We begin with week 2 of Advent since Advent actually begins 4 weeks prior to Christmas Day. This week we will look at the various characters that were part of the Christmas story.
Character #1 – The Holy Spirit
The story of Jesus’ birth is a wonderfully unique story in the history of humanity, and nothing shows us this more clearly than a brief look at the diverse cast of characters participated in this unrivalled event.
One of the first important characters to appear is the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit who moved over the waters of creation in Genesis 1 is now breathed into Mary to create the holy child. In this passage the “Most High” travels from the highest throne of heaven to visit his presence on the lowly home of Mary.
Luke 1: 34-38
34And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy-the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Shedding some light…
This story is one of the great miracles of the Bible. It is utterly beyond our comprehension to understand or fathom how Mary could become pregnant from God. Yet God did it. He descended from his heights of his holy home into the midst of our broken and fleshly humanity. Mary never looked for God to do this. She was astonished by the visit. God pursued her in his plan to keep his promise of redemption. Stop for a moment and slowly reread this well-known story. Allow yourself to be captured by this picture of the God who loves you! Be amazed by the work of the Holy Spirit-in creation and in Mary. And then consider the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and continue in your astonishment.
Children’s Prayer:
God, help us see the ways you’ve helped us-even in the ways that we didn’t expect it. And help us believe that you will still help us.
Adult’s Prayer:
Wonderfully Wise God, we admit your ways are higher than ours and we fail in our ability to understand your great miracles on our behalf. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see so that we can marvel with Mary at the wonders of your son Jesus’ birth. Don’t let the familiarity of the story limit our amazement. Let us pause, consider, and be utterly astonished at what you did! Give us faith to believe what you can do-in us, in others, and in this world!
Advent Singing: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
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source: www.ctkraleigh.org