We are entering the Advent season this week. This past Sunday, many churches lit the first candle of the 4-week tradition: HOPE.
I’m currently a part of a team that is building a float with the Advent theme for an upcoming Christmas Parade. We wanted to pick something that honored Jesus and pointed to the real reason for the season. So, I wanted to ensure that I understood the value and importance of this centuries-old practice.
What is Advent?
Advent comes from the Latin word “Adventus,” meaning arrival or coming. The first word/candle – “Hope” – speaks to that longing for something that is to come.
In Christ, we have an eternal hope. We can look back and see that hope has been woven throughout history, pointing backwards and forwards, yet is something we still hold tightly for today. The blessing of Christ was foretold from the beginning, starting in Genesis with the promise to Abraham: “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:17-18, NIV.)
We see the hope of this coming King written in the pages of the Old Testament repeatedly and can see that it was something anticipated by the Jewish people throughout history. Hope for the coming Messiah.
He didn’t look like what they thought though. He came in the least likely form…a baby. But what greater thing to bring hope than the coming of a child?
Then after Jesus’ ministry on earth, his suffering and death, there was another hope…His resurrection. The death of the Savior would have been meaningless had he not defeated death. The resurrection is the answer to our hope as people who have moved into new life in him; because he suffered and died for us, and then also rose from the dead, we have an eternal hope that does not fade.
We can stand in anticipation of his return to take us home with him into the fullness that is to come. Hope sees the frankincense and myrrh at Jesus’ birth, knowing full well that those are used as a preparation for death yet also trusting that the resurrection is coming. Hope sees Jesus’ body hanging on the cross, lifeless and beaten beyond recognition and yet does not waver. Hope waits – centuries – for the return of our promised King knowing that he always does what he says. Hope holds on when there is no earthly reason to believe but there is a heavenly one.
Peace and Joy
The second week of Advent represents “Peace.”
As they waited for the birth of the Messiah, Joseph was brought peace about Mary’s pregnancy when the messenger came to him in his dream and told him not to fear. The turmoil in his spirit about how to handle his betrothed’s situation was put to rest in this one message.
In our world, people often tout peace as a lack of fighting or war. There are those who don’t speak up or talk about certain subjects to try to keep the peace. However, Scripture says in Isaiah 26:3 (NIV), “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Then in Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus gives us a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. He sets our hearts at ease when everything around us seems to be falling apart, we are walking through excruciating pain, those we love die or fall ill with impossible diagnoses, relationships fall apart despite all of our best efforts and the list goes on. Christ’s peace isn’t a lack of conflict or suffering, it is a calm when the storm continues raging on all around us.
Week three is Joy.
It is the only one represented by a light pink candle, while the other weeks are represented with the color purple and represent: repentance, spiritual preparation and the royalty and Kingship of Jesus. Pink points to the rejoicing that comes as we expectantly wait for the birth of our Lord and King.
A scripture that is often used this week is Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV), “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Joy surpasses happiness because we can experience the joy of the Lord no matter what is going on around us. This is really what marks all of these words that are a part of Advent. None of them are dependent on our external circumstances.
True Love and stepping into Advent
This is also true of Love, which is the final week of Advent.
In Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV), Jesus tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Additionally, 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV) says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
Love is the culminating word for a powerful reason. Our love for Christ is what compels us to walk in obedience to him. Our love for Him drives our ability to seek him and ask for His help in times of need in order to seek the hope that he offers, the peace that surpasses understanding and the joy unspeakable, despite what is going on around us.
The only reason we can do any of this though is because of his great love for us. 1 John 4:19 (NIV) says, “We love because he first loved us.”
His love gives us the capacity to love him and others the way he loves. His Spirit living inside us causes our hearts to change and become more like his, with the capacity to love others when it is hard. He gives us the ability to chose to love others despite their brokenness and terrible choices, even when it seems impossible. He helps us to see people as he sees them and to love as he loves.
So, as we step into the Advent season, I hope that it is with a sense of awe for all Christ has done for us.
For some of us, we might be walking in a season of thanksgiving and everything currently going smoothly. In that, we can give thanks for the good that the Lord has made possible in this moment.
However, others may be facing terrible circumstances right now. Some may be walking in grief or pain, facing terrible loss or illness. The Advent season points us back to the great hope that we have in Christ no matter what we are walking through right now. It shows us that we can walk in peace that doesn’t make sense despite what we may be experiencing and shows us how to walk in joy despite suffering because Jesus suffered for us.
He died in our place so that despite our current sufferings, we can hold onto the hope that he is good in all things and when things don’t make sense, we can trust that his goodness and mercy are greater than our current pain. He is working all things out for our good and his glory in every single thing we are walking through right now.
Christ’s hope is better because it can’t be taken away. His peace is better because it isn’t dependent on circumstances. His joy is better because we can still feel it in our suffering. His love is better because it doesn’t end.
