16 Days Before Christmas

 

All the children (at the Granger campus) will be singing upstairs in "big-people-church" this weekend. (The kids at the Elkhart site sang at their congregation's Christmas party last Sunday.)

Moms and dads are going on-line here to help their kids learn the songs. Invitations are being sent. Preparations are underway. It's a big deal!

During Advent last year I took this picture. This wonderful young lady added her voice to the chorus of children singing in the Children's program.  She's wearing the color of royalty. She's a daughter of the King.

Purple is the primary color of Advent.

Historically, purple is not only the color of royalty, it's the color of penitence and fasting.

Those familiar with the liturgical calendar might recall that purple is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. As such, it points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death.

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us to reveal God and His grace to the world. But the incarnation is not far separated from the crucifixion. Jesus also revealed God and His grace through His suffering, death and resurrection.

In a reflection of this emphasis, Advent was originally a time of penitence and fasting, just as the season of Lent. So, Advent shares the color of Lent.

Purple reminds us our King is coming.

Even Pilate recognized the royal implications of the color.

John 19:1-5  -  Then Pilate laid open Jesus’ back with a leaded whip, and the soldiers made a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and robed him in royal purple.
"Hail, ’King of the Jews!’ " they mocked, and struck him with their fists.
Pilate went outside again and said to the Jews, "I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty."
Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Behold the man!"