Advent 2020 — Week 2
Jesus, our Peace
Read
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.
3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
for he will be highly honored around the world.
5 And he will be the source of peace.
—Micah 5:2-5
Listen
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
You are speaking truth to power, you are laying down our swords
Replanting every vineyard 'til a brand new wine is poured
Your peace will make us one
I've seen you in our home fires burning with a quiet light
You are mothering and feeding in the wee hours of the night
Your gentle love is patient, you will never fade or tire
Your peace will make us one
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Your peace will make us one
In the beauty of the lilies, you were born across the sea
With a glory in your bosom that is still transfiguring
Dismantling our empires 'til each one of us is free
Your peace will make us one
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Your peace will make us one
Meditate
The Israelites were persecuted, enslaved, oppressed, attacked, displaced, and ultimately they were unfulfilled in their desire to see God’s glory, but they had faith that God would fulfill his promise to send a Savior to redeem them.
For the mind of faith, a promised act of God is as good as done.
—John Piper, Good News of Great Joy
Ask yourself…
Where do you lack peace because brokenness within or around you seems to be impossible to restore?
The people who enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding are those who in everything by prayer and supplication let their requests be made known to God. The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God.
—John Piper, Good News of Great Joy
Jesus Christ entered into complete brokenness. He was born to a woman who the law would condemned to death because of her extramarital conception. He descended from a long line of people who broke every one of the 10 commandments: idolatry, taking the Lord’s name in vain, abusing the Sabbath, dishonoring their parents, murder, adultery, theft and scams, habitual lying, and coveting. He came into a society of Roman oppression and dogmatic, religious leadership who couldn’t have been further from God. He came to a people who were persecuted, enslaved, oppressed, attacked, and displaced. And he, in the most antithetical way possible, made true reconciliation possible for not only the Israelites, but all people!
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
—Ephesians 2:1-22
Practice…
By yourself or with a trusted friend, make your needs for reconciliation of brokenness within or around you known to Jesus.
Prophesy Jesus’ reconciliation over that brokenness and, in faith, believe that it is done.
Those who love your instructions have great peace
and do not stumble.—Psalm 119:165
Ask yourself…
How do I feel about the situation now?
How can I continue to partner with Jesus in His reconciliation of this brokenness?
The First Coming of the Messiah — Part II
Read
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. 37 For the word of God will never fail.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
—Luke 1:26-38
Listen
Peace (Mary) by Poor Bishop Hooper
Angel Gabriel listen in
There’s a perfect message stirring
Not for one of us used to the light
But for one who has to squint her eyes in the sunshine
You’ve probably dreamed of a moment like this
Heard the others betting on specifics
Today's the day we’ve all been waiting
Infinite before infinite after
And you get to be the one to turn the page on the next chapter
So go and tell the girl I show you
She’ll have dirt beneath her nails
A gentle voice that sounds like singing
Even when her patience fails
Her grip is strong but she’s quick to lend
Her knees are worn but her zeal’s not broken
These are the joints that I have chosen to hold
The greatest gift I’ll ever give
When you find her won't you say these words
When you find her won't you say
Do not be afraid for
You have found this day girl
Favor with the lord like
No one else before you
You shall have a son and
He shall be the One that
Tramples over death in
The name of God above
You will call him Jesus
He’ll be called the greatest
On the throne of David
Through the house of Jacob
And his kingdom will have no end
His kingdom will have no end
And his peace will be everlasting
His peace will be everlasting...
Want more?
Check out additional resources like daily Advent devotions, music, and history to fully engage with the season.