Advent III: Rejoice! God Is With Us

The third Sunday in Advent (Advent III) shifts from a tone of expectation of Christ’s coming to one of rejoicing at the arrival of God’s kingdom with the coming of Jesus.

The Scripture and Theology of the Third Week of Advent

The Scripture readings for the first two weeks of Advent looked primarily at the coming judge, Advent III focuses on several specific elements of God’s coming kingdom, namely, the justice and restoration brought about by Christ, which is cause for rejoicing and perseverance.

Jesus’ arrival brings joy and hope for all people. The shepherds felt that joy when they received the announcement of Jesus’ birth from the angels. We feel that joy when we celebrate the Incarnation at Christmas, and when we look forward to Jesus’ second coming, when everything will be made right.

Old Testament Readings

Old Testament readings for Advent III highlight the universal restoration Jesus accomplishes. In Isaiah 35:1-10, the prophet looks forward to the future promised for the people of God—a future inaugurated at the first coming of Christ and consummated at his second coming. When Jesus returns, the effects of sin’s curse will be removed: the wildernesses and dry land will blossom, and streams will come forth from the desert. The miracles he did point to his kingdom: “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” (Isaiah 35:5-6).

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 shows God’s concern for those on the fringes of society—those who have no voice of their own and cannot speak for themselves. The Messiah has been anointed by God to bring good news to the poor and liberty to the captives, proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of God’s vengeance. God is one who loves justice (Isa. 61:8), and his in his coming kingdom those who suffer from injustice will be restored, for the one who is mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:14–20) is coming to deal with the oppressors. As Zephaniah puts it, the coming Christ “will save the lame and gather the outcast, and [he] will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth” (Zephaniah 3:19).

Readings from the Psalms

The Psalms for Advent III carry on the theme of the justice and mercy brought about by God’s coming kingdom. Psalm 146:4-10 says that the one “who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry” is blessed. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind, lifts up the downcast, keeps watch over sojourners, and upholds widows and orphans (146:8-9). When God brings restoration to his people, there will be laughter and joy, and tears shall be turned into shouts of joy (Psalm 126:5).

New Testament Readings

The third Sunday in Advent (Advent III) shifts from a tone of expectation of Christ’s coming to one of rejoicing at the arrival of God’s kingdom with the coming of Jesus.

The Scripture and Theology of the Third Week of Advent

Old Testament Readings

Readings from the Psalms

New Testament Readings

New Testament readings in the third week of Advent show how believers are motivated to wait patiently for Jesus’ return. James 5:7–10 says that Christians are to be patient (5:7) as they wait, like farmers who wait for their crops to come forth from the ground (5:8). Since the coming of the Lord is at hand (5:8), and since the Judge is standing at the door (5:8), believers must establish their hearts (5:8) and avoid grumbling (5:9). As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 says, patience should be accompanied by rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving as well as abstaining from evil. God is faithful, and he is the one who will sanctify us, so Christians can be sure that we will be kept blameless at Christ’s second coming. Only God’s power can do this, and “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). Philippians 4:4-7 continues the theme of rejoicing, because God’s peace for those in Christ will guard our hearts and minds.

Gospel Readings

Gospel readings for Advent III return to John the Baptist, but in a way that points from him to Jesus. In Matthew 11:2-11, John hears rumors about what Jesus was doing and asks him (through his disciples) “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Jesus responds to John’s followers: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (Matt. 11:4-5). Jesus’ answer is incredibly fitting—“look at what I’m doing,” he says. “You know that the Messiah will bring healing to those in need, and that’s exactly what I bring.”

Jesus goes on to say that John the Baptist is indeed the forerunner spoken of in Malachi 3:1 (11:10). No one born has been greater than John the Baptist, but “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (11:11).

John 1:6–8, 19–28 tells us more about John the Baptist’s role. John the Baptist came as a witness, “to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him” (John 1:8). John was not the light, but he came to bear witness about the light, Jesus Christ the Lord. People asked John if he was the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet (predicted by Moses in Deut. 18:15, 18), and he said that he was not (1:20–22). He said, “I am the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (1:23) (from Isaiah 40:3).

John’s interaction with the people becomes clearer in Luke 3:7–18 when he called the crowds coming to him a brood of vipers (3:7). Apparently the people were boasting that they were in Abraham’s line, but John told them that this was of little use, for “God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (3:8). John says that “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (3:9).

The crowds asked, “So what should we do?” John’s answer is simple: give what you have (3:11). “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise” (3:11). To the tax collectors, he told them not to collect more than they were authorized (3:13). To the soldiers, he said, do not extort money through threats, and be content with your wages (3:14). According to Luke, in saying this any many other things, John preached of God’s coming kingdom of justice and peace (Luke 3:18).

The Symbolic Spirituality of the Third Week of Advent

The Jesse Tree

During the third week of Advent, the Jesse Tree recounts the story of how God’s people often failed, revealing their deep need for a Savior. The branches on the tree this week are crooked and deathly-looking, with few leaves on them. Through the stories of David (1 Sam. 16:1-23, 2 Sam. 5:1-5, 7:1-17), Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-16, 18:17-46), Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1-19:19, 32-37), Isaiah (Isaiah 1:10-20, 6:1-13, 8:11-9:7), Jeremiah (2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:11), Habakkuk (Hab. 1:1-2:1, 3:16-19), and Nehemiah (Neh. 1:1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22), the Jesse Tree narrates Israel’s fall into exile and her waiting for the Messiah.

The Advent Wreath

A third candle—a pink one—is lit on the Advent Wreath for Advent III. This candle, often called the Shepherd’s Candle or the Joy Candle, represents joy, such as the joy the shepherds experienced when the angel told them that Christ was to be born. The Advent season is now half over, and Jesus’ coming—both his first coming, liturgically, and his second coming, historically—is nearer now than it was two weeks ago.

Rejoicing

More than any other week during the Advent season, Advent III represents a shift in attitude. One moves from hope, repentance, and fear of the coming Judge to rejoicing at the coming of salvation and the kingdom of God as Jesus makes all things new.

These Advent rhythms represent shifts that we often experience in our Christian lives. Some days we feel like the injustices in this world are more than we can handle, some days we anguish over our sin, and others we long for the day when God will finally defeat the last great enemy, death. Advent III helps us move out of these moods and into rejoicing, because God has come to save us and to be with us, and he will come again.

Collect for Advent 3

“Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.”

This post is part of a series on Advent:

Philippians 4:4–7 (Year C) continues the theme of rejoicing, saying that God’s peace for those in Christ will guard the hearts and minds of his people (4:7).

As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 says, patience should be accompanied by rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving as well as abstaining from evil. God is faithful, and he is the one who will sanctify us, so Christians can be sure that we will be kept blameless at Christ’s second coming. Only God’s power can do this, and “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). Philippians 4:4-7 continues the theme of rejoicing, because God’s peace for those in Christ will guard our hearts and minds.