The candle for the second Sunday of Advent represents peace and is often called the “Bethlehem Candle” as it symbolizes Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem in anticipation of Jesus’ birth; it is usually purple in color. The scripture for today comes from Isaiah 40. This is a wonderful chapter and verses 1-5 speak of the coming Messiah. Not only do the words compel us to look to the coming Messiah, but you might hear the familiar sounds of Handel’s Messiah ringing in your ears.

“Comfort, comfort my people,”
    says your God.
² “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
    and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
    for all her sins.” Joy is in the offing with the coming Messiah, sins will be pardoned!

Jesus came to reconcile us to God. This is something we cannot do on our own. We can never be good enough nor can we avoid all sin and be perfect as He was perfect. We need a Savior!

 Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
    for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
    for our God!
⁴ Fill in the valleys,
    and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
    and smooth out the rough places.
⁵ Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
    The Lord has spoken!”

Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus, the one who would forgive sins, and John the Baptist, the one who would be his forerunner, were given hundreds of years before they occured. Luke 5:24 “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” John 1:6-8 “God sent a man, John the Baptist, ⁷ to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. ⁸ John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.” They came to pass just as God said!

Today as the Peace or Bethlehem candle is lit on the Advent wreath., think about the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and Mary’s words from the Magnificat in Luke 2:46-48. “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. ⁴⁷ How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
⁴⁸ For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
    and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Mary and Joseph knew they were a part of something big that would impact all of mankind. They were at peace as they depended upon God to lead, guide and protect them. Where do you need to trust God this season? His peace awaits when you surrender to Him.

Linda