O come, O come, Emmanuel...

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him." Deuteronomy 18.18

Pausing from issues surrounding Christian identity, to acknowledge today as the first Sunday in Advent... This year we are exploring the season through the lens of the prophetic sayings about Jesus. It is estimated that Jesus fulfilled more than 300 prophesies during his earthly ministry. The Gospel writers often point them out.

Why should this matter? Because it establishes the continuity between Old and New Testament portions of the Bible, which are frequently presented in contrast or, even, as if independent of each other. In fact they constitute a coherent, if not always seemly, account of God's faithful dealing with his sinful people. As such, they are our reference point as we sinners struggle to make sense of, and live out faithfully, our own lives before the same faithful God, who is Saviour and Lord.

Come Lord Jesus and fulfil your ultimate promise - to return, bringing heaven to earth, and ushering in the New Creation!