Advent and the Jewish Messianic Hope

Centuries prior to the coming of Messiah, Jewish rabbis methodically and passionately taught the people of Israel that Messiah was coming. They taught that the people should be ready to embrace their King when he appeared. They emphasized the need for holy living and obedience to God's law. There were a number of Jewish sects at the time who expressed and worked out these ideas in unique ways, all painting the backdrop that we read about in the New Testament gospel accounts - a period of time bursting with expectation and tension. All the people of Israel, from the highest religious leaders to the lowliest shepherds and fishermen shared this sense of impending Advent. This message explores the historical backdrop to the Christmas story, connecting the sense of immanence of the first Advent to the second coming, and examines the role played by the Jewish people, both then and now.