The Good News of Advent
“Unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
This is the second week of the Advent season. "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus" which means "coming" or "arrival." Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, Advent is our season for preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Years ago, Bruce and I were new parents looking for ways to establish our own family traditions. We were living in another city far away from our families. Some church friends recommended using an Advent wreath as a means to encourage and facilitate family devotionals during the Christmas season. It was one of the best parenting suggestions we ever received. We struggled with family devotionals during the rest of the year, but Advent was always different.
The Advent wreath is in the form of a circle, has neither beginning nor end, and symbolizes eternity. The greens in the wreath represent life and growth. The four tall candles represent the ages sitting in darkness under the shadow of death. The progressive lighting of the candles on successive Sundays denotes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord's first coming into the world. Lighting the candles reminds us that Jesus is truly the light of the world and has overcome the darkness of sin, evil, and death. Three candles are purple, the color of royalty, and remind us that Christ is the King of Kings. The fourth candle is pink and represents joy. The white pillar candle win the wreath’s center is the Christ child candle. Lighted on Christmas Eve, the Christ Child candle represents Christ's purity. When all five candles are lighted, our four-week Advent season of preparation ends, and our celebration of Christ's birth begins.
Music has been an integral part of Christmas since the angels first announced, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men." Luke 2:14 (NIV)
Our family was blessed to have our special needs son James Bruce with us for 38 years. His language skills were limited, but, oh how he loved music, especially at Christmas. At our family Advent devotional a few years ago, Bruce asked James Bruce what song he wanted to sing. James Bruce quickly said, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Bruce and I laughed because that's not a very "spiritual" song, but we sang it heartily. Then we asked James Bruce for another selection, and he quickly responded, "For Unto Us a Child is Born." We sang that song too. Actually we sang it twice!
In the soft candlelight, I watched James Bruce’s face glow as he joyfully sang:
For unto us a child is born
Unto us, a son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6 and Handel’s Messiah)
Then it hit me. Maybe it wasn't such a strange combination of songs after all. It IS the most wonderful time of the year because a son HAS been given to us. And not just a son, but a Savior. We're not just celebrating Christmas, we're celebrating Christ!
Through the years, the dynamics of our family Advent devotionals changed as our children grew and became adults. We no longer have crying babies, wiggly toddlers, or restless teenagers who fight over blowing out our Advent candles. Since James Bruce’s death, we don’t have as much nightly music either. But the celebration of Advent, however, continues to enrich our lives as we remember the good news of Christmas: God came! He didn’t just come TO us; He came FOR us! We could never save ourselves, but we don’t have to. Jesus came and paid our penalty for sin with his death on the cross. During Advent we look back and remember what Jesus did for us. We also look forward to His Second Advent when He comes to consummate His kingdom and make all things new.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come and is coming! And that is good news!