The Advent season, a period of spiritual preparation leading up to Christmas, parallels Lent’s significance in the Christian calendar. Just as Lent prepares believers for Easter, Advent sets the stage for the celebration of Christ’s birth, the event that initiates the redemptive narrative culminating in Easter. While modern Christmas celebrations often get swept up in commercialism and secular traditions, the core message of Advent remains the birth of Jesus, the King of Kings, and the hope, peace, joy, and love that his arrival signifies.
The first Advent candle symbolizes hope, a concept deeply rooted in Old Testament prophecies. These prophecies, spanning centuries, foretold the coming of a Messiah, detailing his lineage, birthplace, and divine purpose. From the lineage of Abraham through King David, Jesus’s genealogy aligns precisely with these predictions, solidifying his claim as the foretold Messiah. The sheer number of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, estimated between 100 and 400, strengthens the case for his messianic identity. Isaiah’s prophecies, particularly familiar to many, speak of a Messiah who would be a wonderful counselor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, and Everlasting Father. The connection between the Old and New Testaments is further illustrated by the Exodus story and the Passover lamb, a crucial symbol prefiguring Jesus’s role as the sacrificial Lamb of God. The shepherds, traditionally excluded from the temple due to their work with sacrificial lambs, were the first to receive the angelic announcement of Jesus’s birth, a poignant detail linking the Passover lamb to the newborn Savior wrapped in swaddling cloths. While some question the historical accuracy of the Exodus narrative, evidence exists to support the biblical account and its foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice.
The second Advent candle represents peace, a peace understood through the concept of the Incarnation. This doctrine, central to Christianity, proclaims that God, the Creator of the Universe, became flesh and dwelled among humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. This sets Christianity apart from other religions, emphasizing that Jesus is not merely a prophet or teacher but God incarnate. John’s Gospel describes Jesus as the Logos, a term signifying the underlying reality of the universe, encompassing science, philosophy, and the natural world. The Incarnation is not simply an event but a fundamental truth, signifying “God with us.” The Greek word used for “dwelling” in John’s Gospel connects Jesus to the Tabernacle of Moses, the portable dwelling place of God during the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. Jesus, as the incarnate Logos, becomes the living Tabernacle, God dwelling within us. This profound concept underscores the unique claim of Christianity that salvation comes not through human effort but through faith in Jesus, the Son of God, who died for humanity’s sins. This message of grace and redemption starkly contrasts with religions that emphasize self-improvement and moral striving as the path to salvation.
The third Advent candle embodies joy, a sentiment abundantly expressed through Christmas carols and festive traditions. Even in secular environments like New York City, Christmas celebrations resonate with joy, drawing people from diverse backgrounds to participate in events like the “Messiah” sing-along at Lincoln Center. Handel’s “Messiah,” a musical masterpiece, weaves together biblical texts that narrate the story of redemption, proclaiming the coming of Christ and his eternal reign. Christmas carols, while simpler in form, are equally rich in theological meaning, expressing themes of joy, peace, and the Savior’s arrival. These songs, often heard in commercial settings, provide unexpected opportunities for people to encounter the Christmas message even amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
The fourth Advent candle symbolizes love, the ultimate expression of God’s relationship with humanity. As Christmas Eve approaches, the full significance of Christ’s birth comes into focus. Forgetting the true meaning of Christmas, according to Pastor Max Lucado, would be like forgetting the historical significance of the Fourth of July. Christmas is not about commercialism but about the extraordinary act of God entering the world as a humble baby in Bethlehem. This act of divine love demonstrates God’s desire to connect with humanity on the most intimate level. Jesus, born into poverty and obscurity, experienced the full range of human emotions and hardships, enabling him to empathize with every individual’s struggles. This profound empathy is the essence of the Christmas message: God’s unwavering love for humanity, demonstrated through the Incarnation.
The humility of Jesus’s birth underscores the magnitude of God’s love. Born not in a palace but in a manger, Jesus entered the world in the simplest of circumstances. This deliberate choice reveals God’s desire to identify with humanity’s vulnerability and experience life from a human perspective. By becoming one of us, Jesus bridged the gap between the divine and the human, offering a tangible expression of God’s love and compassion.
The message of Christmas, succinctly captured in John 3:16, is “For God so loved the world.” This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the core of the Christian faith. God’s love for humanity is so immense that he sent his only Son, Jesus, to live among us, experience our struggles, and ultimately sacrifice himself for our redemption. This act of self-giving love is the heart of the Christmas story, a message of hope, peace, joy, and love for all people.
