Advent Reflections: Journeying Through the Gospel Homes
This Advent season, we’re stepping into the homes of the Gospel writers to hear their unique accounts of Jesus’ birth and mission. Each home offers a fresh perspective on the Savior’s arrival, drawing us deeper into the mystery and wonder of Christ’s incarnation.
Mark: A Singular Focus
Mark’s home is simple and austere. The focal point? A cross—the only Christmas “decoration” present. Mark introduces us to John the Baptist, the forerunner announcing Jesus’ arrival. His gospel keeps us centered on Jesus’ mission: to rescue humanity from sin through His sacrificial death. For Mark, Christmas isn’t about the manger but the ultimate purpose of Christ’s coming: the cross and redemption.
Matthew: A Family Legacy
Matthew’s home is stately and steeped in history, its walls adorned with portraits of Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and David. He emphasizes that Jesus came from a family with a profound and messy history. In Matthew’s genealogy, we meet four women—outsiders with scandalous pasts. Yet, their inclusion underscores the Gospel’s message: God welcomes outcasts to His table. The wise men from the East remind us that salvation is good news for all people. For Matthew, Christmas is about the fulfillment of promises and the inclusion of the excluded.
John: The Light of the World
John’s home is strikingly different, bathed in radiant light pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows. Unlike the other Gospel writers, John doesn’t recount the nativity story. Instead, he takes us back to the beginning—creation itself. His home reminds us of Genesis, where the Word spoke light into existence.
As we approach John’s luminous home, his prologue rings out:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory…” (John 1:1, 14).
John introduces Jesus as the Word, the Creator, and the Light of the World. He emphasizes that salvation is a creative act—just as God created the heavens and the earth, Jesus brings new life, reordering chaos and shining His light into the darkness of sin and death.
The Invitation of Light
Around John’s table, we are reminded of the profound truth: Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. When humanity was lost and blinded by sin, Jesus, the true light, came into the world to bring life and restore us to God.
John proclaims Jesus as:
- The eternal Word, one with the Father.
- The Creator of all things.
- The Light that dispels darkness.
- The Savior who re-creates and restores.
John’s message calls us to believe: “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Lost and Found: A Modern Parable
John’s message of light reminds us of a story—a boy lost in the woods, scared and disoriented, calling for help. A guide arrives, his light cutting through the darkness, leading the boy home. This is what Jesus does for us. When we are lost in sin, Jesus, the Light of the World, comes to guide us, restore us, and bring us safely home.
Jesus’ incarnation isn’t just about God entering our world; it’s about Him inviting us into His. He brings hope to the hopeless, peace to the broken, and light to those in darkness.
A Prayer of Light
Let us end with a prayer, reflecting the hope of Advent:
Pastor: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
People: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you.
Pastor: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
People: And we all, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. Amen.
This Advent, may we step into the light of Christ and be transformed by His glory. Let us follow Him, our eternal guide, until we are home with Him forever.
