Welcome back to our special Advent edition of the Daily Devos. Advent means “the arrival.” It is a way to look back and celebrate the Son of God coming to earth to be born as a baby in a manger while we also look forward to His second coming when creation will be redeemed and restored. Through December, we invite you to experience Advent in your own story.
Each week, we will discover a theme or a promise seen in the birth of Jesus that carries us through the “already not yet” as we await the arrival of His eternal Kingdom. This week we are looking at the promise of JOY.
Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
The Book of Zechariah is located near the end of the Old Testament. Written by Zechariah, its purpose was to give hope to God’s people by revealing God’s future deliverance through the Messiah, the One whom God would send to rescue His people and reign over all the earth. It is one of our most important prophetic books that gives detailed messianic references that were clearly fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.
Verse 9 in Chapter 9 is a prediction of Jesus' triumphal entry more than 500 years before it happened(Matthew 21:1-11). Joy to the world!
Just as this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus came to the earth, so too the prophecies of His second coming will be fulfilled.
Flip over to Revelation 19, let's start in verse 11 and go through 21. This time Jesus appears, not as a Lamb, but as a warrior on a white horse. Jesus first came as a lamb to be sacrificed for our sins. When He comes again it will be as a Conqueror and King to execute judgment.
In both cases, Jesus declares peace through the death of sin. First, death to the consequence of Sin. Second, death to the reality of sin!
“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 9:16
Joy to the world!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Have you grabbed your Family Advent Calendar yet? If not, you can use this digital version to print your own!
- Listen to the Share Your Story: Christmas Edition episode to explore the JOY of worshipping our Savior at Christmas time!
- Find more Advent tools and resources at venturechurch.org/advent.