The hope and desire of the early Christian church were expressed in the words “Come, Lord Jesus.” The Aramaic words from which this prayer springs, “Marana-tha,” are rooted in the first church in Jerusalem, and predate the word “Christian.” “Marana-tha” echoed faith in Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples to the end of the age. It expressed the expectation of a day when Jesus would return in power and glory and consummate his eternal kingdom.
These words punctuate the Book of Revelation in which the Apostle John described his vision of the triumph of God’s Kingdom culminating in the establishment of the new heaven and earth. “Come, Lord Jesus!” is the exclamation mark on God’s great work in Jesus Christ. The words “Marana-tha” were part of the earliest communion liturgy of the church (Didache – 100AD). This prayer expressed both the confidence of Jesus’ presence as the church gathered in his name and the expectation of a day when Jesus would return in glory, defeat the powers of sin and darkness once and for all, and consummate his kingdom of life and light for all eternity.
The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus” is, at its core, a prayer for restoration. We, as God’s people, understand that the world and our lives are not as they should be. The world around us is filled with confusion and hopelessness. We, as the church, know that we are not the people we were created to be. We recognize that we are not having the effect upon the world that we were intended to have. So we pray: “Come, Lord Jesus . . . come and renew, come and restore . . . so that our lives, your church, and ultimately all creation may reflect your glory.”
The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus” expresses the hope and expectation of the Advent season. The weeks of Advent are not merely a countdown to Christmas. Rather, they call us to remember that Jesus who was born in weakness and obscurity will return in power and glory to make all things new. It calls us to fix our hearts and hope on God’s eternal Kingdom and to be faithful in our part to see “His Kingdom come; His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This Advent / Christmas Season will focus on this great promise under the theme: “He Will Come.” May we not only celebrate God’s coming to us in Jesus, but also fix our hope on the promise of God’s Kingdom coming.
“Marana-tha – Come, Lord Jesus!”
Grace and Peace,
Steve
Advent – Epiphany 2018
Sunday, December 2 ADVENT 1
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Will Come: Like a Trap To The Unprepared
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Sunday, December 9 ADVENT 2
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Will Come: Like A Refiner’s Fire
Sunday, December 16 ADVENT 3
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Will Come: Looking For The Fruit Of Repentance
3:00-5:00 p.m. – Advent Prayer Station Journey
Sunday, December 23 ADVENT 4
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Will Come: To Lift Up The Humble
Monday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
7:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service: He Will Come: Look At His Light
Sunday, December 30 1st Sunday after Christmas Day
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Will Come: Grow In His Wisdom
Monday, December 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE
7:00 p.m. – Evening Worship: Holy Communion
Sunday, January 6 EPIPHANY SUNDAY
9:00 a.m. – Sunday School
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship: He Has Come: Receive His Abundance
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper