κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

Now when these things begin to happen, straighten up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near. [Introduction] Once upon a time, Christmas didn’t begin until midnight Christmas Eve, and it lasted for a full twelve days. But the world has hijacked Christmas. Now Advent is largely ignored. Christmas ends the day after, gift-giving ends, and thoughts of self begin. And that’s too bad. Advent is a season that we need to pay attention to. Advent reminds us [our] redemption is drawing near.   Advent is a season that helps us prepare for the coming of Christ. He is drawing near. The word advent literally means coming. Christ is coming. The first coming of Christ was a couple thousand years ago ... at his birth in Bethlehem. The second coming of Christ will be on the clouds in power and great glory (v 27). As we will sing soon, Christ is near with his cheer; Never will he leave me (LSB 756:1).  The first Advent of our Lord was one of humility. On Christmas, God hu...

Straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption comes near (v 28) . Last week we crossed the threshold of a new church year, and stepped into the monthlong season of Advent. The special emphasis of Advent, as all of you should know, is the truth that Christ comes near. It’s not just that he came once to us in the past and will come again in the future to judge the living and the dead, but that he also continues to come to us today in Word and Sacrament. Behold, Christ comes: yesterday, tomorrow ... and even today!  This is great news and the root theme for our observance of Advent this year. We recognized that last week when we heard that behold, your savior comes to you. Answering how and why he does this is what I plan to have us focus on today and the next two weeks. The Lord of Heaven and Earth inspired all of the prophets and apostles to proclaim this message to you ... this Gospel ... this Good News ... that God loves us in this way: He comes to live for you, die...

Your redemption is drawing near (v. 28). You know … most days blur together, one into another. But some days are simply unforgettable. They can be outstanding ... extraordinary ... like the day of your confirmation, the day of your graduation, the day of your marriage, the day your child was born ... the day we give new life to an old sanctuary. Or they can be devastating ... like the day of divorce, the day you discovered you had cancer, the day you were involved in a serious accident, the day death took a loved one from you. All of these days can be unforgettable days because of the overwhelming joy or sorrow they brought.  Our text speaks of a day that makes the most memorable day of our lives pale into insignificance. And we will never forget it.  In the Gospel according to Luke, days after arriving in Jerusalem to die and to rise, Jesus began talking about that day … the last day ... God’s great day, the greatest day of all. It’s the day of a great disturbance, the day o...