According to Luke

The Promise of His Coming

Advent is a spiritual journey that Christians take, through themes that point to the birth of Jesus as Messiah

Advent – a time of preparation

1 The Promise of God2 The Prophets3 John the Baptist (preparer)4 Mary, his mother

According to Luke

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Luke…

…is aware of previous writings about Jesus (uses Mark)

…investigated the story for himself

…has written ‘an orderly account’ (shaped for readers)

Mary’s Baby will be…

…a boy called Jesus (God’s salvation – ‘Joshua’)

…a king from the line of David

…Son of the Most High/God

…born of the Holy Spirit

Mary’s Baby will challenge…

…Roman political structuresRoman Empire V David’s Kingdom

…Roman Imperial authorityCaesar Augustus ‘Son of God’V Jesus ‘Son of God’

Mary’s Baby will …

… fulfil the hopes for a Jewish Messiah

…be a new Joshua (God saves)

…a new David (God’s King)

A child of two worlds

Mary’s Baby as Child of the Spirit

Proclaim Good News to the Poor

Bind up the broken-hearted

Mary’s Baby as Child of the Spirit

Release for the enslaved

Comfort, joy and hope for the grieving

But has this happened?

Today there is still…

War

Poverty

Grief

Hopelessness

The Now and the Yet to be

How does the Promise…

…change how we see the world politically?

…challenge us about who rules our lives?

…give us hope for the future?

…inspire us to work for the coming Kingdom?