SPECIAL DAYS: First Sunday in Advent, Hanging of the Greens

November 30, 2003, Lesson: Matthew 11:20-24

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1. We are all probably with the traditional wedding vows
1. I, N., take you, N., to be my wedded husband/wife, to have an to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and accordingly I pledge you my faith.
2. These vows are being used again in weddings where the couple is attempting to follow an old tradition.
3. The necessity of voluntary compliance can also be illustrated.
1. Divorce ⁽¹⁾

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York a couple of days before Thanksgiving and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough."

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the father says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her."

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "No way they're getting divorced!" she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls Phoenix immediately and screams at her father, "You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says, "they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.

1. This story is humorous.
2. It is not so related to the context of the sermon.
2. Marriage Seminar ⁽²⁾

While attending a marriage seminar on communication, Jim and his wife listened to the instructor declare: "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."

He addressed the men: "For instance, gentlemen, can you name your wife's favorite flower?"

Jim leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "Pillsbury All-Purpose, isn't it?"

The rest of the story is not pleasant.

2. With some slight adjustments we can use the wedding vows to describe our relationship with Jesus Christ.
1. I, (fill in your name) take you Jesus Christ to be my Savior, to have an to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death us do part,...
1. No we have to revise this section because we need never be parted from Jesus.
2. Until we are fully united in the kingdom
3. ....according to God's holy covenant; and accordingly I pledge you my faith.
2. This covers it all
3. It does not get any better than this.
1. We realize how difficult this is to hold on to.
2. It takes work
3. It takes a sensitivity to the purpose of the relationship.

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MAIN BODY:

1. This first Sunday in Advent provides us with the opportunity to explore the purpose of the relationship.
1. We sing about it.
1. In our hymnal there is a section, numbers 278-289, on the Second Coming of Jesus
2. On of them is number 279, When We See Christ: Words and Music by Esther Kerr Rusthoi (1941)

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

Refrain
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

2. We read about it in the Lesson and the Lectionary Lessons for the first Sunday in Advent.
1. Especially the reading from Luke 21:25-36, NRSVA

²⁵"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. ²⁸Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." ²⁹Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³²Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ³⁴"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

3. Jesus is coming again

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2. The theme of acceptance and response is also in Matthew 11.20-24
1. Jesus began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent.
2. To understand the word rebuke, reproach we turn to two dictionaries.
1. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, Augustus Strong uses the word REBUKE: From G3681; to defame, that is, rail at, chide, taunt:--cast in teeth, (suffer) reproach, revile, upbraid.
2. Retrieved from: yourdictionary.com
1. REPROACH:
1. To express disapproval of, criticism of, or disappointment in (someone). See Synonyms at admonish.
2. To bring shame upon; disgrace.
2. n.
1. Blame; rebuke.
2. One that causes rebuke or blame.
3. Disgrace; shame.
3. The first cities mentioned are "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
1. Bethsaida was the home of three of the apostles.
2. Jesus had often been in Chorazin.
3. They had had great opportunities, but they had failed to use them; and now the woe goes forth against them.
4. The Galilaeans, it may be, had often condemned the idolatry and the licentiousness of the great cities which lay near their northern border.
5. But, in truth, the guilt of Tyre and Sidon was not so great as that of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
6. The men of Tyre and Sidon had not seen the works of Christ; had they seen them, he himself says, they would have repented.
4. The third city mentioned is Capernaum.
1. It had become the Lord's own city.
2. The people of Capernaum had known him well and long.
3. They had seen many of his miracles.
1. They had followed him in crowds when he went to the house of Jairus; the maiden whom he had raised from the dead lived among them.
2. The rulers of their synagogue, the centurion who had built it, could bear witness to the power and goodness of the Saviour.
3. They all knew him; they had watched him day after day as he walked by the lake.
4. They had listened, many of them,.as he taught sitting in some fishing-boat by the shore.
5. Several of his apostles, Matthew the publican, James and John, Peter and Andrew, were well known at Capernaum; people had talked to them constantly about their Master--his wonder-working power; his unique and unapproachable holiness; his tender, com- passionate love; his calm, simple dignity.
6. He had been long one of the principal subjects of talk, one of the great centres of interest, in that little town.
7. All the details of his daily life had been scanned with eager curiosity, all his doings had been watched by observant eyes.
3. In tones of compassion and regret the Master pronounces words of woe.
1. Woe is not a determination it is a fore-telling.
1. What Jesus is saying is that because of the action you have taken, this will be the result.
2. It is not necessary to experience the result.
3. You have the option of choosing another path with a different destiny.
2. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
1. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
2. The guilt of Tyre and Sidon was not so great as that of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
3. The men of Tyre and Sidon had not seen the works of Christ; had they seen them, he himself says, they would have repented.
3. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.
1. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
2. Capernaum worse than Sodom.
1. The men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners against the Lord exceedingly.
2. The Jews regarded the very name of Sodom with abhorrence and horror.
3. But, in truth, they themselves had sinned more deeply yet; in the very presence of the Son of God they persisted in their sin and hardness.

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2. They had been so long with him that they became apathetic
1. What happens when a new pastor arrives.
1. There is a sense of excitement and rejuvination.
2. After a while he/she is taken for granted.
2. The same is true with a new marriage.
3. The same is true with a new car, home, or some other new thing.
4. Oh Hum, what do we do now?
1. We have seen the miracles.
2. We have heard the preaching.
3. We have listened to the teaching.
4. Its all the same as it has been, so what!
3. The cure is to be prepared for his coming.
1. The end result of their present state would make the future intolerable.
1. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
2. But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you."
2. There is a day of judgement coming.
1. Day appointed in which the world will be judged, Acts 17:31 (NRSVA)

³¹because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

2. All must appear before the judgement seat of God, Romans 14:10-12 (NRSVA)

¹⁰Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." ¹²So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

3. All judged according to deeds, Revelation 20:13 (NRSVA)

¹³And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.

4. All judged according to words, Matthew 12:36-37 (NRSVA)

³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

5. All judged according to thoughts, 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NRSVA)

⁵Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

6. Judged according to the word of God, the teachings of Jesus, John 12:47-50 (NRSVA)

⁴⁷I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. ⁴⁸The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, ⁴⁹for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me."

3. This is why the woes pronounced on the cities is so sorrowful and so complete.
4. It also reminds us that we too must be prepared to stand before the judgement seat.
5. This is the reason for Advent.
6. This is the purpose of Christmas.

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CONCLUSION

1. Child Care ⁽³⁾

Five-year-old Drew stood in the yard, red-faced and screaming: "BRA-A-A-A-D! Give me the baseball bat!" Drew then snatched the plastic bat from his 2-year-old brother and whacked him on the back.

While I'd baby-sat Drew and Brad many times, I couldn't remember when they had been so wild.

What made the day worse was the summer heat. I longed for air conditioning. The boys didn't. They couldn't be budged from the back yard, not until suppertime when I coaxed them inside...

I grabbed them both, marched them into the living room and demanded they sit on the couch while I fixed some sandwiches. I hadn't gotten very far when a blur of Drew and the family dog darted past.

"I'm racing the dog up the street!" he yelled as the door slammed behind him.

I dashed out the door and soon had Drew by the arm and the dog by the collar. Still fuming from Drew's escape, I finished slapping together the sandwiches and then ordered the boys to sit down and eat.

After dinner, Drew and Brad climbed onto the couch for story time. I'd been reading about 20 minutes when Drew snuggled real close and said, "Rachel, I'm sorry for the way I acted today. I think you're beautiful and wonderful, and I''m glad you came over to watch us."

It was amazing how Drew's words changed my grumpy attitude. All the aggravations of the day melted as the boys went to sleep next to me.

1. We are Drew or Drusilla
2. We snuggle close
3. We seek constant forgiveness and restored relationship
4. We go to sleep next to Christ.
5. We are confident that what he says will happen, will happen, and we will be prepared for it.

1. From: Fred Hughes

2. Mikey's Funnies [mikeys-funnies-owner@YouthSpecialties.com] [forwarded by Marianne Cook ]

3. Rachel, "Baby sitting blues," Campus Life, July-August, 2000, Christianitytoday.com/cl/2000/004/11.8.html.

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