We’ve come to the end of our Advent Devotional for Students, but on this Christmas Eve we wanted to stop and speak directly to our Rooted audience — parents and youth ministers — about why the prophecies we’ve explored over the last three weeks mean so much to us as believers.
From the beginning, God knew exactly what He would do to cure the world’s sickness. He knew exactly who He would send; how and when it would happen; He told us about it in His word; and then He did exactly what He said He was going to do, down to the most wonderful and obscure detail.
God himself took on flesh and came to us in human form, born as a helpless baby in a dingy stable. He is the same One who spoke these promises, and then physically became the Promise Himself.
Why? Because we could not — we cannot — save ourselves.
What happened on Christmas morning is as close to pure magic as it comes. Hundreds of age-old promises fulfilled by this one birth of this one baby, both God and man, who entered into our terrible darkness to bring light eternal.
This is our story. This is our God. He knows our suffering — He was born right into it, with an elaborate plan to conquer it. This Christmas, we hope you will find rest in this magnificent truth. That by grace alone you might lay down your wounds, your longings, even the good work of discipling teenagers for a while and relish in the goodness of this promise-keeping God. Christmas morning means He has already done all that really needs doing, first in a manger, and finally on a cross.
Our greatest hope in all this is that He will come one last time to bring final restoration to this broken world. We can boldly and confidently take Him at His word. In His way, in His time, for our good: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Behold, the Lamb of God! Come thou long expected Jesus!
