In the west Michigan USA where I live, winter solstice and with it the shortest day of the year is approaching. We’re getting only about nine hours of potential sun light each day, but it’s been so cloudy and snowy we’ve seen little of it. WE NEED LIGHT! And we need it in more ways than one. Jewish people all over the world are lighting candles each night from December 14-22. Churches started lighting Advent candles on Sunday November 30. Both of these candle traditions direct us back to the pervasive and profound imagery of light in the Bible. Let’s have a look at how all this fits together.
Advent
Good Will toward Men? Luke 2:14, Ancient Manuscripts, and the Meaning of Advent
What do you think when you get a Christmas card that says “Peace on earth, good will to men”? Are you a sentimentalist or a cynic? Actually, I’d join the cynics if those were my only two options. But that’s not what Luke 2:14 means. God isn’t a benevolent weakling who makes promises of peace that he can’t fulfill. God does give his peace to those in whom he takes pleasure. Are you one of them?
Joseph, a Saint for the Rest of Us
If the gospels were movies, Joseph would not have been the star of the show whose name appeared above the title. He would have been just a supporting actor—you’d only see his name if you stuck around to see the credits roll by in fine print after the show was over. Despite this, we’d better pay attention to this just man. Though Joseph never speaks in the gospels, his actions speak louder than words. His exemplary life of obedient service shows us what his Son will be like.
Christmas in Colossae (Colossians.3)
Don’t settle for a diminished Jesus this Christmas! Let’s wrap our whole selves in worship around the One in whom all divine fullness dwells, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. Let’s approach the manger in amazement that it was the beginning of a faithful life that led all the way to the cross, the empty tomb, and back to glory at the right hand of God. Let’s ponder how the one who created us in his image graciously became one with his creation, displaying all the fullness of God during his life on this earth. Let’s glory in the confidence that when he took on our flesh and blood he destroyed the devil and delivered us from the fear of death. Come, let’s adore him, Christ the Lord.
Advent in the Apocalypse?
As we think about the dawn of redeeming grace, about a silent night where all is calm and all is bright, and everyone is sleeping in heavenly peace, let’s remember that an ancient spiritual conflict is still raging.
Praying Christmas in 2021
During the recent Advent season we followers of Jesus were reminded once again of the epicenter of our faith: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory” (John 1:14). This astounding message changes everything, and that includes prayer. But let’s be honest—the busy-ness of the new year tends to wipe away the afterglow of our Advent experience. I suggest this year we resist our tendency to forget Advent by pondering how the story of Christ’s birth impacts how we pray. Prayer can never be the same after God’s ultimate revelation, the incarnation of the Son of God. We need to pray with our minds set on Christmas.