City Church Advent Devotional

Scripture Reading: Mathew 20:28; Luke 22:20; Isaiah 52:13-53:12

As we reflect on and celebrate Christ’s coming on this side of the cross, it is helpful to remember that Israel was expectantly longing for the Messiah to come, not knowing when he might appear. They were watching, waiting, for a man of royal birth with prestige, position, and power. What they didn’t expect was a Christ born in humble conditions, to common parents, growing up to work as a carpenter. They expected a popular king, not a suffering servant, to save them.

These words resonate with me as I write them. I think that if some two thousand years ago I was looking for the Messiah, I wouldn’t start that search in a manger. It seems illogical to us that the Savior of the world would come to suffer and to serve us. That is counter to everything the world tells us to look for in a savior.

However, those are the words God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. The servant coming to save would not have an “impressive form...no appearance that we should desire him.” That he would be “despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.”  We see that the coming Christ would be a man acquainted with grief, and pain, who had a heart to serve those whom he came to redeem through his death. This was all prophesied hundreds of years before Jesus was born!

Christ reinforced this prophecy when he declared, that “he came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” And that he would establish the New Covenant with his blood. Baby Jesus would grow up to ultimately reconcile sinful humanity with our holy God; thus saving us from the punishment we deserved.

Jesus saves, but not in the way most expected Him to. He came to serve, ultimately through his death on the cross, and as followers of Jesus, we are to serve as well. He came to suffer on our behalf, and we are reminded that this life may not be easy, or comfortable, but because of Jesus we will not have to suffer for eternity. We have a hope being reconciled through his death, for a future where the King will reign on His throne, exalted at the right hand of the Father, receiving the praise, honor, and glory in fanfare we expected Him to come with originally.

Reflection Questions:

1.     Jesus came to serve. As we desire to model his life, how have you served this last year? How has it brought you joy? What is one new way you could serve regularly at City Church?

2.     Christmas can be a time where you feel very blessed, or may experience much pain. In Isaiah 53:1-12, we see that Christ is well acquainted with pain and suffering. How does Jesus’ experience with pain and suffering comfort you in difficult times? In times of difficulty, how can Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection bring you joy?

Listen To:

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:17-21; Isaiah 35: 5-6; Isaiah 61

Part of the reality of Christmas is that underneath all the lights, laughs, and gifts galore, for many people there is pain. Life hurts but God heals.

In Luke 4, Jesus stood before a crowd of Jewish worshipers and publicly read sections from the book of Isaiah. What hope was Jesus giving them? These were familiar and hopeful Scriptures for people under the thumb of ancient Rome or enslaved Jews in exile, as in the time of Isaiah. Also, if you were blind, deaf or paralyzed there is hope of future healing; which was a big deal in a culture without hospitals and modern medicine. There was even hope of healing for the brokenhearted, financially struggling and enslaved. However, if these Jews were honest, maybe a future hope seems a little too distant? Don’t we want healing now? Maybe you can relate?

They longed for God to send His messiah to bring healing and rescue asap, but they conditioned themselves to trust God in his timing. We can learn from that; as today we still live in the now and not yet of the Kingdom of God. In other words, Jesus has already come, raised from the dead, is building His Kingdom through His church but he has not yet come back. We’re stuck in the middle. That is important for us to remember, however that is not the point of the passage. Look at what Jesus does next; something jaw-dropping to everyone in ear shot.

20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

Essentially, Jesus declared that He is the Christ; the long awaited answer to their prayers. The hope of heaven was sitting right in the room with them! They all knew Jesus as Mary’s son, or the carpenter’s boy who became a Rabbi, but not as the Savior of the world. Jesus took those old prophetic words, which were a distant dream and turned them into a present, living, breathing reality. Everyone in the room had to make a decision that day, ‘Do I believe Jesus is the Christ or not?”

How about you? If not, then humble yourself before God and admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior. If are a Christian though, do you realize that Jesus is with you right now in your pain; literally in the room with you as you read this? His Spirit indwells His people (Rom. 8:11)! Your Savior is close, comforting you, able to heal and has already taken care of your greatest need; the forgiveness of sins. You have real hope that no matter what pain you are now facing, it is temporary and pails in comparison to the eternal salvation secured by Jesus through his life, death and resurrection. This is Christmas hope!

Reflection Questions:

1. What pain or struggle are you facing right now that you can present to God for healing?

2. What are some ways you would think or feel differently if you realized Jesus is not only in the room with you, but inside you through His Spirit? What hope does this give you in the midst of sadness, pain or anxiety?

Listen To:

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:7; Exodus 12:21-32; John 1:29

I’m the firstborn son of three boys. One Christmas morning as a kid, I led the charge in ransacking a perfectly good day. How you may ask? I woke my little brothers up before dawn, and like stealthy ninjas, we army-crawled past my parent’s open door and drooled over the magical view of presents from wall-to-wall. I just couldn’t resist! I opened the first one and then it was like falling dominos. The gifts didn’t have a chance! Within minutes we tore open ever gift under the tree. My dad woke up, hearing all the commotion, and who do you think he held responsible for this grievous sin? Yep, he called out his firstborn son…me.

There is something to being a firstborn son particularly in the case of Jesus. At His incarnation, Jesus became Mary’s firstborn and in his resurrection Jesus became the “firstborn from among the dead”. (Col 1:18 & Rev 1:4) In the Old Testament, Israel was referred to as God’s “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22) After the Passover, in Exodus, where God spared His people through the blood of the lamb and heroically freed them from slavery in Egypt; we see a shadow Jesus Christ.

O come, O come Emanuel (Jesus) and ransom captive Israel!

Where Israel fell short as God’s firstborn, Jesus faithfully lived a perfect life under God’s Law. Like Israel, you and I have all sinned and fall way short of God’s glory; landing us under the death penalty, similar to the Egyptians. (Rom 3:23). Our sins against a holy and righteous God make us dead men walking under God's judgement. We need to be rescued! In steps Jesus; the gift of God. You and I can be forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God  through faith in Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.

That first Christmas in Bethlehem, God gave us His superior firstborn Son; the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Mary’s firstborn, thus, grew up to become the firstborn among the dead (first to raise from the dead) and give us the joyful hope of heaven. What does that mean for you and I? If you are in Christ, when God sees you, He sees His firstborn Son Jesus and welcomes you with open arms!

This Christmas season, as you spot baby Jesus in manager scenes all over Tallahassee, be reminded that Christmas points to Easter. The birth of God’s Son is crowned by His resurrection. Merry Christmas!

Reflection Questions:

1.     What have you learned about the significance of Jesus being the ‘firstborn’ Son?

2.     In what ways do you relate to ancient Israelites? How are you different from them? 

3.     What is one creative way you could bring the joy and hope of Christmas to someone who needs it this week? Go & do it!

Listen to: “O Come Oh Come Emanuel” by Sufjan Stevens

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:4; Micah 5:2; Isaiah 11:1–4

I grew up in a small town where not a whole lot took place. Most people who hear “Chiefland” have to ask where it is because they’ve never heard of it. I have to use landmarks like 40 miles west of Gainesville or halfway between Tallahassee and Tampa on U.S. 19 to explain the location. Most would refer to it as “podunk." We’re probably most known for watermelons and speed traps. Bethlehem (“house of bread”), the town where Jesus was born, would not have much better of a reputation among most people. It was a “podunk" town known for raising sheep for making sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem. We even sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” because indeed it was very small. People would probably have to describe its location in relation to Jerusalem (about 5–6 miles SSW). Only those steeped in Scripture would have known that this little town was David’s birthplace and was prophesied as the place where the Messiah (“anointed one”) would originate. Even the prophecy from Micah 5:2 hints at the apparent insignificance of Bethlehem. Isaiah 11:1 discusses the shoot from the stump of Jesse (father of David) upon whom the Spirit of the Lord would rest, again pointing to the Messiah.

Both Matthew and Luke’s Gospels point to Bethlehem as the place where Jesus was born, thus demonstrating the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Messiah in Jesus. The chief priests and scribes respond by quoting from Mic 5:2 when the magi appeared before Herod and he inquired where the Messiah would be born (Matt 2:3–6). Although Jesus is referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth” because this is where He spent most of His growing up years (Matt 2:19–23; Luke 2:39–40), He was born in Bethlehem. This was often confused in His life and ministry. For example, in John 7:41–42, the crowd is convinced that Jesus is from Nazareth (in the region of Galilee) but the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. You can almost sense a “tongue-in-cheek” moment here because they were correct but didn’t realize He was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the Messianic prophecies.

It amazes me how God chooses what appears to be insignificant to most people and makes them extraordinary. This is the Christmas story over and over again. In the same way Mary was chosen for no reason of her own to bear the Son of God, this little country town of shepherds was chosen as the place the Son of God would be born. It goes to show that our God sees so much more than we do and He always fulfills His promises.

Reflection Questions:

1.     Why was it important that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? What does this say about God and His promises?

2.     Today, Bethlehem is an unstable city fought over by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. What does this say about its growth from humble beginnings to its significance today?

Prayer:

Listen to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:76-79; Isaiah 9: 1-7

Birth announcements are common today. They may be a picture of a small pair of shoes, a little pumpkin, or something blue or pink exploding. Mary got a different sort of announcement: an angel told her that she would conceive and give birth to the long awaited Messiah—the Son of God. That’s an announcement you can’t put on the fridge!

In the passage we see that, from the very beginning and announcement of his birth, Jesus was heralded as a king. Most kings have subjects that serve them, but King Jesus came to serve and save his people. Isaiah, writing of this very birth, says that one of the names of Jesus would be Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”

The king and creator of the universe came to be with his people; he walked among them, and he died for them. The creator of light itself, entered the darkness of earth and illuminated the way of peace for those at enmity with God. This Christmas, let us appreciate all the more both the transcendent kingliness of God and his immanent nearness to us, his people.

Reflection Questions:                                                       

1.     In what ways do you struggle to understand and trust that Jesus is both King and “God with us?”

2.     How should we live in light of the kingliness of Jesus? Is there any part of your life that needs to change in order to be fully committed to following Jesus into the world? (John 17:18)

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:31–35; Isaiah 7:14

Put yourself in Joseph’s sandals for a minute. Knowing that the two of you have not had sex, your betrothed comes to you and indicates that she is not only pregnant but that the life inside her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Wouldn’t you be angry because your only logical conclusion is that she had sex with someone else? Wouldn’t you be even more angry because of the ridiculous story she has come up with and even brought God into it? Yet, Joseph maintains his cool and decides to divorce her without having her publicly stoned to death, which he was entitled to do under the law (Deut 22:20–24). He decides on this more peaceful solution until an angel reveals to him that Mary is telling the truth (Matt 1:18–25).

Really? A virgin? Many scholars have attempted to dispute this, indicating that the Hebrew word used in Isa 7:14 could mean either someone who has never had sex or simply a young woman. While this is true, the Greek translation of Isa 7:14 as well as the Greek word used in Matthew and Luke’s Gospel accounts is a word that could only mean someone who has never had sex. In addition to many other factors that point to this understanding, what else would be such a miraculous sign from God (Isa 7:14)? Luke’s Gospel certainly makes it clear that Mary is this type of virgin, not simply a young woman (Luke 1:34).

The original promise was made through Isaiah the prophet to the king of Judah as a sign of God’s presence in the midst of threats from the kings of Aram and Israel who had joined forces against Judah (Isaiah 7). While partially fulfilled in Isaiah’s lifetime with the birth of a child that signaled God’s presence and soon-coming victory over Judah’s enemies, Matthew’s Gospel points specifically to this prophecy being fulfilled in the birth of Jesus (Matt 1:22–23). Luke’s Gospel discusses the ramifications of the birth of Jesus in that it will be a supernatural birth (born of a virgin) and that Jesus will be not only the Son of God but also the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in 2 Samuel 7:12–16.

Now imagine being Mary who was chosen to carry the Son of God in her womb! Why Mary? We do not know a specific reason other than that she was favored by God (Luke 1:28, 30). Our God is a God who loves us because of Who He is and not because of what we have done. Like Mary, although we do not see it in ourselves, God sees the potential in us for what He can do through us. Jesus was born of a virgin through the conception by the Holy Spirit of God, demonstrating that He is God in the flesh. As we reflect on Christmas, let us remember that we worship a God of miracles and a God who can take the ordinary and make the extraordinary.

Reflection Questions:

1.     What does the miraculous entry of Jesus into the human race say about God’s love for us?

2.     How does Jesus being called “Immanuel” (God with us) impact your view of Christmas? How does it impact your view of the world around us?

Prayer:

Listen to "Silent Night"

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1–7

Recently, as I was sitting outside reading, I looked up and the beauty of the sunset took my breath away. Does that ever happen to you? I’m not sure why that setting sun caught me by surprise because our Creator shows his handy work every day in the sunrises and sunsets, but too often I take it for granted and miss them entirely. Maybe you have heard the story of Jesus’ birth so many times you know it by heart or maybe you are newer in your faith and eagerly learning about who Jesus is. Like with the sunset,  take a few minutes today to read this passage with new eyes and to reflect on Jesus’s divine nature and why it matters.

Read Luke 1:35 and Isaiah 7:14.

In the first passage an angel is telling Mary that she has found favor with God and will bear His Son, Jesus. In the second, we see that Jesus, Son of God, is the long awaited savior who would be called Immanuel, a name that  means “God with us”.

Read Luke 3:21-22 and Hebrews 4:14-16.

Later on, Jesus is baptized and the Holy Spirit descends on him and God speaks “You are My beloved Son. I take delight in you”. (Luke 3:21-22). In Hebrews, Jesus’ identity as the great high priest is established in his completely divine and completely human nature. As a man, he has been tempted and tried in every way we have but as God’s beloved son, Immanuel, he remained holy and sinless so that through Jesus, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence instead of fear or shame.

Prayer: Thank you God for the beauty of sunsets and sunrises that cause worship to well up from within me. I declare with Scripture that the heavens declare the glory of God. Forgive me for taking such beauty for granted. Similarly, keep my heart from becoming numb towards the Christmas story. Refresh my mind with a new amazement and appreciation for the incarnation of Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:35; Luke 3:21-22; Heb 4:14-16

Recently, as I was sitting outside reading, I looked up and the beauty of the sunset took my breath away. Does that ever happen to you? I’m not sure why that setting sun caught me by surprise because our Creator shows his handy work every day in the sunrises and sunsets, but too often I take it for granted and miss them entirely. Maybe you have heard the story of Jesus’ birth so many times you know it by heart or maybe you are newer in your faith and eagerly learning about who Jesus is. Like with the sunset,  take a few minutes today to read this passage with new eyes and to reflect on Jesus’s divine nature and why it matters.

Read Luke 1:35 and Isaiah 7:14.

In the first passage an angel is telling Mary that she has found favor with God and will bear His Son, Jesus. In the second, we see that Jesus, Son of God, is the long awaited savior who would be called Immanuel, a name that  means “God with us”.

Read Luke 3:21-22 and Hebrews 4:14-16.

Later on, Jesus is baptized and the Holy Spirit descends on him and God speaks “You are My beloved Son. I take delight in you”. (Luke 3:21-22). In Hebrews, Jesus’ identity as the great high priest is established in his completely divine and completely human nature. As a man, he has been tempted and tried in every way we have but as God’s beloved son, Immanuel, he remained holy and sinless so that through Jesus, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence instead of fear or shame.

Prayer: Thank you God for the beauty of sunsets and sunrises that cause worship to well up from within me. I declare with Scripture that the heavens declare the glory of God. Forgive me for taking such beauty for granted. Similarly, keep my heart from becoming numb towards the Christmas story. Refresh my mind with a new amazement and appreciation for the incarnation of Christ. In His name I pray, Amen.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:32; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 9:7; Romans 1:1-4

Tracing one’s family tree back in history can be an incredibly exhaustive task; though a fun endeavor on Christmas break. There are many companies today that can trace your ancestry through a simple DNA sample. That would be an interesting Christmas gift!

However, for most generations in human history, people like you and I relied heavily on written documentation, all with the purpose of never forgetting where you came from and whose you are. 

In Luke 1:32 we learn a little more about where Jesus came from… the lineage of David.  Jesus’ adoptive father, Joseph, was a direct descendant of King David.  This fulfilled the prophecy set forth in Isaiah and carried forth the promise of God’s Kingdom through David, and ultimately through his most significant descendant, Jesus.  Jesus, therefore, had royal blood and was the son of a king Himself. (in more ways than one!)

David was not a perfect king at all.  He would falter… he would sin… he would make the same mistakes that many of us do today.  But his coming descendant, Jesus, the Christ, would be the Perfect King.  And He would usher God’s Kingdom into eternity according to the Scriptures and establish His throne forever and ever. Thus Christmas celebrates the birth of a royal child; King Jesus.

Reflection Questions:

1.     How does Jesus' lineage help you see the story of Jesus through both the old and new testaments?

2.     David was an important person in the lineage of Jesus, and yet made many mistakes.  In what ways are you, being a child of the King Jesus, also disobedient to God’s commands?

3.     How does it feel to now rest in the Kingdom that Jesus has established for all eternity?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for coming and using your servant David to establish Your eternal reign.  I recognize that you use people who make mistakes, just like David, to make Your Name known to the whole world.  Forgive me when I take for granted your perfect Word and forget Jesus’ role in my life as both my Savior and my King.  I am Your humble servant this season, and I ask that You use me in bringing Your Kingdom to those around me.  You alone are worthy, Jesus.  Amen.

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:33; Numbers 24:16-19; Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14; Genesis 49:10; Daniel 7:27; Hebrews 7:14

Read Luke 1:33, Numbers 24:16-19

The Old Testament recounts God’s endless commitment to the Israelites, His chosen people. The Savior of the world was born into a Jewish family. That was no accident! Despite the consistent rebellion and unworthiness of Israel, God's every action aimed to set them apart and make them holy. Generation after generation, the Jewish people lived in the tension of God’s discipline and mercy, and often lived in slavery or oppression under other nations. But God continued to promise a coming Messiah who would rule over them in love and set them free from all oppression.

Read Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14; Genesis 49:10

Imagine living as an Israelite before the coming of Jesus, knowing the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah. Now, imagine that all of those prophecies have come to fruition in a helpless baby born in a small town. It is no surprise that some Jewish people could not recognize Jesus as the promised king.

Read Daniel 7:27; Hebrews 7:14

The life and ministry of Jesus pointed unmistakably toward His death on the cross, through which God revealed a new covenant for His eternal kingdom. By God’s amazing grace, through the blood of Jesus, we now have the opportunity to share in the inheritance as part of God’s holy, chosen people. The Bible tells us that when we trust in Christ, we are adopted into His family as sons and daughters. We are now part of the holy kingdom of God, regardless of our earthly heritage.

Reflection & Prayer:

1.     Have you ever struggled with the reality that God has a chosen people? What are some reasons God has the freedom to choose people for Himself and why might some people dislike that?

2.     In your own life, have you failed to acknowledge Jesus as the all-powerful king of the universe? Have you regarded Him as something less?

3.     Pray that God would give you proper sight to see Jesus for who He is, – and to see yourself properly as part of His eternal family.