The Meaning of Advent

The Meaning of Advent

Some would say this is the best time of the year! Christmas cookies and TV specials abound. But for Christians, Advent and Christmas means something more. Advent is the time in the Christian Calendar preceding Christmas. There are 4 weeks of Advent and then the 5th week is Christmas. The word “advent” literally means “the arrival of an important person, thing or event”, in this case, the birth of Jesus Christ.

According to Robert Webber, there are actually three advents we are celebrating: “the Advent of Christ's physical birth in Bethlehem, the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, and the Advent of his second coming at the end of history.” We obviously know about the advent of Christ’s physical birth, but what about the other two?

Christmas is more than just a celebration of Jesus being born, it is a realization that by being born he entered into our lives and is still entering people’s lives today! This is a true reason to celebrate.

The last Advent, the second coming, is not one I usually think about during Advent. But in fact, through the birth of Jesus, we were given hope a hope that in the end of time evil will be defeated and Christ will rule. Webber says “What the second coming says to us is that the evil of this world is doomed. It will be judged and burned by fire because God in Christ has already dealt a decisive blow to the powers of evil. God has dethroned these powers and taken away their ability to have ultimate control over history and over our lives (Col. 2:15).” So through the birth of Jesus, we have a hope for the future that cannot be shaken. This is especially helpful to the world now that is dealing with so much evil and death. We can celebrate in the midst of tragedy because God will come again.

So, during this season of Advent, concentrate on not just the physical birth of Christ, but also the wonderful fact that he came into our lives, is still working, and will come again to restore us to Him. The story of Christmas is more than just a babe in a manger, it is the continuing story of Christ and the world.