2025 Advent Introduction
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Advent 2025’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
As we move into our Advent series, we turn our attention to Bethlehem, the town of David. Before it became known around the world as the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem was the quiet setting of the story of Ruth. In that small town, God began weaving together a family line that would lead to King David and eventually to Jesus, the King of Kings. Bethlehem reminds us that God often begins His greatest works in places that seem small and ordinary.
Last week, as we ended our Kingdom Consummated series, we reflected on two verses from the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.”
Matthew 28:20b (NIV)
20 … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In Matthew chapter one we are told that the virgin will give birth to a son and they will call Him Immanuel, which means God with us. At the very end of the Gospel in Matthew chapter twenty eight Jesus promises that He is with us always, even to the end of the age. From beginning to end, Matthew’s message is clear. The story of Jesus is the story of God with us. From the cradle to the cross to the empty tomb, Jesus came to restore the presence of God to His people in a way that had been lost since Eden.
As we prepare our hearts for Advent, we will look closely at how Luke tells this same story. The events surrounding Jesus birth already point forward to His death and resurrection. Even in Bethlehem God was revealing that this child was born to conquer death and to bring life to the world. Today we look at just one of the four examples we will consider this weekend.
Mary and Joseph stand at the beginning of the story. Luke tells us that Joseph, who belonged to the house and line of David, traveled with Mary to Bethlehem. These two young people from humble circumstances represent the faith and obedience that make room for the plan of God to unfold. Through their willingness to trust God, Jesus enters the world in the fullness of time.
Luke 2:4–5 (NIV)
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
But Luke gives us another Mary and Joseph at the other end of the story. At the resurrection we see Mary Magdalene along with the other women who first proclaim the good news. We also meet Joseph of Arimathea, a good and upright man who offers his own tomb for the body of Jesus.
Luke 24:10 (NIV)
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
Luke 23:50 (NIV)
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,
The first Mary and Joseph welcome Jesus into the world. The second Mary and Joseph care for Him as He leaves it. From birth to resurrection, the story is carried forward by ordinary people who simply choose to trust and obey. This is the heart of the gospel story and it continues to invite us today.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
