Advent Devotional 2021
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“It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things. Luke 24:47-48 (NLT)
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year and Happy Easter! May you have a joyful celebration of the Resurrection! (Wait, what? I know “time flies,” but let’s not get crazy!) What does Resurrection Day/Easter have to do with Christmas? Biblically speaking, EVERYTHING!
While it’s right to celebrate the “Good News” proclaimed by angels that “A Savior has been born,” it’s the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God followed by the glorious resurrection that made salvation possible. While Emmanuel came to be “God with us,” it’s the crucifixion and empty tomb that made God’s presence with us possible and permanent. While we sing about the Christ in the cradle, Jesus also journeyed to the cross, where His love proved to be more powerful than sin and death. We have joy at Christmas because of the significance and reality of the resurrection.
As we celebrate Christmas, remember the significance and the reality of the resurrection. The tomb was empty, the Lord Jesus defeated death, and rose from the grave. But many of His followers initially missed the significance and the reality of it, and sometimes we do the same.
We know from Luke 24, as well as the other gospels that the women who went to anoint the body saw that the tomb was empty and heard the proclamation from the angels that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter and John witnessed that the tomb was empty.
Peter and others encountered the risen Christ, including the two disciples traveling to Emmaus, who rushed back to report. Yet later that same day, the disciples were gathered in fear and hiding behind locked doors. The resurrection hadn’t yet become a significant reality for them.
But Jesus then appeared in their midst. In His glorified body, locked doors and walls were not barriers. Jesus brought His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were startled and frightened at the miraculous, unexpected, and sudden appearance of Jesus. He gave them His peace, and showed them His healed wounds to prove that He wasn’t a ghost. Jesus needed to convince them that He was present with them, and that joy should replace fear.
Similarly, Jesus wants to convince us that He is present with us, and that joy should replace fear. The joy of Christmas can be transformed into a daily joy as we live in the reality of the resurrection. Jesus brought all of His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we begin another new year, uncertain of what may come, we have the peace and the presence of Jesus with us, in even more ways than His first followers. We have unbelievable access to His Word, many resources to help us understand His Word, and the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. We have been forgiven, and we need to live in that freedom. We have been given a mission, to be the Church, and to love God and love others as we love ourselves. We are to seek to know Jesus and then help others to know Him as well. Regardless of what’s going on in the world around us, or even in our own hearts and minds, the significant reality of the resurrection hasn’t changed. We can live in security characterized by joy.
Brian Ralston
While it’s right to celebrate the “Good News” proclaimed by angels that “A Savior has been born,” it’s the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God followed by the glorious resurrection that made salvation possible. While Emmanuel came to be “God with us,” it’s the crucifixion and empty tomb that made God’s presence with us possible and permanent. While we sing about the Christ in the cradle, Jesus also journeyed to the cross, where His love proved to be more powerful than sin and death. We have joy at Christmas because of the significance and reality of the resurrection.
As we celebrate Christmas, remember the significance and the reality of the resurrection. The tomb was empty, the Lord Jesus defeated death, and rose from the grave. But many of His followers initially missed the significance and the reality of it, and sometimes we do the same.
We know from Luke 24, as well as the other gospels that the women who went to anoint the body saw that the tomb was empty and heard the proclamation from the angels that Jesus had risen from the dead. Peter and John witnessed that the tomb was empty.
Peter and others encountered the risen Christ, including the two disciples traveling to Emmaus, who rushed back to report. Yet later that same day, the disciples were gathered in fear and hiding behind locked doors. The resurrection hadn’t yet become a significant reality for them.
But Jesus then appeared in their midst. In His glorified body, locked doors and walls were not barriers. Jesus brought His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were startled and frightened at the miraculous, unexpected, and sudden appearance of Jesus. He gave them His peace, and showed them His healed wounds to prove that He wasn’t a ghost. Jesus needed to convince them that He was present with them, and that joy should replace fear.
Similarly, Jesus wants to convince us that He is present with us, and that joy should replace fear. The joy of Christmas can be transformed into a daily joy as we live in the reality of the resurrection. Jesus brought all of His followers the gift of His peace and His presence, a mission, forgiveness, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we begin another new year, uncertain of what may come, we have the peace and the presence of Jesus with us, in even more ways than His first followers. We have unbelievable access to His Word, many resources to help us understand His Word, and the Holy Spirit to help us live it out. We have been forgiven, and we need to live in that freedom. We have been given a mission, to be the Church, and to love God and love others as we love ourselves. We are to seek to know Jesus and then help others to know Him as well. Regardless of what’s going on in the world around us, or even in our own hearts and minds, the significant reality of the resurrection hasn’t changed. We can live in security characterized by joy.
Brian Ralston
Prayer Focus: Christmas Eve Services
Community Prayer Focus: Outreach to the homeless in our community
Community Prayer Focus: Outreach to the homeless in our community
Hymn: Silent Night
Silent night holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Silent night holy night
Wondrous star lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
Silent night holy night
All is calm all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heav'nly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Silent night holy night
Wondrous star lend thy light
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Franz Xaver Gruber | John Freeman Young | Joseph Mohr
- © Words: Public Domain
- Music: Public Domain
