Lo, How a Rose e’er Blooming (Advent: Day 3)

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Isaiah 11:1 (NASB1995)

One of the rich themes I have noticed in many hymns of Advent is the mention of the prophecies of Messiah’s birth. The Isaiah passage above is just one of several Scriptures that refer to Jesus as the Branch coming from the lineage of David. This song describes Jesus as a rose budding and is a sign of hope then and now to think of a beautiful flower springing up in a desolate land.

There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament announcing the coming of the Messiah which have all been fulfilled down to the last detail. The probability of this happening is simply mind blowing! Josh McDowell has an amazing article on this that you can read here. Knowing the truth about the miraculous fulfillment of Jesus’ first Advent should give us great hope and confidence that He WILL come again as He promised!

Sometimes I feel so far removed from the first Christmas. After all, it happened over 2000 years ago! Sadly, many look upon the first Advent as folklore or just a feel good story. Baby Jesus gets lumped in with Santa and the reindeer. As Christians, we know the story is true! During this Advent season, we must remind ourselves and each other of its reality. The Christmas story is not only historical fact, but it’s reality is relevant and impactful to us today if we will open our hearts to Christ.

This Flower, whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air, dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere.

True man, yet very God, from sin and death He saves us and lightens every load.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:14 NASB

There was something uniquely special about this Baby. Although He had the appearance of a man, He had no sin nature. When Adam and Eve sinned, death spread to all men (Romans 5:12). This means that every baby born after Adam was born in sin with a sin nature passed down from our father, Adam. Jesus, however, was born of a virgin. He did not have an earthly father from which to inherit a sin nature. He was perfectly God incarnate cloaked in human flesh. He was inherently LIGHT and therefore could not sin because He IS God.

“And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness.”

1 John 1:5 NASB1995

Because He had no sin nature, His body did not undergo decay while He was in the grave (Acts 13:37). Jesus was not born in sin like the rest of us. He was the unique, one of a kind, only begotten perfect Son of God which qualifies Him as the ONLY person in history who could overcome sin and defeat it on the cross! Roy Hession said, “Victory is not me overcoming sin, it’s Jesus overcoming me!” What wondrous joy for the Christian who realizes he can stop trying to do what only Jesus can do.

The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned.

Matthew 4:16 NASB1995

Oh Victory in Jesus, our Emmanuel! The glorious Light in the incarnate Christ has dawned on us who have believed. “For God , who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB1995).

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Advent Reflections

1. Read Numbers 23:19 and Hebrews 10:23. How does knowing that we have a God who keeps His promises give you hope?

2. Read John 1:1-18 and list or underline everything you learn about Jesus, the Word.

3. At the closing of today’s post, we looked at 2 Corinthians 4:6. Read 2 Corinthians 4:6-10. How does having the treasure of the Light keep us during difficult times?

4. Take some time to reflect on the truths of God’s Word. Praise Jesus for overcoming sin and death on the cross! Lay your burdens at His feet and let Him lighten your load today.

Click here to listen to the Robert Shaw Chorale version on Spotify.

Click here to listen to the Robert Shaw Chorale version of this beautiful Christmas hymn on YouTube.