When All the World Was Cursed

Rev. Rick Jones, chaplain and director of spiritual life at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Lutheran Service Book #346, “When All the World Was Cursed.” This hymn for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist also serves well to highlight the Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. God sent John as a preacher of comfort to the world that was cursed under the Law. John’s preaching of repentance was sharp, yet he brought consolation by pointing to Jesus as the Savior. John did that when he leaped in his mother’s womb, and he did that in his ministry by the Jordan River. He pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin; that means Jesus takes away our sin. Therefore, we pray that He would help us to hear the preaching of repentance in faith and so bring us to eternal life with Him. “The Hymns of Advent'' is a series on Sharper Iron that looks at a variety of the hymns found in the Advent section Lutheran Service Book. The season of Advent prepares us for Christ’s coming. The hymns of Advent teach that this is more than getting ready for Christmas; the Word of the Lord sung in hymnody helps us to receive Christ as He comes to us now in the means of grace and when He comes again in glory on the Last Day.