Advent: He Has Come – Part 2 [Notes]

The word “Advent” is used to describe the season leading up to Christmas. It’s a time where we remember Christ’s first coming and grow our expectation of His second; it’s a time of great hope and promise… But often, we are distracted and consumed during this busy season, and we barely experience the wonder of it as we rush through. This Christmas season, we’ll intentionally slow down as we walk through Advent with hope, faith, joy and peace, preparing our hearts for the celebration of our newborn King.

Journey with us through our series “Advent: He Has Come,” and together, we’ll anticipate, rather than dread, this ever-busy season.

Today's Takeaway // Faith: His name says it all. He will be called Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin•engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” ^q But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. ^u He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David ^w He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. ^y
– Luke 1:26-33 (HCSB)
_{^• Jewish engagement was a binding agreement that could only be broken by divorce.
^q 1:28 Other mss add blessed are you among women
^u 1:31 Is 7:14; Mt 1:21, 25; Lk 2:21
^w 1:32 2Sm 7:12–13; 1Kg 2:12; Ps 132:11; Is 9:7; Jr 33:17; Mk 11:10
^y 1:33 Is 9:6 LXX; Dn7:14}

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. ^b And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.” “I am theLord’s•slave,” ^d said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her. ¹
– Luke 1:34-38 (HCSB)
_{^b 1:35 Mt 14:33; Lk 4:3, 9, 41; 22:70
^• The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English as servant or bondservant; the HCSB translates this word as slave, not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire’s inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.
^d 1:38 Lit Look, the Lord’s slave
¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Lk 1:26–38). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

His identity: He was (and is) the Son of God.

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.
– Luke 1:31-33 (HCSB)

Mary could not have missed the significance of that terminology. The fact that her Baby was to be called the “Son of the Most High” pointed to His equality with Yahweh. In Semitic thought a son was a “carbon copy”of his father, and the phrase “son of” was often used to refer to one who possessed his “father’s” qualities...²
– J.A. Martin
_{² Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 205). Victor Books.}

His incarnation: God became man.

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.
– Luke 1:34-35 (HCSB)

It is used of God’s presence resting on the tabernacle in the cloud (Ex.40:35) and metaphorically protecting his people (Ps. 91:4)... God’s powerful presence will rest upon Mary, so that she will bear a child who will be the Son of God. ³
– I.H. Marshall
_{³ Marshall, I. H. (1978). The Gospel of Luke: a commentary on the Greek text (pp. 70–71). Paternoster Press.}

For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity,Christ Jesus, Himself human, who gave Himself—a ransom for all...
– 1 Timothy 2:5-6a (HCSB)

His identity: He was (and is) the Son of God.
His incarnation: God became man.
His itinerary: He came to accomplish our salvation.

Itinerary: A route or proposed route of a journey.

Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will callHis name Jesus.
– Luke 1:31 (HCSB)

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, ^a because He will save His people from their sins.”
– Matthew 1:21 (HCSB)
_{^a 1:21 Jesus is the Gk form of the Hb name “Joshua,” which = “The LORD saves” or “Yahweh saves.”}

Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” which [means] “The Lord saves” or “Yahweh saves.”

Therefore, He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make•propitiation for the sins of the people.
– Hebrews 2:17 (HCSB)
_{^• The removal of divine wrath; Jesus’ death is the means that turns God’s wrath from the sinner.}

The removal of divine wrath; Jesus’s death is the means that turns God’s wrath from the sinner.

His identity: He was (and is) the Son of God.
His incarnation: God became man.
His itinerary: to accomplish our salvation.
His inheritance: He will reign forever.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ^w He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. ^y
– Luke 1:32-33 (HCSB)
_{^w 1:32 2Sm 7:12–13; 1Kg 2:12; Ps 132:11; Is 9:7; Jr 33:17; Mk 11:10
^y 1:33 Is 9:6 LXX; Dn 7:14}

1. Did you have special Christmas traditions when you were growing up? What were they? Are there different traditions you have introduced into your own family?
2. Read Luke 1:26-38. What are some of the things we learn about Jesus from these verses?
3. What aspects of the Christmas story might be hard for some people to believe?
4. Read John 1:1 and John 1:14. How would you explain to someone why the incarnation was necessary?
5. Why is it important that people place their trust in Jesus Christ? How might faith in Christ help us with the past, present and future?
6. How might you apply today’s lesson to your life?

Behold // Back to Life // 1,000 Names // O Praise The Name (Anástasis)

Journey with us through Advent and anticipate, rather than dread, this busy season. Christmas comes each year with great hope and promise... But often, we are distracted and consumed by commitments, pressure and mixed emotions, and we barely experience the wonder of it as we rush through. It's in the slowing down, contemplation and reflection that we find our answer — it’s in the waiting season of Advent that we prepare our hearts with hope, faith, joy and peace for December 25 and the celebration of our newborn King.

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