DHP Advent Devotionals

Week 4 - Incarnation - Peace

December 25 - Aaron Jalovec

Luke 2:8-14

⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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December 23 - Aaron Jalovec

John 1:14-18

¹⁴The 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.

¹⁵(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God andis in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

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December 22 - Eric Lange

John 1:9-13

⁹The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

This passage takes place in one of the most challenging, inspiring passages of the whole Bible. And, here in this section, is a big irony. All of the world was made through Jesus, but the world does not recognize him. Jesus sustains and holds all of creation together, sustaining our very breath (Isa 42:5), but when he came to live on the earth, his people didn't see him for who he is. The light that is coming into the world is missed by most people, and that is indeed ironic. (Don't you think?)

But we can't simply put blame on the people who met Jesus in that day & age. The fact is, we miss Jesus for being who he is in our lives every day. We join in that same ironic reality - that Jesus sustains our very life and being, but we do not receive him moment by moment in our day. This scripture passage in John gives us a world-altering promise: Jesus claims us as children of God, born of God. But, we spend our time distracted by smaller pursuits, vain interests, and things that do not satisfy. We may know, intellectually, the truth of who we are in Christ, but the way we live each day - the way we make decisions, how we carry our anxieties and fears around, and how we try to control things far beyond what we can handle - can be deeply ironic.

The deepest trouble with this irony is how we miss out on the Peace Jesus provides. Knowing that we are children of God - something born not from human decisions or willfulness, but from God Himself - gives us an unshakeable, unassailable peace. Knowing that Jesus sustains every breath in our lungs, that he comes into every moment of our life - even the worst ones - gives us comfort that Jesus never leaves us nor forsakes us. Letting go of the things that, ironically, we cling to, allows us finally recognize the the Light in a way that transforms us, and the world.

December 21 - Vicky Thomas

John 1:6-8

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

I think often about this story and how unbelievable it truly is. Below is a picture by an artist of what the light of the world would have looked like today. I find it to be really powerful…

José y Maria, Everette Patterson, 2014

The artist’s description of this picture is wonderful, we view José and Maria as if we were passing by, in our warm car, observing the situation. Would we have gotten out of the car, what would our judgements have been about this couple, and would we have even noticed the new life?

In the passage, it mentions that John came to bear light. He was a lantern for the coming Christ child, the much bigger light source, a wildfire. As believers, we also carry a lantern to lead others to Christ, it’s a posture we take...whether we feel like it or not. And others are also holding lanterns, taking a posture, so we don’t have to be alone in this community.

How did you show God’s light today? Where did you see the light of God today?

December 20 - Aaron Jalovec

John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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