Dec 19 - An Advent Journey

An Advent Journey 

Monday, December 19, 2022

By Gloria Macy

Scripture John 1:1-18

Key Verse: John 1:1-3

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” KJV

 

The Advent journey is almost complete. We enter the journey seeking Hope. The first verse of this passage the word, Word is capitalized. Many will seek God’s written word, the Bible. But it was Jesus, “Wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” who was sent to us. To bring us HOPE! So many scriptures and passages of hope spring to mind. The Word of God is this child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manager, one very holy night, in a little town of Bethlehem, the stars guiding the way for the wise men, God sent his Word to walk among the people on Earth. Often times my hope is for things of this world, better life situations or hope of things to come. But knowing God gave us his “Word," written in translation, in the flesh and audible at times to us by his whispers in our hearts, his Word brings us Hope. 

"Star of Bethlehem" by Sarah Richards Samuelson

As we Journey down the path into week 2 we seek to rejoice and pray for Peace. More times than not, I look at my sleeping children and think to myself this is the Peace which will bring the chaos. His Word brings us Peace because this world provides so many challenges for all of us. As I reflect on John 1:2, I have searched many translations to help me understand this verse. Genesis chapter 1 verse 2 tells us how the earth was without form and yet the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Jesus was there with God in the beginning. The Zondervan KJV Study Bible references Jesus as an “acting agent” in creation or Jesus as being the very Word of God. Such Peace in knowing that God knew from the very dawn of existence, before life was breathed into creation, A peacemaker would be needed to comfort us all. 

The next stop on this Journey, Joy. There are many things that bring us Joy. And many things that seem to try to steal our Joy. There is so much Joy in knowing all things were made by Christ, a loving God who knew the trials of the world created. All he asked Is that we love him back with a Joyful heart. Simple? Right? My world is falling apart, and I am supposed to be joyful. My child is sick, I lost someone I love, finances aren’t matching up and He expects me to praise him and thank him Joyfully! So, let’s put that into a perspective of human understanding. God gave up his son, who was in heaven with Him. Gave him to a world of selfishness and sin, a vile world. To bring HOPE, PEACE and yes, JOY. He gave this helpless infant that Mary nursed and cared for to a crowd of God’s created beings, which beat him, spat upon him and Mary had to watch as they put a crown of thorns on his head, and pierce his hands and feet. It most certainly was not joyful in that very moment. The Bible speaks little of Mary’s responses. However, when the stone was rolled away in Matthew’s account Chapter 28 verse 8, the women departed with fear and great joy. But during the crucifixion what form did Joy take? 

The final stop on the Journey, for the greatest of these is LOVE. With Hope, Peace and Joy we find the greatest gift, Love. I love watching the light in my children’s eyes during this time of year. My youngest was up late. He was gazing at the lights on the Christmas tree in its undecorated bareness. He asked me “Mom, do you know what my favorite part of the tree is?” Of course I respond with “What is your favorite part?” He responds, “The star. At the top and my second favorite is the gifts under the tree.” How simply precious? To wrap up advent from the eyes of the child, the star guides us along the journey just as the wise men did over 2000 years ago. With the Hope at the end of the journey to find a gift of Peace lying in a manager, which brings us Joy in our hearts and delivers Love to us all. His Word brings us all this and so much more than the four  - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.