ightsS ounds S Christmas AND OF
Introduction
During my time as a transitional pastor at a local church, I witnessed a beautiful tradition known as the “Hanging of the Greens.” In preparation for Advent, our congregation came together to transform the sanctuary. Garland and wreaths adorned the space, culminating in the centerpiece: the Advent wreath and candles placed prominently on the platform. As we stepped back to admire our work, it was clear—Advent had arrived, and Christmas was coming.
This transformation continued on the first Sunday of Advent. As the service began, the air was filled with the familiar sounds of Christmas music. We sang beloved carols that had echoed through our church for nearly 80 years, and in that moment, our hearts joined our eyes in recognizing that Advent was here.
Each year, we engage our senses in preparation for celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The biblical accounts surrounding His birth are rich with sights and sounds that prepared hearts long ago. But as we immerse ourselves in these familiar sights and sounds, we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing these experiences to truly prepare our hearts for Christmas?
My prayer this season is that you embrace the sights and sounds of Advent to encourage a deeper celebration of Christ’s birth and worship of our King. May these devotionals guide you in your preparation for this holy season.
DR. JONATHAN GRENZ Dean, School of Ministry Professor of Ministry and Leadership Editor, 2024 Advent Guide
DECEMBER
01
2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Indescribable Gift
Sometimes, we hear a message so often that we stop truly listening and we miss it. Consider Southwest Flight 1380 from Dallas to New York—a remarkable story with a happy ending. The engine exploded midflight, depressurizing the plane and activating the oxygen masks. In a brave selfie taken by a passenger, there’s something striking: almost everyone had their mask on incorrectly, covering only their mouth and not their nose. They weren’t paying attention to the safety instructions. They missed it.
We often do the same with the message of Christmas. We are not alone. The people of Bethlehem missed it as well. Luke 2 begins with a census (vv. 1-3) that serves multiple purposes, including getting Joseph and Mary to
Bethlehem. This census boosted Bethlehem’s economy, as merchants were thrilled by the sudden influx of people. Business was booming, and everyone was so busy that no one was paying attention. No one was listening. They missed it.
In verses 4-7, the word traditionally translated as “inn” refers to a “home” or “guest room.” How could there be “no room” for them? Joseph’s family would also have been in town for the census. The saying, “The early bird gets the worm,” likely applied, and a little privacy for Mary to bear and care for the baby may have been the best scenario. I often wonder, if they had known who was to be born, would they have made room?
In verses 8-13, we meet the shepherds who were likely caring for sheep, some of which would later be sacrificed in the temple. These shepherds were blessed to witness the arrival of the Lamb of God, who would not be sacrificed in the temple but on the cross. Though shepherds were not permitted to testify in court, they were chosen to testify to the arrival of King Jesus. While others were too busy to look, listen, or make room, the shepherds saw, heard, and worshipped. They didn’t miss it.
Few would argue that the Apostle Paul was a profound thinker and writer, fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. It’s hard to imagine him speechless. Yet, when confronted with the gift of salvation—God’s Son and God’s grace—Paul is at a loss for words. In 2 Corinthians 9:15, he describes Jesus as an “indescribable gift”—truly beyond words.
DR. BERNIE CUETO
Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies
Campus Pastor
DECEMBER
Blessed Expectancy 02
John 1:6-9
“He himself [John] was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.”
Waiting for Christmas never gets old. I cannot help but remember the children (myself included) running around the tree, anxious to discover what was inside the boxes—a strange intersection of eager waiting and creative imagination. Suddenly, my grandma would scream from the kitchen, “it’s not midnight yet!”
John witnessed to the light that was yet to come. The light was closer to him than to other prophets who announced the coming of the Messiah. John’s proclamation provoked a profound awareness of the need for repentance. It also stimulated creative imagination—Are you, John, the Messiah? Who is He and what does He look like? As we reflect on the advent of Jesus, it is a season to awaken a feeling of eager waiting and a mind of creative imagination.
Although we live in the after-Christ side of the story, Advent is the blessed expectancy that leads us to reflect on our own before-Christ story. It awakens the desperate need of His everlasting transforming presence in our lives. The blessed expectancy of the incarnation of Jesus cannot be belittled by the overfamiliarity of his current presence. How can light be appreciated if one cannot comprehend the hostile weight of darkness? Unacknowledged darkness precedes unacknowledged light.
Advent is an opportunity to imagine alongside God. What is inside the box this time? The feeling of eager waiting should be accompanied by creative imagination in constant prayer, daily proclamation and thoughtful deed. John’s creative perception of Jesus is evidenced when he proclaims, “behold, the Lamb of God.” Creative imagination is not thinking something anew, but immersing ourselves in the story already told. In doing so, we reimagine our reality in light of the transformational story of Jesus. What do you imagine when you hear that the light is coming?
Before celebrating the incarnation of our Messiah, let us open space for eager waiting and creative imagination.
JUAN F. ROCHA Student, Master of Divinity
DECEMBER
Isaiah 7:14
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Immanuel: God’s on Our Side 03
The Mighty Hercules, a 1960s cartoon, aired on television when I was a kid. Watching it stoked my interest in mythology. I would sit down with the family’s World Book Encyclopedia and read exploits of heroes, giddily checking out cross-referenced entries. Soon, I learned the cartoon’s stories were greatly altered from the myths to make them age-appropriate for younger viewers.
The Greeks and Romans worshiped gods in their image, flawed and fallible with human weaknesses. And though these myths have a creation narrative—Chaos begot Gaia (Earth), who begot Uranus (Sky), etc.—there is no endtimes story or eschatology. Though Constantine often gets the credit, Theodosius was the ruler who converted the Roman Empire to Christianity in 380 AD.
Acts 17:22-25 is the apostle Paul’s speech at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) centuries before, where he laid the groundwork for Rome’s conversion.
Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: “To the unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Aside from consolidating attributes from multiple classical deities into the one true God, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14—“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Jesus lived a holy and sinless life, which was crucial so that He could atone for mankind’s sins. This was the opposite of pagan gods who demanded sacrifices to withhold their wrath from the people.
Immanuel… “God with us.”
DR. THOMAS PARHAM
Professor, Chair Department of Visual and Media Arts
DECEMBER
Luke 2:7
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger…”
Superficial SupernaturalVersus
Last Christmas, I took a seasonal job at a retail store in the mall. I walked the sales floor, folding clothes and helping customers find the perfect outfits for all their Christmas parties. I remember driving to work in Downtown Charlotte, past the lamp posts wrapped in garland, tied off with big red bows. I’d walk into the mall, with Michael Bublé playing over the speakers. As much as I dreaded being on my feet for all those hours, I’d be content. There was nothing I loved more than the environment of the Christmas season. However, these sights and sounds
of Christmas are nothing like the sights and sounds of the real Christmas. And that is something we often forget in the busy season of December. While we feel the giddiness of Christmas music, Mary felt the labor pains of the oncoming Savior. While we see the flickering lights of a Christmas tree, the shepherds saw the light of a choir of angels in the sky, proclaiming the arrival of the newborn king. While we smell Christmas dinner, Mary and Joseph smelled manure and dirty animals in the stable. When we take time to reflect on the gravity of what Christmas truly was, God becoming a man, we can experience the joy and hope that Christmas can bring if we choose to place our focus there. As we enjoy the sounds of Christmas carols and crinkling wrapping paper, let’s not get caught up in it. Instead, let’s take time to ponder the sounds of our crying Savior being exposed as a baby to our harsh world, the joy of Mary as she held the Savior in her arms, and the undeserving love and sacrifice that God displays to us through the entire Christmas story.
HANNAH GROMIS Student, B.A. Biblical Studies
DECEMBER
Caught by Surprise 05
Luke 2:13
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God…”
Our experience of Christmas is somewhat defined by sounds. We sing together about maids-a-milking and Wenceslas and wassail. Our individual sounds vary. It may be snow crunching under boots. It may be the sound of waves lapping on the beach and the rustle of palm fronds in a breeze. It often involves the ripping of wrapping paper and excited young voices far too early in the morning.
What were the sounds of the first Christmas? There was the stirring of animals, the chewing of cud, the sound of straw underfoot, and then the noise of a newborn baby. For the shepherds, it must have been the bleating of sheep, the crackle of the fire, and the snores of their fellows. Then, suddenly, an angel speaking and “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.’” (Luke 2:13-14)
The shepherds were “keeping watch,” but not for a heavenly host. When the angel of the Lord “suddenly stood before them,” they “were terribly frightened.” (Luke 2:9) The true sounds of Christmas catch us by surprise wherever we are—mountains or beach, knee deep in wrapping paper or in the depths of despair. The message of Christmas rings out and it calls something out of us. In Tyler Childers’s song Luke 2:8-10, the shepherds are fully afraid and excited, as expressed in the chorus: “Daniel, get up, gather the sheep/ Tell them there’s no time to sleep/ My God, it’s the end of the world.” And, in a way, the sound of Christmas is thrillingly the sound of the end of the world, and of the beginning, with “on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” Glory to God in the highest.
DR. ELIZABETH STICE Professor of History Fellow for Faculty Development and Communication
DECEMBER
Psalms 42:5-6
“Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.”
Season’s Sorrows
It’s Christmas time.
For some that means decking out their front lawns with tree lights while listening to “Joy to the World” on repeat; it means family time, prayer, joyful church gatherings, and so much Mariah Carey.
Christmas time means joy.
Meanwhile, at the sights and sounds of Christmas, many find themselves in season’s sorrows. Filled with reminders of loved ones now passed, unabridged distances, or an overwhelming sense of emptiness, Christmas time means longing.
As Christians, we feel guilt for experiencing sorrow during this precious time. We echo the psalmist’s cries to neglect our turmoil and hope in God. However, what if praise is
not confined to joy? What if worshiping in Spirit and Truth sometimes hurts? And what if there’s grace for turmoil?
I find it beautiful that Jesus is also called The Man of Sorrows. I often ponder what this means for Christians, and I always come back to good news.
Revelation 7:17 depicts the hope we have in Christ,
“For the lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
As we reflect on this advent season, let us meditate on the faithfulness of Christ. That in His sorrow, He can sit with us in ours, and one day, He will wipe every tear from our eyes.
What good news indeed.
BIANCA DE ALMEIDA HOLANDA Student, B.A., Theology and B.S., Psychology
DECEMBER
The Perfect Gift 07
2 Corinthians 9:14-15
“And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
The sight was a new play kitchen, complete with plastic food and plates, for our young children. I had stayed up late Christmas Eve putting the kitchen together. The sound was of our children running down the stairs on Christmas morning, making a beeline toward the play kitchen. They barely touched it; yet it came crashing down with a loud bang. Note to self, “Don’t quit my day job. Leave future construction projects to my wife. She is much better with tools.” Unfortunately for me, the event was recorded for posterity on my wife’s video recorder.
Fortunately for my kids and the rest of humanity, I am not ultimately responsible for providing the perfect gift for Christmas (or for anniversaries for that matter – who knew that wives don’t want army green sweatpants for an anniversary gift? I know now!). It has already been given in the form of Jesus Christ.
Christ brought the gift of grace to all who believe in Him. It is a perfect gift. It is a free gift to those who agree to accept it. Grace brings with it its own control, alt, delete buttons. Christ wipes the slate clean. Psalm 103:12 says, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Amazing grace, indeed.
If only that grace applied to Christmas morning recordings that involved collapsing toy kitchens - I’m still looking for the control, alt, delete buttons on that one.
DR. BRIAN K. STROW
Dean, Professor of Economics
Marshall
E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business
DECEMBER
Matthew 2:11
“And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
“The Wonder of Lights“
One of my earliest memories of the Christmas season involved driving around the neighborhood with my family to admire all the homes’ decorations. My parents often joke about one of the first times that I noticed the twinkling, luminous display of a neighbor’s home and enthusiastically exclaimed, “Christmas liiights!!!” Since then, my family has made a tradition of driving around in December and seeing who can shout “Christmas liiights!” the fastest when we approach a festively lit home.
The enthusiasm we experience when viewing Christmas lights is not simply due to the beauty of the display but is produced from the expectation of what the lights represent. Seeing the first lights of the Christmas season reminds us that the celebration of Immanuel’s incarnation is quickly approaching. Pondering this excitement makes me wonder how the Magi felt when they first laid eyes on the Star of Bethlehem, the great light that led them to encounter the newborn Son of God (Matthew 2:9-11).
During this season, I encourage us to remember the excitement of the Magi. They must have been filled with such eager joy as they prepared to meet the Lord. With every Christmas light we see, may we be stirred to excitement for the coming celebration of Christ’s birth. Let this remind us of our constant access to His Spirit and produce anticipation for the works that He is doing in us. In this, we are not confined to celebrating the presence of Jesus during Christmas but can be excitedly aware of His presence with us today and forever.
As we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth, let us be drawn to even greater anticipation of His return. That marvelous day when we will be united in Glory with our most merciful and precious Lord.
MADELINEMARIE NETTLES
Student, M.A., Philosophy of Religion
DECEMBER
John 1:4-5
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
The Light of Christmas 09
A candle flickers on our dining room table, and the glow of lights on our Christmas tree softly presses through the darkness of our living room. As I look outside the window of our home, nestled on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the frigid air and darkness impress upon me the tranquility of our little cabin—a refuge from the harsh winter outside. These tactile and material sights impress upon my heart something like childlike wonder. Amid the darkness, there is a great sense of comfort.
Ordinary Christmas experiences like this one should not be forgotten or dismissed—they are signs pointing to a deeper reality. Christians in the early Church saw something in the winter season that reminded them of
a profound spiritual truth. During the longest and darkest night of the year, when their Roman neighbors celebrated the winter solstice by worshiping pagan gods of light, Christians were reminded of something that God had done for them. During one of the bitterest times of history, Jesus came as the light into the darkness, to bring life and joy to all the painful, broken parts of life.
During the darkest, most painful times of your life, Christ has come to bring light, healing, and life. Christmas, for many of us, feels like a painful consumeristic marathon through fluorescentlit shopping centers into the New Year. There is good news for us: Christ’s offering of healing and peace isn’t rushed, sentimental, or fake. It is a flourishing reality that we are invited—by Christ—to take refuge in.
ELLI RAMIREZ Student, M.A., Philosophy of Religion
DECEMBER
Luke 2:11
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
The Arrival of Christmas 10
Hear them ring, are you listening? Sleigh bells, Church bells, Jingle bells, and the handbell of a Salvation Army Santa Claus tinkle and ring to usher in the Christmas season. The symphony of these bells is the first thing you will hear, the first signal that Christmas has begun. Before the singer sings, jingle bells begin the song. Before you purchase your gifts, sleigh bells shutter as you open the shop door. Before midnight mass or Christmas Eve service, the church bell invites the congregation in. The sound of bells is the perfect start for the Christmas season, because bells are made to joyously proclaim arrival. Whether it be an approaching sleigh or a Sunday service, bells let us know something of substance is on its way.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11, ESV). Like a mighty bell the angels filled the skies with brilliant alarm, announcing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Like little jingle bells, the shepherds echoed the message throughout the countryside. The joy of Christmas is us participating in the echo of that first angelic gospel proclamation. We too get to ring out the wonderful news that our Savior is born, and we too can be born again in Him; free from sin. Let’s remember that first message of good news every time we hear a bell announcing the arrival of Christmas to us. Let our mouths match the tone of the joyful bells that bring good news to all who have ears to hear. Let’s remember, as we watch for the bells that herald the return of the Christmas season, that we anticipate a far louder trumpet sound when our lovely Jesus returns.
JEDIDIAH FLOOD
Student, B.A., Biblical Studies
DECEMBER
God’s Perfect Timing
Isaiah 9:2
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
(Spanish translation) Tiempo de esperar. Tiempo de Esperanza. Momento de anticipar. Momento de anticipación. Ocasión de prepararse. Ocasión de preparación. Razón para celebrar. Razón de celebración. El advenimiento apunta a la esperanza, la anticipación, la preparación y la celebración de la llegada al mundo del Hijo de Dios, del Mesías prometido. Avivemos la fe, la esperanza y el amor, arraigados en la persona y obra de Cristo. Cultivemos la sabiduría y la humildad, guiados por la persona de Cristo. Practiquemos el perdón, la hospitalidad y la justicia, basados en la obra de Cristo. Durante este advenimiento, contemplemos que el tiempo de Dios es perfecto. Sus promesas no fallan. Nuestro sumo sacerdote es fiel. Durante este advenimiento, meditemos que Dios trabaja a nuestro favor aun cuando nuestras mentes y corazones no lo puedan comprender y sentir. El está atento a su amada creación y pastorea su rebano, la iglesia. Nuestro sumo sacerdote tiene cuidado de nosotros. Durante este advenimiento, proclamemos su amor y misericordia. Sus palabras son verdaderas y nunca volverás vacías. Nuestro sumo sacerdote ruega a su Padre y nos presenta a nuestro Padre por medio del Espíritu Santo. Durante este advenimiento, oremos a Dios para el cual no hay nada imposible de acuerdo con su voluntad perfecta e invitemos y acompañemos a muchos que viven en la periferia para que formen parte de la familia divina. ¡Regocijemos! “El pueblo que caminaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz; sobre
los que habitan en la tierra de profundas tinieblas, una luz ha resplandecido”. (Isaías 9:2)
Enséñanos Señor, a abrir nuestros ojos y corazón en este adviento y recuérdanos que escuchas nuestras oraciones y perdonas nuestros pecados.
Time to wait. Time of Hope. Moment to anticipate. Moment of anticipation. Occasion to prepare. Occasion of preparation. Reason to celebrate. Reason for celebration. Advent points to the hope, anticipation, preparation and celebration of the arrival into the world of the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Allow us to see and value the various expressions and manifestations of divine transcendence in our immanent world. Let us revive faith, hope and love, rooted in the person and work of Christ. Let us cultivate wisdom and humility, guided by the person of Christ. Let us practice forgiveness, brotherhood, hospitality and justice, based on the work of Christ. During this Advent, let us contemplate that God’s timing is perfect. His promises do not fail. Our high priest is faithful. During this Advent, let us meditate that God works in our favor even when our minds and hearts cannot understand or feel it. He is attentive to His beloved creation and shepherds his flock, the Church. Our high priest takes care of us. During this Advent, let us proclaim His love and mercy. His words are true and never return empty. Our high priest prays to his Father and introduces us to our Father through the Holy Spirit. During this Advent, let us pray to God for whom there is nothing impossible according to his perfect will and let us invite and accompany many who live on the periphery to become part of the divine family. Let us rejoice! “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Teach us Lord, to open our eyes and hearts in this advent and remind us that you hear our prayers and forgive our sins.
DR. DAVID ESCOBAR ARCAY
Associate Professor of Theology Director of Latino Church Studies
DECEMBER
12
Matthew 1:20
“An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David…’”
The Sound of an Angel’s Voice Saying,
“Joseph, Son of David “
The angel who appears to Joseph addresses him as “son of David.” We know from Matthew 1:16 that Joseph’s father is named Jacob. Did Matthew get it wrong? Is the angel confusing Joseph with someone else? Does it even matter? In fact, it matters a lot – and the angel wasn’t confused. The term “son” can also refer to a descendant, and this is its use here, as it is in Matthew 1:1, “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” By greeting Joseph as a descendant of David, Matthew’s Jewish audience would have recognized that this simple carpenter from Nazareth was, in fact, a descendant of Israel’s great (but not perfect) king, and the father or perhaps ancestor of an even greater and perfect king to come – the promised Messiah. Hence, the angel’s reference to David arouses the messianic hopes and dreams that had been building in Joseph and his ancestors for centuries. Israel knew that God had promised a deliverer - a descendant of David who would rescue them and set them free. By addressing Joseph as “son of David,” the angel signals that the wait is over. God is ready to act.
The words that follow make it clear that Joseph’s divine son is the one for whom God’s people have been waiting. Mary’s pre-marital conception will be grist for the rumor mills, but Joseph is not to fear. Their son will save his people -– not from Roman oppression, but from a much greater threat -– the tyranny of their own sin and the very kingdom of darkness itself. His name will be “Immanuel,” God with us. Not since the Solomonic temple (c. 950 B.C. – 586 B.C.) had God’s presence been prominently manifest among his people. Even then, as with the tabernacle before, God’s presence was mediated. Physical and ritual barriers kept sinners out of God’s presence, and those same barriers protected the people from God’s searing holiness. God was with His people, but not directly accessible to them. When the temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 515 B.C., the Glory of God did not return (cf. 1 Kings 8:10-11), suggesting God was not present in the same way He had been in the first temple. With the birth of Jesus, however, all of that changed. God himself had come! Jesus spoke to people. He fed them. He traveled with them. He taught them, and He healed them. There were no layers of thick fabric separating Jesus from sinners, nor were there any barricades limiting access to God to only a few sanctified priests. Instead, He dined with them, He touched them, and He was touched by them. He was accessible in ways previously unimagined. He was Immanuel in the flesh, and He had come to save His people and to bring them into right relationship with the Father.
It is hard to know how Joseph would have felt. Surely being addressed by a divine being who told him that his wife-to-be is pregnant by miraculous means, in fulfillment of the word of the great prophet, Isaiah, would have been a bewildering experience to say the least! Was he shocked upon hearing that this son’s name would be “God with us”? Was
he fearful of how his family and village would respond if he did not quietly divorce Mary, according to custom? Did he understand that the baby in his wife’s womb was the longawaited Messiah? Was he worried about how to parent this divine child? All we are told is that Joseph obeyed. He married his wife, she gave birth to a son, and they called his name Jesus, meaning “He saves.” Although we may want more details concerning Joseph’s experience, what Joseph thought and felt is not the point of Matthew’s account. “He did as the angel of the LORD commanded him” is all we need to know. Despite his probable confusion, wonderment, and the social pressure to leave Mary behind, Joseph, son of David, obeyed, and became a father to Jesus, “God with us,” the longed-for Messiah and redeemer, the son of David.
O come, O come, Immanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel Shall come to you, O Israel.
DR. CATHERINE MCDOWELL
Professor of
Old Testament
Studies Chair, Department of Biblical Studies
Mommy Said No
But God Said Yes 13
As I folded laundry on our porch, my then 3-year-old daughter asked me for a bird. I quickly responded, “No, Emily. You don’t need a bird, but if God wants you to have one, you will.” As I walked away, I thought that my response had been odd, leaving me wondering why I was involving God in the conversation. I stepped into the house and heard Emily shout with delight, “Mommy said no, but God said yes!” I came outside to find my freshly folded laundry thrown all over the porch, and the laundry basket turned upside down to cage a beautiful little blue parakeet that would become a beloved pet named Jimmy.
Emily had a longing in her heart for a pet to play with, take care of, talk to and actually have the pet talk back to her. (Pretty birdy was all he said, but for Em, it was more than enough.) God, who loves and created Emily, had a very good gift on his way for her — at just the right time. All she had to do was accept him, which she joyously did.
DECEMBER
James 1:17
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
God has the best gift ever for us that He provided in the form of the birth of His Son, Jesus — Immanuel, God with Us. Through the acceptance of this free gift, we can have our sins removed, and are adopted into God’s family. This means we literally can talk to God through prayer AND hear back from Him in a variety of ways. Like hearing that it was His will for Emily to have that bird: all we had to do was to receive it. My prayer for you is that you receive the good gifts God has for you, beginning with the free gift of eternal life by accepting His Son, Jesus.
LAURA C. BISHOP
Executive Vice President for Advancement
DECEMBER
John 1:14
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
O Holy Night
Growing up in Minnesota in a family with Scandinavian roots, our Christmas season was filled with scents of cinnamon, orange, cardamom and ginger. Songs about sleighs and jingling bells filled the air. Our breath crystallized into puffs of white when we ventured outside, wrapped in hats and scarves and mittens. It was a time families braved ice and snow to be together to celebrate the holiday. We wandered neighborhoods in tightly gathered groups singing Christmas carols to people huddled in their doorways. We went inside to cups of hot chocolate, just long enough to thaw our frozen noses and toes. Before I could understand that Christmas was about the Incarnation, I experienced it in the songs of the season which remind us of inexplicable joy and abundant peace. They proclaim the coming of the King.
One Christmas Eve after a day filled with all manners of holiday baking, I found myself unable to sleep. Grandma and I snuck out of the house while the rest of the family slept to attend our midnight candlelight worship service. As the flame was passed from candle to candle, taking care not to drip the wax on the old wooden pews, we sang the lyrics that meant Christmas to me:
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born; O night divine, O night, O night Divine.
The Incarnation. The Word made flesh. The advent of his kingdom. May we fall on our knees!
JESSICA S. PERSON, M.A Ph.D. Candidate, Practical Theology
DECEMBER
John 1:29
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
“Behold the Lamb of God. . .“
John 1:29
What does it mean to “Behold, the Lamb?” The dictionary defines beholding as, “to gaze at, or look upon.” The word “behold” is also used to express amazement. Middle English usage includes the idea of possessing or holding on steadfastly. Today, that meaning is nearly gone and the notion of beholding is rarely used, but as we gaze upon the Lamb of God, our lives continue to be touched and transformed by His glory.
We praise the Lord every day, but at Christmastime we give gifts to celebrate the beauty and magnificence of God’s gift to us, Christ. Consider the three wise men from the East who visited the infant Christ. When they arrived in Bethlehem, Matthew records them as looking upon
the Child and falling down to worship.[1] They were in awe. They looked upon Jesus and knew that he was the one the prophets foretold.[2] As they beheld him, their hearts turned toward worship, and they offered gifts. And so, it is when we behold our Lord today. As we gaze upon the beauty and goodness of the Lord, our lives start to line up with His purposes. As we behold Him, the inner landscape of our heart is changed. As we gaze upon Him intently, our lives are inexplicably transformed.
True change begins in earnest as we see our Lord for who He is – the majestic Son of God, the glorious King of Kings, the one who came to save us from our sin and brokenness. What a gift! As we behold Lamb, we will begin to see our hearts and inner attitudes transformed, reflecting the Light of the Son with each passing day. Our lives are changed as we move from faith to deeper faith and from glory to inexplicable glory.
Behold . . . the Lamb of God.
Father, may the Light of Your Love be continually shed abroad in our hearts; and may we each, with unfading hope, turn our hearts toward You daily, allowing your Spirit of Truth to transform us from the inside, out.
DR. STEPHANIE BENNETT
Director
of Wordship
Professor of Communication and Media Ecology
[1] Matthew 2:9-11
[2] “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people, Israel.” Matt. 2:6
DECEMBER
Simeon
Luke 2:30-31
“For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.”
Small, seemingly insignificant biblical characters offer profound insights. One of those characters is found in Luke 2:25-35. Luke describes Simeon as being righteous, devout, and filled with the Holy Spirit. It is said the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah.
When I was in Ghana going down a bumpy, dusty road in the remote northeastern part of the country, I saw this small shack that had been painted bright chartreuse with the phrase “Hope for the Future.” The font and colors looked like something from a 1960s vacation postcard. However, it was obviously painted several years before I saw it. It was chipped. It was faded, and I fear the enthusiasm with which the painter painted “Hope for the Future” had equally faded.
The person who first had the thought to paint “Hope for the Future” must have felt something. They must have had a vision for their impoverished nation, but had their vision been realized? This is what brought my thoughts to Simeon.
Did Simeon hear that promise when he was a young teenage student of the Torah? Did he get up each day of his teen years and go to the temple with the expectation he would see the Messiah that day? Did he have this expectation in 20s? In his 30s? What happened to him through the next decades? Over the subsequent years, did he doubt God? Did he doubt the promise? Did he doubt that there would even be a Messiah?
What was it like the morning that Mary and Joseph entered the temple? Did Simeon say to the Lord as he roused his old and aching body, “This is it, Lord. This is my last day. I am too tired and pained. I cannot continue to go the temple.” Then, how late in the day was it? Was he beginning his walk home when he saw Jesus? But there he was. There was Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. God fulfilled his promise.
During Advent, we remember God’s promises and we wait on those promises. Yet, we do not wait in vain. God is faithful. God is sure. The promises that God makes to us, to the Church, and to the world will be fulfilled. God rarely acts on our timeline, but he is never late. In Advent, we wait to join Simeon’s prophetic cry, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
ROBERT FEDUCCIA
Doctoral Candidate, Ph.D., Practical Theology
DECEMBER
Isaiah 61:3
Beauty from Sorrow 17
“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning…”
When my wife and I were newly married, we tried to save some money by purchasing a “discount” Christmas tree. Perhaps you’ve seen these misshapen, damaged, partly dead bargains along the side of the road. We found one that was beautiful on one side, but completely bald and dead on the back. Like Chuck and Linus in the Charlie Brown Christmas, we thought, “we will decorate it, and it will be just right!” We bought the dilapidated tree, brought it home, and stuck it in the corner where you couldn’t see (much) of the dead side. Once we had added ornaments and lights to (half of) the tree, it looked pretty good, at least from far away. We even got a few laughs from guests who noticed the tree’s less than perfect features. It was a great tree.
It’s funny how that half-dead tree lingers more in my memories than so many of the socalled perfect ones.
As we journey towards Christmas, there will likely be some less-than-perfect trees in your story. There will be travel delays, complicated family gatherings, crying children, and that perfect present you just couldn’t find. Perhaps you will even encounter some unexpected snowy weather. Life is full of mess and missed expectations. But somehow, God in His grace, brings beauty from our sorrow. Even in the simple things, like Christmas trees.
May God remind you of His transforming grace this Christmas season.
DR. BRIAN SHOCKEY
Assistant Professor of Ministry Director, AMP Program
Isaiah 53:5b
“upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
Unusual Peace
“I dare say you will be surprised at me writing a letter on such paper as this, but you will be more surprised when I tell you that it contained cake given to one of our men by a German officer on Christmas Day, and that I was given some of it” started an English Private writing home from the Western Front.*
The Christmas Truce of 1914, early in World War I, was beyond extraordinary. Foes became friends overnight. Soldiers, sworn to their nations, downed their weapons. Each singing carols in their language across cold, soggy trenches, at times scaling those trench walls to enjoy conversation over festive cake and exchanging gifts with their enemies. Unusual peace in a time of war.
The prophet Isaiah tells of such an unusual time. When “the wolf shall lay with the lamb” (Isa. 11:6), an image as strikingly awkward as that of Northern Europe in December 1914. Isaiah’s image finds fulfillment on the shoulders of the Messianic King and Advent is a reminder of this, extended reflection on the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messianic King.
We long for peace of various kinds. Rest after a long day, calm after a season of storms, vacationing after yet another year. But the rest, the calm, the peace for a jaded soul, an anxious world, a disconnected universe, comes from the peace “of another world.” Without doubt, few believed the form this peace would appear in. A Suffering Servant (Isa. 52:13 – 53:12), with no attractive qualities, lowly and rejected. The “Prince of Peace” whose birth, attended by all kinds of battles, extends to us a celebration of deeper, more lasting, unusual peace.
It is fitting then that an unusual “Outbreak of Peace” came at Christmas on those battlefields a century ago.
BASIL OKUMU
Student, M.A., Intercultural Studies
* Excerpt from Christmas Truce by the Men Who Took Part: Letters from the 1914 Ceasefire on the Western Front
DECEMBER
Dios en mi vecindario
Juan 1:14
“Y el Verbo se hizo hombre y habitó entre nosotros. Y contemplamos su gloria, la gloria que corresponde al Hijo único del Padre, lleno de gracia y de verdad.”
El día en que se celebra la navidad me lleva a recordar cuando escogimos el pueblo y el vecindario en el cual queríamos vivir cuando naciera nuestro hijo. El lugar donde habitar, donde establecer un hogar para nuestro hijo no era para nosotros una decisión liviana. Ciertamente, no esperábamos conseguir un lugar perfecto, ni se trataba de escoger un lugar de opulencia, sino de escoger un lugar en el que nos sintiéramos seguros.
En el prólogo joanino Dios nos sorprende con su proceso de elección del lugar a dónde le enviaría para habitar en relación con su creación. La grandeza y trascendencia de Dios encuentra una forma y un vecindario digno en la humanidad para hacer su morada permanente: habitar. Habitar significa una acción permanente. Eso quiere decir que Dios vino para quedarse. En Jesús conocemos un Dios cercano que nos considera dignos de habitar entre nosotros. Dios se hace presente, cercano; inmanente. Comparte su Misterio Sagrado en paradoja con la vulnerabilidad y dependencia de un niño envuelto en el milagro de la vida. La trascendencia se ha palpado en la inmanencia.
Es en la inmanencia del trascendente en la que podemos experimentar el Misterio. Dios, absolutamente otro también está cercano. ¡Y eso hay que celebrarlo! Dios ha
venido a vivir en mi vecindario. Exalta su creación con su abajamiento. Con su llegada nos deja saber que tenemos el potencial de bien para convertirnos en el pesebre de su santidad, a la vez que necesitamos de Él para alcanzar nuestra redención.
El mundo puede aspirar a la paz porque en el rostro del niño de Belén vemos la ternura que anticipa y caracteriza el reino de Dios. Este reino representa un motivo de alegría para los pobres, para los que lloran, los humildes, los sedientos y perseguidos por causa de la justicia; para los que procuran la paz, porque “ellos serán llamados hijos de Dios”.
Hoy la presencia de Dios no se limita a una tienda de campaña o tabernáculo, tampoco en lo estático de un templo en una localización geográfica. Hoy, más que nunca, Dios en nuestro vecindario es la presencia tan humana como el milagro de la vida en el nacimiento de un niño y tan deshumanizante como la guerra, en donde se hace presente en el dolor de los crucificados de este siglo. Ahí su presencia trasciende los límites de nuestra humanidad para infundirnos esperanza aun en nuestras noches más oscuras.
Hoy nuestro vecindario, nuestra casa, nuestra vida se llenan de gozo porque ha llegado a habitarlo la plenitud de Dios. Se ha engalanado la humanidad una vez caída, con la llegada de un niño que representa gozo, salvación, paz, unidad y esperanza. Nuestra vida, que una vez pareció sombría a causa de nuestro pecado y nuestro sufrimiento hoy se ilumina con el resplandor de Su gloria. Hoy las tinieblas se disipan y el futuro cobra un nuevo sentido.
Dios ha escogido mi barrio, mi calle, mi vecindario para vivir, porque quiere mostrarnos su gloria. ¿Qué puedo ofrecer para celebrar su llegada?
IVELISSE VALENTIN-VERA, D.MIN
Preaching Initiative Director
Assistant Professor of Preaching & Practical Theology
DECEMBER
God in My Neighborhood 19
John 1:14
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Christmas reminds me of our search for a neighborhood and a home where we could raise our son. Choosing the right place for our family was one of the most important decisions at that time. We did not expect to find a perfect place, nor were we focused on selecting a wealthy neighborhood. Instead, we wanted a place where our son could feel safe.
In the Johannine prologue, God surprises us with His own process of choosing a neighborhood where His Son could live. God’s glory takes on a human form and finds a worthy place among us to dwell. To dwell implies permanence. It signifies that God came to stay. Through Jesus, we came to know God intimately. God is near, and we are deemed worthy of hosting the Son among us. The Divine Mystery was embraced by the vulnerability of a child. We touched God when Transcendence met Immanence in the manger.
God, who is the Absolute Other, is among us. That is something to celebrate! God has come to live in our
neighborhood. He exalts His creation by humbling Himself. With His arrival, He reveals our potential to become the manger of His holiness while also acknowledging our need for redemption.
The world can find peace in the child of Bethlehem. In His eyes, we see the tenderness that characterizes the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom brings joy to the poor, to those who mourn, to the humble, to those who thirst and are persecuted for the sake of justice, and to those who seek peace, because “they will be called children of God.” Today, God’s presence is not confined to a tent or tabernacle, nor to the static nature of a temple in a geographic location. Now, more than ever, God is present in our neighborhood. We encounter Him in the miracle of life, in the birth of a child, and in the absurdities of war, where He shares in the pain of those crucified today. God’s presence transcends the limits of our humanity, offering us hope even in our darkest nights.
Today, our neighborhood, our home, our lives are filled with joy because the Glory of God dwells among us. Humanity, once fallen, has been embellished by the arrival of a child who represents joy, salvation, peace, unity, and hope. Our lives, once obscured by sin and suffering, are illuminated by the splendor of His glory. Today, the veil of darkness is lifted, and the future takes on new meaning.
God has chosen mi barrio, my neighborhood, my street, my community to reside in, because He wants to show us His glory. What can I offer to celebrate His arrival?
IVELISSE VALENTIN-VERA, D.MIN
Preaching Initiative Director
Assistant Professor of Preaching & Practical Theology
20 DECEMBER
Philippians 2:5–7
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Beholding the Incarnated Son with Paul
My favorite biblical author is the apostle Paul, who usually does not get much airtime around Christmas. I cannot help but wonder what Paul, a first-century Pharisee who devoted his life to Christ, would make of our modern-day Christmas. What sights and sounds would be his favorites? Would he sing Christmas carols or watch claymation Christmas movies (my personal favorites)? Would he roam the neighborhood gazing upon the Christmas lights strung with care? One thing is for sure, the apostle would remind us consistently of one miraculous sight–the incarnation. In Philippians 2:5–7 he shares the extraordinary event of the incarnation of the God of the universe in Jesus. Paul sets before the sight of a divided and suffering gathering of believers in Philippi a beautiful and vivid image of Christ
Jesus joining creation as a human and living as a servant. Paul sets before their sight the image of the humble Christ and invites the Philippians to live likewise: “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” In Paul’s words, I hear an invitation to us this Advent season, as we prepare for the celebration of our Lord’s birth: “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Humbly serve one another. While our Advent season will undoubtedly be filled with sights of gifts, family reunions, full-tables, adorned trees, mesmerizing lights, and ornate wreaths, may our sights also be filled with remembrance of the poor, kind gestures towards neighbors, service in the community, and living with the humility and grace that our Savior modeled for us. What better way to anticipate his arrival than to live as Jesus did!
DR. MELISSA BARCIELA MANDALA Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies School of Ministry
DECEMBER
Peculiar Love 21
Matthew 11:3
“Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
In New Zealand, where I am from, Christmastime coincides with summer holidays - barbeques, pavlova, long beach days, sunburns, camping, and ample time with friends and family. Christmas time also brings the scarlet flowers of New Zealand’s unique tree, the Pohutukawa. The beauty of the Pohutukawa tree, blossoming at the lead up to Christmas, reminds New Zealander’s it is that special time of year.
Pohutukawa trees, pavlova and summertime might seem like a peculiar scene to those who have not experienced Christmas time in New Zealand, yet for me, it is just as it should be.
For many, the story of God coming to earth in the form of a human baby seemed like a peculiar scene. Many grappled with the tender moment of the Savior being born in a manger, tiny and vulnerable. The promised Messiah did not match the expectations of those who were waiting. He did not appear as an emperor, sage, or conqueror. Scripture shows even John the Baptist was grappling with seeing Jesus as the Messiah. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Read Matthew 11:1-10)
Christmas draws believers to see the birth of Jesus as the moment that turned the world upside down. The humble are lifted (Luke 1:52), the stranger is welcomed (Matt 25:35), and the last will be first (Matt 20:16). The peculiar world, just as it should be.
As you reflect on the season of Christmas, I hope you can see the scene of a baby wrapped in rags as the kind of peculiar love that is enough to save us all.
KRISTY BOTHA Student, M.A., Intercultural Studies
DECEMBER
Matthew 2:11
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh 22
There was gold, there was frankincense, and there was myrrh… and there was also a newborn child who laid in a manger on the outside of an inn. What a contrast. What a contradiction. What a dichotomy. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and a small human being who would choose, instead, walking with dirty feet, touching lepers, and having nowhere to lay His head. Despite the finest of things, He would choose…us.
This moment would not be the last time He would choose us. At the end of His journey, when all was said and done, the people still wanted to make Him their king! He could have ridden into Jerusalem on a strong stallion with a plan for conquest, but He was still unmoved. He chose the young donkey instead of a horse, humiliation instead of a
conquest, and a crown of thorns instead of a crown of gold. Once again, He didn’t have to weigh out the options. Every single time, He would choose us.
What do we do with these sights and sounds? Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and an earthly kingship unrealized… We pause. We take just a few moments to understand and embrace the fact that He was unmistakenly, unashamedly, undeniably committed… to us. We internalize this kind of love that could never be matched. What a deep love our Savior has for us. What a song He sings over us. What a price He paid for us.
And then, we look inward. Maybe we look at what we, ourselves, have chosen. How many times have we chosen pride instead of humble submission, treasures on earth rather than treasures in heaven, idols rather than total devotion to the one true God, ourselves instead of our Lord?
Jesus took off His glorious splendor, gave up the throne, and came down to a sinful world for our sake. He was the baby in the manger who laid beside the gold, frankincense, and myrrh… only to give it all up for us.
May we give up everything for Him in return.
DR. JAMILA JACKSON Director of Theological Education Partnership with Florida Memorial University
DECEMBER
Luke 1:68
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.”
When God Visits 23
The entire Bible is about God’s presence. And yet most of it is about how that presence is elusive and how God’s people feel distant from Him. This was the case at the beginning of the New Testament, for those like Zechariah. As in Exodus with the Israelites in Egypt, there had been no word from the Lord for 400 years. Similarly, there were promises God had made that seemed to be unfulfilled. And yet, just like the Israelites were told centuries prior by Joseph, they were told that there was hope, that they would one day experience God’s presence…that God would visit them.
And then, a child appears, whom God would use to rescue His people. For Israel in Egypt, God visited through Moses and redeemed His people from slavery. In Luke 1, God Himself visited in the person of Christ to come and redeem His people from spiritual slavery. In their darkest seasons, when all hope was lost, the promises of God seemed farfetched, and there were doubts surfacing about God’s care for them, God showed up.
For many, Christmas is not always a time of joy. For many, God seems distant. That may be you this year. I want to encourage you: do not despair. God has visited us in His Son, the one who suffered for you to secure a new promise: that God’s presence would come to dwell within you, permanently connecting you to Him right now. And that one day, for those who trust Him in faith, He will again visit us. This Christmas season, let us look back to what God has done, trusting in what He has promised He will do again.
JOSEPH BRADLEY Student, M.A., Philosophy of Religion
DECEMBER
Luke 2:13-14
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
A Sound Like No Other
One of the most memorable Christmas sounds for me growing up was caroling. Caroling was a common practice in many churches, and one of my favorite carols was, and still is, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” based on Luke 2:14, which tells of an angelic chorus praising God.
Now, when I reflect, having a choir turn up on your street or front door, usually before the sun comes out or after it goes down, provides a glimpse of what it must have been like for the shepherds keeping watch that night to hear “The Good News.”
In a field, on an ordinary night, their lives were interrupted by the sound of heaven declaring something extraordinary---the birth of our Savior. It was a moment of unexpected joy brought forth by praise. I often wonder how they must have been overjoyed to be the first to hear of Christ’s birth, experience such praise and how it positioned the posture of their hearts to go in search of the Messiah and worship Him.
Too often, the commercialization of Christmas--the gifts, the ham, the lights, the tree-realigns what should bring us ultimate joy this season. The angel’s proclamation wasn’t just for the shepherds but for all of us. This Advent, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ, my prayer is that the sounds of carols usher us into a reflection of “The Good News” that celebrating His birth holds for us. It is a reminder of a promise fulfilled and a promise yet to come--life eternal. Let us praise God for the Christ child who brought us ultimate redemption.
DR. DEBRA A. SCHWINN University President
