The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity–hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory–because at the Father’s will, Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later, He might hang on a cross.
–J. I. Packer
1. Some faith traditions begin the Christmas season with Advent. Look up the meaning of this term in a Bible Dictionary or other dictionary and record what you find.
The first Advent candle is called the “Candle of Hope.” This purple candle symbolizes hope and expectation. It represents both the eager anticipation of a coming Messiah spoken of throughout the Old Testament and the promise that Jesus, the Messiah, will come again to earth to claim His faithful ones as described in the New Testament. Because it points to the promises that foretold Christ’s birth, it is also sometimes called the “Candle of Prophecy.”
–Jesus is the Reason for the Season, Pocket Inspiration
2. Read the following scriptures and record how they bring hope:
□ Psalm 72:10-14
□ Isaiah 11:1-11
□ Isaiah 42:1-5
□ Isaiah 60:1-3
