SERIES: Advent
TEXT: Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6
MESSAGE: “Seeing Jesus In the Silence”
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“We do not start at Genesis 1 and work our way forward until we discover where it is all leading. Rather we first come to Christ, and he directs us to study the Old Testament in the light of the gospel. The gospel will interpret the Old Testament by showing us its goal and meaning.” — Graeme Goldsworthy
“Silence returns us to what is real…you might feel out of control, because when silence circulates it makes you that much more aware that you’re not in control…so it puts people against a wall and says this is you & your human & your existing right now & this is your reality. Do you like it? And often people say ‘no.’ So they don’t want to know that their moment is uncomfortable.” — Dr. Helen Lees
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” – John 1:14 (Message)
TEXT: Micah 5:2
And so when God spoke…how did HE choose to speak to us? God would choose to speak in three ways. He would speak…(1. To the insignificant 2. Through the powerless 3. For the hopeless)
1. To the insignificant
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah…”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 55:8
“Iʼve read in Plato and Cicero sayings wise and beautiful, but never in either: “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden.” – Augustine
2. Through the powerless
“…from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…”
“God has never manifested himself to men in any other way than through the Son, that is, his sole wisdom, light, and truth. From this fountain Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others drank all that they had of heavenly teaching. From the same fountain, all the prophets have also drawn every heavenly oracle that they have given forth.” ― David P. Murray, Jesus on Every Page
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
3. For the hopeless
“…whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” — Genesis 3:15
“We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” – John 1:14 (Message)
Takeaways:
– God’s closer than you think
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” – Psalm 130:1-2
“…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!” – Psalm 130:5-7
– God shapes us in the silence
– God speaks through our weakness
“This is what is compelling about the cross: its two aspects of suffering and glory. Christ suffered in the extreme for us, and by his suffering he assured that two things will happen to our suffering: First, it will have meaning when linked through prayer to the cross. Second, it will be over. A better day is coming: new heavens and a new earth, new bodies, unbent, unbroken, unstained by tears. This is our hope. We are not meant for death and sorrow but for life and joy.” A Grief Unveiled, Gregory Floyd
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)