As we enter the second week of Advent, Aaron shares his thought for the week, challenging us to turn our focus towards Jesus.
I cannot quite believe it, but we have now entered the festive period! We are now into Advent and the run-up to Christmas. 2022, at least for me, has gone extraordinarily quickly. And I don’t know about you, but Sophie at least has had the Christmas music playing since around the 1st of November in the car. So some people have got a little bit of catching up to do in the festivities, but I’m sure you’ll be there and ready by the 25th of December.
Now, onto the 25th of December. I’d like to bring a quick challenge and I’d also like to read a little bit of scripture as well. The quick challenge would be whether or not you believe Jesus was born on the 25th of December. It’s likely that he wasn’t, but what a fantastic opportunity and an excuse to give Jesus all of our attention. So my challenge over this Christmas period would be, as the busyness kicks off, as we start to go and see family and we gather for different services and we start doing various different bits and pieces, let us remember to turn all of our attention towards our King Jesus.
Now, the bit of scripture that I would like to read just for this Thought for the Week is from the beginning of Revelation, and it contrasts the picture that we will be familiar with of Jesus in the manger at Christmas. He was born wrapped in his cloth, in a manger, in a stable, quite literally our King was born into squalor. This is John’s vision of Jesus at the beginning of Revelation – it’s quite a contrast:
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’
Revelation 1:15-18
Wow! He holds seven stars in his right hand. It’s absolutely an incredible picture of Jesus and is a vast contrast to the picture that we’re familiar with of Jesus in the stable, born into squalor, and how amazing that our King would come as a man. But Jesus did not stay a baby boy. Jesus grew up and he lived the life that we should have lived, and he died the death that we should have died. And after dying, he rose up from the grave after three days, and now he’s ascended into heaven, and he rules and reigns at the right hand of the Father. One day, Jesus is going to return to earth, and he is going to rule and reign here. How cool, and how amazing, and what a King we get to rejoice and shout about at Christmas! So let us turn all of our attention to this King. Let us turn our focus towards Jesus at Christmas.
You might want to join me in this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I thank you that you are our King, and you are our Saviour. And Lord, I thank you that you didn’t stay a baby. But Lord, you grew up, you lived as we should have lived, and you died in our place. And so Jesus, we thank you for who you are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Every week one of our members shares a short thought aiming to inspire you for the week. You can watch previous Thought For The Week videos by clicking here.