ADVENT REFLECTIONS – Day 2

Revd Prof J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu


Date 23nd Dec 2010

Readings: Lk2:21-35

The important thing about Jesus is that he was born. Whether or not December 25 is his actual date of birth is not important. There is enough evidence in both the Old and New Testaments that he existed.

At Christmas we give presents and gifts to our friends and loved ones. Sometimes those gifts are not meaningful or useful to them. The wise men gave gifts to Jesus. They gave gold to signify that he was a King, Myrrh to represent the peace he brought on earth and frankincense to represent his priesthood.

God’s gift of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas is very precious and what He expects to receive from us is our heart.

In those days every first born son must be consecrated to the Lord and this was done on the eighth day. Samuel, John the Baptist and Jesus were consecrated as such. There lived at the time of Jesus’ birth a righteous and devout man of God called Simeon. God had promised him that he would not see death until he has seen the Lord’s Christ. The Spirit therefore led him to the temple at the time the baby Jesus was being presented on the eighth day.

The man Simeon took the baby Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Lu 2:29 "Lord, now let thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
Lu 2:30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Lu 2:31 which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
Lu 2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
Lu2:33 And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him;
Lu 2:34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against.
Lu 2:35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
How would some fall and others rise because of Jesus?

The Christian life is full of choices and the choices we make would determine whether we fall or rise. Our attitude towards Jesus would determine whether we fall or rise.

1. From childhood, the rich young man had done everything the law said he should do, but when Jesus asked him to go and dispose of his wealth and give to the poor, he went away sad. He was not prepared to pay the price of discipleship

2. The Pharisees failed to admit that Jesus was the son of God even when there was every indication that he was. A forty-year old man who was born blind was healed by Jesus and the Pharisees decide to quiz him about his healing to make sure he was indeed born blind and Jesus had indeed healed him

3. Judas was a member of the twelve but fell because of greed and disloyalty

However there were others who rose

1. The twelve left family and business to follow Jesus

2. The Samaritan woman at the well after her encounter with Jesus went back to her village and declared she had found the Messiah

3. Bartemeus, the blind man, shouted for Jesus to call him and heal him. He followed him praising God

4. Zaccheus realised where he was standing was not good enough to catch Jesus’ attention and so he climbed a tree and that day he received his salvation

5. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to seek explanations on how he could be saved. He was a secret follower of Christ.

6. Paul thought he was doing the right thing by persecuting the believers, but when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he repented and preached the gospel to the extent that he said:
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!


In conclusion,

1. it is up to us make choices that honour God

2. we must display more inward form of Christianity where we worship from our hearts, in spirit and in truth