Episode 1: Hark the Herald Angel Sing

O Come O Come Emmanuel: 2024 Advent Devotional

Click Here To Listen To the Podcast.

The Advent season is a time of waiting and anticipation, a central theme in the Christian faith. In this first episode of Matt and Lisa Castro’s daily devotional series, O Come O Come Emmanuel, we explore the promise of God that began in the Garden of Eden and find its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus. Waiting is woven throughout Scripture, and as the people of God, we are called to be a waiting people. In this episode, we reflect on the fall of humanity, the promise of redemption, and the hope that sustains us as we await the fulfillment of God's promises.

The Fall and the First Promise

The Christmas story often starts with the manger, the shepherds, and the wise men, but its roots go much deeper—back to Genesis. In the beginning, God created humanity in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden, a place of provision and perfect fellowship. Yet, through the serpent's deceit, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, bringing sin, shame, and separation into the world. Genesis 3 ends with a dark note as Adam and Eve are banished from the garden, but even in judgment, God offers a glimmer of hope.

In Genesis 3:15, often called the Protoevangelium or "first gospel," God declares to the serpent:
"I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
This is the first promise of a Savior—a descendant of Eve who would crush the serpent's head, defeating sin and death. While this promise doesn't specify when or how it will be fulfilled, it sets the stage for the redemptive story of Scripture.

Waiting for the Snake Crusher

The promise of Genesis 3:15 initiates a period of waiting that spans generations. Eve may have believed that her firstborn, Cain, was the promised deliverer, but her hopes were dashed when Cain murdered his brother, Abel. The waiting continued through the patriarchs, the judges, the kings, and the prophets, each generation hoping for the one who would restore what was lost in Eden.

Even Noah, whose father Lamech named him in the hope of relief from the curse, was not the ultimate fulfillment. While Noah was a key character in the flood story, the true Snake Crusher would come much later. The waiting required faith and trust in God’s timing, as Hebrews 11 reminds us of the faith of those who longed for the promise yet did not live to see its fulfillment.

Jesus: The Fulfillment of the Promise

The New Testament reveals that Jesus is the long-awaited Snake Crusher. The apostle Paul draws a direct connection between Adam and Christ in Romans 5:19:
"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous."
Where Adam failed, Jesus triumphed. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus crushed the serpent’s head, defeating sin and death once and for all through the cross. The genealogies in Matthew and Luke emphasize this fulfillment, tracing Jesus' lineage back to Adam, affirming that He is the promised offspring.

As Charles Wesley beautifully captures in the Christmas carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing:
"Come, Desire of Nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home. Rise, the woman’s conquering seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head."
This often-overlooked verse echoes the promise of Genesis 3:15 and points us to the victory of Christ.

Christmas: A Celebration of Fulfillment and Faith

Christmas is a season of both joy and reflection. It celebrates the fulfillment of God's promise in Jesus, born in Bethlehem, and reminds us of the faith of those who waited for His coming. Like them, we live in a time of waiting—not for Christ's first arrival, but for His second advent. Our faith looks back to the manger and the cross, but it also looks forward to the day when Christ will return to make all things new.

As we journey through this Advent series, may we remember that the story of Christmas is rooted in God’s grace and His promise to restore what was broken. Jesus, the warrior and Snake Crusher, has come, fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3. Now, we wait in faith for His second coming, trusting in His ultimate victory.

A Resource for Reflection

For those looking to deepen their understanding of the grand story of Scripture, children’s Bibles like Kevin DeYoung’s The Biggest Story Bible Storybook offer a clear and accessible way to see how every part of the Bible points to Jesus. These resources are not just for kids—they can help adults grasp the overarching narrative of God’s redemptive plan.

As we reflect on the promise of God in Genesis 3 and its fulfillment in Christ, may this Advent season deepen our gratitude for God’s faithfulness and our anticipation of His return. Let us rejoice together: "Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!"