My name is Joseph and I am a lowly carpenter from a small town called Nazareth. I am also a new father. My wife and I had our first son about a year ago. Now I know you may be thinking that I am just a proud papa who wants to brag about his new son, but the story I am about to tell you is miraculous. You may have a hard time believing it; if so don’t worry, I understand. I had a hard time believing it at first too.

I had grown up my whole life hearing the stories of how God miraculously worked in people’s lives. I had heard how God protected Noah on the ark when the whole world was flood. I listened when my father told me about how God used Moses to part the Red Sea and our people cross on dry ground. I remember sitting around the fire, glaring into the flames, as the old people retold the story of how Elijah prayed and God rained down fire on the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. But nothing miraculous ever happened to me!

That is why I could hardly believe what happened to me about two years ago. My son’s birth was miraculous. Let me tell you the story. But I will have to keep it down. Little Jesus is asleep in the next room.

Betrothal (18a)

Like I said, it all started about two years ago. Mary and I were betrothed and it was just a few months until we would be married. We were both so excited. Back then a year’s betrothal seemed so long, but now it doesn’t seem so.

I guess it wasn’t much of a surprise that Mary and I were getting married. When you live in a small town, you don’t have a lot of options. Besides, it’s not as if I had a choice anyway. I remember when I was younger I overheard my parents talking to Mary’s parents about arranging our marriage when reached the right age. Well, we finally hit the right age, and I am so glad we did. Not only was Mary beautiful, but she was gentle, mature, and devout. I couldn’t wait to be her husband.

Throughout our betrothal, our ritual was to meet at the well in the center of the village after supper and talk while we drew water. I loved seeing Mary at the well. It was the only chance I had to see her all day. A few more months of torture and then it would all be over; we would finally be married; or so I thought.

Mary’s Shocking News (18b)

I’ll never forget that night. It was after a long hard days work on the home I was building for Mary and I that I ate quickly and hurried to the well. I was a little late getting there and I saw Mary sitting on the edge of the well with her head down and her face in her hands. No one else was around. I knew something was wrong because I didn’t see her donkey or her water pales.

When I was close enough to see clear, I saw that Mary was crying. I ran to her as fast as I could go. I put my hand on her shoulder and asked her what was wrong. She didn’t answer. She just kept sobbing. I waited for what seemed like an eternity. And she finally said, “Joseph, I have something to tell you, but you’re not going to understand.” Understand what? What could it be?

Then those two fateful words crept out of her mouth, “I’m pregnant.” My heart sunk into my stomach as I tried to put it all together. “You’re what?” I exclaimed. “Pregnant! How can this be?”

Joseph’s Reaction (19)

I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t joking. Mary wouldn’t joke about something like that. I stood up straight and turned around as a flood of emotions rushed through my soul. I just kept muttering, “How can this be? How can this be?” I trusted Mary. I thought I knew her. How was I going to explain this to my family?

Then Mary stood up and said, “Joseph, it’s not what you think.” I turned around and looked at her and said, “What do you mean it’s not what I think? How could it be anything else?” I started to walk away. She cried out, “Wait! Let me explain!” But I didn’t want her to explain. I needed time to think.

I walked outside the village and into the hills. I was confused and angry. As I watched the moonlight reflect off the mountains, the only thing that felt colder than the sand between my toes was empty chill in my heart. I never saw this coming. How could I have been so wrong about Mary? All of my dreams about having a wife and family were stripped away by two little words.

The only thing left to do now was to figure out what I was going to do about this. Adultery is a high crime. If I turned her into the authorities, she would have a public trial and be stoned to death. Even as hurt as I was, I knew I couldn’t do that. So, I decided to divorce her quietly and spare both of us the public disgrace.

Joseph’s Dream (20-21)

When I finally made it back to the house, I looked at the walls that weren’t finished. It was going to be the house where Mary and I were going to raise our children. Not anymore! What would I do with it now?

I washed my face in the basin and slipped into bed. My body was exhausted but my mind was still racing. I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that happened. I tossed and turned for hours until I fell asleep.

While I was sleeping I had a dream. There was a bright light that nearly blinded me. Then all of the sudden a figure began to appear. It called to me, “Joseph, Joseph!” I heard about angels before but I had never actually seen one. Like I said, I had never experienced anything miraculous. But somehow I knew this was an angel.

Its voice thundered, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit! She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

After the angel delivered the message, it was gone in an instant, and my eyes opened as the morning sun crept through the window onto my face. I knew I had been dreaming, but I was sure the angel was real and his message was true.

Joseph Takes Mary Home (24-25)

As I sat there on the edge of my bed in amazement, everything began make sense to me. I knew what Mary was going to say to me. Why didn’t I let her? Oh, Mary!

I ran to her parent’s home on the other side of the village as fast as I could. When I got there I found her in the stall feeding the animals. I put my arms around her and apologized for walking away the night before. She started to explain, but I told her I already knew. She gave me a puzzled look and then I told her about the dream and the angel and the message. It was a miracle indeed!

Then she looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, “So, you’re not going to divorce me?” “Oh Mary, you are going to be my wife!,” I said. “I have a house to finish! We’re going to have a baby!”

A few months later we were married and a few months after that we had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census since I am from the line of David. It was while we were in Bethlehem the child was born. There were many more miraculous events that took place there, but I don’t have enough time to tell you about them now.

Not long after that, we fled Judea because we heard that King Herod heard that a king was born and he was going to kill all of the young boys in the region. That is how we ended up here in Egypt. I sure hope we will be able to go back to Israel sometime. I miss our little village of Nazareth.

Isaiah’s Prophecy Fulfilled (22-23)

As I had been trying to make sense of all that God has done, I remembered the words of the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.”

Could it really be? Conception by the Holy Spirit? Virgin Birth? I am from the line of King David! Fulfilled prophecy! The name Jesus means “the Lord saves” and the angel said he will save his people from their sins? It really is! Our son is God’s son! Little Jesus is the promised Messiah! How amazing! What a miracle indeed!

He will one day save his people from their sins. I wonder how he will do it!

Well, I hear the baby crying. I need to go help Mary. Thanks for listening to my story. And don’t worry if you haven’t experienced any miracles, in God’s time, you will; just like I did! Shalom!

No doubt, some of you sitting here this morning have experienced miracles in your lives, but there may be some who have never experienced anything miraculous. I want you to know that if you have never experienced a miracle, you can this morning!

Verse 21 tells us why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus was born in human flesh so that he could one day grow up, live a perfect life, die on a Roman cross, and be resurrected three days later; all so we can have forgiveness from our sins.

The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, and because of this we deserve judgment. But the greatest miracle of all is that God sent his own son to die in our place. Jesus “God with us” paid the penalty for our sins so that we may have eternal life and life with God in heaven forever.

If you have never experienced a miracle, would like to invite you to experience on this morning. The Bible also tells us that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, we will be saved.

The greatest miracle I ever experienced was when Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. My life changed forever, and yours can too.

Do you want to experience the greatest miracle of all? Do you believe in your heart Jesus is God and that he was born and died for your sins? Are you willing to confess it with your mouth? If so, let us pray!

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On May 2, 1962, a dramatic advertisement appeared in the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t want my husband to die in the gas chamber for a crime he did not commit. I will therefore offer my services for 10 years as a cook, maid, or housekeeper to any leading attorney who will defend him and bring about his vindication.”

One of San Francisco’s greatest attorneys, Vincent Hallinan, heard about the ad and contacted Gladys Kidd, who had placed it. Her husband, Robert Lee Kidd, was about to be tried for the slaying of an elderly antique dealer. Kidd’s fingerprints had been found on a bloodstained ornate sword in the victim’s shop. During the trial, Hallinan proved that the antique dealer had not been killed by the sword, and that Kidd’s fingerprints and blood on the sword got there because Kidd had once toyed with it while playfully dueling with a friend when they were both out shopping. After 11 hours of deliberation, the jury found Kidd to be not guilty. Attorney Hallinan refused Gladys Kidd’s offer of 10 years’ servitude.

Gladys Kidd loved her husband so much that she was willing to sacrifice 10 years of her life in servitude. 10 years is a long time! What an incredible expression of love! But do you know that God loves you even more than Gladys Kidd loved her husband? Do you know that God loves you so much more than your parents, children, or even your spouse?

God loves us more than any human being! And even though 10 years of servitude is a noble expression of human love, God expresses his infinite love for us by becoming the ultimate servant for us! Today’s lectionary readings show us how God expresses his amazing love for us!

Micah 5:2-5a
Micah, in the first three chapters of his book, announces God’s judgment upon Jerusalem for the sins of evil rulers, false prophets, and immoral priests. These people, who had been given the responsibility to shepherd Israel faithfully had not done so, but instead, led Israel down the path of impure worship and social injustice. God was going to punish them for their sins.

In chapter 4, judgment changes to God’s promised restoration. Thus we are led to the text for this Sunday, where we are told of a new ruler who will come to shepherd Israel. He will not be like the wicked rulers of the past but “shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord.” This ruler will come not from Jerusalem or from one of the large tribes of Israel but from Bethlehem, one of the little clans of Judah. Bethlehem reminds us of the Israelite monarchy’s humble beginnings. God would send a good shepherd to restore his people to security and peace. This is a Messianic prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the good shepherd.

God expresses his love for us in judgment and restoration. We typically don’t think about judgment as an expression of love, but that is exactly what it is! Think about it deeply, God loves us enough to hold us accountable for our sins! And he still loves us enough to forgive and restore us. He expressed his love for us through the promise of his own Son. He would one day be born in the village of Bethlehem! Now that is an expression of love!

Luke 1:39-55
As for the Gospel of Luke, we’ve just heard three weeks of preaching from Jesus and John the Baptist, those prophets out of the wilderness, about world-shaking events, part judgment, part exhortation to get our lives turned around in preparation for what is to come. In this week’s unique situation, we have, in a sense, four unlikely prophets gathered not in the wilderness but on the front step of Elizabeth’s home, two of them not even born yet, and still John is already able to acknowledge the One who is greater.

The other two prophets are women, women with names and stories, women with voices and something to say, or in Mary’s case, something to sing. Women and babies: we’re definitely not at “the top of the heap,” here, especially not when there’s an actual priest in the house, Zechariah, a professional, licensed and learned, knows-what-he’s-doing expert in matters of faith. Ironically, though, Zechariah is the very one in this scene without a voice, literally, since he’s been struck speechless during his own angelic visit.

In this passage Luke tells the story of two miracles meeting for the first time. Both John and Jesus have now been conceived. John is more than six months along, we are told, and thus very capable of giving a swift kick or two to his mother, and Jesus has just been conceived. In fact, just prior to this text is the story in which Mary finds out about Elizabeth’s pregnancy, and it is to rejoice with her kinswoman that she goes on this journey.

But the miracles don’t stop with the conception of these boys. A miracle of prophetic utterance and discernment is given to Elizabeth as soon as she is greeted by Mary. For her babe leaps in her womb, and at that she pours forth the ecstatic speech of one who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit. She is given knowledge of the amazing news of Mary, and the identity of Mary as “the mother of my Lord,” as well as the fact that there would be “a fulfillment of what was spoken by the Lord.” All this is certainly miraculous, for even Luke’s “orderly account” offers no explanation for their knowledge other than being filled by the Holy Spirit.

The Magnificat, Mary’s song in verses 46-55, is certainly one of the great pieces of poetry in Scripture, and it brings to mind the text from Micah. As in Micah when the “insignificant” town of Bethlehem produced the righteous ruler, here we are told that God has “looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” Like the Hebrew word for the “little ones,” the Greek word for “lowly ones” refers to one “who is of no account in the eyes of the world.” Also, just as the righteous ruler in Micah stood in the strength of the Lord, so it is “the Mighty One who has done great things for Mary.”

This whole passage is a great testimony to the fact that God chooses “what is low and despised in this world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are” (1 Cor. 1:26-31). In other words, God’s love is not dependent on our exalted status in the world’s eyes. God’s love is not dependent on being exalted in the world’s eyes. He not only loves men, but he loves women and children too. He loves both young people and old people. He loves those who live on the fringe of society. He loves the little and lowly people of the world. He loves all of us with an indescribable love.

Hebrews 10:5-10
The Epistle reading begins “Therefore,” begging us to look at the context of this passage. Earlier in Hebrews 10 we read that sacrifices according to the law and the first covenant cannot take away sin. After speaking again and again about sacrifices and offerings in this passage, finally at the end of the periscope we find out what offering is efficacious: “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.” This point is most effectively reiterated in the verses that follow (11-14) as the writer says that “by a single offering Christ has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child’s breath.

Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, “Momma, kiss me!” Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord.

Real love forgets self! Real love knows no danger! Real love doesn’t count the cost! This passage points to the ultimate expression of God’s love for us: Jesus’ death on the cross! Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, suffered on the cross so that we could have forgiveness from our sins and the hope of everlasting life. The blood that spilled from his hands, feet, head, and side made atonement for our sins and we stand justified before God. Jesus’ willingness to bear the pain of the cross and the weight of the world’s sins on his shoulders is greatest expression of love in the history of the world.

How much does Jesus love us? Enough to step out of heaven and come to earth—enough to become human flesh at Christmas—enough to live as a humble servant—enough endure the cracking of the whip and the thorns pressed into his skull—enough to stretch out his hands and be nailed to a tree—that is how much he loves us! By this single sacrifice of his body, he has saved us from hell and proved the extent of his love!

As we move into this final week of Advent, I want you to know that Jesus came to love you! I encourage you to take some time alone this week (away from all of the festivities) and simply reflect on Jesus’ love for you. May you bask in the thought of his birth and may you be lavished by his love!

Here’s a little song I wrote, you might want to sing it note for note, don’t worry, be happy.
In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double,
Aint got no place to lay your head, somebody came and took your bed,
The landlord say your rent is late, he may have to litigate, don’t worry (ha, ha) be happy,
I give you my phone number, when you’re worried, call me, I make you happy,
Aint got no cash, aint got no style, aint got no gal to make you smile,
Cos when you worry, your face will frown, and that will bring everybody down, so don’t worry, be happy.

Many of you remember this Bobby McFerrin song from when it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September of 1988. Although I have no idea how, it became so popular that it won the Grammy Award for Best Song, Best Album, and Best Male Vocal Performance. For that year it seemed like it was the only song played on the radio. But as with many songs from that era, it quickly fell out of style and today it makes its home at #31 on VH1’s 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80’s. There are numerous possible reasons why it crashed so quickly—it could have been its mediocre melody or lackluster lyrics, but I personally think it was its flippant philosophy.

Have you ever heard this song come on the radio when you were going through a tough time? It is so annoying that it makes you want to find the DJ that played it and punch him in the face. If you have ever experienced real pain or endured real hardship, you know that “Don’t worry, be happy” just doesn’t cut it. Clever clichés about happiness don’t really help when we hurt. You can’t be happy in the midst of pain because happiness is an outward emotion based on momentary pleasure. You can be perfectly happy one moment, then your spouse says something to you and you are not happy any more. Even on Christmas morning, you can be incredibly happy with one gift and extremely disappointed with another one. Husbands, when you decide to buy your wife the new snow tires instead of the diamond earrings, let me know how fast she loses her happiness!

On the other hand, it is possible to maintain joy in the midst of pain. Joy is an inward and continual state of contentment regardless of outward circumstances. Joy is far more valuable than happiness. I suppose this is the reason why cognates of the word “happy” are only used 33 times in the Bible whereas cognates of the word “joy” are used 485 times. When composing the Bible, the Holy Spirit definitely preferred to emphasize lasting joy over short-lived happiness. We see this in today’s lectionary readings.

Zephaniah 3:14-20
For two and a half chapters Zephaniah had been preaching the judgment of God. At this point in their history, Israel had become complacent in their relationship with God. Their crops flourished and they were experiencing economic success. They felt like they didn’t need God anymore and they fell into sin. They worshipped worthless idols, false gods, and participated in pagan practices. They turned their backs on God by violating his law. In the midst of this spiritual complacency the young prophet Zephaniah warned the people of Judah that if they refused to repent, the entire nation, including their beloved city of Jerusalem, would be lost.

But there is joy even in the midst of judgment! The people knew that God would eventually bless them, but Zephaniah made it clear that there would be judgment first, then blessing. This judgment would be both a punishment for sin and also purification for the people, purging away all their sin and evil. After the judgment would come a day of joy and restoration; that is what he describes in verses 14-20. They could sing and rejoice through their difficulty because they knew that the Lord was near and that he was working for their good.

Philippians 4:4-7
Paul picks up this theme of joy in the midst of suffering in his letter to the Philippians. He wrote this letter from his prison cell in Rome. In spite of his circumstances, being bound with chains, he had incredible joy because God was using his suffering to advance the gospel. He learned to be content in all circumstances and he constantly reiterates his joy throughout the book.

In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul tells this conflict-filled church that their joy is not based on their circumstances, but it comes from Christ dwelling in them. The fact that Jesus is near brings joy. Therefore, they do not have to be anxious about anything, but instead, they can take it to the Lord in joyful prayer. They could be joyful no matter what they faced.

Luke 3: 7-18
Then in Luke 3:7-18, John the Baptist presents the greatest reason for joy: the coming of the Lord. The coming of the Lord brings great joy for those who are in a right relationship with God, but it causes great fear for those who are not. So, John preached a message of judgment and repentance to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

Repentance and Ritual (7-8)
The crowd that came out to the Jordan River to be baptized was a group of hypocrites. They were doing the right thing for the wrong reason. Seeing Jews proud of their religion standing in the baptismal line, he shocked them. No words of congratulations, gratitude, or praise to God. Instead, he issued a stinging attack with some old fashioned prophetic name calling—“you brood of vipers!” They wanted to add one more religious act to their spiritual account so they could brag about it. They were not saints. They were snakes. They needed to take John seriously, along with God who stood behind John. They needed to know that divine wrath was coming.

Just as the prophets of old tried to ward the nation and prevent God’s discipline and judgment, so John played out the prophetic role. If you want to go through the ritual, be ready to live the life. Gaining God’s forgiveness requires more than going through another religious ritual; it means repentance and the fruit that is produced by it. It is a continual turning away from sin and renewing our love for God by conforming our lives to his. One does not inherit the joy of heaven by being born into the right family or going through the right ritual. The joy of heaven comes through repentance.

Have you truly repented from your sin, or are you still playing religious games? God doesn’t care about how good our family name is or how many religious rituals we have participated in! He cares about our hearts! He cares about our motivations! He cares about our attitudes! Without repentance, there is no forgiveness!

Repentance through Justice (10-14)
In response to John’s message about repentance, the crowd asks John for specific instructions, “What should we do then?” He tells them to act justly and generously. He says: Do you have a change of clothes? Take one and give it to a person who needs it. He says: Do you have food to eat? Invite someone to share it with you. He tells the business people not to take more than what is right. He tells the soldiers to be content with their pay. The fruit of repentance is justice and generosity. If someone has truly repented from their sins, it will change the way they live?

Again, I ask, have you truly repented from your sin? Has your way of life really changed? Are you acting justly toward other people? Are you generous in meeting other people’s needs? What is the fruit of your repentance?

Repentance or Judgment (9, 15-18)
Finally, with such bold preaching, the people wonder if John is the Messiah. He denies this answers that his is a water baptism but the Messiah would be far more powerful and baptize with fire. He warns them of the judgment to come unless they repent. In verse 9 he says that the ax is already at the root of the tree and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Likewise, in verse 17 he says that God’s winnowing fork is in his hand. He is separating the wheat from the chaff. The wheat will live in the security of the barn, but the chaff will burn in an unquenchable fire.

The only way to escape this unquenchable fire is to repent: to renounce our sinful life and turn to Jesus. The Messiah was born at Christmas so that he could one day pay for our sins by dying on a cross. Have you embraced his gift of salvation? Have you repented from your sin? Will you escape the final judgment when Jesus returns?

As we journey through the third week of Advent and continue to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, I want you to know that repentance is the only way to everlasting joy. When we repent, God blesses us with joy right now and it will carry on into eternity. Which would you rather have, momentary happiness or everlasting joy?

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We are living in a world filled with turmoil. Listen to this litany of headlines from this past week’s news: In international news the spotlight was on American college exchange student Amanda Knox. She and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were found guilty and sentenced to 26 years in prison for the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy. What a sad and twisted story to be played out in the international news and tabloids.

In national news it is difficult to determine what was the bigger story this week: President Obama’s announcement that the U.S. will deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan or golf sensation Tiger Woods admitting to “letting his family down” and “regretting those transgressions with all of his heart”—whatever that means. War abounds while families are falling apart all around us!

In local news you can have your pick between Burlington Telecom’s financial woes, a llama being shot to death in Grand Isle, our state auditors DUI case, or continually low milk prices putting more and more farms out of business. Regardless of which one you pick, it will leave you feeling anxious and depressed. There is turmoil all over the world and right here in our own back yard.

The Reality of Turmoil in the Biblical World
There is no doubt about it: our modern world is filled with turmoil. We read about it in the headlines, watch it on the news, and live it every day! Most of us believe that the world is continually getting worse. We long for a simpler and more peaceful time. We think back to our childhood and remember the world as a better place. I often wonder if it really was better or if it just seemed so because we were looking through a child’s eyes.

Even when we read the Bible, it seems like it was a better and more peaceful time. There certainly weren’t nuclear bombs and terrorist threats. It seems like marriages were more stable, families were stronger, values were more noble, and there was less turmoil.

Again, I’m not sure why we think that biblical times were any more peaceful than modern times, but when we cast fantasy aside and read the Bible with realistic eyes, I believe there was just as much turmoil then as there is today. This is very clear in today’s lectionary readings!

Malachi 3:1-4
Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament and chronologically was the last prophet to preach in Israel until the 400 years of silence was over and John the Baptist came onto the scene at the dawn of the New Testament Era. He preached during the period of time after the Jews were released from 70 years of Babylonian exile. They had returned to Jerusalem, rebuilt the Temple (although it was inferior to Solomon’s Temple that had been destroyed), and tried to reestablish their worship and way of life.

Even though they were relieved to be back in their own land, their lives were filled with turmoil. Haggai and Zechariah had preached that God would bless them with peace and prosperity after they rebuilt the Temple, but they hadn’t experienced anything like it yet. Contrarily, they were in the midst of an economic crisis because a prolonged draught and persistent pestilence made their crops fail. Likewise, they city still lay in ruins, and they had no wall to protect them from their enemies. Every time that they looked at their rinky-dink Temple, they sunk into depression as they remembered the glory of Solomon’s Temple. And although they enjoyed the benefits of Persia’s more tolerant religious and political policies, the people acutely felt their subjugation to a foreign power, and they suffered persistent opposition and harassment from their neighbors.

In addition to this political and economic crisis, they were experiencing spiritual turmoil. The people were relatively free from their ancestors’ blatant idolatry, but their faith had become a dead orthodoxy. Their ethical standards were diluted and they made all sorts of moral compromises. And worst of all, their worship was pathetic. They still attended worship at the Temple, but their hearts were not in it. They simply showed up and went through the motions and most of the time they didn’t even do that right. Their city and whole nation was in turmoil; they were a complete mess!

You see, biblical times weren’t any better than today. There was just as much crisis, conflict, and turmoil in Malachi’s day as there is in our own. Whether it was Persian domination and crop failure then, or terrorist threats and a Wall Street collapse today, we all long for peace. Like us, the people back then yearned for peace!

Luke 1:68-75; 3:1-2
From Malachi’s prophecy, flash forward 400 years. The Persians had been defeated by the Greeks and the Greeks had been defeated by the Romans, the new world superpower. For the most part, the Jews still possessed their land and were able to worship their God, but they were really living under Roman domination. They had to pay outrageously high taxes and were treated unfairly.

In Luke 3:1-2, we are introduced to a host of corrupt leaders. Tiberius Caesar, the Roman Emperor, was known for his vicious and infamous life. Pontius Pilate was a spineless two-faced player. Herod, Philip, and Lysanias all shared power as tetrarchs of different regions of Palestine. They were all licentious, greedy, back-stabbing Jewish leaders who sold their souls to Rome. Annas and Caiaphas were both yellow-bellied and crooked priests who manipulated religion for their own personal gain.

As we compare our modern American situation to the ancient Jewish situation, there really isn’t much difference. As a matter of fact, in some ways they were even worse then. If you think property and income taxes aren’t fair now, you would really be frustrated if you lived in first century Palestine. Likewise, can anyone show me a time in history when there weren’t any corrupt political or religious leaders? It has always been the same issues, it is just the names that are different. Back then it was the tyranny of Tiberius Caesar, today it is the ruthless reigns of Kim Jong-il and other dictators. Back then it was the political corruption of Pilate, Herod, Philip, and Lysanias; today it is Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich selling vacant Senate seats and South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and New York’s Eliot Spitzer using public service time for romantic rendezvous with their mistresses. Jim Baker and Ted Haggard are modern day Annas’ and Caiaphas’, using religion to exploit people.

If we think the biblical world is any better or worse than the modern world, I believe we are sadly mistaken. Ever since Adam and Eve’s Fall in the Garden, the world has always been filled with sin, corruption, conflict, and turmoil. And it will always be this way until Jesus comes back at the Second Advent.

Peace in the Midst of Turmoil
Well, if the biblical world was overwhelmed with turmoil and the modern world is mystified by mayhem, where is this so-called peace that the Bible promises? If this kind of peace really existed, surely we would all be driving to San Francisco to sing love songs and pass around our peace pipes while we stomp around in the mud and “imagine” a better tomorrow. If Jesus really is the Prince of Peace, then why do we still live in a world that is torn apart by violence and war? If Jesus really came to establish a kingdom of peace, why are there still terrorist attacks, serial killings, and children exploited all over the world? Did Jesus’ mission of peace fail?

No, Jesus’ mission of peace did not fail, but it is widely misunderstood. For instance, Jesus has no interest in this shallow cheap hippie-dippie peace that has been popular in America since the 1960’s. For Jesus, neither love nor peace is free. It costs! Actually, it cost Jesus his own life. He knew that sin was the ultimate cause of all conflict, suffering, and death. So, he willingly stepped out of heaven and became human flesh to teach us about true peace and pay the price for true peace. His first advent inaugurated his kingdom of peace—his birth, life, death, and resurrection began Jesus’ mission to restore peace to the world, but he is by no means finished yet.

Jesus also knew that, as a result of our sin, our primary conflict in life is against God. Peace with God comes through salvation and the forgiveness of sins. That is why John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way of the Lord. Luke 1:77 says that John came to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of our sins and verse 79 says that Jesus will shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

Jesus gives us peace with God and then begins a process of restoring peace to our inner soul and to our relationships with other people. As the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1:6, he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This process begins when we come to faith in Jesus Christ and he continues to mold us into a people of peace throughout our lives. We won’t be finished until we see Jesus face to face, but the Prince of Peace is working right now.

How does Jesus bring peace to our relationship with God and others? Repentance! This was the message that John the Baptist preached to prepare the people for the 1st coming of the Lord and it is the same message that prepares us for the 2nd Advent of our Lord. Repentance means to turn away from our sin and trust in Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

Over the years I have watched Jesus transform numerous lives. I have witnessed him turn some extremely angry and violent people into peacemakers. I have seen him restore peace to marriages that were filled with hostility and bitterness. I have observed him heal relationships between people who have hated each other. As Luke 1:79 says, Jesus shines on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death and guides our feet into the path of peace!

As we all sit here today, I know that some of us live with resentment and bitterness toward people who have hurt us in the past. Others may be struggling with anger or are involved in some type of conflict right now. Give it to Jesus! If some sin is inhibiting your relationship with God, repent! If some sin is standing between you and another person, repent! Let him restore and renew you! Let him guide your feet into the path of peace! Advent brings peace in the midst of turmoil!

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Today is the first Sunday of Advent. That means that Thanksgiving is over and it is time to start preparing for Christmas. All of that leftover turkey has been eaten and the last piece of pumpkin pie in the refrigerator has mysteriously disappeared. It’s time to put our cornucopias away and put our pilgrims back on the Mayflower until next year. We can toss our orange pumpkins and start hanging our green wreaths with red bows.

The first Sunday of Advent reminds us that Christmas is coming! So, go ahead and drag out that box of decorations and tune your radio to one of those stations that pay Christmas music twenty-four hours a day. Go ahead, inflate your giant light-up Santa Claus and snowman lawn ornaments and string those colored lights around the house before the snow starts flying. Go ahead, push someone over as you get your door buster bargain at 4 o’clock in the morning, but make sure you are gentle with the little baby Jesus when you lay him in the manger of your nativity scene. Yes, Advent is here and it is time to prepare for Christmas!

Since it is time to start preparing for Christmas, maybe you are as perplexed as I am by today’s lectionary readings. I don’t know what the lectionary organizers were smoking when they selected these Scriptures for the First Sunday of Advent. Don’t they know that that we are supposed to be thinking about the sweet little baby Jesus born in Bethlehem; not the grown up Jesus standing in the Jerusalem Temple delivering a prophetic message about the apocalyptic catastrophes that will usher in the end of the world as we know it? Are they trying to ruin our Christmas spirit with all of these verses about the end times? Don’t they know that Advent is a time for hope, not a time for fear?

Fear
These Scriptures that talk about the cataclysmic events that will take place at the end of the world are enough to make the hair on the back of our necks rise. In all three of these passages, the people had good reason to fear. Jeremiah’s prophecy came during a time of great apprehension and uncertainty. Many of the people of Jerusalem had already been carried off into exile in Babylon, and the city was currently under attack. They didn’t know if they would live or be captured and led into captivity. It seemed like the end of the world was at hand.

Likewise, in Luke 21 Jesus responds to his disciple’s question about when the end of the world will come. He tells them to look for signs such as earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and persecution. He also pictures some type of cosmic chaos with the sun, moon, and stars. These heavenly bodies will be shaken and the seas will toss and roar; probably hurricanes and tsunamis. Nations will be in anguish and conflict with one another. War will run rampant all over the earth.

These events will be so devastating that people will faint from terror. They will be panicked about everything that is happening in the world and be completely overcome by fear. In verse 31 Jesus says that these horrific happenings will affect everyone living on the face of the earth. These words are frightening indeed. I can feel our collective blood pressure rise even as I speak this morning.

Even though the epistle passage from I Thessalonians 3 isn’t quite as bleak as the other readings, Paul’s prayer for his church to be found blameless and holy in the presence of God the Father when our Lord Jesus comes with his holy ones generates some uneasy feelings.

We know that Jesus will return to earth someday, but if we are truly honest with ourselves, whom among us is really holy and blameless? I don’t know about you, but this causes me some anxiety. Do you ever wonder what you will be doing at the moment Jesus returns? That is a scary proposition!

There is no doubt about it, a day is coming when the earth will be overcome by each of these apocalyptic events, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop them. No amount of wisdom or philosophy will be able to prevent the heavenly bodies from shaking. No amount of science or technology will be able to stop the earthquakes and tsunamis. There won’t be any peace treaties or United Nations resolutions that will be able to thwart the violence and anguish of the nations.

If all of this is inevitable, what hope do we have? What can we do? If heaven and earth are going to pass away, what hope do we have for a future? Why consider all of these dreadful texts at the beginning of the Advent season?

Hope in the Midst of Fear
At first glance, it seems rather odd to be thinking about the return of Christ and the end of the world on the First Sunday of Advent, but when we understand the full purpose for the Advent season, it makes perfect sense. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Messiah—the first coming and the second coming. So many people think that Advent is just a time to focus on the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, but it is so much more. Advent beckons us to face the reality of the Second Advent—the second coming of Christ.

Yes, we struggle with many fears in our lives today, and those fears only intensify as we move closer to the final judgment, but with Christ, we can have hope. Just as these three texts were borne out of intense fear about the future, they each offer hope in the midst of fear. That is why the lectionary organizers grouped these passages together and set them for the First Sunday of Advent. No, they were not smoking some strange tobacco when they chose these verses for the church to read today, but they intentionally chose these because they carry the theme of hope in the midst of fear, and that is what Advent is all about!

Jeremiah 33:14-16
So, let’s look at these three passages again. In the midst fear from the onslaught of Babylon, Jeremiah prophesied a word of hope. Most of his prophecies to this point had been negative, but in chapter 30 he begins to write his book of consolation whereby he proclaims hope in the midst of fear. God brought hope to his people by reminding them that a day was coming when he would fulfill his gracious promise he made to Israel. He would rise up a Branch from the line of David who would restore justice and righteousness to the land. Judah would be saved and Jerusalem would live in safety. This Branch of David was non other than Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Messiah!

God partially fulfilled this promise at Christ’s first coming. Jesus was the Davidic king who came to restore justice and righteousness. He inaugurated this restoration at his first coming and will complete it at his second coming! That is why Advent brings hope! That is why we can have hope even in the midst of fear.

Luke 21:25-36
Look at the Luke 21 again. What hope can we have in the midst of fear about the end of the world? In verse 28 Jesus tells us to lift up our heads (a gesture of hope) because when we see these signs, we know our redemption is drawing near. For those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have hope because we know we will be redeemed from sin and death.

When we live the way Jesus wants us to live, we not only don’t have to fear the end times, but we actually look forward to them. Jesus will deliver us from this life that is filled with sin, sickness, pain, and death. This is why he warns his disciples not to be weighed down with dissipation (which means indulgence), drunkenness, and the anxieties of life because the day of his appearing will come unexpectedly. Therefore, we are to keep watch and pray that we may be able to escape the coming doom and stand with Christ at his return. Advent brings hope in the midst of fear!

I Thessalonians 3:9-13
In I Thessalonians 3:12-13 Paul reiterates the hope that Jesus offers in the midst of fear. He prays that the Lord would make their love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else. He prays for God to strengthen his church so that their hearts will be blameless and holy in the presence of the Father when Jesus returns. You see, when we live right, there is nothing to fear. When we truly live for Jesus, we can have hope in the midst of fear.

Again, I don’t know what fears you are struggling with in your life today, but I do know how we can have hope. When we respond to Jesus in faith, when our love for each other increases and overflows, and live holy and blameless lives, Jesus’ second coming becomes our hope instead of our fear. Advent brings hope in the midst of fear and that is why the lectionary organizers have brilliantly placed these passages before us today!

Well, Advent is here! So, as I mentioned, go ahead and get out those decorations and string those lights. Go ahead and get your 4 a.m. door-buster bargains. Go ahead and make your preparations to celebrate Christ’s First Advent. But whatever you do, make sure you don’t forget about Christ’s Second Advent!

During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives: “On May 19th, 1780 the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said, “The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait.”

If he comes back today, are you ready? Have you truly put your faith in Jesus Christ? Is your love for others increasing? Are you living holy and blameless before the Lord, or are you weighed down by indulgence, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life? Advent brings hope in the midst of fear! Are you ready for the Second Advent?