Advent of the Messiah

Pastor Gabriel Render 12/11/24

Christmas season is upon us and as Providence would have it, I found myself with a 4-week slot of Sundays leading up to Holiday. 

As such, I thought it fitting to preach on the first Advent of Christ, the incarnation, and various Messianic prophecies. 

For those not familiar with the term “Advent” , its technical meaning points to the arrival of something or someone important. In Christian tradition, and theological terms, we speak about the first Advent when referring to Christ’s incarnation, meaning his taking on flesh by becoming a man, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.

While the Protestant tradition varies on the celebration of the church calendar, with some, namely the Puritans, going so far as to ban celebrations of Christmas or other holidays (at least from public observation), we find it a helpful and joyous concept to consider at least theologically, the importance of Advent, even if it is not to be observed in Lord’s Day worship.

Traditionally, particularly in Northern European practice, an Advent wreath would be made consisting of five candles. One for each of the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas, and one in the center representing Christ, the light of the world.

As part of family tradition or oftentimes as conducted as part of the church liturgy, one candle would be lit each week until Christmas arrived and all of the candles would be lit together. 

These candles, and the Advent season, were meant to draw attention to themes of the arrival of the Messiah. 

Week one, is referring to the week of Prophecy and/or hope. 

Week two is the week of Bethlehem and/or faith. 

Week three is the week of the Shepherds and/or joy.

And lastly, week four is the week of the Angels and/or peace. 

Again, culminating in the lighting of the Christ candle oftentimes at a midnight service on Christmas Eve. 

While our church will not be participating in the wreath tradition as part of our liturgy, this sermon series will explore the themes of Advent. 

Sermon one will focus on the anticipation of the Messiah as prophesied through the Old Testament. The sermon text will Center around the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 9 (“For to us a child is born”) but will also explore how all of the Old Testament and the prophets in particular pointed to the coming Christ. This anticipation of the coming Messiah should produce hope not just in the promises fulfilled but in the continued promises of scripture about Christ’s second Advent yet to come. 

Week two will focus on the prophecy from Micah 5 about the Messiah being born in the city of David, Bethlehem. This sermon will serve to show the fulfillment of the Davidic line as well as to consider Christ as the bread of life (Bethlehem means house of bread) and will seek to contrast the earthly city of the Messiah with the heavenly Jerusalem of the church today. This should encourage the faith of all Christians, that they are part of the Kingdom that cannot be shaken because of Christ’s coming. 

Week 3 will focus on the prophecies of Christ as a great shepherd of the sheep, namely Isaiah 40, but with reference to Ezekiel and the Gospel account of Jesus as the shepherd in John 10. This week is associated with the concept of joy (the candle is pink instead of purple as that color was often associated with joy in the past). The sermon will seek to produce joy in the shepherd King who rules and reigns today.

Week 4 centers on the proclamation of the Angels of the coming Messiah and the message of peace on Earth. We will evaluate the glorious doxology of “Glory to God in the highest” and explore what it means for there to be peace on Earth and good will toward men.

We will wrap this series up with an exhortation on Christmas Eve on the incarnation itself from Pastor Luke. 

So, as the Christmas season progresses, may you seek to have hope, faith, joy, and peace at the glorious Revelation of scripture and of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, our Savior and King.