Here are the meditations for the third week of Advent. You can find the second week’s meditations here.
Photo Credit: Gingerburn via Compfight cc
Third Sunday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 25:1-9; 26:1-end
- Luke 3:1-17
- Rev. 21:9-22:5 (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Catechism Review
Use this day to review the Advent Catechism.
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Third Monday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 30:19-31:9
- Mark 7:1-23
- 1 John 1:1-2:6 (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-10
Meditation:
Right after Isaiah gives the promise of the coming Branch of Jesse, he gives another promise about this coming king. Not only will the Branch of Jesse rule with justice and faithfulness, but He will fill all the earth with the knowledge of the Lord (Is. 6:9). Everyone will know the true God and worship Him.
As a result of this worldwide knowledge, the world will be filled with great peace—a peace that hasn’t existed on earth since the Garden of Eden. Isaiah says that even the animals will be at peace with us and with each other: the wolves and the lambs, the lions and the calves.
When Jesus was born, angels appeared to shepherds and sang to them about ‘peace on earth,’ a peace that began with the birth of Jesus. When Jesus grows up and begins preaching, He begins to fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord. After Jesus dies, is resurrected, and ascends into Heaven, His people continue to tell nations how to worship Jesus, the One True God.
As knowledge of Jesus spreads through the earth, His peace goes with it. Jesus is the Lion of Judah; He is also the Lamb of God. Because Jesus is both Lion and Lamb, He alone can bring to earth a peace that will cause the lions to lie down with the lambs. Though this peace has not yet come, we wait for it eagerly. For it will come—finally and forever—when Jesus comes, not as a baby in a manger, but as the King and Judge of the World.
Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Branch of Jesse. But Jesus’ birth is only the first part of Isaiah’s great promise. At Christmas we also remember that Jesus is coming again, and when He does, the justice and peace He will bring will be far greater than any this world has ever known.
Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
Advent Tree Ornament: a lion and lamb together
Inscription: “The Lion and the Lamb”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
Third Tuesday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 38:1-20; 40:1-11
- Mark 7:24-8:10
- 1 John 2:7-end (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Prince of Peace
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25; Colossians 1:13-20
Meditation:
Later in his book of prophecy, Isaiah gives us another word-picture promise of Jesus. He writes that the coming King who will deliver His people from their gloom and anguish. Though they lived in a land of deep darkness, this coming King will shine a great light on them, a light of salvation and knowledge. The delivered people will rejoice at their rescue from suffering and war.
But Isaiah adds an interesting detail: this coming King will be a child. He says that the people will rejoice ‘for to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder’ (Is. 9:6). Because of the New Testament, we know that this child is Jesus Himself, the baby whom the shepherds and wise men and angels came to see.
Isaiah says that Jesus will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Is. 9:6). The Kingdom of Jesus will grow and grow until it fills the entire world. And wherever this Kingdom is, peace will be also (Is. 9:7).
Matthew quotes Isaiah’s word-picture when he tells about Jesus beginning his ministry (Mt. 4:12-17). Jesus doesn’t act like a typical king. He doesn’t announce Himself with trumpets and armies. Instead, Jesus shows that He is the Promised Prince of Peace by healing His people of diseases and forgiving their sins. As He does this, He announces ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt. 4:17)—the Kingdom of Jesus has entered the world.
And this Kingdom will grow until it fills all the world. Paul tells us that Jesus will make peace between Himself and everything in Creation. He will make peace by the blood of his cross (Col. 1:20). Jesus truly is the Prince of Peace, and Christmas is the day when we celebrate His arrival and the beginning of the Kingdom of Jesus.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
Advent Tree Ornament: a dove and crown
Inscription: “The Prince of Peace”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
- Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace? Because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
Third Wednesday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 40:12-end; 41:1-29
- Mark 8:11-9:1
- 1 John 3 (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Great Shepherd
Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11; John 10:1-30
Meditation:
Another way that Isaiah describes the coming King is as a Great Shepherd. Isaiah says, ‘He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young’ (Is. 40:11). This Great Shepherd will come to His people with power and might (Is. 40:10), but He comes to comfort them, because their sin has been forgiven (Is. 40:1-2)
Many, many years later, Jesus told His listeners that Isaiah was talking about Him: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep…My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:11, 27). Jesus explains here how the sins of His people will be forgiven—because He will die for them.
But if the Great Shepherd dies, who would care for His sheep? Jesus answers this question by telling His listeners, ‘I lay down my life that I may take it up again…I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again’ (John 10:17-18). Jesus dies for His sheep so their sins can be forgiven. But He also rises from the dead, to bring them comfort forever.
As we’ve talked about many times already, Christmas is the glorious celebration of the coming of the Great Shepherd, the Branch of Jesse, the Prince of Peace, the Promised Child. But we also remember that Christmas is only the beginning of the story. As wonderful as Christmas is, even greater, more marvelous things are to come from this little Child.
Jesus is the Great Shepherd because He lays down His life for His sheep—and takes it up again.
Advent Tree Ornament: a shepherd’s crook
Inscription: “The Great Shepherd”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
- Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace? Because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
- Why is Jesus the Great Shepherd? Because He lays down His life for His sheep—and takes it up again.
Third Thursday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 42:1-43:13
- Mark 9:2-32
- 1 John 4 (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Suffering Servant
Scripture: Isaiah 53:1-7
Meditation:
Isaiah’s book of prophecies also contains word-pictures about God’s people, word-pictures about us. Isaiah describes us as unruly sheep that do not listen to their master, the shepherd. He says, ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way’ (Is. 53:6). We are full of disobedience and rebellion.
But our Great Shepherd did not abandon us to our sin; He did not forsake us or give us over for sacrifice or slaughter. Instead, the Great Shepherd Himself became a sheep and stood in our place, taking the punishment we deserved. Isaiah describes this Great Shepherd as a Suffering Servant, one who ‘was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth’ (Is. 53:7).
This Suffering Servant was the great deliverer of God’s people, but no one realized it. In fact, he was despised and rejected by men, a ‘man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted’ (Is. 53:3-4). No one paid him any attention, and expected nothing from him. But Isaiah tells us that the Suffering Servant ‘grew up before [the Lord] like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground’ (Is. 53:2)—just like the Branch of Jesse.
Of course, we know that the Branch of Jesse is Jesus. And we know also that the Suffering Servant is Jesus, the One who ‘was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed’ (Is. 53:5).
Jesus is the Branch of Jesse, who grew up out of the dry ground. He is the Great Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep. And He is the Suffering Servant, who became a man so that He could suffering in the place of all His people. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, the celebration of His becoming a human. And it is the celebration of our deliverance from sin and death.
Jesus is the Suffering Servant because He saves His people by suffering their punishment in their place.
Advent Tree Ornament: a sheep beside a cross
Inscription: “The Suffering Servant”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
- Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace? Because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
- Why is Jesus the Great Shepherd? Because He lays down His life for His sheep—and takes it up again.
- Why is Jesus the Suffering Servant? Because He saves His people by suffering their punishment in their place.
Third Friday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 43:14-44:23
- Mark 9:33-end
- 1 John 5 (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Exile of Israel
Scripture: Isaiah 53:8-10
Meditation:
After the days of King Solomon, Israel fell into deep wickedness. They rejected God as their King, ignored His law, and began worshiping other gods. When God sent them prophets to warn them about the consequences of their disobedience, the Israelites ignored the warnings and killed the prophets.
Finally, God brought judgment to His people, just as He said He would. God brought Israel out of slavery and into the Promised Land. When the Israelites rejected God as their King, He punished their rebellion by driving them out of the Promised Land and back into slavery. Foreign armies conquered the Israelites and dragged them away from their homes to a different land. This entire time of Israel’s history, the time when they were absent from the Promised Land, is known as the Exile. God exiled His rebellious people because of their great wickedness.
This was not the first time that God’s people had been rebellious. In fact, since the time God brought Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea, the Israelites had rebelled many, many times against God. In all of these rebellions, they stopped obeying God’s commands and did what they wanted to do instead. Though God was always faithful to bring Israel to repentance and to restore them, it would only be a matter of time before Israel would rebel again.
How would these rebellions stop? Isaiah gives us the answer in his word-picture about the Suffering Servant. Isaiah says that this ‘man of sorrows’ (Is. 53:3) not only suffered death for His people, but He was also ‘cut off out of the land of the living’ (Is. 53:8). These are the words used in the Old Testament to describe exile. Though the Suffering Servant ‘had done no violence’ (Is. 53:9), yet He was exiled from the Promised Land, just as if He had rebelled against God.
We already know that the Suffering Servant is Jesus. Isaiah says that when Jesus died on the cross, He was also exiled—sent far away from God. Because Jesus suffered the punishment we deserved, our sins are forgiven. Because Jesus suffered the exile from God that we deserve, we have been brought close to God, forever. Jesus willingly suffered exile from God in order to bring you and me into the Promised Land—to make us sheep in His flock.
Jesus is the Exile of Israel because He was sent far from God in order to bring His people near to God.
Advent Tree Ornament: a city wall in ruins beside a barren tree
Inscription: “The Exile of Israel”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
- Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace? Because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
- Why is Jesus the Great Shepherd? Because He lays down His life for His sheep—and takes it up again.
- Why is Jesus the Suffering Servant? Because He saves His people by suffering their punishment in their place.
- Why is Jesus the Exile of Israel? Because He was sent far from God in order to bring His people near to God.
Third Saturday in Advent
Meditation and Prayer
For Meditation:
- Isaiah 44:24-45:25
- Mark 10:1-31
- 2 John (optional)
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory now and for ever. Amen.
Advent Tree: Jesus is the Returning Exile
Scripture: Isaiah 53:10-12; Psalm 2; Matthew 28:18-20
Meditation:
After years in exile in foreign lands, God returned the exiles to the Promised Land. Led by Ezra and Nehemiah, the Israelites cleared the rubble of the temple and rebuilt it. Then, they rebuilt the ruined walls around Jerusalem. Though the people rejoiced to no longer be in exile, yet they were sad. The rebuilt city and temple were far less beautiful and well-built than they were in the days of David and Solomon. In fact, when the foundation of the temple was finished, several of the old men and priests wept—the new temple was far inferior to the old one (Ezra 3:12; Hag. 2:3).
God had been faithful to Israel even in their exile. He brought them to repentance and restored their obedience to Him as their King and their God. Then, He brought them back to the Promised Land and to a rebuilt Jerusalem and a new temple. But rebellion and sin had its consequences. The glory of the former days was gone and would not return any time soon.
But Isaiah gave the people comfort in his word-picture of the Suffering Servant. The ‘man of sorrows’ suffers punishment, death, and exile for His people. But He does not stay in exile for long. Like Israel, God is faithful to bring the Suffering Servant back—He is faithful to raise Jesus from the dead.
And when God does so, He gives to the Suffering Servant ‘a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors’ (Is. 53:12). Israel returned from exile to a far less glorious city and temple. But when the Suffering Servant returns from exile, He comes into an inheritance. God says to Him, ‘I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession’ (Ps. 2:8). Jesus Himself declares, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’ (Mt. 28:18).
Jesus, the Suffering Servant, endured the punishment of His people, went into exile instead of His people, and returned from exile to establish a Kingdom of glory that will last forever. The Kingdom of Jesus is far superior to any kingdom that has ever been known on earth before—a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
This promise of a lasting, enduring Kingdom gave Israel hope that one day, glory would return to their land and city and temple. At Christmas we celebrate the glorious truth that the Suffering Servant has been born. He has already endured our punishment, faced exile, and been restored. Jesus is the Suffering King, whose Kingdom is now at hand.
Jesus is the Returning Exile because He returns from afar to inherit a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Advent Tree Ornament: a rebuilt city wall beside a flowering tree
Inscription: “The Returning Exile”
Advent Catechism:
- Why is Jesus the Light of the World? Because He brings us out of the dark and into the Light of His Kingdom.
- Why is Jesus the Serpent-Crusher? Because He crushed the head of Satan by dying on the Cross.
- Why is Jesus the Ark of Salvation? Because He saves us from the flood of punishment our sins deserve.
- Why is Jesus the Promise of Abram? Because He blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Lamb of Isaac? Because He died in our place.
- Why is Jesus the Ladder of Jacob? Because He takes care of us always, even when we sleep.
- Why is Jesus the Coat of Joseph? Because He was torn and bloodied in our place.
- Why is Jesus the New Moses? Because He teaches us God’s commands and makes us able to obey them.
- Why is Jesus the New Joshua? Because He is our Captain, who leads us in battle and brings peace to the Land.
- Why is Jesus the New Boaz? Because He rescues and protects us.
- Why is Jesus the New David? Because He also is a Shepherd-King, who kills the Giants that threaten His people.
- Why is Jesus the New Solomon? Because He is the Wise King who blesses all the families of the earth.
- Why is Jesus the Branch of Jesse? Because He rules with justice and faithfulness in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Why is Jesus the Lion and the Lamb? Because He alone will bring lasting peace to the world.
- Why is Jesus the Prince of Peace? Because He makes peace with all things by the blood of His cross.
- Why is Jesus the Great Shepherd? Because He lays down His life for His sheep—and takes it up again.
- Why is Jesus the Suffering Servant? Because He saves His people by suffering their punishment in their place.
- Why is Jesus the Exile of Israel? Because He was sent far from God in order to bring His people near to God.
- Why is Jesus the Returning Exile? Because He returns from afar to inherit a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.