The Hope Of Christmas Series

Thanksgiving is over. We’ve had enough turkey over the last few days to last us until next Thanksgiving. Some of us endured the crowds shopping on Friday. Many of us have decorated our homes with Christmas decorations. We are here officially in the Christmas season.

Now, realistically, the retailers have pushed Christmas on us in September. I read recently about how Japan celebrates Christmas, which has become a major event over there. They put up decorations, exchange presents, send cards, sing yuletide songs, decorate trees, serve special seasonal treats and make a big fuss over St Nick, Rudolph and Frosty. Their Santa is sometimes dressed like a Samurai. It is very important for single adults to have a date for a romantic dinner on Christmas Eve. And for reasons that can't be determined, a big Christmas tradition is attending a concert of Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

The one thing the Japanese do not honor at Christmas is Christ. That's because Japan is nearly 99% Shinto and Buddhist. A missionary to Japan was asked if Christmas was Santa's birthday. Only 1/2 of 1 percent of Japan's population is Christian. So where do you think they got this commercial version of Christmas? From our North American practices. They are attracted to the glitter and romance of the American version of Christmas and have adopted nearly everything except the spiritual significance of the season. (Sermon Central)

This brings me to Advent. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a season in the church to help remind us that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” Perhaps we need that reminder now more than ever. In our ever-increasing secular, humanist, post-modern world, our attention can easily be affixed to wrappings, gatherings, music, and gifts. Not that there is anything wrong with those things in themselves, but they become distractions to a more important purpose.

In Advent, there are 4 themes, we will explore each Sunday: Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love. This week is hope and there are plenty of reasons today that we need more hope.

HOPE IN THE DARKNESS BRINGS MORE DARKNESS

Years ago an S-4 submarine was rammed by a ship off the coast of Massachusetts. It sank immediately. The entire crew was trapped in a prison house of death. Every effort was made to rescue the crew, but it ultimately failed. Near the end of the ordeal, a deep sea diver, who was doing everything in his power to find a way for the crew’s release, thought he heard tapping on the steel wall of the sunken sub. He placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he realized it was the Morse Code. He attached himself to the side and spelled out in his mind the message being tapped from within repeating the same question. The question was, from within, "Is...there...any...hope?"

Maybe you feel like that sailor right now. There are plenty of reasons why you may feel that way. A struggling economy, divisions, post-pandemic struggles, sickness, wickedness, wars, and so much more. That is why Advent is so important for us because there IS HOPE… we just need to be reminded of where to look.

The true reason there is hope at the heart of Christmas is not because of gifts but because of the birth of Jesus Christ. His arrival on the earth was the fulfillment of a prophecy spoken hundreds of years before His birth. That prophecy is actually one of the most well-known scripture passages shared during this time of year and it’s where we begin our journey today as well.

2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them. 3 You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You shall shatter the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their taskmaster, as at the battle of Midian. 5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the rumbling of battle, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:2–7 LSB)