We have expectations, but are often met with a reality that looks much different than we hoped. The good news of Jesus Christ is this: Who he really is, the reality beyond our expectations, is very good news for us.
This advent we discover who Jesus is and what he is promised to be through stories of the Old Testament. There a promise was made and expectations began. From the Old Testament to now, we learn Jesus is much better than we expected.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Genesis 33:4
“But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”
Meditation: Potential by Allison Lewis
Are you a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies? The plots are fairly predictable: guy and girl meet-cute, guy and girl encounter some misunderstandings, the town pitches in to help. By the time the credits roll, everything is fine and hunky dory.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for those sappy stories with the predictable, yet joyful, endings. It’s nice to know that everything works out the way it’s supposed to for the characters on screen.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case in real life. For many of us, the Christmas season can be painful or stressful, especially our family dynamics. For some of us, there are scars and grudges that run deep.
Jacob knew this feeling quite well. He and his brother, Esau, had a tumultuous relationship from day one. At birth, Jacob is holding Esau’s heel (Genesis 25:26). Later on, Esau comes home famished from hunting and sells Jacob his birthright for some bread and lentil stew (Genesis 25:32-34). But the final straw is Jacob stealing their father’s blessing from Esau (Genesis 27).
We read in Genesis 27:41 that, “Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’” With their mother Rebekah’s help, Jacob flees to Haran to stay with his uncle Laban.
Fast forward several years. Jacob is meeting his brother Esau for the first time in forever, and he fears what will happen to his wives, his children, his servants and his flocks. He knows he left things on a sour note —Esau could still be holding a grudge, still scarred from the mistakes Jacob made long ago.
In God’s grace, Esau “runs to meet him and embraced him” (Genesis 33:4). He’s forgiven Jacob, and they are one big, happy family again. It’s the ending that each of us hope for on this side of heaven. And it’s something that we will get to experience one day at the heavenly banquet that the Lord will prepare for us. It’ll be even better than the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.
May the Lord meet us where we are and strengthen our fragile relationships. May we cling to that image of the heavenly feast as we celebrate Christmas at our tables this year.
Dear Lord, thank you for meeting us in our messes. Thank you for the image of redemption that you revealed through Jacob and Esau. May we cling to that hope this Christmas. Amen.
Prayer for Family
· For my immediate family (parents, spouse, siblings).
· For extended family (cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents)
· For close friends that are as family to me.
· For those who don’t have families, or whose families are broken.
· For forgiveness and reconciliation where there is division in my family.
· For provision where there is need in my family.
· For God to be the foundation, and the cross the center of my family.
· For a generation yet unborn, future members of our family.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, you enter into our mess. You meet us in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. You break through with eternal hope, that through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus all our pain will be healed, all of our sin is forgiven, all of our messes will be redeemed. May we live in that hope this day, amen!