15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” — Genesis 3:15 ‍‍
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Advent is the season we revisit every year to remember and celebrate that Christ has arrived and given us new life and salvation. But often, we don’t consider the long unfolding story and drama that precedes his birth. The story leading up to the birth of Christ is full of sin, rebellion, pain, and strife. It’s a story of mankind trying, and often failing, to hang on to what God had promised at the beginning in Genesis 3.

God promised Eve a child, a son, who would crush the serpent, put an end to sin, and undo the curse.

Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. God promised Eve a child, a son, who would crush the serpent, put an end to sin, and undo the curse. Eve mistakenly thought her first child, Cain, would be the promised savior. Genesis 4:1 records her joy: “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” But, he would grow up only to dishonor her and dishonor God by killing his younger brother.

Cain’s sin and rebellion would set the tone for the subsequent generations of God’s people, Israel. They would tear their way through history looking for fulfillment and satisfaction not in God, but on their own terms and conditions. Nothing but difficulty and trouble came because of their sin, aided and enticed by the devil himself.

Similarly, our lives are often filled with desires to find hope and fulfillment in other things: careers, marriages, children, homes, etc.—things that are good but incapable of giving us complete satisfaction.

Christmas interrupts everything and serves as a much-needed reminder that the hope and salvation we long for can be found, but not in the usual places.

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Jesus stops the seemingly endless cycle of sin and provides the hope that the world has been clamoring for.

The promised child arrives in the humble beginnings of the manger scene. Jesus stops the seemingly endless cycle of sin and provides the hope that the world has been clamoring for. Jesus, Israel’s true son, does not come to kill his brother. Instead, he arrives to be killed for his brother, providing the true gift of Christmas that we all need.

Mary’s son Jesus was born at the right time, bringing an end to the sin that started with the first family. Jesus is the son that Eve was promised, the King that Israel was waiting for, the Savior that mankind needs.

God kept his promise. He gave his only Son. The whole world is invited to peek into the manger to see and proclaim that the promised Savior has arrived!
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Liturgy

Ancient of Days,
You know our history better than we know ourselves.
You have witnessed the rise and fall of nations
and so-called saviors.
You see our own affections bounce between gadgets and
people and trends.
Though we grasp at straw and vapor for satisfaction,
forgetting your goodness, you still draw near to us.
Your love still abounds.
O Redeemer, break the cycle of our sin.
We were brought out of our own Egypt,
yet we keep looking back.
Turn our eyes from worthless things.
Help us remember how you rescued us
from death on the cross
And secured our adoption into your family.
O Spirit of God, open our eyes.
Outshine the fading promises of this world.
Show us your glory through the beauty of Scripture.
Let the Gospels awaken our hearts anew with amazement.
Your love is unmatched.
Your grace is overwhelming.
Your power is transforming.
Your wisdom is surprising.
Your faithfulness is unending.

Amen.‍