Anticipating the Advent: Looking for Messiah in All the Right Places

by William Varner

Most Christmas books focus on the light and joy of the season. Anticipating the Advent , however, portrays the dark side of Christmas because only then will the Light shine the brightest. On the night when the host of heaven sang "Glory to God in the highest," they were arrayed to do battle with the evil forces who wanted to kill the promised child. This seed of Eve was coming to crush the enemy's head (Gen 3:15) and destroy the Devil's power (Heb 2:14). Old Simeon would tell the young mother Mary that, because her son would be the Messiah, a sword would pierce through her soul (Luke 2:35). In so many ways it was a "Not So Silent Night."

Genres: Nonfiction, Christmas, Biblical Studies

138 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful to read through yearly during December. Also a good resource for the pastor to get “Christmas sermon” text ideas.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim volume is a helpful overview of the identity of Israel’s Messiah, as foretold throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and fulfilled in the New Testament.

[NinaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his short book, Dr Varner expertly unpacks the context surrounding the Nativity story. He helps the reader see a better picture of what life was like, how the Jews thought, how the culture was before, during and after the Christmas story. He brings characters to life, all the way from Adam and Eve. He explains how the OT prophecies are fulfilled in Christ. I highly recommend this book, not just for advent reading, but for a better understanding of the significance of the Incarnation of the Word for the world.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that provides historical and cultural context around the fulfillment of Messianic prophesies. I cannot wait for the Christmas season this year so our family can read it together!

[Louis Lapides · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past fifty years or more I have been fascinated with Old Testament Messianic prophecies. I have always wanted to know what these prophecies are, how they were understood by the original audience, then interpreted by later readers and finally what these divine inspired utterances meant to the rabbis.

When I discovered William Varner’s next book focused on messianic prophecy as it relates to Christmas, I greatly anticipated its release. Varner himself admitted in the book that teaching Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah has dominated his life. After reading Will’s passion for interpreting messianic prophecy, I wanted to not only read his book, but give it to others asking similar questions.

Varner begins by examining the well known passage from Luke 24 describing Jesus’ post resurrection appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The disciples were distraught because they felt after the death of Jesus, He failed to bring political redemption to Israel. Nor did He usher in a time of lasting peace. Varner brings out how Jesus used the disbelief of the two disciples to explain the importance of messianic prophecy as part of the search for Jesus’ true identity.

The theme of suffering preceding the glorification of the Messiah runs deep throughout “Anticipating the Advent.” This is a very familiar thought in any book on the messianic prophecies of the Bible. However, Varner does a masterful job connecting this theme to the Christmas story itself.

Overall, the book examines these advent prophecies and how Jesus did fulfill them. The author spends time on the development of messianic prophecies by Old Testament authors. In addition, the reader is given a meaningful survey of the major rabbinical interpretations of these messianic passages. This leads Varner to examine how the unbelieving Jewish community has understood messiah prophecy throughout its literary history.

As the “Anticipating the Advent” unfolds, the reader is taken through the important messianic prophecies surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Varner looks at the messianic promises of Genesis 3:15 and 49:10. Once again Varner takes every opportunity to connect Jesus’ discussion with the two disciples in Luke 24 to the Advent prophecies that speak clearly or imply the suffering of the messiah and His resurrection victory.

Any person unfamiliar with the Messianic properties of Numbers 24:17 and Micah 5:2 will find Varner’s exposition of the passages are in depth and practical. Plus the author does not overlook interpretation issues that have stumped Bible expositors for centuries. Neither does the author fail to address the rabbinical objections to the Christian interpretation of these messianic texts. Will is very fair in his representation of the rabbinical perspective and provides the reader will a thorough overview of the major rabbinical objections.

In the end Varner summarizes the messianic themes found in the Advent prophecies: the place of Messiah’s coming (Micah 5:2); the manner of the Messiah coming (Isaiah 7:14); the time of the Messiah’s coming (Daniel 9); the purpose of Messiah’s coming (Isaiah 53).

There is so much helpful information contained in this short book of 121 pages plus an extensive section on further reading for anyone who wants to delve deeper into messianic prophecy especially as it relates to the celebration of the Messiah’s birth.

[Adam Lambdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Varner has studied Judaism at an advanced level in graduate school and has taught Greek and biblical studies for years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He really brings vast amount of knowledge to the table in this volume. The chapters are really devotional, but there is a lot of background studies and exegetical notes in each chapter. The chapters are not long, and he packs a lot of information into each one. I highly recommend this book for a great study of the dynamics of Christ's first advent.

[Nate Youtzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be clear: this is Anticipating the Advent, meaning that the book is about what leads up to the birth of Christ. Varner does a fantastic job walking through various prophecies and historical situations that led to the birth of Messiah, and he does so in a clear and simple manner.

[Charity U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Varner intrigues and delights with his insight into events surrounding the birth of Christ. A small book, easily read and greatly enjoyed.

[Ashlea Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information about Jesus as Messiah. I appreciated the Scirptural prayers at the end of each chapter.

[Brittany Burkhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to prepare your heart for Christmas! I loved going through the prophecies about Jesus in preparation for celebrating His birth.