Friday prior to Advent 3

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Luke 7:18–28—‘Is Jesus the long-expected Messiah and Savior?’ ask John’s disciples. What do you see? The blind see, the lame walk…the dead are raised, and so on. Only God can do this, foreshadowing the restoration of fallen creation, which will be completed at the Second Coming of Christ. In the meantime, we who are spiritually poor have the Good News of the forgiveness of sins preached to us. Jesus Christ is the promised One, who by His death has healed us of the disease of iniquity and has raised us to life, who were dead in our trespasses and sins.

General Custer had just set his camp around little big horn. He sends out his scout to get a lay of the land. A few hours later the scout returns. “I’ve good news and bad news” says the scout.

“Well, let’s hear the bad news first.” Says Custer

“There are 100,000 hostile Indians who have surrounded us. We’re completely cut off. They attack at dawn. We won’t make it out of her alive!”

“Well, if that’s the bad news what’s the good news?” replied Custer

Said the scout, “Well, the way I see it, at least we won’t have to go back through Nebraska!”

During this Advent season; we recall Christ’s first coming as we anticipate Christ’s final return. Once he came as an infant. When he returns He will be our judge and king. The bad news will continue to be that Christ is serious about sin and will return to judge the world. The good news is that we have already been declared righteous through the Savior’s baptism; a baptism of fire with the Holy Spirit. That fire has burned our sin and refined our faith so that no impurity remains. When He returns He will find you blameless as His Holy Spirit seals you in faith.

Put another way; the bad news – you’re a sinner – “consider yourself dead to sin.”

The good news- you’re a redeemed child of God, “consider yourself alive in Christ” by the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Today walk in that newness of life the Savior bestows on you.

 

Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent—Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [2]

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[1] Advent, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2] Collect for Advent 3, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis