Throughout the Old Testament God’s prophets predict, the stories foreshadow, and his people wait. What are they waiting for? A Messiah – a future, Savior-King who would reign forever. It’s not hard to decipher what it is exactly that we need saving from: exile, slavery to sin, strife with each other, and the shadow of death hanging over us throughout our existence. Since the first ever rebellion against our Creator, we have been justly cursed. Yet inside that sin-curse declared over a fallen Adam and Eve, lay enfolded a promise of future salvation. A child of Eve would one day come and crush the serpent’s head. The source of all life would eventually banish death, end our exile, and heal us. And so, God’s people waited for that day. They yearned. And on that fated night in Bethlehem, he finally appeared. Christmas is the birth of our peace; it is the advent of reconciliation with God himself. In Christ, we are no longer captives to sin and death; we are no longer exiles from his presence. Rejoice! Emmanuel has come to us.
Scriptures to consider:
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. Genesis 3:15
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. Isaiah 9:6-7
Hymn to enjoy:
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave.
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode.
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
English translation by John Mason Neale (1861); music is a French melody from the 15th century
The Type B Mom 