Advent: He Has Come – Part 3 [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 // Jesus has come to bring joy to the world.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.^l But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:ⁿ Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
– Luke 2:8-12 (HCSB)
_{^l 2:9 Lit they feared a great fear
ⁿ 2:10 Or the whole nation}

From about Passover time in April until autumn, the flocks pastured constantly in the open fields, the shepherds lodging there all that time.¹
–R. Jamieson
_{¹ Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 99). Logos Research Systems, Inc.}

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!^{u v} When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
– Luke 2:13-15 (HCSB)
_{^u 2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people
^v 2:14 Or earth to men of good will}

Thousands of angels appeared and filled the expanse of the sky. All this, indeed, for only a handful of poor shepherds!²
– R.C. Lenski
_{² Lenski, R. C. H. (1961). The Interpretation of St. Luke’s Gospel (p. 133). Augsburg Publishing House.}

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.³
– Luke 2:16-20 (HCSB)
_{³ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Lk 2:8–20). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today aSavior, who is•Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
– Luke 2:10-11 (HCSB)
_{^• Or the Christ; the Greek word is Christos and means the anointed one. Where the NT emphasizes Christos as a name of our Lord or has a Gentile context, “Christ” is used. Where the NT Christos has a Jewish context, the title “Messiah” is used.}

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
– Luke 2:14 (HCSB)

Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
– Luke 2:10-11 (HCSB)

In biblical times, anointing someone with oil was a sign that God was consecrating or setting apart that person for a particular role. Thus, an “anointed one” was someone with a special, God-ordained purpose.
– gotquestions.org

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
– Luke 2:13-14 (HCSB)

Focus on the real reason for the season: Christ.
Find joy in Him.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
– Philippians 4:4 (HCSB)

Place your faith in Him.

1. How would you define the word “joy?” How do you think joy is different from happiness?
2. What are some things that “steal” our joy?
3. Read Luke 2:8-20. Why do you think God sent the angels to these shepherds? Why was their message so wonderful for them and for us?
4. Read Philippians 4:4;1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; and Romans 5:1-5. Why can we, as Christians, rejoice always?
5. How does joy relate to our ability to share the gospel with others? What are some things we can do to help us maintain our joy?

Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful) // Behold // Same God // Hymn of Heaven

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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