Arise And Shine Series

We just lit the second Advent candle; and so, this morning, I want to take some time to discuss in detail what the season of Advent is all about. But allow me to first begin with an illustration from the Vietnam War era, which was around the 1960’s. This illustration is from someone who was really annoyed by some Christmas lights that were hanging for way too long on a neighbor’s house.

This individual states, “There was a house near the entrance of our subdivision that kept their Christmas lights burning long after the season was past. They burned through January. Even through the first of February those outside lights burned every night. Finally, about the middle of February, I became a bit critical and said, ‘If I were too lazy to take my Christmas lights down, I think I would at least turn them off at night.’ About the middle of March there was a sign outside of their house that explained why they had left the lights on. It simply said, ‘Welcome home Jimmy.’ We [later] learned [how] that family had a son in Vietnam, and they had unashamedly left their Christmas lights on in anticipation of his return.”(1)

This individual’s conclusion is that “lights are a symbol of hope,” and this is what we feel when we light the candles of Advent. The season of Advent is about anticipation concerning the arrival, or appearing, of the coming deliverer who was foretold by the prophets of old; the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who appeared on the scene bringing with Him redemption and salvation from our sins, and the promise of eternal life.

In Titus chapter 2, we read, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men . . . looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people” (Titus 2:11, 13-14). Though this text is a reference to Christ’s Second Advent, or His Second Coming, it gives us an idea of the “expectation” which surrounds His appearing.

Advent is a celebration of hope and joyous expectation concerning the arrival and appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, with this understanding in mind, let us now stand in honor of God’s Word, as we read Isaiah chapter 60, verses 1-3 and verse 6:

1 Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising . . . 6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.

This passage, right here, is a prophecy about the arrival of the Messiah; but it also refers to the visit of the Wise Men. When we look at the account of the Magi, found in Matthew chapter 2, we read where King Herod plotted to have Jesus killed; and the text says that “he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under” (v. 16). Bible scholars say that Jesus was somewhere around the age of two at the time the Magi arrived, noting how Matthew chapter two refers to Jesus multiple times as “the Child” (vv. 8-9, 11, 13-14, 20-21).

The account of the Magi chronologically falls a couple of years after the birth of Jesus; and as a result, some denominations will only preach about the Magi “after” Christmas, around the beginning of the New Year, in a season they call Epiphany. However, the word “epiphany,” similar to the word “advent,” means “arrival” or “appearing.” In addition, it is a celebration of light.

The chief image of Epiphany is the star in the East whose light guided the Magi to find Jesus. But we also celebrate light during the season of Advent, as we light a candle each week in anticipation of the arrival of Jesus Christ who is the light of the world (John 8:12). The prophecy about the Magi, in the book of Isaiah, is one that portrays an eager expectation, so I have no qualms in sharing it in connection with Advent. This morning, we are going to learn from Isaiah’s prophecy why we must celebrate the appearing of the light of Christ. We will also learn why we must look to that light for our life.