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Advent Readiness | Pastor's Blog | Gardendale Nazarene

Advent Readiness

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!”

Luke 12:35-38 ESV

Advent is the season of preparation. This year we have been focusing on preparing for Christ, not just for Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent, we looked at a similar passage to this one in Matthew’s gospel (24:36-44).

There are some significant things in this parable that apply to our preparation for Christ. Take a moment and reread the passage– this time look for the role reversal.

Did you see it? In New Testament society, your socio-economic role was defined. Masters acted one way and servants had specific jobs for those masters, i.e. helping them get dressed, preparing and serving their food. Now think through what Jesus just said, “The master will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.”

It is the master who dresses himself. It is the master who has the servants sit at the table while he cooks dinner…then he serves them!

Okay, I know some of you are thinking, “Pastor, I see what you are saying, but is this point really worth getting excited about?”

Yes! Don’t miss what the texts are telling us all through Advent– there is a significant tie between Advent and the second coming of Christ. We are called to prepare ourselves for the Messiah, just as the Old Testament prophets looked to the coming Messiah.

When we see this connection, we should get a little excited. How excited? I’m glad you asked! Excited enough to burst into song, because that’s exactly what Mary did!

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Luke 1:46-55 ESV

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