The Jewish Advent of Jesus: An Invitation Into Israel’s Longing

Before there was a manger, there was a promise.

Before shepherds heard angels sing, Israel heard prophets whisper.

And before the birth of Jesus was celebrated by the nations, it was hoped for, prayed for, and wept for by generations of Jewish men and women who lived with a fire in their bones:
Messiah will come. Messiah will act. Messiah will restore His people.

What Christians call “Advent” did not begin in Bethlehem — it began in the Hebrew Scriptures.

It began in Eden’s echo, in Abraham’s covenant, in David’s throne, in Isaiah’s vision, in exile’s ache, and in the daily prayers of Israel yearning for God’s kingdom.

The birth of Jesus is not a story that appears out of nowhere; it is the flowering of ancient Jewish hopes.
To understand Christmas, we must step into Israel’s story — a story of covenant, exile, promise, and longing.

In this study, The Jewish Advent of Jesus, we will explore the major Jewish themes that form the backdrop of the Messiah’s arrival.

This is not merely the story of a baby being born.
It is the story of Israel’s God fulfilling Israel’s promises in Israel’s Messiah — a deeply Jewish hope that explodes into a salvation for all people.

Welcome to the ancient waiting.
Welcome to the longing of the prophets.
Welcome to the Jewish Advent of Jesus.