Daily Advent Reflection & Creche Exhibit
“Journey to Bethlehem”
Creche Exhibit & Virtual Pilgrimage
December 23, 2023
Welcome to the St. Gregory's Episcopal Church virtual "Journey to Bethlehem". During these days of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus, we will present creche scenes from various countries throughout the world. Our hope is to share the beautiful tapestry of cultural images of the Holy Family. We'll also share a brief explanation of the creche and a reflection taken from John Piper's "The Dawning of Indestructible Joy". Our hope is that this journey will be a blessing to you as you prepare your hearts to be the dwelling place of the Christ Child.
As Advent draws to a close, this creche paints a beautiful, yet powerful, picture of the life Jesus - whose birth we celebrate tomorrow. We invite you to look closely at this nativity. Jesus, born in a lowly place, was baptized by the Holy Spirit to dwell among us, bringing us healing and new life. At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays for the world as he submits his life to the Father saying: “Not my will, but yours be done”. Walking the “Via Delarosa”, Jesus went to Golgotha where He died for the sins of the whole world. Then…...three days later...Jesus conquered sin and death and rose from the dead. As the Gospel of John states, this story has been shared so “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing, you may have life in His name” (John 20: 31).
Advent Reflection December 23, 2023
(from “The Dawning of Indestructible Joy”)
He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.
MICAH 5:4–5
“He will be our peace.” Yes, in this context that includes final, earthly, political peace. Micah spoke of it already in Micah 4:3:
He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
One day the ruler—the King of kings and Lord of lords—will return and make that a reality. The great Christmas carol will finally be fulfilled:
He rules the world with truth and grace And makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness And wonders of his love.
But there is another, deeper peace—a peace that must happen before there can be peace on earth. There must be peace between us and God. Our unbelief and his wrath must be removed. That is our deepest peace—and our deepest need at Christmas. The gospel at Christmas is: Christ has trampled this enemy underfoot at the cross. So for everyone who trusts in him, their sins are cast into the depths of the sea. Therefore, we say not, “Glory to us,” but, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For more than thirty years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis. He is author of more than fifty books, and his sermons, articles, books, and more are available free of charge at desiringGod.org.
By John Piper. © Desiring God Foundation. Source: desiringGod.org