Advent season comes in winter, when there is less light than any other time of year. Our need for light, our deep desire for light this season, can be seen by all the artificial lights we surround ourselves with: building lights; Christmas tree illuminations; candle lighting worship services abound. We need light. Light comforts.
The peoples of Jesus’ time needed light also. Living without modern lightings, darkness was their constant companion, their ‘old friend’ if you will. They searched the scriptures, especially the words of the prophets, in search of the ultimate saving light, a Messiah. This is the Advent they prayed, they waited, they lived for. As a candle in a darkened room comforts, so did the OT scriptures comfort a people’s’ waiting.
On Mondays this Advent season we will be looking at scriptures these ancient people studied for light on the Messiah’s advent. ( For example, the Magi were one such group. ) On Fridays we will looking at New Testament scriptures that describe Jesus’ coming, His life.
In a real sense the Old Testament prophecies were first a darkly understood description of the Messiah’s advent; the New Testament aligned with these Old Testaments, reveal the Messiah Jesus in full understanding. Together the OT & the NT give full light. And they clearly illuminate a loving, saving Messiah, Jesus.
Welcome to Advent 2021, his coming.
We begin on Monday, 22 November looking at Isaiah 61 verses 1-4 & 8b – 10
Friday 26 November we will look at Luke 4 verses 14 -22 a & 25 – 30
charles osewalt's blog 
Leave a Reply