Jesus is Willing!
Part 3 of the “Comfort & Joy” Advent Message Series
“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her guilt has been removed, that she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” 3 The voice of one calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; And let the uneven ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” - Isaiah 40:1-5 (NASB)
And the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with joyful shouting, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. I, I Myself, am He who comforts you. – Isaiah 51:11 (NASB)
40 And a man with leprosy came to Jesus, imploring Him and kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” - Mark 1:40-41 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
This season is meant to be a season of joy. God wants the people of God to be joyful in their redemption. The world longs for salvation – for the coming of joy and peace - when all is made right in our lives and in the world. Jesus is willing to lead us on a journey in which we will be people of joy and peace knowing we are redeemed. Are we willing to be on this journey with Jesus?
The first Christmas gift was different. It involved adoption.
ILLUSTRATION: The Christmas Story with Ralphie’s gift from his Father.
11 Now which one of you fathers will his son ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? 12 Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion? 13 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” - Luke 11:11-13 (NASB)
Through Jesus we are given a good Father who will provide and look after us.
Advent calls us to embrace the gift of freedom God offers.
Stories of how people found freedom and peace through the Lord are key in explaining the promise of hope to others.
When we contemplate peace at Advent, it must include the story of salvation.
Jesus will not turn us down.
We’re often unwilling to do what God says if it doesn’t make sense to us.
Unwillingness is a powerful and damaging result of sin.
A willing Savior has been born to rescue unwilling people from themselves because there is no other way.
“Jesus knew He had come not just to preach the Gospel of sacrifice, but also to be that sacrifice, yet He was perfectly willing.” – Paul David Tripp
Being willing to let Jesus transform us is vital to our story because . . .
The entire redemptive story hinges on one thing – the eternal willingness of Jesus.
The Advent willingness of Jesus is our guarantee that He continues to be willing today!
Questions for Reflection
What is your favorite Christmas movie? What is the central message of the film? How do these “favorites” shape our understanding of Christmas?
How does seeing the first Christmas gift as involving adoption shape our understanding of God the Father?
What does the mission of Jesus tell us about God the Father?
In what ways can we be more attentive to opportunities to share Jesus’s gift of salvation with someone?
Do you think the man with leprosy doubted as to whether or not Jesus was willing to heal him?
How does our unwillingness hinder the work of salvation in our lives?
What one thing does the entire redemptive story of Advent and the salvation of Jesus hinge upon in our lives?
And the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with joyful shouting, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. I, I Myself, am He who comforts you. – Isaiah 51:11 (NASB)
40 And a man with leprosy came to Jesus, imploring Him and kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” - Mark 1:40-41 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
This season is meant to be a season of joy. God wants the people of God to be joyful in their redemption. The world longs for salvation – for the coming of joy and peace - when all is made right in our lives and in the world. Jesus is willing to lead us on a journey in which we will be people of joy and peace knowing we are redeemed. Are we willing to be on this journey with Jesus?
The first Christmas gift was different. It involved adoption.
ILLUSTRATION: The Christmas Story with Ralphie’s gift from his Father.
11 Now which one of you fathers will his son ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? 12 Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion? 13 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” - Luke 11:11-13 (NASB)
Through Jesus we are given a good Father who will provide and look after us.
Advent calls us to embrace the gift of freedom God offers.
Stories of how people found freedom and peace through the Lord are key in explaining the promise of hope to others.
When we contemplate peace at Advent, it must include the story of salvation.
Jesus will not turn us down.
We’re often unwilling to do what God says if it doesn’t make sense to us.
Unwillingness is a powerful and damaging result of sin.
A willing Savior has been born to rescue unwilling people from themselves because there is no other way.
“Jesus knew He had come not just to preach the Gospel of sacrifice, but also to be that sacrifice, yet He was perfectly willing.” – Paul David Tripp
Being willing to let Jesus transform us is vital to our story because . . .
- Nothing should get in the way of our purpose and mission as a follower of Jesus.
- It acknowledges the truth that Jesus loves us unconditionally and wants only the best for us.
- It enables us to fully receive the new, free, and abundant life that is ours in Jesus Christ and His transformation of us.
The entire redemptive story hinges on one thing – the eternal willingness of Jesus.
The Advent willingness of Jesus is our guarantee that He continues to be willing today!
Questions for Reflection
What is your favorite Christmas movie? What is the central message of the film? How do these “favorites” shape our understanding of Christmas?
How does seeing the first Christmas gift as involving adoption shape our understanding of God the Father?
What does the mission of Jesus tell us about God the Father?
In what ways can we be more attentive to opportunities to share Jesus’s gift of salvation with someone?
Do you think the man with leprosy doubted as to whether or not Jesus was willing to heal him?
How does our unwillingness hinder the work of salvation in our lives?
What one thing does the entire redemptive story of Advent and the salvation of Jesus hinge upon in our lives?