Advent Fulfilled
Text: John 1:1-14
Opening Statement:
The message of Advent (Emmanuel) is relevant, revolutionary and reassuring to us today. I believe it can be summed up in three phases: a cradle, a cross and a crown.
The Cradle
On that first Christmas night, the Bible tells us about the angel coming to those fearful shepherds and saying, “Fear not, I bring you good news” (Luke 2:10). What is the real meaning of that Good News?
For centuries men had looked into the heavens longing for God to step out of the frame, and at Bethlehem that’s exactly what God did.
He was God Incarnate. John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14).
The Cross
If Advent, is to have meaning, it cannot be separated from the cross. The angel said at the birth of Jesus, “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus Himself said, speaking just before His death, “For this cause was I born” (John 18:37). He was the only person in history who was born with the purpose of dying. The Apostle Paul years later said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15).
The cross and the resurrection stands today as man’s only hope. It was on cross and Easter that God did for man what man could not do for himself.
Our greatest need is a change in the hearts of people. That’s why He said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Who should repent? Everybody. This is what the cross calls for. The heart of its message is simple: Repent or perish.
The Crown
The Bible teaches that there will be an end to history as we know it. Man will have his last Armageddon. But when it seems that man is about to destroy himself, God will intervene. Christ will return.
At the cradle, He was in the stall of an animal. At the cross, He wore a crown of thorns.
But when He comes again, it will be as Commander in Chief of the armies of Heaven. He will take control of this war-weary world and bring the peace that we strive for and long for. A new world will be formed, a new social order will emerge. Sin will be eliminated. Tears will be wiped from every eye. Disease shall be no more, and even death will be eliminated from the human scene. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, and war shall be no more.
In Closing:
Advent is about waiting for someone not something. The light of the world has come; would you let Him light up your life with His gift of salvation? You don’t have to wait, as a matter of fact you had better not wait because when He comes again it will be too late.
