Advent 2025, Day 3

Day 3, December 2, 2025

Theme: Hope 

Readings: 

Reading: Is 11:1-10 Gospel: Lk 10:21-24 

Reflections:

The Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God are collaborating to usher in a new reality that is utterly unprecedented. It is not "natural" in the way we observe nature. Everyone will be content when Jesus' kingdom is fully arrived. All enmity will be gone. The images in today's Isaiah passage are so compelling that it would be best to take time to imagine each one: the wolf relaxing next to the lamb, leopards frolicking with goats, a baby calf, a lion, and a young horse on a playdate? A cobra and an infant playing on the floor?  

Imagine and consider this: When Jesus makes all things new, everyone in creation will be utterly content.  The Lion will be satisfied with straw, the leopard doesn't need a goat dinner. Will the sun shine, or will God's glory literally light us up?  I don't know, but I love imagining it!

Not only these images in Isaiah, but now look at the way Isaiah characterizes Jesus, the "shoot from the stump of Jesse." Jesus' conviction and opposition to all that is evil is on full display in Isaiah 11. Remember, the theme this week is Hope.  This passage is compelling because it is so complete and packed with clarity and visual imagery of a world deeply affected by a God who cares for justice and righteousness.  Read slowly through this passage in Isaiah or perhaps make time to revisit this passage later today.

Slow down, sit with the images in these scriptures. What emerges? What kind of God do we serve who can do utterly unprecedented things? This is our HOPE--that God does the unprecedented and impossible for our benefit. He is eager to bring heaven to earth. In fact, he sent Jesus as a vulnerable baby to usher in this new reality!

In Luke 10, we see an intimate moment with Jesus. He bursts into prayer as he sees a glimmer of success. His disciples weren't the smartest; they were impatient and as sinful as any of us ever were. Yet, on this day, they started to "get it". They started to understand his purpose and identity. Jesus knows about feeling misunderstood and under appreciated. How big was Jesus' smile in this prayer in Luke?

What was so hard for the disciples to get in this story in Luke, we take for granted centuries later. We know why Jesus came and that he will resurrect. His disciples did not. Jesus says our eyes are blessed when we see Jesus for who he is. We get a gift that generations never got! We don't have to work nearly as hard for hope. Let us sit with our hope and the amazingness of Jesus coming to earth to bring hope, joy, peace, and love.

Song: The Lion and Lamb, by Leeland

Bonus! My Advent 2025 playlist is ready for you to listen to on Apple Music. It's diverse, and it was so much fun to put together as I read through the scriptures and wrote this series.

NOTE the songs are on Apple Music, which you can get for a month for free if you are new... I just didn't want an obnoxious YouTube Ad ruining your quiet time :-)

Feel free to share your reflection on today's devotional below. A Gmail account is required to comment.

If you are looking for a nondenominational church in the Denver area, check out denverchurchofchrist.org