Advent Pt 1
December 10th, 2023
The season of Christmas is here...and more than just “Christmas” where we talk about
lights, decorations & gifts, this is a season that the global CHURCH has celebrated called
“Advent”
We all know in the back of our minds that Christmas is the season that we celebrate Jesus’
birth... but there’s a lot of conversation these days around whether Jesus was really born at
this time, on this particular day, was he born in this time of year at all, etc. And I’ll be
honest, we’re not going to talk about any of that mess because the Bible tells us plainly in
several places to “literally ignore disputable matters”... whether or not Jesus was born
exactly on December 25 is, in my estimation the perfect example of “disputable matters”
because you can argue about it on both sides all day long & it won’t save anyones soul... no
one will get saved because we make a really good argument for whether or not Jesus was
born on a particular day. The POINT of the season is that we SHOULD celebrate Jesus
birth–Him coming to earth as a baby & living life like everyone else on earth. The very
ESSENCE Of the Gospel is that Jesus put aside His divinity–His Godlike quality–and became
a man.
Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in
the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the
form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men
This isn’t our key verse / passage for today, it’s just the starting point of what Advent is all
about.
“Advent” is a word derived from the Latin that means “coming”. The Advent season is to
celebrate the preparation of the “coming” of Jesus as the Messiah... and while this particular
season is definitely about the coming of the birth of Jesus, it’s also a reminder to celebrate
“advent” in our hearts, preparing for Jesus’ SECOND coming.
The point of Advent isn’t to say that this is EXACTLY when it happened... it’s to celebrate the
FACT that it happened–Jesus DID come to earth exactly as the prophets said, and prepare
our hearts for the FACT that Jesus WILL come again.
Let’s turn to Matthew 2 and see if we can prepare our hearts just a little more, or at least
celebrate the facts that the Word of God gives us, that can help us establish Jesus just a
little more in our hearts.
Our passage tonight actually starts AFTER Jesus is already born... and moves on from there.
Let’s read together.
Matthew 2:1 – 1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the
east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star
when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all
Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he
asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the
prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Our focus tonight is “Why HERE?”
LET’S PRAY
A google search of the phrase “Why here?” Shows that the simple two word question has
become a featured question on many college entrance essays...it’s often an important
question in employment interviews and it’s featured as one of the major page titles for
thousands of travel websites, municipality websites, university recruitment sites, and more.
It has become one of the important questions that people want to answer before they make
a decision. And as Annette & I look for a new home, it seems like the old real estate adage
is still true... now more than ever, that it really is all about “location, location, location.”
What makes THIS house more desirable than that one? If you have TWO houses in different
neighborhoods and all the appliances are the same... the foundations are solid... both may
need a bit of paint added or carpet removed to update them... both may need a little yard
work to give them better curb appeal... but if all these things are the same, what makes
ONE house $300-400k and the other “SAME” house $1mil? Location. Why here?
Some people answer it with aesthetic reasons about the beauty of the location: a view of
the mountains, the beauty of the surrounding neighborhood homes or parks, the beauty of
the landscape overall.
Some answers to “Why Here?” are based on that location’s relationship to other locations:
the Zillow postings we’re reading say things like “located within walking distance of the best
restaurants & shopping” or “just minutes from the ski slopes or Mountain Views & wildlife...”
Maybe it’s proximity to your work or school or family... all of these are based on one
location’s relationship to another.
Other answers to “why here” have to do with the things that you can do directly in that
location. Here in the Denver or the mountains it’s hiking, skiing, outdoor living, walkability
of the neighborhood, the shops & restaurants or how close you are to a light rail stop.
Sometimes the answer to the question “why here” has more to do with relationship to
family members: mom & dad are nearby... sisters or brothers live close... OR... family is very
far away and we like it that way. :)
The bottom line is, the answer to the question “Why here?” All comes back to one
word...whether it’s on a college entrance exam, employee interview, vacation or real estate
website or simply a personal decision to live in a particular place... comes back to one
word: “OPPORTUNITY”
That’s what’s so confusing to me about the Advent Story. Honestly, it’s a really confusing
part of the entire story of scripture to me... Because if you look at things from every logical,
beautiful, educational or any other view of “Opportunity”... none of it makes sense.
The scripture we read in Matthew 2 says very plainly that Jesus was born in Bethlehem...
“Why here?”
Let’s look at a few things...
If we’re honest, Bethlehem doesn’t really have the ideal “location” thing going on... it’s just
a suburb to the big city of Jerusalem... it’s like the Englewood of Jerusalem. It’s not flashy,
it’s not even the suburb where the nice houses are... it’s just the working class, blue-collar,
second-rate next door location to the flashier, more wealthy, more industrious, Jerusalem.
The only real thing it’s got going for it is that the great King David was from there... the City
of David... But really, who pays attention to those signs at the edge of town anyway?
We just visited my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary... they live near
Tupelo, Mississippi & one of the only things Tupelo is known for is that it’s “the
Birthplace of Elvis”. A few summers ago & my dad & I went into a little 50’s diner
for a milkshake right near Elvis’ childhood home in Tupelo... the walls were
plastered with pictures & memorabilia of Elvis... and right there on one of the
booths was a little plaque ... PPT: “The Elvis Booth”... he sat there & his picture
was taken... But who cares??
What does it matter that Bethlehem was the City of David... a dead celebrity... a really great
king... was born here, lived here... then moved up to the big city of Jerusalem & built his
palace...
“Why here?” Why Bethlehem
Joseph & Mary didn’t even live in Jerusalem. They lived in Nazareth... more than 80 miles
away... at the time, that was about a 9 days journey. Not an easy trip... And can we just
mention the fact that this poor girl, Mary was apparently 9 months pregnant? What
business does this girl have taking a 9 day journey away from the comforts of home &
where people can help care for her if she goes into labor...
Luke 2 2 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the
inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was
on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city
of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family
of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they
were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she
wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2 records that there was a census being taken & that’s the reason why Mary & Joseph
were going to Bethlehem at that time... pregnant or not, they’re required to go to the place
the husband’s family was from. Mary being pregnant was just a complication for the
journey... probably made it take longer to get there...
So maybe it was just coincidence? ... They’re forced to go to Bethlehem because of Joseph’s
family & maybe the journey was just enough of a rough ride to cause pregnant Mary to go
into labor.
And can we talk about the ACTUAL place...a stable? Or at least a cave that doubled as a
stable... because there wasn’t any more room at the inn.
So now...from Mary’s perspective, “we’re FORCED to go to ‘YOUR’ family’s hometown...
mine’s not good enough...and I’m 8 1⁄2 months pregnant...could go into labor any day... AND
you didn’t book the hotel in advance?!? We’ve known we were gonna have to take this trip
for months! Now we’re in the underground parking garage and... labor pains... NOW?!?
HERE?!? Are you KIDDING ME?!??!”
WHY HERE?!?!?
Can anybody relate just a little bit?? Maybe not with the just how crazy her situation is...
but what about yours?
Have you ever felt the pressure of a moment or a time where it just didn’t seem like things
were going right... like maybe even that it was going the exact opposite of right... it’s all
wrong. This isn’t the plan... this isn’t the way these things are supposed to go! Why now???
Why here???
Let’s talk for a minute about that prophecy... the one mentioned in Matthew 2:6.
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
This is a quote from Micah 5.
Micah 5:2 – 2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
So it’s a prophecy from almost 700 years ago...
Do you think the “why here” was just simply to fulfill a 700 year old prophecy? That seems
a little outlandish... that Mary & Joseph would go through the trouble to try and force fulfill
a prophecy just for the heck of it. And it seems equally unlikely that God would have had
Micah prophesy about a second-rate suburb of Jerusalem 700 years before the event just
for kicks & giggles... there must have been a reason!
Why Here??
It’s not because Bethlehem is so great...
It can’t be just simply to fulfill prophecy...
t’s not because they went there so Mary could be close to her family for the birth... so
why?!? It can’t be just coincidence...
What if God decided to use Bethlehem as the city for the Messiah to be born in
PPT:for all the very reasons that no logical human would choose it?
● What if God chose Bethlehem BECAUSE it was small, out of the way and second-rate?
● What if God chose Bethlehem BECAUSE it wasn’t flashy & had everything going for it?
● What if God chose Bethlehem BECAUSE it was blue-collar not white-collar?
● What if God chose a stable instead of an inn because he didn’t want any innkeepers
putting up a plaque in a room saying, “The Jesus Room.” and charging extra.
● What if God chose a manger because he didn’t want a furniture maker being able to
sell copies of “The Messiah Bassinet”...
● What if God chose for Mary to be away from family & friends because he didn’t want
any moms or aunts or grandmas being able to brag or make T-shirts that said, “I
delivered the Messiah”-- “I delivered the Deliverer”.
What if God did all this to prove that He comes for even the common... not just the elite?
He reveals Himself to the insignificant IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM SIGNIFICANT.
He chooses a place OUT OF THE WAY place to prove that HE IS THE WAY.
He’s not impressed by our bigness, nor scared by our small-ness.
He’s not swayed by our importance or lack thereof.
He chooses a quiet place to allow His angels to proclaim a glorious, loud anthem.
What if God chose Bethlehem... that insignificant, quiet, dirty little town... so that maybe,
just maybe we’d believe that If God can reveal Himself there, maybe He can reveal
Himself to me.
What I’m saying is... What if the answer to the Christmas question, “Why Here?” is because
of you & me.
- If Jesus had been born in a palace, I couldn’t relate.
- If He’d been born in a fancy town, in a fancy hospital, the town could take credit. The
hotel would take the glory & put up a sign that said “the Messiah room”. And then it
would just be a place for people to gawk & stare & worship THAT.
- If Jesus had been born to royal parents, kings & princesses, I couldn’t imagine any of
what that life was like.
But since he was born in a cow-town... I can say maybe he understands me, a boy from
rural Mississippi.
If Jesus was born to a simple carpenter? Maybe he can relate to the work that I do...
construction, clean up messes for children at a daycare, or deal with the lowly & the sick in
healthcare.
Maybe, just maybe, if God can inhabit a manger... in an out-of-the-way stable... in a
second-rate city... born to common parents... maybe He can inhabit my life too.
We’re going to revisit this IDEA of Why Here in the new year as we discuss what’s next for
our church... We’re going to have some deep prayer & intercession for where we’re going &
what God is doing through us.
Advent gives us the opportunity to allow Jesus to be revealed to our hearts...and how He
wants to reveal Himself through our Church (That’s why we’ll restudy this in the new
year)... and believe that it’s not about being good enough, good-looking enough, rich
enough, put-together enough... it’s about knowing that He came. taking the form of a servant,
and being made in the likeness of men
We can answer the Christmas question “Why Here?--why Bethlehem, why the stable, why
the manger, why to these common parents...” with the answer, “so that we’d believe that
He has what it takes to live, here in our hearts.”
No city, nor inn keeper, nor crib maker, nor hospital, nor midwife, nor anyone else can take
Glory for the birth of the Messiah... No glory to us...
PPT: “But Glory to GOD in the highest... and on earth peace, good will toward ALL men....For
unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”