Advent 2022: The candle of joy
Read Mark 6:7–30.
Today we light the candle of joy and spend time studying again in the Gospel of Mark. In chapter six, we encounter a king who is experiencing the absence of true joy. Herod is selfish, lustful and distressed. The result of this foolishness is the death of John.
Herod acted unjustly and did not have the eyes to see or ears to hear. “He was greatly puzzled” when John preached to him (Mark 6:20). In contrast, John is described as “a righteous and holy man.”
While John was in prison, he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was “the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19). Jesus in reply quotes from the prophet Isaiah. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Isaiah 35 and 61; Luke 7:22).
The fulfilled prophecy that Jesus quoted should be of enormous encouragement to us who also are waiting his appearing (Philippians 3:20–21). Isaiah 35:3–4 says, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come and save you.’ ” John the Baptist preached that the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world had arrived at that very moment, fulfilling the long-awaited promise. We too often need a reminder that the promise of eternity with Christ is of more value than the struggle of a long obedience in this world. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10–11).
What does this candle of joy remind us of today as we look at the downward spiral of Herod’s actions and the life of a righteous man being ended? We remember that apart from God’s grace we are all like Herod, bearing the consequences of our sins. Without the atoning work of Christ no one among us can be called righteous and holy. Let’s rejoice in the undeserved grace and love we have been given. Again, we look at the prophet Isaiah. “I delight greatly in the LORD, my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10)
The Bridegroom, our Lord and Saviour has cleansed the church in order that he might present her to himself having no spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25–27). John, even as he sat in prison, directed his disciples to look to Jesus and to inquire from him the truth. May we too look to Jesus and be saved for there is salvation in no one else. “Though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9).
Dear God, we come today with joy that you have not only created us by your kindness and for your glory, but that you have also saved us “that in the coming ages [you] might show the incomparable riches of [your] grace, expressed in [your] kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). Thank you for giving your Son that we should not perish, but have everlasting life. Amen.
