Daily Advent ~ Dec. 18th

Advent 2013

Wednesday, December 18th

Old Testament: "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, 'Surely this is our God; we trusted him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.'" Isaiah 25:8-9

I love the imagery of Jesus swallowing up death forever. Just like Adam and Eve swallowed the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil back in Genesis, so too Jesus swallows death forever, never allowing it to have dominion over us again.

New Testament: Angel's Proclamation to the Shepherds continued: "'Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; his is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'" Luke 2:11-14

The angel tells the shepherds what has just happened and where to find the Christ child. In case one glorious angel wasn't enough, Luke records that suddenly, a great company of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God. I can't imagine senses that were awakened in that moment. The angels radiated glory. I imagine the shepherds were astounded by what they saw (if not blinded by the magnificence of light), amazed at what they had just heard and even shaken by the vibration of the angel's praising. Indeed, the light of the world has been born.

Why the shepherds? Why did God choose to send forth his birth announcement to a couple of lowly shepherds in the middle of nowhere? People have pondered that for generations. I am thankful that the angel's message was given to men living in obscurity and not in position. God's Kingdom is upside-down. He exalts the humble and lays low the proud. Our God is a God who reaches down to all mankind, regardless of socioeconomic position. His love for us is great, despite what we have done or the wrong choices we have made. The unconditional love of our Heavenly Father is incomprehensible and completely magnificent.

Thank you, God, for providing a way into your Kingdom through Jesus Christ for all mankind.