Taken from the intimation sheet: Sunday 14 December 2014
What do you associate with the word ‘Advent’? Maybe you think of opening a cardboard window to claim your morning chocolate, maybe your mind meanders back through memories of Christmases past, maybe you think of the stress of the season – getting presents and food and plans in place for the big day.
Advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning ‘coming’. It is the time of year traditionally when God’s people fix their gaze on the first coming of Christ into the world, mindful that he will come again. In the midst of all that advent brings these days, let’s not lose sight of that.
Why did Jesus come into this world? Why would the Creator step into his own creation, Light step into darkness, Love subject itself to hatred and the Author of Life, taste death?
Here are the second set of reasons the Lord Jesus said he came to earth, followed by some of his teaching regarding his second coming. Again there are 7 verses – one to reflect on each day this week.
- Jesus Christ came into the world to divide people into two groups.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law”
(Matthew 10:34-35)
- Jesus Christ came into the world to preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God.
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else– to the nearby villages– so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
(Mark 1:38)
- Jesus Christ came into the world to die on the cross.
“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. “
(John 12:27)
- Jesus Christ came into the world to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (our ‘Old Testament’).
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.”
(Matthew 5:17)
- Jesus Christ came into the world because the Father sent Him, and to send us into the world in His Name.
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
(John 20:21)
- Jesus will come again to take his people to be with him
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
(John 14:1-3)
- Though we don’t know the date, we must live ready to receive him
“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
(Luke 12:40)