Today is December 1st, the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of Hope! Advent is a season to consider our lives between the two great advents. Advent means arrival, and in this season we remember the hope that Jesus brought to the world when he came to earth. We also remember the hope that Jesus will bring when he returns to earth again to make all things new! And even though our lesson today was about a guy from the Old Testament, it is filled with hope for the future.
Remember, in our journey through the Bible, we have come to a dark time where Judah has been taken captive by Babylon. And in the midst of that reality, a prophet named Ezekiel was given a vision by God. He saw a valley filled with bones, and God told Ezekiel to tell the bones to come to life, having been given breath by God. The craziest sight happened as the bones began to rattle and come together to form humans. Tendons, flesh, and then even breath surrounded and filled the bones, and dead things came to life. The vision was a representation of God's plan to restore Israel, reviving the two kingdoms as one in covenant with God forever.
This story and this season are the best reminder to us that Jesus, known also as Immanuel (God with us), does not just have the power to heal, but he brings dead things to life. We have hope for the future when we trust in him. As you continue the conversation this week, start your Advent season by remembering and looking forward in hope. Try establishing or highlighting a new family tradition that brings forth the real hope for the world.
As usual, some questions to get your conversation going...
Elementary
- If you saw the vision that Ezekiel saw, how would you react? Confused? Scared? Excited? Amazed?
- How do we find hope in Ezekiel's vision for Israel? How do we find hope in Jesus?
Preschool
- What do bones do? Can you walk around if you are just bones? What else do your bones need to make you you?
- Who is the only one with the power to bring bones back to life? How does knowing that God can make things come back to life make you feel?