Here is the first part of the Advent devotional guide. You can download the full guide here.
Meditation 1 – Looking Back
The first part of our Advent reflection is to look back; back to the first coming of Jesus to this earth. We will step into history and reflect on the Jewish expectations of the Messiah, the simple yet profound obedience of Mary and the humble beginnings of a King.
Take some time over the next week and a half to study the following scriptures, read the material, answer the reflection questions and practice the exercises. You may consider doing this as part of a small group or in your family devotions.
Readings and Reflections:
Expectations
Read the following passages and try and take note of how they may have shaped the expectations that the Jewish people had of the Messiah:
Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:6-7; 11:1-2; 16:4-5; 22:22-23; 27:12-13; 52:13; 56:8; 60:1-5
Jeremiah 23:5-8; 31:31-34; 33:14-17
From these passages, what kind of Messiah do you think people where expecting?
Now read Luke 3:1-17 where John the Baptist makes his announcement of the soon coming Messiah.
What kind of Messiah is John announcing? How does the Messiah John announces differ from what the Jews might have been expecting? What are some similarities?
Think about the expectations that you sometimes have of Jesus. What are they? What aspects of Jesus do you tend to emphasize? What aspects do you tend to ignore? How might you allow your expectations to be shaped not by your own desires, but by the Message presented in the Bible?
Simple Obedience
Read Luke 1:26-38
Try to place yourself in Mary’s shoes. Here is a young girl awaiting to be married and getting ready to start her life as an adult. Then all of a sudden everything changes. This is no minor interruption either! She has been elected to be the birth mother to the Savior!
How does Mary respond to the angel’s initial greeting?
How does she first react to the message that she is going to be pregnant?
What is Mary’s final response to what the angel has told her?
How do you think you would have reacted if you were in Mary’s position?
How did Joseph respond to this strange news that his fiancé’ was going to be giving birth to the Son of God? (see Matthew 1:18-25)
How would you have reacted?
Has God ever told you something or asked you to do something that might have seemed unreasonable? How did you respond?
We can learn a lot about simple obedience in this story. From Mary’s “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me according to your word” to Joseph’s change of heart after a dream. These two humble people made a decision to trust God and obey what had been said. They had their initial doubts and questions, but decided, even in the midst of a confusing situation, to trust and obey. Think about your own life right now. In what way do you need to trust God? In what way do you need to obey? Now commit these things to Him who is worthy of our trust and obedience.
Birth of a King
Read Luke 2:1-20
Jesus’ birth was not what we might expect for the Savior of the world. It was a humble beginning for this King. How might you have expected Jesus to enter the word?
Read Philippians 2:1-11
What do we see about Jesus’ nature and character in reading this passage and comparing it to Luke 2:1-20?
Please feel free to share you comments and thoughts in the comments section below
