Come, Lord Jesus!

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20 ESV)

Happy Advent! I know, you expected me to say, “Merry Christmas!” now that it’s December, didn’t you? Well, of course I do wish you a Merry Christmas, but it’s not Christmas yet . . . for as of this coming Sunday, December 2, we enter a new church year and a new church season, namely, the season of Advent. Advent means “coming” and refers to someone or something that is approaching us or arriving. It is applied to the four weeks leading up to Christmas as we anticipate the coming of only one very special person: Jesus Christ our Lord. The season of Advent is a time of preparation, prayer, and pondering about Jesus’ birth and why he came to earth to become one of us.

Advent is a season with its own special traditions: special songs and hymns like “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” the Advent wreath, special wall banners, Advent calendars, and even the Advent Buzzard (ask me about that one some time!). It’s a season to be enjoyed and experienced for itself, and not just four weeks to get through before the real celebration of Christmas.

Unfortunately, for our culture around us, Advent has totally disappeared and been replaced by the season of “Let’s shop and party and get stuff.” To our society, the Twelve Days of Christmas are the last twelve shopping days before Christmas, rather than the real twelve days that begin on Christmas and last until January 6, the Epiphany,  when we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men. Even in many churches, Advent is squeezed out as they move straight from Thanksgiving to Christmas in decorations, song choices, and programs. (Okay, as pastor, I did some of that, too!)

Advent is an important time for Christians because we know that the true meaning of Christmas is more than parties, decorations, songs about grandmas and reindeer, and gifts. It is about more than even the sentimental “family-discovers-the-true-meaning-of-Christmas” TV specials this time of year (none of which actually gets around to mentioning the name of Jesus!). Advent reminds us each year of just who Jesus is and why we needed him to come to us, how we were lost in our sins and unable to save ourselves. We are reminded of the prophecies that foretold His birth and sacrifice for our forgiveness. It truly prepares us to celebrate His birth with our eyes and hearts and minds wide open to the wonderful life-giving miracle of God becoming man.

But Advent is about more than just pre-Christmas preparation, because during Advent we recognize that Christmas is only one of three ways that Jesus comes to us. There are actually three Advents:

3. Advent #1 – Christmas, the birth of Jesus of Nazareth when the eternal Son of God took on flesh and became one of us. This Incarnation was essential for Jesus to become our sacrifice on the Cross.
4. Advent #2 – the Parousia, a fancy church-word for the Return of Christ, when he comes in power and great glory to judge the living and the dead and to gather His people to be with him.
5. Advent #3 – our Conversion, when we are born again through water and the word, receiving Jesus Christ and His Spirit when we believe and are baptized. This is the individual Advent each of us needs.

In the weeks ahead, you will be challenged by the society around you to skip over Advent and move straight to a secular celebration of “The Holidays.” Now, it’s okay to enjoy a secular celebration such as New Years at this time of year. It’s even okay to enjoy the secular traditions which have become part of Christmas, accumulated like barnacles onto the core celebration of Christ’s birth. Just don’t let society rob you of the rich meaning of Advent, for Advent can prepare you to understand and await eagerly the coming of our Lord. And it can do so in ways that no special sale (in-store or online), holiday special (sentimental or funny), or holiday party (family or office) can do. So have a Happy Advent – and a joyous Christmas – too!

May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

Read: John 3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 22:6-20