[The following devotional was written by Wildwood Community Church Student Pastor Jonathan Holmes and is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide. We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]
The Genesis of Christmas by Jonathan Holmes
Read: Genesis 3:14-15
When we think of Christmas we usually don’t anticipate turning to Genesis. Our minds most often go to the Gospels or the prophet Isaiah, but the first prophecy of Jesus’ advent is found all the way back in Genesis. God already had a plan to save His people even before day one.
This is when you look back at the passage and go, “Uhhh, What!?! I see no mention of Jesus in this passage!” In v. 15 we find the first predictions foretelling Jesus’ advent, “the seed of the woman.” The phrase “you will strike his heel” refers to Satan’s continued military campaign to sabotage God’s plan. “He will crush your head” foreshadows sin and death’s defeat on the cross and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The reason for the season is the fact that God fulfilled His prophecy found here in Genesis 3, and continues to be true to His Word today. The tragic story of sin and the serpent from the Old Testament might be seen as inappropriate for such a happy time of year. Some may say, “The season of Jesus’ birth is no time to talk of sin and death. What do Adam and Eve have to do with Christmas?” But it has everything to do with Christmas! Now that we know the story of sin in the Old Testament, we can rejoice in the Good News of the New Testament. We cannot separate our joy at Christ’s birth from our desperate need for Him. Unless we understand the tragedy of humanity’s separation from God, then the birth of a baby in a stable will be nothing more to us than just a baby in a barn.
Jesus didn’t come to aid, but to rescue.
Questions:
- What is sin? What are some of the impacts of sin in our lives?
- Does it give you hope that Jesus provides a way to “crush the head” of sin and its effects in your life?
Advent Prayers
- Thank God for fulfilling the promise of salvation.
- Ask God for greater faith in His timing and plan.