Advent December 3, 2006

Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
"They shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." --Matthew 1:23

How good are you at waiting? Waiting is hard to do, isn't it? Do you think it has always been difficult for Christians to wait for Christmas? There is a song of waiting called "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" that has been sung for over a thousand years! It was first used as a chant at evening services during Advent and was done as an antiphon, which means that two groups sang or spoke in response to each other. Each line of the chant began with "O Come," so the phrases became known as the "O" antiphons. Since each verse uses a different name for Jesus, the words can help us think about who Jesus is and what we are waiting for during Advent.

Originally there were seven"O" antiphons, but in the mid-1800s, a man named John Mason Neale rearranged the verses and translated them into English, creating the popular Advent hymn we sing today. The first verse says that Jesus is "Emmanuel," God with us, who is going to ransom or pay the price to set the captives free. As the Jewish nation was held captive in Babylon, we can be held captive by sin. But Jesus ransomed us, paid the price with his life, so that we can be children of God because Jesus is the very Son of God.

Another name for Jesus is Rod, or Branch, of Jesse since Jesus was a descendant of King David who was the son of Jesse. We read of the shoot, a branch with leaves, because Jesus gives us life--eternal life with God. A third name is Dayspring, or Sunrise. Jesus said he is the Light of the World, and our Advent carol reminds us that we are waiting for Jesus, just as we wait at night for the sunrise in the morning. An additional name is "Key of David." The Bible promises that Jesus will be given the keys to open wide the doors of heaven for us. "Lord of Might" reminds us of the Old Testament name for Jehovah, the lawgiver. Jesus came to fulfill the law of God, so that those who love him would have the laws of God written on their hearts.

On Christmas Day we will be finished waiting. Jesus will be reborn in our hearts. We sing the verses of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" during Advent and remember the many reasons for Jesus' birth, just as Christians have done for thousands of years.
Prayer: Emmanuel, help us wait with hope for your coming to our hearts. Amen.

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