Advent

Something has gotten into me this year. I don’t think in year’s past I’ve necessarily been a “bah humbug” Scrooge, but I haven’t normally felt my current level of intensity about the Christmas season. Sure, as a follower of Jesus, I always love Christmas Eve services and the celebration of Christmas Day; but as the person ultimately responsible for the teaching series in our church, the weeks leading up to Christmas tend to be a challenge. How do you tell the same story year after year in a way that is fresh and engaging? I will admit that each year when I sit down to plan the series, I feel a little tired thinking, “How are we going to make Christmas special this year?”

But this year, I feel different. I have a deep yearning to experience Advent. All four weeks of it. I went around wishing people, “Happy First Day of Advent!” on November 27th. I’m watching a video series and reading a couple books of reflections on Advent. I even went out and bought a candle-holder and Advent candles so that I can light them each evening in my home. 

What’s gotten into me? I’m not sure. But I think it may be that for the first time I’m grasping that this isn’t just a story we’re remembering; it’s a story we’re living.

Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” It is a season of transition between what is and what will be. 

Most of us associate Advent with Christmas (and rightly so). At Christmas we celebrate the first Advent, the coming of Jesus, the baby born into our world, who would be our Savior.

But Advent is also our present season. We don’t just celebrate a Savior who came; we wait for a King who is coming. We live in a time of Advent. 

In the first century, the Jewish people were waiting, longing for their Messiah. For the vast majority of them, life was hard. They lived in a world full of economic challenges, racial tensions, and political factions. I’m sure most of them also experienced sickness, broken relationships, grief, loneliness, and uncertainty. When I ponder their lives and then think of our own, I recognize that Solomon was right. There really is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

And yet, into their world “a child is born…a son is given” and he is called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Outside of a few shepherds, some foreign dignitaries, and a couple senior citizens at the temple; it would take thirty years before anyone realized their Messiah had come. But for those who had eyes to see and ears to hear, they saw in Jesus a glimpse of what life could really be, what the world could become. Somehow, in his presence, I think people could begin to imagine a life where there is “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). For with Jesus’ coming came the Kingdom of God, the realm in which God’s dream for the world comes true.

And yet, now 2000 years later, we find ourselves once again in a place of waiting.

I feel the “now and not yet” of the Kingdom. There is so much hope, peace, joy, and love because Jesus came. And yet, all the violence, hate, pain, self-centeredness, and division in our world make it abundantly clear that the Kingdom of God is not yet fully here.

And that is why we need Advent. It’s why we need to retell the story so many of us know so well.

In Advent, we look back to remember Jesus’ birth. It is a reminder of God’s intervention in our world. It is a reminder that he is with us and for us. It is a reminder that hope has come. And yet, as scholar N.T. Wright points out, we don’t just look back in a way that is like going in circles; Advent is more like a bicycle wheel. As the years go round and we celebrate this season, we are also moving forward. We are heading to a destination.

For in Advent, we also look ahead to Jesus’ return. We let ourselves feel all the emotions that come with waiting. We feel the ache. We wrestle with the doubts. We mourn the brokenness in our world. We let ourselves feel the longing to hear him declare, “Behold! I am making all things new!” (Revelation 21:5).

The first Advent brought hope.
In the final Advent, we will realize that hope.

So for now, let’s light a candle and celebrate that the wheel is one turn closer to wonder. 

Let’s wait and walk through this season with a prayer on our lips: “Come, Lord Jesus, come.”