Advent Devotional: The answer is JESUS!
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 KJV
Everything around us has become festive with Christmas lights and decoration, and although Hong Kong doesn’t get snow it seems that snowmen abound. I have been enjoying the extra sparkle that comes this season but as we enter Advent, it is important to remember the reason we have to be festive and celebrate.
I was recently drawn to reflect on the reason to celebrate… The author of Proverbs 30 sets the words of the skeptic and the words of the believer back to back.
He notes that the skeptic questions God’s existence, saying “There is no God! No God!—I can do anything I want!… I see no evidence of a holy God”. Proverbs 30:1-3 MSG
The skeptic then asks several questions.
”Has anyone ever seen Anyone…
- climb into Heaven and take charge?
- grab the winds and control them?
- gather the rains in his bucket?
- stake out the ends of the earth?
“Just tell me his name!” the skeptic challenges in Proverbs 30:4 (MSG).
The believer in Proverbs 30 doesn’t answer the skeptic directly but replies saying, “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don’t second guess him…” Proverbs 30:5 MSG
The New Testament, however, answers the skeptic’s questions directly, giving the name of the one the skeptic demands to know… And the answer to every one of his questions is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
Jesus climbed the high mountain and captured the enemy. Ephesians 4:8.
As part of the trinity, Jesus controlled the wind, gathered the rain in buckets and staked out the ends of the earth. “The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God…everything was created through him.” John 1:1-3 “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one of a kind glory, like Father, like Son.” John 1:14 MSG
Jesus is the name above all names. God lifted Him high…“so that all created beings in heaven and on earth… will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ and call out in praise that he is the Master of all.” Philippians 2:9-11 MSG
When the skeptic around us (and even the skeptic within us) questions the existence of God and asks for proof, the answer is Jesus.
Why do we celebrate Christmas?
The answer is JESUS!
Let’s praise God for:
- Jesus, who become flesh and blood and “moved into your neighbourhood.”
- The life you have through Jesus!