Originally posted Nov. 28, 2011, at PT’s Passing Thoughts. Republished with permission of the author.
During this first week of Advent, the scriptures urge and encourage us to be alert and aware of Jesus’ arrival when he comes again.
It is a busy week, this first week of Advent, having survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we now set our sights on preparing our homes for our celebration of Christmas.
There are trees to decorate, wreathes to hang, lights to be strung, and all sorts of cookies and treats to be baked.
Be alert
And in the midst of all this busyness the scriptures speak out about being awake, alert and aware of the coming of Christ.
Jesus believes this is such an important matter that in each of the first three Gospels, he speaks to his disciples about the importance of keeping watch for the coming of Christ.
So how are we doing with that one? As homes are decorated, presents are wrapped, cards are addressed and goodies are baked, are we being alert and on the watch for the coming of Christ?
I want to suggest that during this season of Advent we look for the presence of Jesus in our very midst. As Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus promises that his presence is always with us.
Seeing Jesus
So where are you seeing and experiencing Jesus’ presence as you go about your day-to-day life?
In worship, do you feel his presence in the word proclaimed, in the hymns sung and in the peace shared?
In worship, as you come to the table, do you taste and see that the Lord is good?
And how are you experiencing Jesus’ presence as you get ready to head off to work, do chores around the house, pay your bills, shop for groceries and spend time with your family?
Advent is a time when we are reminded that God breaks into our lives and is really present with us.
Advent encourages us to believe that when we pray, “Come Lord Jesus,” that he has already come and taken his place in our lives.
Advent urges us to keep awake and stay alert to see and feel Jesus’ presence today.
So keep watch! See Jesus because he is near!
Find a link to Todd Nelsen’s entry on the blog PT’s Passing Thoughts at Lutheran Blogs.
You might also want to read:
Worship in the season of Advent
Advent: blue or purple?
Advent, the forgotten season
I think we have gotten so wrapped up in our religious language, that we forget exactly what it means for Jesus to be near. It's a fun phrase to say, and 'looking for Jesus' sounds like the right thing to do. But the implication is always that it is up to us to find Jesus, to choose Jesus, to see Jesus. That's not what it's about, because when we 'found' Jesus, we killed him. We don't want God "in our lives" because that means the end of our sinful ways. Instead, we choose our sinful ways and put God out of our lives. Yet, we can't get God out. Even killing him on a cross, he's back from the dead, and we have to face that. The miracle is that God forgives us and gives us new hearts that trust God's promise of forgiveness. Jesus has found us! We can go out this Advent and show people Jesus because we've been found.
Jesus is walking with us each and every day. The task of seeing Jesus often putting our agendas aside to see what has already been there all along. Serving the least, lost and lonely helps in a way similar to putting in those eye drops of mine in the morning, it simply helps me see more clearly what is already a reality.
Peter as i have been pondering a response to your comments this past week, I was drawn into the scriptures from Christ the King Sunday where Jesus tells those at his right and his left that you did it to the least of these, you have done it to me. I agree with your premise that we can only be found by Jesus, but I believe that jesus does want us to see him in our neighbors.
Todd,
Luther writes that although God does not need our works, our neighbors do. Elert goes further and says that love of God is fulfilled in love of neighbor (and enemies!). That doesn't get us any more saved... there's no reward for doing the works. (Nor can we truly love God or neighbor without first being loved by Christ)
The parable of the sheep and the goats shows how we are goats. It's not about how to see Jesus or how we can make things right with God. It's about how we've failed and exactly why we need Jesus to come and make things right for us. It is this need to which the church is singularly called. Helping people, doing good works... these are all well and good, but are not the point of Christianity at all. They're just icing on the cake.
Peter,
Please do not miss the intent of the original post which is not to suggest that seeing jesus in our neighbors is a way to salvation, but rather a response to God's good news of the salvation we have received in Christ Jesus. It is true, we are the goats rather than the sheep, but in the invitation to see Jesus in the face of neighbors, strangers, and even enemies, we can then express our love of God through our love of the neighbor. i am not saying the good works are the point of our faith, but rather because we have been named and claimed by God in Christ Jesus, who in his great love has made us his own.
Todd,
I don't like the 'seeing Jesus' imagery for a lot of reasons. One is that it obscures Jesus' mission-- which is that 'naming and claiming' which happens on Calvary and at the empty tomb. That mission is taken for granted in the OP, and yet it is precisely in Jesus' death and resurrection that Jesus is revealed. We can't take it for granted. It's too precious a gift to do that with.
Another problem is that if we have to 'see Jesus' in neighbors, strangers, enemies in order to love them, we're not really loving them. We're doing something for Jesus instead of for the stranger, neighbor or enemy. If 'seeing Jesus' is about ensuring correct ethics (do it cuz you're doing it to Jesus), you're already back under the Law, condemned for needing a better reason to love others.
In the end, it's also the soteriological problem implied by 'seeing Jesus'... that it's up to us to see Him, instead of the other way around.
An excellent literal interpretation of a metaphorical concept, and perhaps therein lies the problem.
Funny how metaphors don't say what you want them to when they're critically examined. Unless legalism is what you want to say, which is usually the message.
for me, a metaphor is more about the journey than the answer. I see many of Jesus' parables the same way. That may not be your cup of tea but I guess I am just a journey kind of guy.
The problem is that this metaphor is leading you on a journey away from Christ.