The First Sunday of Advent 2023

 

Jesus Is

Advent Devotional Guide
December 3-24, 2023
by Patience Fort

First Sunday of Advent: Jesus is HOPE

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Today we light the first candle of the Advent season which is the Prophecy Candle. In short, this candle reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and that He is the Hope of the whole world.

Ever since the fall of man recorded in the first book of the Bible, humanity has been spiraling out of control. For centuries, people have wondered if situations could possibly get any more dire or hopeless. When left to make our own decisions, we are, indeed, hopeless.   

Isaiah 2:14 is a familiar verse at Christmastime. “Therefore the Lord, himself, will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” God inspired this passage many, many years before the birth of Jesus. He would be the Messiah. He would save the people. They looked forward with hope to the fulfillment of this promise.

Revelation 3:20 is another familiar verse. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door I will come into him and dine with him and he with me.” Jesus promised in this passage that He would come inside us and dwell there if we would invite Him in. He fulfilled that promise countless times in those who are Christians. He is our only Hope.

John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus has promised that he will return to take us home with him. This Second Coming might be through the action of our death or by his global return foretold in The Revelation. Regardless, we have every reason to believe that because he promised it, He will return.

Jeremiah 20:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.” Jesus is the fulfillment of this declaration. He is the Hope of the world.  

Lord, Thank you for the prophecies about Jesus – those that have come to fruition and those for which we wait. We thank you for the hope we have in Him. Help us to pass this Hope to those around us, that they may experience the coming of Jesus in their lives this Christmas season.