“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty; he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:7-10
Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent and the Advent Wreaths were up in most Churches. The past year, I’ve been working through the book ‘Church History in Plain Language’ by Bruce L. Shelley and last week I started chapter eleven that was titled “EMMANUEL!” and I suppose that might be considered a God moment by some because of the impeccable timing. I thought it might be good to share a few paragraphs from this chapter this morning with you, on this second day in Advent.
“In the foothill region of Mount Hermon, Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” They told Him that most people associated Him with the prophets of Israel. When He pressed them further, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Men have given a thousand answers to Jesus’ question. “He is an unusual Jewish rabbi preaching a kingdom of love.” Others answer, “No, he is a revolutionary whose primary purpose is the overthrow of Rome’s tyrannical rule.” Still others claim, “He is a misguided dreamer who looked for God to step into history and establish justice on the earth.” Well, who do you say Jesus is?
I’m going to agree with Peter’s reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is my hope that during this season of Advent, as we are distracted by so many challenges in this fallen world and tempted to focus our eyes way too long at all those pretty lights on the trees…that we place the reason for this season on the highest possible level of esteem. Give thanks and celebrate the birth of the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
I’m going to close today with the words from the hymn ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ that was originally written in Latin with a title of ‘Veni, Veni, Emmanuel’ in 1710. The English translation of the Christmas carol came about in 1851 when priest and scholar John Mason Neale’s version was featured in the history of hymns collected by hymnal documenter Thomas Helmore.
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav'nly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Adonai, Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height, in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay