Of the many emotions conjured up by the Christmas season, hope deserves a spot at the top of the list. The first week of Advent recognizes and celebrates the entrance of hope with the lighting of the Prophesy candle.
If you believe Sally Lloyd-Jones (and theologians throughout history) every story in the Scriptures whisper His name. Stories about Jesus aren’t limited to four books in the New Testament. Genesis through Malachi contain glimpses of the Rescuer who was promised to come.
Perhaps my favorite of these prophesies is the first. And, much like the first Christmas in Bethlehem, it comes to us in a very unexpected place- history’s darkest hour.
Genesis 3 captures the world’s undoing. Lies were believed, sin has entered, relationships are broken. Everything is unraveling.
Our first parents must leave the garden. Imperfect people can’t be in the presence of a perfect God. Allowing them to stay would violate God’s nature, something even He can’t do.
However, he does not send them out without a telling them the way home.
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.”
The Hope of Christmas
Things are going to be bad now. Sadness and death and heartache will enter into Perfection. But fear not! A Rescuer is coming! One who will put an end to pain. One who will set things right. One who will destroy the enemy who has tried to destroy us.
The answer to Samwise’s question is “Yes”! Indeed, everything sad is coming untrue.
This is the Hope of Christmas.
We feel very intensely that all things are not the way they are supposed to be. This is because we are between the Advents – Jesus’ first coming (Christmas) and his Second Coming (the restoration of all things).
Christmas is a promise that God has not abandoned us. Despite our weakness and frailty, he loves us and pursues us. He is faithful.
So, light the first Advent candle and be filled with hope that He is about his work this Christmas.
