Advent Candle #1: "O Come, Emmanuel"

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LEFC Family Advent Readings: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:20-23 :: November 28, 2021

Week #1: O Come, Emmanuel

“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.

During this year’s Advent Season, our readings will reflect the ancient hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”

Hear the plaintive cry of verse one:

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.”

[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE.]

The first verse names the longed-for Coming One as “Emmanuel.”

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah promised that God would be with His people so that they should not be afraid no matter what was threatening them. Isaiah prophesied, “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This mysterious promise established a pattern of God’s rescuing presence for His people.

More than 700 years later, this prophecy was fulfilled beyond everyone’s greatest imagination when a virgin named Mary gave birth to a son named Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew, the angel of the Lord explained this to Mary’s husband Joseph.

           

[READ MATTHEW 1:20-23]

Amazingly, the Son of God Himself would appear and ransom His people from their sins.

Let this first candle remind us that we are not alone, and that, in Jesus, God’s salvation is on the way.

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”