The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.’” Isaiah 62:11
So what’s the big deal with Advent? The Bible passage above shows that the prophet Isaiah knew the answer long before Jesus came. “See, your Savior comes!” The coming of the Savior is a big deal. Imagine if you were imprisoned on death row. In that situation, the most important thing to you would be the arrival of a messenger bringing news of your pardon … or not. The arrival of such a pardon would mean life. The absence would mean death. Because of the sin we live with every day, we face a death sentence unless we receive a pardon.
Advent anticipates the pardon. Christmas Day celebrates that our pardon has arrived. Good Friday remembers that our pardon was accomplished at the cost of Christ’s suffering and death in our place. Easter is the celebration that we have been set free and the threat of death no longer hangs over us.
But Isaiah’s message is about more than just a pardon. The Lord promises that we will receive a reward when our Savior comes – the riches of His heavenly kingdom. It is no wonder that Christmas is such a joyous celebration preceded by a season of such expectation.
Prayer: Thank you Lord, Jesus, for the righteous healing that You bring through the gift of Your forgiveness that takes away the burdens of our sin. Amen.
© 2006 Lutheran Hour Ministries
These devotions have been written by Rev. Paul and Kaye Wolff. Rev. Paul Wolff is a 1996 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has served as a pastor in the Detroit area for 10 years. He and co-author wife, Kaye, live in Southfield, Michigan.
Kaye Dumas Wolff is Chairperson of the Black Ministry Church Planting Task Force and a Mission Affiliate of LCMS World Missions where she serves as a training facilitator for laity in evangelism and mission work. Kaye serves on the Advisory Council of the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and she is a presenter for Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Equipping to Share Workshop.
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Today's Bible Readings: Haggai 1-2 2 John
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