December 2, 2009 by Doug Davis 1 comments

Christmasy Easter
Merry Christmas to you all! As we begin the Advent Season, I think now is the time in which we can legitimately start saying Merry Christmas to everyone. There was a time this fall when I walked into a store and wondered if I had fallen asleep and missed some time. I remember walking into one store and looking down the isle, seeing Halloween on one side, Thanksgiving on the other side and in the backdrop Christmas trees being set up! Come on now! This seems to be getting out of hand. The world is going by so fast you hardly have time to stop and appreciate any holiday. Won't be long and we will be calling the fall holidays Hallowthanksmas! I for one, say let's slow down. Let's use this time of Advent to prepare for the coming of our Lord and Savior, the Baby in the manger.

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of his return as Christ the King in his Second Advent. Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. It is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture readings for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. Speaking to us of "those days" of the past and "those days" of the future to come and "these days" of waiting between the past and the future.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah (33:15-16) spoke of "those days" when God would at the right time "make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be call: the Lord Our Righteousness." God's plan for our redemption began the moment sin entered the world through man, Adam, so too must a man, Jesus, "do what is just and right in the land." That is to live by God's commands fully, without sin and accept and satisfy the consequences of our sins, through His death on the cross. The Lord Our Righteousness has fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law, which we could not do and now by faith in Jesus' life, death and resurrection, His righteousness now becomes ours. Not because of what we have done, but by what Jesus has done, not because of who we are, but because who Jesus is. God's plan began at the Garden of Eden, continues through the birth of Jesus, His cross on Calvary, His empty tomb on Easter morning and His ascension into heaven.

So, as the church celebrates God's in-breaking into history in the Incarnation, we also anticipate the future consummation of that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption." Christmas and Easter are tied together in one neat package. Call it a Christmasy Easter or and Eastery Christmas. Either way we prepare and celebrate God's plan of salvation for us in Jesus' birth and look forward to the second Advent of His return.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed Easter to you all!

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