This devotional is Day 24 of the 25-Day Advent Series “The Wonders of His Love.” Follow along with us as we grow in grace through the Christmas story by subscribing or bookmaking the home page above!
Scripture: Revelation 22:16-17
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Have you ever thought of Jesus’ birth as a continuous story? Have you seen how it grows and deepens with time?
I’m not talking about a Pinocchio story here. I don’t mean Jesus’ story expands in that people change it and stack new facts onto it.
I mean the beauty of the gospel deepens as the big picture unfolds.
Flip to Revelation 22:16-17 with me and I’ll show you what I mean…
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely” (CSB)
Jesus is describing the future, when He’ll come to reign over a new earth. But do you see the resemblance between His future promises—between the symbols in this passage—and the day He was born? Let me pull out a few:
An Angel will testify of Jesus’ reign…and angels testified of His birth.
Look at Luke 1:30-31 (CSB): “Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
I just love this. Not only does Jesus use an angel to testify of Himself, the Perfect Angel (Exodus 3:2), but He sent angels to the most lowly of people.
As a young single woman, Mary wouldn’t have been given much attention in society. Her job was to work quietly in the background. Yet Jesus chose to send one of His most glorious creatures to announce unthinkable news: He chose her to bring Christ into the world. No longer pre-incarnate Angel, but incarnate babe and Lord.
Later in Luke 2, angels announced Jesus’ birth to poor, dirty Shepherds. Before He was even born, Jesus was making His message clear: “Come.” The message “I see you. I’ll welcome you. You’re not too broken for me.”
Now compare Luke 1:30-33 to our Revelation passage. Do you see it? What the angel prophesied to sweet, lowly Mary, is fulfilled in Revelation 22:16. And it’s not a quiet anticipation anymore. All the churches and all the earth will experience King Jesus.
Jesus calls Himself the bright Morning Star…and a star led people to Him as a babe.
There it is again. Jesus using a symbol of Himself (a star) to draw people to Himself. Think about the wisemen discovering the star and following it to baby Jesus. What message was the star carrying? Yep, there it is again. “Come.”
Jesus put His message in the sky for everyone to see. I don’t think the star was merely a roadmap to the stable. I think it was a hint of what would come.
Jump ahead to Jesus’ crucifixion. What happened on that awful day? The sky was dark. Men’s hearts were dark. Yet there was light—the Star—hanging with open arms. Arms that said “Come.”
Just like the Star in Revelation 22:17.
The star isn’t just a symbol. It’s Jesus’ message of love, and it’s Jesus Himself.
Jesus welcomed all at His birth…and He’s drawing everyone now before His reign.
”Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let anyone who hears, say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come. Let the one who desires take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
The angel called people to Jesus. The star led wealthy men to Him. The open stable welcomed the rejected. The cross drew sinners near. The empty tomb welcomed the dead-in-heart to be raised again. And Jesus shouts His love across the earth: “Come. Escape your judgment.”
He’s always stood with open arms. He came for one purpose—to seek, welcome, and save—and that purpose never changes. He just keeps making it clearer and clearer as time goes on.
So, child, have you come?
It doesn’t matter who you are. Doesn’t matter if you’ve come from wealth and beauty or from a place of humility and rejection. He’s reaching for you. Hear His call. Come.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV).
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About the Author
Hi friend! I’m Abigail. I’m a Piano Pedagogy university student living on quiet moments with Jesus, belly-aching laughter, and strong coffee that sloshes on me too many times a day.
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