Multiple Illustrations for Advent 2
Illustration
Object:
Isaiah 40:1-11
What's the most comforting thing you've been told when you feel like life is beating down on you, when it seems like people are waiting anxiously for you to trip up? It probably wasn't "People are grass." That's the last thing you want to hear when you already feel withered.
Yet these can be comforting words for Judah for two reasons. It's a needed reminder that there will be an end to Judah's suffering and exile; their enemies will not last forever, for they too are mortal. Secondly, it serves as a means against which the faithfulness of God can be compared. The faithfulness of God is not like the faithlessness of men, and even the faithful, those who remained obedient up to and through the captivity, those who supported Isaiah's controversial ministry, are like withering grass next to the faithfulness of God's promises. Our comfort is God's faithful endurance.
B. Hohmeier
Isaiah 40:1-11
Prominent on the upper left arm of Angelina Jolie was the name of her husband, Billy Bob Thornton. Underneath was a menacing dragon. When the 36-year-old actress divorced, the name and the dragon had to go too. Though lasers work wonders, the dark blue ink can still be seen as faded and smudgy.
Billy Bob and his dragon were replaced by the map coordinates for the birthplaces of her three children. One must wonder if this was a sign of newfound love and orientation toward life, or an ingenious creative idea, or the best way to cover the previous inking.
Renowned tattoo artist Ami James, who has a television series titled Miami Ink, was asked to comment on Jolie's artistic change. His only comment was, "Tattoos last a lot longer than most romances. Thank god for laser."
Isaiah tells us that, "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of God will stand forever." Tattoos, like ungodly words, can often be like withering grass if they are inappropriately selected. This is why we should not permanently tattoo on our souls fickle romances but the steadfast word of God.
R. Love
2 Peter 3:8-15a
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" is an often-heard line on long trips. Or, in this season, perhaps we hear something more like, "When can I open my presents? How much longer until Christmas?" Patience is something that does not come naturally to us. Whether it's a long trip or waiting for that inventory report or waiting for that crazy brother-in-law to get his act together. We do not like to be kept waiting.
Contrast that with God's attitude. If he became impatient with us, we'd have more to worry about than a long stare or a frustrated grunt. This is the same God on whose day "the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn" (v. 12). But thank the Lord that he "is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (v. 9).
C. Kelly
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Rob Bell, in his controversial book Love Wins, comments:
"...whenever people claim that one group is in, saved, accepted by God, forgiven, enlightened, redeemed -- and everybody else isn't -- why is it that those who make this claim are almost always part of the group that's 'in'?
"Have you ever heard people make claims about a select few being the chosen and then claim that they're not part of that group?
"Several years ago I heard a woman tell about the funeral of her daughter's friend, a high-school student who was killed in a car accident. Her daughter was asked by a Christian if the young man who died was a Christian. She said that he told people he was an atheist. This person then said to her, 'So there's no hope then.'
"No hope? Is that the Christian message? 'No hope'? Is that what Jesus offers the world? Is this the sacred calling of Christians -- to announce that there's no hope?"
In the Second Letter of Peter the writer speaks of God's patience:
"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
R. Hasler
Mark 1:1-8
Paul Revere was employed by the Boston Committee on Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee on Safety. His role in these two organizations was to carry news, messages, and resolutions as far away as Philadelphia and New York.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, Revere was asked to ride to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming to arrest them. In order to begin his ride, he first had to be rowed across the Charles River by two associates. The British would also have to make the same choice, to row across the Charles River by boat or to march out of Boston Neck. In order to know the British way of approach, Revere had prearranged that two lanterns be hung in the bell-tower of Christ Church if the British were coming "by sea," and one lantern if they were coming "by land."
As Revere rode to Lexington, he warned the townspeople and farmers along the way that the British were coming.
Isaiah instructed his people, "See, I am sending my messenger." Messengers are carriers of truth. It is a truth that must be heard and adhered to. The people of Israel listened to Isaiah. Adams and Hancock listened to Revere. We too are messengers, and the message we bring is the blessing and salvation of Jesus. We must go both by sea and by land to share the good news. On our journey, people will listen to our message.
R. Love
Mark 1:1-8
After a woman had been driving all night through the desert, she was famished, parched, and exhausted. Somehow the road seemed to stretch on endlessly without a town anywhere in sight. Hours passed with only the mesa and brush scrolling by. At last, however, as she was using the last of her energy to keep from nodding off behind the wheel, she saw the sign she had been anticipating: a hotel in ten miles. Even though she still had to press on a bit further, she was overjoyed. It was almost as good as seeing the bed itself, and her renewed hope kept her awake until she made it.
Israel had been waiting hundreds of years for their Messiah and when John came preaching, some recognized him to be the sign that their redemption was near.
B. Hohmeier
What's the most comforting thing you've been told when you feel like life is beating down on you, when it seems like people are waiting anxiously for you to trip up? It probably wasn't "People are grass." That's the last thing you want to hear when you already feel withered.
Yet these can be comforting words for Judah for two reasons. It's a needed reminder that there will be an end to Judah's suffering and exile; their enemies will not last forever, for they too are mortal. Secondly, it serves as a means against which the faithfulness of God can be compared. The faithfulness of God is not like the faithlessness of men, and even the faithful, those who remained obedient up to and through the captivity, those who supported Isaiah's controversial ministry, are like withering grass next to the faithfulness of God's promises. Our comfort is God's faithful endurance.
B. Hohmeier
Isaiah 40:1-11
Prominent on the upper left arm of Angelina Jolie was the name of her husband, Billy Bob Thornton. Underneath was a menacing dragon. When the 36-year-old actress divorced, the name and the dragon had to go too. Though lasers work wonders, the dark blue ink can still be seen as faded and smudgy.
Billy Bob and his dragon were replaced by the map coordinates for the birthplaces of her three children. One must wonder if this was a sign of newfound love and orientation toward life, or an ingenious creative idea, or the best way to cover the previous inking.
Renowned tattoo artist Ami James, who has a television series titled Miami Ink, was asked to comment on Jolie's artistic change. His only comment was, "Tattoos last a lot longer than most romances. Thank god for laser."
Isaiah tells us that, "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of God will stand forever." Tattoos, like ungodly words, can often be like withering grass if they are inappropriately selected. This is why we should not permanently tattoo on our souls fickle romances but the steadfast word of God.
R. Love
2 Peter 3:8-15a
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" is an often-heard line on long trips. Or, in this season, perhaps we hear something more like, "When can I open my presents? How much longer until Christmas?" Patience is something that does not come naturally to us. Whether it's a long trip or waiting for that inventory report or waiting for that crazy brother-in-law to get his act together. We do not like to be kept waiting.
Contrast that with God's attitude. If he became impatient with us, we'd have more to worry about than a long stare or a frustrated grunt. This is the same God on whose day "the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn" (v. 12). But thank the Lord that he "is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (v. 9).
C. Kelly
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Rob Bell, in his controversial book Love Wins, comments:
"...whenever people claim that one group is in, saved, accepted by God, forgiven, enlightened, redeemed -- and everybody else isn't -- why is it that those who make this claim are almost always part of the group that's 'in'?
"Have you ever heard people make claims about a select few being the chosen and then claim that they're not part of that group?
"Several years ago I heard a woman tell about the funeral of her daughter's friend, a high-school student who was killed in a car accident. Her daughter was asked by a Christian if the young man who died was a Christian. She said that he told people he was an atheist. This person then said to her, 'So there's no hope then.'
"No hope? Is that the Christian message? 'No hope'? Is that what Jesus offers the world? Is this the sacred calling of Christians -- to announce that there's no hope?"
In the Second Letter of Peter the writer speaks of God's patience:
"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
R. Hasler
Mark 1:1-8
Paul Revere was employed by the Boston Committee on Correspondence and the Massachusetts Committee on Safety. His role in these two organizations was to carry news, messages, and resolutions as far away as Philadelphia and New York.
On the evening of April 18, 1775, Revere was asked to ride to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that British troops were coming to arrest them. In order to begin his ride, he first had to be rowed across the Charles River by two associates. The British would also have to make the same choice, to row across the Charles River by boat or to march out of Boston Neck. In order to know the British way of approach, Revere had prearranged that two lanterns be hung in the bell-tower of Christ Church if the British were coming "by sea," and one lantern if they were coming "by land."
As Revere rode to Lexington, he warned the townspeople and farmers along the way that the British were coming.
Isaiah instructed his people, "See, I am sending my messenger." Messengers are carriers of truth. It is a truth that must be heard and adhered to. The people of Israel listened to Isaiah. Adams and Hancock listened to Revere. We too are messengers, and the message we bring is the blessing and salvation of Jesus. We must go both by sea and by land to share the good news. On our journey, people will listen to our message.
R. Love
Mark 1:1-8
After a woman had been driving all night through the desert, she was famished, parched, and exhausted. Somehow the road seemed to stretch on endlessly without a town anywhere in sight. Hours passed with only the mesa and brush scrolling by. At last, however, as she was using the last of her energy to keep from nodding off behind the wheel, she saw the sign she had been anticipating: a hotel in ten miles. Even though she still had to press on a bit further, she was overjoyed. It was almost as good as seeing the bed itself, and her renewed hope kept her awake until she made it.
Israel had been waiting hundreds of years for their Messiah and when John came preaching, some recognized him to be the sign that their redemption was near.
B. Hohmeier
