The Second Sunday of Advent

Table of Contents

• The Second Sunday of Advent
• Opening Prayer:
• Old Testament Readings:
• Old Testament Prayer & Response:
• Sermon Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12
• Matthew 3 – The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
• Prayer of Thanksgiving
• Alter Call

Opening Prayer:

God of timeless grace,
you fill us with joyful expectation.
Make us ready for the message that prepares the way,
that with uprightness of heart and holy joy,
we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Readings:

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10

Old Testament Prayer & Response:

God of hope,
you raised up John the baptizer
as a herald who calls us to conversion.
As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ,
we pray to you for the needs of the church and the world.

Response by the People:

Hear our humble prayer
that we may serve you in holiness and faith
and give voice to your presence among us
until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Sermon Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Matthew 3 – The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

Matthew 3 is the third chapter of Matthew, and it describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The events of this chapter occur about three decades after the conclusion of Jesus’ infancy narrative. This chapter is filled with wonderful details about Jesus’ life and ministry. It is a fascinating book, and it is one of the most influential parts of the New Testament.

John’s baptizing in The Jordan River

The first reading of John Baptism in Matthew 3 illustrates how God uses an external figure to get people’s attention. John uses the analogy of a snake to address people. Snakes are destructive and venomous. They also are not fit for fruit or fuel. In contrast, the risen Christ is the ultimate deliverer and he will come to save us from our sins.

In the wilderness, Jesus sought out a man named John. Both men were cousins. It was possible that John would recognize Jesus as the Messiah. However, John refused to baptize him.

Christ’s baptism

The Baptism of Christ in Matthew 3 describes the descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven. This event is recorded in Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, and Luke 3:12 as the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. This is recorded as the moment when Jesus is baptized in the name of the Father. The baptism is also described in the Gospel of John the day after in Jn 1:29-33.

This event begins Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew 3:15 uses the verb “fulfill” to indicate that Jesus’ life would be fulfilled in obedience to God’s will. In other words, Jesus’ baptism is a sign of his commitment to do God’s will.

John’s message

The message of John the Baptist is found in Matthew 3:2 and Matthew 14:4. It also appears in Mark 1:14, Luke 3:3, and Matthew 14:4. John’s message calls for a change of mind that will lead to a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others.

In this Gospel, John the Baptist warns his followers to prepare for the coming of Messiah. John then baptizes these people in the water with fire, the Holy Spirit, and a winnowing fan. This is a foreshadowing of the baptism of Jesus, which would be a baptism of fire. Moreover, this baptism would be a test for the Messiah. Hence, the message of John the Baptist should be a warning to Jewish leaders.

Christ’s ministry

Matthew 3:13-17 depicts Jesus’ commissioning for ministry. He identifies with sinners, pictures his death, and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. God grants him strength in His humanness and makes him the perfect instrument of God’s will. The baptism scene provides an incipient Trinitarian moment.

The baptism of Jesus is important to understand the ministry of Christ. It shows that He began His work to fulfill God’s righteous will by taking on the sins of the world and overcoming death, and it is a significant part of the New Testament. Matthew also introduces Jesus’ ministry in Galilee.

Jesus’ trial

If you’ve read the Synoptic Gospels, you know about Jesus’ trial and how Pilate decided to crucify him. The Romans were notoriously superstitious, and Pilate was no exception. They wanted Jesus dead and wanted Barabbas to be the replacement. Jesus was innocent, but Pilate didn’t think so.

Pilate tried three times to convict Christ, but all the Jewish leaders wanted him dead. This was the most egregious miscarriage of justice in history. The court summoned witnesses to testify against Jesus, and the chief priests and whole Council sought to slander the innocent king.

Transition idiom

Matthew 3:1 is a transition idiom, in that it attempts to describe an event rather than a specific time and place. For instance, the term “John” originally referred to a Greek word that meant “to change,” and meant to “change one’s action or mind.” This passage is also notable for the fact that the Jewish people were preparing themselves spiritually for Jesus’ ministry. This means that John’s presence would spark spiritual excitement among the people. The passage also makes reference to baptism, which was a common practice among Jews in the first and second centuries.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the phrase “he answered and said” is a common idiom, although it can be redundant and misleading, especially when used without a question. This phrase is especially common in the synoptic Gospels, which seem to have been modeled on the Septuagint.

Paul’s Commentary on Unifying All Christians Under Christ

This letter by Paul to the Christians in Rome is a classic example of a letter of great importance. In this letter, Paul makes his case for the unity of the Christian community. He says that all have been redeemed through Christ, and will one day form one people under God. He begins by talking about God’s work among the Jews. While it is not clear whether the Jews were the original people of God, Paul is still arguing for their inclusion in the new covenant.

Hope is a key theme in this Epistle. The Apostle reminds us that our hope is in God’s mercy, and that we can rejoice in this hope as long as we live with God. Hope is the source of all joy, and it is rooted in faith in God’s infinite mercy and goodness. When we have a firm foundation in Christ and His gospel, we experience peace and joy. Our hope increases as we experience the promise of eternal life.

The second theme of this passage concerns our attitude toward one another. The attitude we have affects our behavior. Paul is trying to encourage us to keep the same mindset toward one another. In other words, he wants us to act in a way that is respectful of each other, rather than in a way that degrades our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul’s characteristic of Christiand being welcoming to others, which stands as a hallmark of the Christian community. In chapter 14, Paul uses an example to explain this: “God accepts you despite your weaknesses.” This is not an elitist approach. Instead, Paul aims to be more flexible with non-essential issues, so that others can be included without feeling threatened.

The second theme of this passage is “glorify” in verses 4 and 5. This is a clear statement of what we believe in and how we relate to one another. By expressing this statement, we glorify God, and this means that we should be united in our beliefs. In addition, God’s glory is the end result of the ministry of Jesus to the Jews.

The second principle of  is the consideration of others. We shouldn’t destroy the sacrifice that Christ made for us. In fact, we should take the time to be sensitive to others in their faith and traditions. It is also important to recognize that the sacrifice of Christ is clean and not a sacrifice that enables us to sin.

In the first part of Acts 15:8, Paul addresses the Jews first. The Jews had been promised a Messiah through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Messiah was the fulfillment of this promise by God, and the Messiah was born of the Jewish people.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Laboring God,
with axe and winnowing fork
you clear a holy space
where hurt and destruction have no place,
and a little child holds sway.
Clear our lives of hatred and despair,
sow seeds of joy and peace,
that shoots of hope may spring forth
and we may live in harmony
with one another. Amen.

Alter Call

If my words today touched you. If you desire to invite God now or once again, into your heart ! I ask you to come forward, without fear or shame, during the singing of our final hymn. Together we will ask the father to restore your spirit. For Jesus Himself said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)