The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional - Thursday, Second Week of Advent – Vindication and Joyful Leaping

This short essay is taken from the book, The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional. This devotional reflects on the scriptures of incarnation and exaltation in order to take you on a journey of thoughtful self-reflection. It is meant to draw you more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s coming into the world to help you walk your own inner path toward the season of Christmas. As you celebrate the coming of Christ into your lives during Advent and spend time reflecting on the readings in this devotional, may the light and love that entered our world lead you to the cross in wonder and thanksgiving. May you find joy and discover strength as you walk this wondrous journey to Bethlehem, always holding within your heart the image of the Hill of Calvary and the hope of the Age to come when Christ will return to call his people home!

Incarnation – The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom…Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert… (Isaiah 35:1, 4-6)

Exaltation – Then he showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb...There shall no more be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and his servants shall worship him… (Revelation 22:1, 3)

When we are suffering, cast down and longing for hope, we look for vindication and cause for rejoicing. The prophets understood this and shared the powerful message of restoration that would come with God's appearing. The people of God heard these words and looked for a Savior to come to their rescue; but many missed the deeper meaning in the message. They looked for one who would destroy their enemies and grant them power, position, and abundant provision. Christ had a different answer. If we look more deeply into the words of the prophets, we witness something more personal. 

A flower blooming in the desert symbolized that the people of God would be transformed from arid hopelessness to blossoming faithfulness. They would experience the glory of the Lord, the majesty of his presence, and the splendor of his abundant joy. Their feeble fear would give way to ecstatic leaping in celebration. Their eyes would be open to the truth, their ears would be ready to hear the Word of hope to be spoken, and their tongues would overflow with praise. The Water of Life would spill into the desert of their souls and cause new life to flow from them into the lives of others.

This is what Advent is all about. As we wait for the coming of the Messiah and long for the restoration he will bring, we experience a transformation in the wilderness of our empty souls that is like springtime following a long and empty winter. Like John the Baptist who leapt in the womb at the greeting of the mother of his Messiah, may our hearts leap for joy at the message of restoration, hope, and peace as it fills us with to overflowing at Christmas!

Prayer: Father, may the words of the prophets speak eternal truths to my heart, so that I may grasp more deeply your Son’s coming into the world at Christmas. May your love flow through me into the lives of others who are seeking your truth…Amen!

Wand’ring children, hopeful longing,

Vindication through the Son.

Blind are seeing, lame are leaping,

Greeting now the Holy One.