It’s December! … the Holiday season … the season of Christmas and Advent!
This week our thoughts have been filled with anxious, nervous anticipation regarding the advent of snow. “Why such anxious nervousness?” you might ask. Because the advent/arrival of snow is usually accompanied by a loss of power.
Sure enough, just as predicted, the snow did indeed arrive … and with it, a loss of power. Sigh.
Unlike our anxious, nervous anticipation over the advent of snow, we have excited anticipation when it comes to the Advent/arrival of Jesus Christ! This is the whole reason we are celebrating this Holiday season!
Jesus arrived … Jesus came! Exactly as it was predicted and foretold. And unlike the advent of snow which was accompanied by a loss of power … Jesus’s arrival was accompanied by amazing power!!
Isaiah 11:1-3 tells about this power which would accompany Jesus’s advent/arrival!
* The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of power, would rest on Jesus. (this happened! – Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:32-34)
* The Holy Spirit would empower Jesus with wisdom.
* The Holy Spirit would empower Jesus with understanding.
* The Holy Spirit would empower Jesus with counsel.
* The Holy Spirit would be the very power from which Jesus ministered.
* The Holy Spirit would empower Jesus with knowledge.
All of this happened exactly as predicted! You can read about the power and ministry of Jesus in the Gospels – the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John).
We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came! And He came in power! (Romans 1:3-4)
You might be asking, “Ok, so if Jesus came, then where is He?”
Jesus isn’t here on earth right now. Jesus returned back to Heaven … but He has left for us the same power of the Holy Spirit … the very same power which empowered Jesus’s ministry, He has given to us, so that we can live for Him! (Ephesians 1:18-20)
Advent is a great celebration because not only did Jesus already come to earth with amazing power, but He will one day come back again … with amazing power!
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. … His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him … Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. … He has this name: King of Kings and Lord of Lords!” – Revelation 19:11-16
What an Advent to look forward to! Even so come, Lord Jesus!
