final challenge is with me most days as Tricia and I pray for our children and grandchildren and all young people at STC. There have been times this year I have so longed for Jesus to just appear and ‘sort things’! … often he has, but many times I have had to learn again to WAIT. Advent is about waiting. Waiting is often hard, but waiting is often necessary and waiting works!

Years ago we had a dream at STC that teenagers in secondary schools in South Yorkshire would have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and how he knows and loves them, that he has a plan and a purpose for their lives. The schools ministry of ‘Shine’ was born out of this vision and has over these past years under the fantastic leadership of Andy Rushworth and his team seen thousands of teenagers hearing about Jesus. Multiply the Shine ministry by a factor of ten and that’s the Higher Tour – partnering with our friends from The Message Manchester, we will see tens of thousands of teenagers impacted by the gospel in March 2019 – the greatest Christian schools mission in a generation in this area. All this has happened through vision, hard work and sacrifice but also by being willing to WAIT. Doors have opened at the right time in this vital work because we have learned to WAIT on the Lord in prayer.

Advent helps me understand again this spiritual discipline of waiting.

The word became flesh and blood and moved into MY neighbourhood.

As I wait, I am asking Jesus to prepare me – to open my eyes that I may see him afresh and open my ears that I may hear him. To encounter him afresh as a husband, a father, a grandfather, a church leader, a colleague, a friend but mostly as an often weary disciple trying to do ...