2024 Christmas Advent Realities

Advent Hope

Luke 2:25-35

Advent Hope literally means Arrival Expected. Think of the airport and all of the big screens they have in the terminals. Half of them are listing Departures and have of them show all of the Arrivals coming in. The screen scrolls through the long list of where planes are coming from and critically important – when they are expected to arrive.

The Jews had been given the first piece of the puzzle, the sure and certain Hope that The Messiah will come from Heaven – Immanuel, God with us, is on the way. However, the second column of the Arrival Screen was completely blank – when is He due? When do we expect His arrival? We want to be ready! But, that was left unsaid and unknown – Yes, He is coming – many prophets had made that clear, all the way back to the Garden of Eden, in fact, - and yet, year upon year; century by century; generation to generation…not yet. It’s now been over 700 yrs since Isaiah’s clear prophecies – look at 42:5-7 and 49:6 – O, He is coming! The Promise has been many and Many carried the Hope – the confident expectation that it could be in their lifetime – Hope had produced Awareness – a looking and a longing…

1. Expectation creates Anticipation

a. Luke 2:25-26

b. Can you imagine living in that anticipation and knowing you are growing older, weaker…and, yet – might it be today…

c. He is ready to meet the Messiah and he lives with this incredible anticipation, because He knows the promise is true. And that is why – when the Anticipation has been fulfilled…

2. Anticipation births Proclamation

a. 27-32

b. The Promise has been kept; and, the world needs to know!

c. We have this great story to tell this Christmas Season

d. Jesus is the reason for the season! i. But, what was the reason for Jesus?

3. Proclamation focuses on Revelation

a. The Word of God is His revealed Promise given to us. We hope in Him, but we know to do so from His Word, which we know to be True.

b. V32 relates back to the promises of Isaiah which had fueled his Hope

c. But he also understood the main focus of the revelation – as he makes clear in verse 30

4. Revelation tells of Salvation – v30

a. And that must be the focus of our story – Yes, a baby is born, but to what end – What is the reason for Jesus – our Salvation – the wonder of Christmas is simply, yet powerfully related in John 3:16-17.

b. We need Salvation and the Promise of our Salvation has come. And this promise is for everyone! WHOSOEVER!

c. With that understanding that this miraculous, promised Child has come to save us, comes a harsh conclusion that Simeon came to, as he turned to face the astounded new parents.

5. Salvation means Realization – v33-35

a. This baby was born to die

b. He would be the dividing line, not just of History; but of human hearts

c. He is the Lamb of God who will take away our sins. The cost of our salvation is evident – the promise and Hope made that clear. The Word has become flesh, but it is a somber Joy – because this Promise can only be fulfilled by the shedding of His innocent blood for the sins of all mankind – yours, and mine. This Promise will bring pain, but that’s not the end of the story – beyond the pain, Glory awaits – for the resurrected Savior, and all those who believe and commit themselves to Him. It will all be worth it.

6. And so, in Summary:

a. Promises Made – Know them!

b. Promises Kept – Experience them!

c. Promises Shared – Tell them!

7. Advent Hope – May it be yours in abundance this Christmas!

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