“O grant, dear Lord of love, that we receive, rejoicing, the word proclaimed by John, our true repentance voicing, that gladly we may walk upon our Savior’s way until we live with Him in His eternal day.” – LSB 346:4

“Cursed” is a weighty word. Indeed, such is the weight of God’s law upon us sinners. As St. Paul explains in Roman 3: “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The law of God, as recorded by Moses, holds the whole world accountable to God, and since we are all conceived in sin and fall short of the glory of God, therefore the world is cursed beneath God’s good and holy law.

But while all were cursed beneath their sins, the Lord sent John the Baptist to call all to repentance and believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This season of Advent is a time to heed John the Baptist’s call to repentance. It is a time to leave behind our life of sins, and cling in faith to Christ Jesus. God’s law is good and holy, and sets God’s will before our eyes, and the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the law on our behalf, taking away our sin through the atonement on the cross, so that we may have peace and joy.

Although during the Christmas season we focus particularly on the birth of Jesus, we do so on account of the fact that this world is cursed in sin, and the Christ-child came to redeem us from our sin. Thus, the joy of Christmas is much more than pretty decorations, family time, and gift-giving. Our joy flows forth from a clean heart through Jesus’ sacrifice, which leads us to live with Him in His eternal day. The Lord has looked upon our sinful state, our cursed world, and sent the prophet John the Baptist to point us to the Light of the World which no darkness can overcome. May the Christmas lights you enjoy this year remind you of Jesus who shines in the darkness so that You may gladly walk upon our Savior’s way.

A blessed Advent and a holy Christmas to you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.