Advent started this year very neatly on December 1st. By definition, Advent is an arrival or an appearance. The theme of Advent in the Church has
historically been readings and teachings that help prepare us for the Second
Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas.
Advent was not a season of buying or festive
songs and decorations but a season of preparation through prayer, study and
fasting
It is interesting for us to look back at the scriptures
that foretold the coming of the Messiah.
In particular, I’ve always liked:
Gen 49:10
The scepter will
not depart from Judah
or the staff from
between his feet
until He whose
right it is comes
and the obedience
of the peoples belongs to Him.
The wise men were told it was Bethlehem that was where they should go:
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)
Look also at Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be
born for us,
a son will be given
to us,
and the government
will be on His shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal
Father, Prince of Peace.
What is interesting about these prophecies is that they
often immediately include the second coming as the very next verse in Isaiah 9
(verse 7) reads:
The dominion will
be vast,
and its prosperity
will never end.
He will reign on
the throne of David
and over his
kingdom,
to establish and
sustain it
with justice and
righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of
the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.
This is why the Jews were all so excited that Jesus may
be the Messiah. If you remember, they were all looking for a Messiah. The holy man, Simeon, was promised that he
would see the Messiah before he died and the prophetess Anna rejoiced and
prophesied over the Christ Child (Luke 2:36-38)
We should take this season of Advent seriously as the
early Church did beginning in the 4th Century. They were well aware that only half of the
scriptures regarding the Messiah were fulfilled. The others are associated with His second
coming. This is exactly why the Jews
were so excited when they saw Jesus coming into Jerusalem on a colt, the fold
of a donkey. They knew that the Prophet Zachariah had prophesied the Messiah
would come into Jerusalem this way. They
shouted Hosanna likely not because he was on a donkey (verse 9) but because of
the very next verse (Zachariah 9:10)
I will take away
the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses
from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow
will be broken.
He will proclaim
peace to the nations.
His rule will
extend from sea to sea
and from the River to
the ends of the earth.
Jesus will return. That return is known as the Second
Coming. The disciplines of fasting,
prayer and study will prepare us for His coming.
At this Christmas….Come quickly Lord Jesus!
