Christ in Prophecy
Genesis 3:14-15
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2008 Harold Dinsmore

 Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas.  It does not begin on a note of joy or celebration, but on hurt and grief over our sinful condition.  It looks back to when God had promised one to come who would end our hurt and grief and lead us to fulfillment as a people of hope.  So, according to Professor Walter Brueggemann, we are not only a community of hurt, but one of hope.  He has said, “It (the church) hopes passionately that the trouble will end.  And the end of the trouble will come when God returns to override the hurt and establish a kingdom of well-being for those who have endured and expressed the hurt.”

What is said here refers to both the first Advent of Christ, but also the Second Advent.  Advent in its first 3 weeks expresses the grief and repentance for our sins and then the fourth week expresses the joy of the coming Savior, as portrayed in the rose, or pink, colored candle, picturing Christ, the Rose of Sharon.