Make Room for Jesus
Advent is defined as a period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and wasn’t even a word until about the 12th century. However, the act of advent began well before the birth of Jesus.
Another definition says it’s a period of preparation, and I assure you, God’s preparation was vast. I believe our good, good Father began preparation of the coming Messiah at the very moment man fell.
This was the beginning of advent.
Zacharias, a priest had a wife named Elizabeth and scripture says both were considered righteous before God. They were advanced in years and barren. In the order of his division, it was Zacharias’ turn to enter the temple and burn incense.
Beginning at Luke 1:13 NKJV;
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
“I AM GABRIEL, who stands before the presence of God.”
Whoa, can you imagine? This messenger angel of God standing before you, speaking such marvelous things?
Gabriel’s visit number two was to Mary, who is betrothed to be married to a man named Joseph. Coming in, he speaks to her; “Rejoice! Highly favored one, The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” Luke 1:28 NKJV
Here, Gabriel is making it known to her;
She will be the very most important woman to ever walk the earth. Hallelujah!
She will be the vessel to bring forth the savior of the world for all mankind. Praise God!
She will give birth to our great prince of peace, mighty son of the highest, Lord of all, Immanuel. All glory to God!
Gabriel’s third visit. This time to Joseph.
To prepare his heart.
To let him know, not to put Mary away.
To know this child would indeed be the light of the world.
“Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-21 NKJV
These three have more than just an angelic visit in common, they also had to set aside a piece of self to make room for Jesus.
They all had something to give up in preparation for the coming arrival of Jesus.
For Zacharias, it was unbelief. In Luke 1:20 it says; “But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until that day these things take place, because you did not believe…”
For Mary, it was her expectations. The anticipation of a young bride beginning her life with her new husband. The excitement of her life taking shape and creating a new generation to the lineage of her people. This revelation changed the whole trajectory of her life. Luke 1:38 says; “Then Mary said, behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me, according to your word.”
She said “yes”, here am I, your maidservant. No matter what the cost, all expectations laid down for the perfect will of God. “Blessed is she who believed.”
And then Joseph…what could have been the thoughts running through his head?
I can’t fathom his heartbreak, the disappointment from the shattered dreams of the future. He would “quietly put her away”, the word says.
He had one of the most difficult of all things let go, to lay down and set aside.
Pride.
Our Bibles are filled with scripture warning humanity about holding on to or acting out of pride.
Proverbs 16:18; “Pride goes before destruction and haughty spirit before a fall.”
James 4:6; “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
1 John 2:16; “For all that is of the world-the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
So just like that, one word from God, Joseph laid his pride aside and did as the Lord instructed.
Unbelief
Expectation
Pride
Today, what are you holding on to?
What is it that you could lay down to make room for Jesus?
Distractions
Anger
Strife
Jealousy
Greed
Church, we cannot afford to hold tight to any one of these things. It would be impossible to and stay in preparation for His second coming.
Yes, this is the time we are celebrating Jesus’ birth. Hallelujah!
But, we celebrate in anticipation of His promises that birth, life, death and resurrection brought us.
The promises of life, everlasting and full of glory!
The promises of joy unspeakable!
The promises of His imminent return!
All glory to God!
