Jesus is the Christ

Every eye will see, every ear will hear

Advent is all about hope. We anticipate and make ready our hearts for the miracle of Christmas. In some ways we are blessed to be on “this side” of Jesus’ first coming. We have the benefit of seeing the prophecy fulfilled. The people of Israel had centuries of “advent”; centuries where they waited for their Messiah to come.

After waiting for centuries, how would they know that this “Jesus” was the Messiah they awaited? That’s easy–the very same prophecy that told them that He was coming also told them what to look for!

And the prophecy was fulfilled! Jesus came and lived among us. He fulfilled the Law by living a sinless life and he fulfilled the prophecy foretold by the prophets.

Thanks be to God for coming and living among us!

Here is the full text from Isaiah 35:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
² it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.

³ Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴ Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
⁶ then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
⁷ the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

⁸ And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
⁹ No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
    but the redeemed shall walk there.
¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

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Announcements

Bible Study: Our midweek Bible study is on hiatus during Advent. Sunday morning Bible study is still held and starts at 10 am.

Advent Vespers: We are not holding Midweek services, however, we will share a previous post online.

Voters Meeting: We did not have enough attendance on the 11th for a quorum. We will try again on December 18 at 3:30 pm via Zoom. This meeting will hold an election of officers and a budget proposal for 2023.

Donations: Even during the pandemic and with a decline in attendance, the expenses continue. If you wish to make a donation please mail them to the St. James post office box as that is a secure location. You may also donate online.

Prayer requests. Bring your prayer requests to Pastor Jenson, Deacon Poe, or Loyd Harris (bulletin typist). They will be printed in the bulletin and prayed for in the Sunday service. The deadline is Tuesday. Remember to obtain permission if you bring a prayer request on behalf of another person.