Third Sunday of Advent
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14
I don’t know about you, but all the Christmas shopping ads seem trivial in light of the current events we’ve seen in recent months. Natural disasters and worldwide turmoil minimize the “need” to find the best sales. Even store window displays leave me feeling a little hollow. Global suffering causes us to stay pretty single-minded about the meaning of Christmas, doesn’t it?
This year more than any other we’ve got to be single minded. Because in contrast to all the radio jingles and slick television adds—all the triviality—back 2000 years ago, Jesus slipped into humanity quietly on a cold winter’s night in a dark little stable. There were no catchy jingles, colorful billboards, or glitzy TV commercials advertising his advent.
But that’s not to say his coming was unannounced.
God certainly did advertise the coming of his Son, his advent, long before Christ’s birth. And believe me—it wasn’t trivial. The birth of Jesus was the culmination of a long line of prophetic billboards. Genesis describes him as “the Seed” of the woman. Numbers calls him both “Star” and “Scepter.” Job pictures him as “the Redeemer.” Song of Solomon calls him “the Rose of Sharon.” Isaiah reveals him as “the Servant” of God. (Don’t you love all these announcements?!) Jeremiah names him “The Lord Our Righteous Savior,” and Daniel, “the Messiah.” In Haggai, he is the “Desire of All Nations.” In Zechariah he is “King.” In Malachi, “The Messenger of the Covenant.”
Billboards. Signposts. And there were more. The city where Jesus would be born; the heralding work of John the Baptist; the journey into Egypt; descriptions of his earthly ministry, his betrayal, his agonizing death on the cross, and his resurrection. All were foretold in graphic detail.
You know, when you consider all these Old Testament billboards, you can’t help but wonder how in the world people missed the coming of the Messiah. Yet even though there was an air of feverish expectation with everybody looking for him, most missed that baby Jesus fulfilled the prophecies. People just failed to read the signs.
Studying Scripture is an act of worship bringing us closer to Christ. Download my Advent guide and familiarize yourself with the Old Testament verses declaring the coming of Jesus. And be blessed!
Joni Eareckson Tada’s 5-Part Advent Devotional
Need help being still before the Lord? Download my Advent guide and expect God to tap you on the shoulder.
