Joy Week ~ Advent and teaching our children about Jesus

Advent has quickly become a natural part of our little family's Christmas traditions. As we entered week 2 and I looked to the rough sketch of my weekly Advent themes, "Joy" seemed the perfect follow up to our week 1 focus on "Light".

I am loosely basing my personal scripture study on one of my favorite passages in Isaiah. Often read, quoted and sung this time of year, Isaiah 9 is rich with messianic prophesy and has been my "go to" for organizing my personal scripture reading in these weeks of Advent.

Here's the passage:

                                                                                   
                                                                                            Isaiah 9:2-7 

                                                                 For to Us a Child Is Born

2  3 iThe people kwho walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of ldeep darkness,

on them has light shone.

3  mYou have multiplied the nation;

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with njoy at the harvest,

as they oare glad pwhen they divide the spoil.

4  qFor the yoke of his burden,

rand the staff for his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken as son the day of Midian.

5  tFor every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

and every garment rolled in blood

will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6  uFor to us a child is born,

to us va son is given;

wand the government shall be xupon4 his shoulder,

and his name shall be called5

Wonderful yCounselor, zMighty God,

aEverlasting bFather, Prince of cPeace.

7  Of the increase of his government and of peace

dthere will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

ewith justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

fThe zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Here's How I broke it down:

Following the thematic order found within the passage, my four weeks of Advent study themes naturally became:

Week 1: Light

Week 2: Joy

Week 3: Peace

Week 4: King Eternal

Christmas Day: GLORY/JESUS

I added the bold effect for a clearer visual. 

These themes are really all about Jesus. Jesus' humanity and divinity is the fulfillment of this passage and prophesy. His life literally points back to passages like these, which would have clued the Jewish people into the fact that Jesus was the living breathing King who God had promised his people, Israel. The Messiah. JOY!

Luke 2:10

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. 11 For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. 

Jesus begins bringing joy from the moment his life begins. And the joy doesn't stop there. Imagine witnessing Jesus' first miracle, the famous "water into wine" at the wedding feast. Jesus doesn't only perform an act of kindness in this story by providing the best wine possible when provisions were running short. Moreover, God incarnate, brings JOY to a wedding feast. Not only not-so-randomly bestowing kindness on a fading party scene, but providing an opportunity for his disciples to recognize that he is God.

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested qhis glory. 

And rhis disciples believed in him. John 2:11 

Jesus' miracle was not only about blessing those in attendance that day...it was a signpost that all people for all of time can experience eternal Joy in Jesus and be united to their Bridegroom in eternal heavenly bliss. John 2:1-11 Tells this JOYFUL story.

So this has become my aim as I take on some Advent scripture, traditions and fun with our little family. I want to tell my children, myself, my friends, my neighbors...all people everywhere...the beautiful story of Jesus. Advent is all about the coming of Jesus, and the GLORY of God.

Our artsy and eclectic Advent calendar tells the story. Our Jesus Storybook Bible Advent readings tell the story. Our Trader Joes Chocolate Advent calendar tells the story. The Advent wreath and candles sitting atop our credenza tell the story.

So each time my children beg to open the little numbered cardboard door of their TJs Advent calendar, full of joy at the prospect of devouring a christmas shaped chocolate, I ask them, "why do we celebrate Advent?" And with a bit of leading they answer, "because Jesus is coming!" And I take 2 seconds to speak out our week's theme of Joy. "Jesus is our JOY!" They consume the chocolate and return to the activity or toy from which they came. 

Each night when we sit down before bed to read through the Jesus Storybook Bible's Advent reading of the day. Amidst the exhausted, silly, uncooperative chaos of bedtime (all three kiddos currently share the same room...imagine that) Jason and I take 2 moments to speak out the week's theme of Joy. Because we desire to fill the routines and rhythms of our lives with the truth of who Jesus is as often as possible. 

It doesn't have to be fancy. For our family, frequency is key. It doesn't have to be expensive. For our family, accessibility is a must. It doesn't have to look or feel picture perfect, but making the reality of Jesus a natural part of the conversations and practices in our home is Christmas at its best. 

My vision for this approach to teaching our kids about Jesus comes from the Shema, which is the Hebrew word for "hear". The Shema can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. 

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

This passage is God's grace to me. A simple and beautiful reminder that loving God can be so very natural. Our family is still finding our way as we learn and grow and practice loving God and loving others. But what a gift it is to know that there is no achievement, accreditation, or program necessary when it comes to teaching our children about Jesus. Its as easy as moving through our daily routines and rhythms and recounting God's goodness all along the way. 

It's ALL about Jesus. What JOY it can be.