The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2 NLT
Tomorrow is the beginning of the Advent season where the Christian church celebrates the coming of our Savior and Lord Jesus. Although it is celebrated four weeks before Christmas remembering His birth, His first arrival into this world. But since the word advent means coming or arrival, it also then is a time for us to remember His second coming is still something to look forward to. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer. So in the words of Bonhoeffer we are celebrating His birth and awaiting His second coming.
Each Sunday has a theme that builds up to the long awaited day of His birth. This Sunday the theme is Hope. Not only the world but even the Jews, God’s chosen people were living in deep darkness. By the time Jesus was born the Jews had lived in what was called the four hundred silent years where God had gone silent. There were no prophets, prophecies or direction, nothing. Malachi 3:17 may shed some light on why where it says, “You have wearied the Lord with your words”, for they not only were rebellious, but they argued with God. And since Malachi is the book that began this four hundred years of silence it may explain why He sent His son to begin the dialogue again with them.
So there is plenty of reason for Hope to be the first Sunday in Advent, because the birth of the long awaited Messiah was their only hope, the joyful and confident expectation of good for Him to restore them. This year let us not only celebrate Advent with the birth of Jesus, but with joyful and confident expectation of His second coming and a whole new world with our Lord and King!
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