2024 Advent Devotional

By Dr. Tommy Kiedis, President

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.—Isaiah 9:6, ESV

I’m a pretty simple guy. It doesn’t take much to make my head spin. I’m not talking about the star-struck stupor that grips teenagers when they fall under a celebrity’s shadow. I’m thinking more of jaw-dropping wonder that comes with a few more years…

• Marveling that I can buy thousands of hours of someone’s work for a penny on Amazon.
• Contemplating my “moment in time” in the grand scope of the universe.
• Witnessing the birth of our children.
• Delighting in the uniqueness of each of our grandchildren.

When I open my Bible, I’m greeted with more wonder…

• God ripping apart the Red Sea as simply as I shear an old rag.
• God guiding his people—not by Hollywood spotlight—but Heavenly Maglite.
• God bringing tap water for his people by tapping on a rock.

Sometimes I’m at a loss to find words fit for my fascination. Not God. God’s word of choice is W-O-N-D-E-R. It means “marvelous” and conveys the miraculous. As Edward J. Young notes in his commentary, “The Book of Isaiah,” “The word refers to what God has done and not to the works of man.”

This makes sense. When God wanted to express to his people the mind-numbing, heart-thumping, nation-conquering, soul-satisfying nature of the Messiah he used the word “wonder.”

According to Young, the first of four titles attributed to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6 is literally, “Wonder Counselor.” Yes, the Messiah is wonderful, but as His title rightly ascribes, He is Himself a Wonder—a Wonder through and through. At times, I think we miss that as we celebrate “the baby” in the manger. This is no “baby…”

• He is God with skin on.
• He is the Creator in the cradle.
• He is King of kings and Lord of lords lying “helpless” so he can help us.

This child is a wonder!

PRAY & REFLECT: “Lord Jesus, forgive me for making you small. I praise you that you are the Wonderful Counselor, so superior in every way, yet so present and so real today.”

By Rachel Sidebothom (’02), MME, Interim Chair of the Music, Worship & Performing Arts Department

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’—Isaiah 40:1-3, KJV

As a musician, specifically as an oboist, I am often called upon to play for George Fredrich Handel’s “Messiah” during the Christmas season. This oratorio, composed by Handel in 1741 (setting the libretto by Charles Jennens), is one of the few works in our canon of Western music that speaks truth directly from Scripture and tells of the complete work of Christ!

The first part centers on Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Savior and presents Christ’s birth, while the second and third parts portray the passion, death and resurrection of our Savior, and the coming judgment day of Christ, giving hope to those who are found in Him. The text for Messiah is straight from God’s Word. You might be most familiar with “Hallelujah” or “Worthy is the Lamb,” two of the glorious pieces in this oratorio which lead us in profound and joyful worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But one of my favorite moments of the “Messiah” is in contrast to those powerful, stirring pieces and arrives soon after we play the “Sinfony” or Overture. The first words sung in this masterful work are “comfort ye.” Have you ever considered the power in this simple truth that sets up the rest of the gospel presented in this work?

What a hope-giving and joy-filled peace these truths give us! Our war with sin has already been won! Our iniquity is pardoned! And, as Isaiah continues in Chapter 40 and Handel presents in the “Messiah,” the glory of our God will be revealed! I find my soul resting and settling as I listen to those resounding truths sung by a powerful voice each time I perform Handel’s “Messiah.” God is speaking comfort and hope to each of us in this Advent season. In the hustle and bustle, rest in His finished work on our behalf.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Father in Heaven, thank you for the promise of your comfort in the promise of Jesus as our Messiah. His coming then, and the promise of His return, comfort my heart. Help me to rest in that when the days of stress or turmoil bring havoc to my soul. Amen.”

By Dr. Wayne Cordeiro (’17), Master of Arts in Formational Leadership Lead Mentor

Preparing our soul for Advent is extremely important since the Christmas holidays are filled not only with the “joy” of Christmas but also with the “junk” of Christmas. The Advent season is crammed with clutter, noise, anxiety and the chaos that pulls us away from our faith center of the coming of Christ as Emmanuel—God with us.

The word “advent” transliterated from the Greek means the “coming” or “arrival.” The Advent season is a time for us to focus our attention toward the coming of Jesus as Messiah, Christ and King. It is also a time for us to prepare our “soul” for the arrival of Jesus this Christmas.

All goes well with us when we are focused on the health of our souls. 3 John 2 says:

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even your soul is getting along well (NIV).

The state of our soul profoundly affects the way we live. It affects the way we think, the way we act and what we believe. If we are not growing our soul, the result is that, inevitably, we get adept at only going through the motions of Christianity, Christmas and the Advent season.

One important healthy practice of soul care is doing daily devotions—reading the Word and praying. Our soul has to be of such importance that it warrants our investment of time. When I go to my small group Bible study, I go because it is healthy for my soul. Even after a full day in the office, when my flesh says, “I would rather go Christmas shopping than to go to my small group because that would be fun,” I say to myself, “No, I won’t think that way!”

It is healthy for my soul to hear the Word of God and be with brothers and sisters who will hold me accountable. No daily habit is more important than maintaining a healthy soul, especially when we are preparing for the arrival of the Emmanuel. Then when He arrives and asks, “How’s your soul, Wayne?” I can sing, “It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

PRAY & REFLECT: “Lord, help me to identify the deception that is so prevalent in our world today. Keep me from running ahead of your plan for me and for this day. Help me to walk in love and obedience hearing your voice. Amen.”

By John Churchville, JD, Criminal Justice Program Director

 And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.’

—Luke 1:46-53, ESV

It was nine months or so before the first Christmas, and Mary is already rejoicing with family! No gifts yet, nothing fancy, simply two women rejoicing that God has seen fit to notice them, out of all the other women in the world, and to use them spectacularly for His greater plan. What must that have been like in a culture and society where many women were not honored, or educated, or regularly thought of for spectacular plans? God noticed one who was past child-bearing years (Luke 1:7, 18) and one who had never been with a man (Luke 1:34). What kind of a God is this, this counter-cultural God, who notices those often not honored in larger society, in a small country that was insignificant in the eyes of the larger world?

Mary is rejoicing for several reasons:

• God has regarded her lowly state… God has done great things for her…
• God is holy and merciful… God scatters the proud, puts down the mighty and exalts the lowly…
• God fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty…

When is it that I am most likely to rejoice—on Christmas day or long before? Can I rejoice in spite of gifts given or not received, of money in surplus or in need, of health that is excellent or poor, of family that is strong and close or weakened and far away, simply because of the truth of God’s unchanging nature? Has there ever been a holiday season where I felt empty? What can I pray this season in order to be as full of rejoicing as Mary?

PRAY & REFLECT: “Dear Lord, I am humbled to be loved by you and blessed by you, an unchanging God. Accept my gratitude and deep thanks for these blessings. Show me how to bless others with that same love. Amen.”

By Mary Yager, MSW, Assistant Professor of Social Work

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.—Matthew 2:11, ESV

What wonderful gifts were presented to the baby Jesus; costly gifts fit for a King! The Magi’s gifts of gold, incense and myrrh are believed to be the origin of our modern gift giving tradition and ought to inspire us this Advent season.

At Christmastime, we put great love and effort into the perfect gifts for our family and friends. What joy it brings us to show our love to those who we value most in our lives.

But what gift can we give to our King? What is the perfect gift for the baby Jesus?

When I was quite a young child, I remember asking my father what he would like for Christmas. His answer was “Hugs and kisses!” He didn’t need another silver Cross pen set or a new necktie; he wanted the love of his child. But that answer did not satisfy me. I wanted to give my father a physical gift to show him how much I loved him. I wanted to wrap it up and put it under the tree.

What does Jesus want this Advent season? He wants our love. We can love Him completely with our hearts, soul, mind and strength. But we can also put our love into action with tangible gifts—gifts that we can wrap and put under the tree. Jesus told us in Matthew 25:34-40 that whatever we do for the least of His children, we do for Him. When we care for the poor, clothe the naked and give food to the hungry, we are giving gifts to the newborn King. Baby Jesus is all around us! We can lay gifts of gold, incense and myrrh at His feet. Where will you find Jesus this Advent season? He is eager to receive your gift.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the gift of your son, Jesus. Thank you for the gift of salvation. Please open my eyes and my heart, Lord. Bring before me the opportunity to bless others with gifts fit for a King. Help me embrace the knowledge that what I do for the least of your children, I am doing for you. Amen.”

By Rev. Zachary Ritvalsky, Director of Strategic Projects

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.—Luke 2:7, ESV

I have become extremely conscious of the homeless I encounter in the City of Philadelphia. It appears no convenience store or intersection is immune from their presence along the routes I travel. There are males and females from all generations representing African Americans, Euro-Americans and Latin Americans whose faces have become indelibly etched on my mind. They hold signs with Crayon-formed letters intended to bring attention to their plight. Most signs open with, “I’m homeless” and end with “God bless you” whether you contribute, or not, to their cause. I’ve never in my years of active observation seen homelessness so pervasive in the City of Brotherly love.

While reflecting on this social dilemma, in the comfort of my home, I was drawn to think about Luke 2:7, where the writer points out that the Savior of the world was born into a similar situation. Due to a census that had been commissioned and the need for people to report to their birthplace, Jesus’ mother was forced to deliver the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in a manger because, in the words of Luke, “…there was no place for them in the inn.”

What a travesty, what a shame, and yet a reality of life on this side of heaven embraced by the Redeemer as part of His identification with humanity. As we engage this season of Advent, let’s be mindful to make room in our hearts, our heads and our homes for the King.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Eternal God, I thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. I marvel in you taking on human flesh and willingly subjecting yourself to a hostile world in order that a remnant would be saved. But what better way to become the world’s Savior? Truly your thoughts are not our thoughts and your ways not our ways. Therefore, I pray you conform our thinking to be in alignment with your thoughts as we engage this season of Advent and celebrate the arrival of your Son into the world. Amen.”

By Scott Keating, MA, Vice President of Advancement

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.—John 3:16, NIV

Really! Is it that simple? All you have to do is think about giving a gift and that’s enough? Somehow as we approach Christmas, the quintessential gift-giving day, I think there might actually be more to it than that.

Gary Chapman, in his book “The Five Love Languages,” identifies one of those love languages as receiving gifts. That is my language. I love to receive gifts. Small or large, practical or impractical, it doesn’t matter. For me, it’s all about the gift. I know that may sound a little childish for someone my age, but that is just the way I am wired. I can’t imagine how I would feel Christmas morning if the family gathered around the Christmas tree, ready to begin the exchanging of gifts, and there were none for me.

“I thought about getting you a gift, Dad.”

“Honey, I can’t tell you how many times I thought about buying you a gift this Christmas, but I just never got around to it.”

“The thought was enough, right?”

Hardly! Intentions are nice, but it is the gift that really counts.

Over 2,000 years ago, our Heavenly Father did more than just think about us. He sent His one and only Son, the most precious and perfect gift He knew, to be born and ultimately die on a cruel cross, so that we might have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. Can you even begin to think what might have been if all He had done was to think about us? I, for one, am so glad He not only gave but that I received. What about you?

PRAY & REFLECT: “Father, thank you that you not only thought about me but that you also acted by giving your Son so I might spend eternity with you. Help me this Advent season to not just think about others but to give out of the abundance you have given to me. Amen.”

By Rev. Daniel A. White, Student Caregiver & Pastor at Large

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.—Hebrews 1:1-4, ESV

The belief of many today as they contemplate Jesus at Christmas is that He is “just a baby.” Their sentiments continue in such a vein as they come to see the adult Jesus as a “nice Teacher” who travels around Israel speaking wonderful messages and doing amazing miracles to make the lives of the unfortunate much better. But then, His inspirational life is cut short in a popularity contest gone horribly wrong. He is crucified on the cross intended for another man.

The reality is, as stated in Hebrews 1:1-4, God had previously revealed Himself through a variety of ways as He reached out to His creation. He was revealing Himself as a “baby” en route to accomplishing the amazing work of redemption with potential salvation for the entirety of all mankind.

This “baby” was the unique, one-of-a-kind, Son of God foretold and identified in many passages of Scripture. Here, Jesus was described as:

• The pre-existent Son of God—Hebrews 1:2 (+ John 1:1; 8:58)
• The Creator of the world—Verse 2 (+ Colossians 1:15-16)
• Exact and only representation of the Father—Verse 3 (+ John 14:8–9)
• Sustainer of His creation—Verse 3 (+ Colossians 1:17)
• Conqueror over the power and penalty of sin and death—Verse 3 (+ Romans 5:6–11)
• Superior to any other, including the angels—Verse 4 (+ Philippians 2:9–11)

What you believe about Him will affect each day of your life and your eternal destiny.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Dear Lord, we are in awe of the amazing nature of the coming of our Savior as a Baby born in a humble manger! All the aspects of this incarnation event have Your divine mark—as the perfect God of the universe come to Earth. Through this, you have uniquely reached out to us in your love and grace, for which we are so thankful! Amen.”

By Dawn Brandt, Compliance Coordinator

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.—Hebrews 2:9, ESV

It had been a while since I’d held a newborn, but holding a friend’s days-old son brought back the awareness of how much protection an infant needs. By God’s design, even before a child is born, the instinct to shield and shelter is “born” in a parent-to-be. In some ways, that instinct barely diminishes as the child becomes independent. An injustice done to our child, at whatever age, arouses the impulse to protect, to defend, to make his pain go away.

As our children grow, we must gradually release them from our protection. But as a human parent, I could not willingly offer my child to be brutalized unjustly, even for another’s good. I could not choose this way of saving someone. I could not plan this for my child. I could not bear this. Who could? Only Father God.

And He did. He chose, planned, bore and suffered the unspeakable, and that is what allows us to be His and grants us a glimpse of His glory. God the Father’s pain is the dark backdrop to the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The fact that Christmas is beautiful even in its anticipation of Christ’s suffering reveals the majesty of the Father’s sacrificial grace.

This Christmas season, consider Jesus, the Father’s precious gift of love and life, sacrificed for us, displaying God’s glory. And consider the Father, doing the impossible: choosing, planning and bearing what was required to save us and, in so doing, revealing His glory.

And if you have the chance, hold a newborn and be reminded of the Father’s precious Son, sharing in His suffering and in His glory.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Dear Father, thank you for your precious gift of love and life, sacrificed for us. Thank you for the beauty of Christmas as a time to recall the cost of our salvation. Amen.”

By Dr. Bob Dodson, Education Professor & Field Placement Coordinator

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.—Joshua 1:9, ESV

In the centuries before Jesus was born, pagans would celebrate the winter solstice as a time to honor the coming of the light. During Advent, we celebrate the coming of Jesus, the coming of the Light of the world (John 8:12). As the Light, Jesus came to intervene in the darkness—to change the course of humanity as they knew it. No doubt He did this in love, but Jesus called people to courageously follow Him, no matter how light or dark the path appeared.

This last part seems to scare people. For many of us, it’s hard to talk with people in our sphere of influence about the gospel. We become timid and don’t initiate or follow through despite knowing Jesus is with us and calls us to be courageous. I’m assuming I’m not the only one to admit that it is hard to be the Light of Jesus to our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family.

Proclaiming Jesus takes us out of our comfort zone, but perhaps it shouldn’t. John tells us that Jesus is the only one who can move us from dark to light (John 1:9-13). With this in mind, can we not simply be His instrument? If we truly allow Jesus to live through us and allow His strength to take over, to let us be His instrument, then perhaps, just perhaps, this can take away the fear factor. This is a constant decision each of us has to grapple with every day.

I am reminded of a quote from Winston Churchill: “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” To fear is to succumb, to be courageous is to take a stand. If Jesus came to walk this Earth and intervene through the darkness, then perhaps we can take a nod from Churchill and choose courage rather than fear—courage to minister to others, serve them, love them, to be Jesus to them. And by God’s grace, He will allow us to be an instrument of change in the course of their lives. He has called for us to courageously intervene through the darkness.

It’s wonderful to celebrate Jesus’s coming during the season of Advent. However, I dare us to take celebration to the next level, to follow Jesus’ leading in courageously intervening by bringing light to the darkness. Who in your sphere of influence needs to know the Light of the World?

Go and intervene in Jesus’s name.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Lord, please forgive my fear and hesitancies. Fill me with gratitude for my salvation that fuels the boldness to share so others will know the Savior who came at Christmas. In His precious name, Amen.”

By Dr. Tanya Solomon, Site Director, Philadelphia

Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of His name! Tell the world how glorious He is.—Psalm 66:1–2, NLT

Advent is the season of preparation for the coming of Our Savior, Jesus. When I was young and not yet saved, one of my favorite Christmas carols was the song, “O Come All Ye Faithful.” I especially loved the refrain: “O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

For years, hearing this tune would take me back to the grand Christmases my parents provided for my sisters and me. In preparation for Christmas, we would go shopping and help my parents clean, decorate our house and bake treats. Carols like this one, sung by artists such as Nat King Cole and The Jackson Five, would be playing on the record player. These songs set the “Christmas spirit” into full swing for my family.

As an adult and born-again believer, I encountered this song at a church where my husband and I fellowshipped. Our pastor broke into an impromptu song before preaching. He began to repeatedly sing the part of the song I love so much, “O come let us adore Him.” He then added lyrics, such as: “For He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, for He alone is worthy, Christ the Lord!” Eventually, every person in the large sanctuary was singing. It was one of the most powerful worship experiences I had ever witnessed because it focused on who Jesus is.

At that moment, I realized that while the Christmases of my childhood were rich and special family times, they were missing a key element: Jesus! Unfortunately, this is often what happens today. We get caught up in gift-giving and other distractions at Christmas. We should let this song be a timeless reminder of the purpose of Advent for believers—to tell the world about our glorious Savior!

PRAY & REFLECT: “Dear Lord, we come to you in humble gratitude, giving you honor and praise for your loving plan of redemption and restoration. We deem it a privilege to glorify your holy name and to tell others of our Lord Jesus’ living example, redeeming death and sovereign resurrection. Oh, how we love you! Thank you for your saving grace that allows us to go from distracted prodigals to redeemed, growing sons and daughters! Amen.”

By Shanika Churchville, MSEd, Director of the Ally Center

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.—2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV

I spend much of my days with students in the process of writing. They often find it slow, tedious, not immediately gratifying. They want to produce pages and papers and often have to settle for word by word. I try to offer words of comfort: “Writing is a spiritual discipline. When you write, you not only engage in a humbling discipline of details, you imitate the slow, secret, consistent work God does every day.” They aren’t always convinced.

Being immersed in writing has given me a great context in which to ponder the slow, incremental way in which God often works. He did not send His Son to us fully grown, in a blaze of glory. Rather, He planted the salvation of the world in Mary’s womb to develop cell by cell. Our Messiah grew inch by inch. Picture him over the years—He grew taller, his voice deepened, he outgrew his sandals. God committed Himself to the unhurried and unglamorous process of developing the Light of the world from embryo to fully man.

The Bible is full of analogies comparing the spiritual life to the slow, hidden and laborious. Consider its many plant metaphors: the seed dies in the secrecy of the soil to raise new life (John 12:24); the tree reaches its long roots deep to meet water (Psalm 1:3); the tiny, unassuming mustard seed eventually bursts into a large and glorious tree (Mark 4:30–32).

At this time of year, on the cusp of the old, leaning into the new, we often yearn for sudden and dramatic transformation—pounds lost, miles run, unruly children miraculously transformed. Of course, we serve a God of miracles, a God who transforms. Yet so much of what God does is hidden, tiny, daily and in secret. The God of the universe is also, to borrow the words of novelist Arundhati Roy, the “God of small things.” As we celebrate God’s faithfulness in the big things, let us also praise Him for the slow and daily renewal he works in our hearts, in secret, with great grace and love.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Oh, Heavenly Father, your wisdom in sending your Son to grow and develop is overwhelming. Forgive us for wanting results to occur quickly and without a process. Show me the small steps to walk slowly as I grow in my life with you. Help me to find your steps to be the best ones for me. Amen.”

By Dr. Esther Zimmerman (’19), Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies; Children & Family Ministry Program Director

And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.’—Revelation 21:5–6, ESV

For several weeks each year, the media churns out songs, films, pictures and dreams of an “ideal Christmas” where everyone is happy, every wish is granted, and anything is possible. For some, it’s a lot of fun. For others, it’s a cruel reminder that all is not well in their worlds.

Henry Longfellow felt this tension keenly during America’s Civil War as he wrote the following words:

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good-will to men!

I heard this carol sung for the first time just a few days after returning home from a war-torn region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The words resonated deeply as I sat in church surrounded by Christmas sweaters, decorations and happy smiles. My time with Christians who were suffering intensely had shaken me to my core. However, Longfellow’s next words were a powerful defense of Christmas:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail with peace on earth, good-will to men.

As believers in Jesus Christ, there is a depth to our Christmas celebrations that the world cannot hope to imitate. The world is NOT the way it is supposed to be—that’s why there is Christmas. In the incarnation, God Himself entered our broken world as a human baby—to redeem, restore and reconcile all things to Himself, to proclaim a true and lasting peace on earth that will someday be fully realized.

The trappings of Christmas can be a lot of fun, but the true joy of Christmas is found in Jesus, our hope of redemption.

PRAY & REFLECT: “Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that you are the redeemer of this world, this world that so desperately needs you. It is your peace that passes all understanding and can override the tumult that humans sometimes experience. We offer praise and celebration for this redemption. Amen.”

By Dr. E. Penny Clawson, Professor Emeritus

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.—Hebrews 5:7–9, ESV

The season of Advent and Christmas is a perfect time to reflect on the incarnation of Jesus, the unique act of God becoming man, human, a baby. What a mystery this is when we consider that an omnipotent God relinquished the power of being God to become helpless, needing to grow and be taken care of, dependent on others. He left the relationship with His Heavenly Father to have a relationship with His earthly father, Joseph. He went from never needing anything such as food, water, shelter, rest or clothing to become a man needing all of those, and eventually being denied these at times in His life. What a contrast!

The author of Hebrews adds to this conundrum in Chapter 5, while Paul declares the deity of the Incarnated Christ this way:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.—Colossians 1:15-17, ESV

God, made flesh, to become the sacrifice for our sins, the sacrifice that was once for all, never needing to be offered again! When we sing from a cradle to a cross, do we fully understand the depth of these words? Have you and I considered the life Jesus lived on this earth anticipating that day of ultimate sacrifice?

PRAY & REFLECT: “Heavenly Father, we confess we do not understand the relationship of you with your Son, but we are so very grateful for the very act of His incarnation. Without His perfect life on Earth, His perfect sacrifice on the cross, there would be no salvation. We are humbled to be counted among those whose sins have been atoned. With deep gratitude, we say, Amen.”

By Dr. Joseph A. Kim, Professor of Bible & Theology

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.—Hebrews 2:14–18, ESV

It is no surprise that popular images of Jesus fail to portray Him accurately. Still, constant exposure to such images—of a peaceful baby radiating a warm, yellow glow; of a Jesus with an other-worldly look in His eyes; of a Jesus who doesn’t quite let His feet get dirty in the Galilean soil—can leave us with the impression that He wasn’t really one of us. Even Christians can find themselves misled into thinking that somehow Jesus wasn’t quite fully human.

The author of Hebrews explains the significance Jesus’ full humanity. Jesus took on human nature in all its fullness: He was “made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (2:17). In the incarnation, Jesus willingly opened Himself up to all the experiences of humans in the fallen world, everything from getting splinters in His fingers and catching a stomach flu all the way to suffering betrayal, torture and death. Were it not so, He could not be our Savior. As Gregory of Nazianzus wrote long ago, “whatever he has not assumed, he has not healed.” In other words, if he wasn’t fully one of us, then we aren’t fully redeemed.

Spend some time this season thanking and praising the Lord for his great grace and mercy, that “for us and for our salvation … he became incarnate … and was made man.”

PRAY & REFLECT: “Oh Lord, my heart is humbled by the thought of your incarnation, the sacrifice of becoming human to suffer and die for me. Forgive me for my complacency in recalling this fact, and renew in me a heart of gratitude for your gift. Amen.”

By Dr. Sam Harbin, Program Chair for Seminary Masters Programs

Beyond all question,
the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
—1 Timothy 3:16, NIV

For many of us as children, time marched to a painfully slow cadence as we impatiently awaited that last turn of the calendar to December 25. The joyful anticipation of everything that made Christmas magical for us appeared, mysteriously, to have an adverse effect on the clock.

For many during this season, time seems to drag on for a different reason. The culprit is not joyful anticipation of future comforts, but the painful remembrance of past comforts now lost. When you have experienced personal loss, those precious memories can become a source of pain—a poignant reminder of what you once enjoyed.

Whether you find yourself at this moment skipping through a season of blessing or enduring time’s slow march as you reflect on personal loss, 1 Timothy 3:16 speaks bright hope to us all. With six lines from an ancient Christian hymn, Paul reminds us that the “great mystery of godliness” for so long concealed has been in the person of Jesus Christ revealed. Through His incarnation, His earthly ministry and finished cross-work, and His victorious ascension to God’s right hand, Jesus has set in motion the restoration of God’s broken world. He is truly the One Who is making all things new.

Are you rejoicing today? Christ’s advent guarantees us far greater blessings yet to come. Do you grieve today? Christ’s advent assures that the tears of this life will soon be wiped away for all who know the Savior. And so we pray, “Thank you for coming, and, even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

PRAY & REFLECT: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set your people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee. Amen.”

By Robert Blanks, MDiv, Program Director Master of Arts in Contextualized Pastoral Ministry, Uganda

Baby Jesus, only 40 days old, entered the temple with his parents in fulfillment of the law. There they encountered Simeon who “was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” Simeon, full of the Holy Spirit, picked up Jesus and pronounced a message of salvation for Gentiles and Jews alike.

Then Simeon addressing Mary specifically said:

‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’ (Luke 2:34b-35, ESV)

This prophetic pronouncement reminds us, as we see confirmed throughout world history, that this little baby, the Messiah, will not simply arrive, live and die unnoticed. He will not passively move through life and fade into the background unseen. No, Simeon announces that this baby boy will shake up life and history as we know it. He will cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and He will be opposed and face the opposition of many.

Today, even now at this moment, Jesus continues to reveal the thoughts of hearts. Our challenge is to slow down and listen to what He has to say. Simeon told Mary that it would be a painful road to salvation for her. The truth of Jesus is personal and piercing. Let us not refuse the Messiah and fall but respond in faith and rise.

What does Jesus reveal about your heart today?

PRAY & REFLECT: “Search me, O Lord Jesus, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (adapted from Psalm 139:23-24). Amen.”