Being an Advent Listener
Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
(Luke 1:31, NET)
The sounds of Christmas are always special! Christmas carols, movies (though not a Hallmark fan), the many different Advent readings to choose from, and the special seasonal church worship services are just the “tip of the iceberg” of the many wonderful sights and sounds we participate in to celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus.
Listening as God was ready to send His Son that very first Christmas required Shema hearing to know what God was going to do and saying “Yes” to be a participant and fulfill the role God was directing each servant to be willing for Him to fulfill through each one. Let’s take a moment and review together the familiar Christmas narrative and the positive responses to God’s invitation and interruption.
Mary…God comes to her through His angel Gabriel. The angel’s message of favor (Luke 1:28) and not to be afraid (v. 30) followed with the unbelievable message of the young maiden, a virgin, to be mother of the Messiah. Mary’s youth, engaged to Joseph but not married were not obstacles but a highway for God’s Holy Spirit to come in power. Then, partnered with Mary’s Shema listening ear-heart she yielded to the invitation…So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word. (v. 38a)
Joseph…to say he was thrown off by Mary’s pregnancy would be a gross understatement! Yet, in his anguish and all the confusion Joseph, described as a righteous man, revealed love and compassion to end the engagement quietly (Matthew 1:19). However, in this moment through a dream God comes to Joseph and updates him on what has occurred. That, he too, is to not fear, but receive, in faith, Mary’s pregnancy for it has happened, not by another man, but by the Holy Spirit, and she will bear a son who is to be named Jesus (vv. 20-21). Therefore, as Scripture records, Joseph put aside the good and considerate plan he was thinking and replaced it with the step to marry Mary and to took her as his wife. Indeed, Joseph said, “Yes”! He, also, with a Shema listening heart, joined the Father’s activity to become a participant in the advent of Christ…When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife,… (v. 24)
Shepherds…In Luke 2, the amazing moment is recorded of the angel—that became an army of angels—who announced to a group of lowly shepherds to first, not be afraid (v. 10) and second, that the Christ-child had been born in Bethlehem and that they were invited to behold the prophetic fulfillment and wonderful occasion. Yes, this group of ceremonially unclean shepherds were invited and sent to see, firsthand, the good news of peace and goodwill God had promised to send. Well, once their heartrate calmed down, thoughts of “what about the sheep?” did not seem to be an issue as they, together, quickly agreed to go and see! Oh, the testimony of joy experienced and the eyewitness story they now possessed and cherished to the abundant praise of their Lord. Why? They listened with “Yes!” Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us. So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. (vv. 15b-16)
Magi…Instead of an angel—face-to-face, in a dream, or as an angelic army in the sky—a far distant group of Magi “heard” God through a special star that they understood and believed was the mark of promise, that the King of the Jews had been born! (Matthew 2:2) With some navigational assistance from the Old Testament Scriptures (v. 6), the Magi followed the star to the place, i.e., the house where Jesus was and worshipped Him in both genuine humility and amazing gifts. (v. 9-11). God, spoke, through His creation, to the Magi. It was the perfect heart language that allowed a Gentile group to say “Yes!” For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.(v. 2)
As we remind ourselves of the first coming of Christ through the familiar characters and those who affirmatively responded to join God in what He was doing and announcing; we would be remiss to not remind ourselves not everyone says “Yes!” to being an advent listener. King Herod, the first Christmas “Scrooge,” serves as a reminder to each of us how impenetrable pride and dark jealousy can keep one away from being a part of the greatest Gift; and not only keep one away but also seek to destroy His arrival and the perceived threat His life presents. When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men. (Matthew 2:16)
How well are you and I, Shema-listening this Christmas? As the initial advent of Christ-child echoes to our moment and the response of “Yes!” is still a needed and appropriate response to adjust our lives, put away our good plans, change our work schedules, and even travel far distances to participate, celebrate, and worship King Jesus. Let’s don’t be an advent “Scrooge”!
But, in closing, let us receive the scriptural presentation of the first Advent not just as prophecy fulfilled and new covenant salvation offered but as a template to understand, receive and embrace as we await and prepare for the second Advent of our Lord Jesus. Jesus’ second coming, like the first, will be a call to participate with both trust and adjustment in order to endure, remain faithful, and finish well. Jesus’ triumphal future return necessitates Shema listening to say “Yes!”
Our Father, thank You for another year to remember Your obedience to come, take on human flesh, and dwell among us. Thanks for navigating Your one earthly life perfectly to please the Father and provide eternal life to humankind. Empower Your children and servants to truly listen and say “Yes!” That the full meaning of Shema will be our experience of loving God with our whole heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Merry Christmas!
