Advent - PEACE (2 of 2)
Series: Advent
Rich Wooten
Luke 2:14
There is an importance associated with this celebration. And as tradition has grown, the focus has become on Christ's first coming - the Incarnation.
To what did Jesus enter into? A time of political intrigue. Abuses of power. The powerless against the powerful. Helplessness on the part of a conquered people. Self-rule granted, but limited by ruling families and systemic structures. Violence abounded in certain cities. Economic stratification, those ''with'' controlled the vast majority and those ''without'' seemed to create more for those already with.
It sounds vaguely familiar to me...
The unrest is palpable. In Jesus time, there were uprisings, street protests, authoritarian responses, misunderstandings. I am sure around tables as the common people ate their meals there were conversations about the problems, what to do, how to make a difference. I am sure there were prayers offered up to counter the cultural and societal ills. I am sure that some felt their actions were futile. And I am sure that some went too far, some not far enough. The confusion of their time is echoed in ours. We read the news and see the abuses of power through the assertion of one's will over and against another. Sexual harassment and abuse is now part of the conversation. Not to mention the Saber rattling and fear of potential nuclear war, really unheard of since the late 80's.
Fear. Helplessness. Questions.
We really need peace!
What does peace look like?
(Various pics) - final is Manger -
It is into this that the Incarnation came...Jesus born in the manger, in the out of the way place called Bethlehem. Filled with ordinary people with ordinary concerns and hopes. Outside the village of Bethlehem were shepherds. And they were about to get the surprise of their lives.
Luke 2:8-20 (CSB)
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their ...
Series: Advent
Rich Wooten
Luke 2:14
There is an importance associated with this celebration. And as tradition has grown, the focus has become on Christ's first coming - the Incarnation.
To what did Jesus enter into? A time of political intrigue. Abuses of power. The powerless against the powerful. Helplessness on the part of a conquered people. Self-rule granted, but limited by ruling families and systemic structures. Violence abounded in certain cities. Economic stratification, those ''with'' controlled the vast majority and those ''without'' seemed to create more for those already with.
It sounds vaguely familiar to me...
The unrest is palpable. In Jesus time, there were uprisings, street protests, authoritarian responses, misunderstandings. I am sure around tables as the common people ate their meals there were conversations about the problems, what to do, how to make a difference. I am sure there were prayers offered up to counter the cultural and societal ills. I am sure that some felt their actions were futile. And I am sure that some went too far, some not far enough. The confusion of their time is echoed in ours. We read the news and see the abuses of power through the assertion of one's will over and against another. Sexual harassment and abuse is now part of the conversation. Not to mention the Saber rattling and fear of potential nuclear war, really unheard of since the late 80's.
Fear. Helplessness. Questions.
We really need peace!
What does peace look like?
(Various pics) - final is Manger -
It is into this that the Incarnation came...Jesus born in the manger, in the out of the way place called Bethlehem. Filled with ordinary people with ordinary concerns and hopes. Outside the village of Bethlehem were shepherds. And they were about to get the surprise of their lives.
Luke 2:8-20 (CSB)
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their ...
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