I found that the overall theme of these readings was about the “coming” of the Messiah. In Isaiah, he offers comfort to the people of Jerusalem in that he feels that they have served their term of punishment and said that they now need compassion. Troubles are removed in love when sin is pardoned. He says that we should speak tenderly to Jerusalem now that the warfare is ended.
Psalm covers the people of Jerusalem thinking that God is still punishing them because they had not obeyed Him. Things were bad in Jerusalem when Cyrus, King of Persia, sent them back. They ask God to help make things better. Verse 8 begins with someone telling them not to go back to doing bad things. Good things will happen if God’s people obey Him. When God forgives our sin, he gives it to Jesus. When He died, Jesus took our sins away. Verse 13 is very important because it says that God will walk on the earth. Many people believe it means Jesus because Jesus was the Messiah. They call these verses 9-13 the messianic part of the Psalm.
Second Peter covers the “coming” or Advent of Jesus. Advent is the season of waiting, of expectation of Jesus’ coming on Christmas Day. But there is another side to Jesus’ coming which we sometimes are nervous to discuss. It could also mean the second coming or Christ’s Return. It does not have elves, reindeer, or fluffy snow. It is that the day and time are vague. Peter talks about the fact that a day to the Lord could be a thousand years. I myself have been known to say, “Not my time table, but the Lord’s,” when I feel that my prayer has not been answered. Peter states that God will come like a thief in the night. Others feel that there will be signs. Others have different concepts about heaven and the earth’s destruction. Nevertheless, Peter says to “Rest in God’s Time, it is different than ours. Await in hope, but do so in patience.”
Our last reading is in Mark. It seems like every time I attempt an Advent devotion, I find that John the Baptist in somewhere in my readings. I can see him clothed in camel’s hair with a big belt around himself. I remember the smell of camel’s hair when I was in Egypt. He is baptizing in the wilderness, but he is humble. He may pour water on them, but only God can baptize them in the Holy Spirit.
So now we have finished the four readings. What have we learned? We have learned that God has forgiven our sins from the banished people of Jerusalem to people of today by permitting His son to die for our sins. But we should be joyful at the following:
Advent means “Coming.”
Christ has come, and Christ is coming again.
Wait patiently, and be at peace.
Carolee Brown
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