And I’ve been thinking about God’s will being done.
“So, what are your plans for Christmas?”
We hear that question quite a bit during Advent. It’s about as common this year as “Do you think we’ll have snow?” or “Have you seen Wicked, yet?”
Our family has a few traditions. Because of travel plans, we often celebrate Christmas on another day than December 25th. Another tradition is that for about the last eight years our kids have split up into two groups — the even ones and the odd ones — for a Secret Santa gift exchange. Besides those things, a Christmas morning breakfast consisting of coffee and cinnamon rolls from a can is about the only things we plan for.
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we are given Hebrews 10:5-10. As far as Advent texts are concerned, it seems a bit out of place. It is not like a prophetic word from Isaiah or a story about John the Baptist. It doesn’t sound like a Psalm of promise or a song of Mary.
At first glance, it seems to draw our attention less to Jesus’ birth, and more to his death. It might fit better as a Good Friday passage than an Advent story.
That is, until we consider what the Hebrews preacher is saying. When we listen well, we hear what God had planned for Christmas all along.
Subscribe to continue reading
Become a paid subscriber to get access to the rest of this post and other exclusive content.
Jason Martin 