The First Sunday in Advent 2016

Early this morning, still in my bathrobe and slipper-socks, I walked out on the frost white ground to cut branches from an evergreen for our Advent Wreath. Today we light the first candle and officially begin to get excited about Christmas. Preparing for that moment, I began to think about why we celebrate Advent at all.

• First, Advent signals the approach of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus’ birth—an epoch changing event in human history and in the Kingdom of God. For Christian families and nations it’s a time of gratitude, general goodwill, generosity, family gatherings, feasting, worship and love.

• Second, Advent celebrates not only Jesus earthly human birth but also our own personal rebirths in the Holy Spirit.

• Finally, Advent celebrates not only family traditions and personal milestones but also my faith’s communal understanding of the history and purpose of humankind.

Between now and Christmas, I’ll share as best I can.

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People have looked forward to Jesus’ coming since the beginning—all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

Think about it. Can you see how the old history suggests that Adam knew Jesus and walked in the Garden of Eden with Him?

Adam (plural—for Adam and Eve were one and were called Adam before the fall) wanted to know the difference between good and evil. That choice brought death into the world and separated them from Eden’s innocence and communion with a holy God. They were naked and ashamed when

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him,

“Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 

Now this is all super literal, but follow along. Since God is Spirit, Adam couldn’t possibly have heard Him walking in the garden. Therefore, that sound among the leaves must have been what theologians call a theophany— a tangible visit of God in a way that we humans can recognize with our senses.

But whether you take a literal or metaphorical tack, the conversation between God and Adam that last day in the garden clearly reveals that God was already looking ahead to Jesus’ birth. He was determined to redeem Adam’s offspring from the curse of death. Look at what God said to the serpent.

And I will put enmity

         Between you and the woman, [note that it’s woman, not women— Jesus was born of Mary, a woman and Scripture refers to the church, Jesus bride, as a woman]

And between your seed [the devil’s seed] and her Seed [Jesus and His followers];

He [Jesus] shall bruise your head— [by winning out over sin and death]

And you shall bruise His heel. [Satan’s attempts to thwart God’s plan by trying to destroy the Jewish people and by opposing and killing Christians and the truth of Jesus Christ.]        Genesis 3:15

Theologians explains what comes next

Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21   

by saying that God killed an animal to get the skin to clothe Adam and his wife. In that first sacrificial shedding of blood God was looking ahead to Jesus whose blood was shed

• to take Adam’s curse of death from off of human kind
• to clothe all who believe in Him with His own righteousness
• to restore His Holy Spirit to men
• to give His light and eternal life to all who will believe and receive

And that’s just a short list of all Jesus died to give to men.

Jesus’ work of restoration was needed, for all of us have chosen to go our own way and, at one time or another, all have chosen the knowledge of evil over the goodness inherent in God’s eternal love.

Despite the dark shadows upon our planet, Advent recalls and celebrates the joy of God’s long awaited birth into this sin-darkened world.

Celebrating Advent fills believers with anticipation and hope for the future. It reminds us that despite the rise and fall of nations God is working out His plan and purpose for mankind.

Jesus came once to Adam as God, a theophany; Jesus came again as a baby to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem; Jesus comes again today to indwell all who believe on His name; and finally, Jesus will one day come again to rule over a new heaven and earth. This Advent season, let us celebrate His coming.