12.5.21 | What a Magnificent Advent Plan! | Inspirational Models

This morning, pastor Jeske brings part 2 of his Advent Series: WHAT A MAGNIFICENT ADVENT PLAN! Diving into Jeremiah 30:4-10, we learn God will do far more than bring the Jewish exiles back to rebuild Jerusalem. He will give them the new covenant, enable them to live with him forever and without sin, and provide a new David—the Messiah—to be their king. This implies that the return from exile is only the first step in God’s much greater work. The opening hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an ancient advent hymn that originated in part from the “Great ‘O’ Antiphons,” part of the medieval Roman Catholic Advent liturgy. The word "Emmanuel" is drawn from the messianic interpretation of Isaiah 7:14 found in Matthew 1:22-23: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)." Even as the faithful of Israel looked forward to the day when God would be with them in the Messiah, so the Church confesses that Jesus is Emmanuel, who has promised to be "with us" to the end of the ages (Matthew 28:20).