THE
KING IS COMING: AN ADVENT MESSAGE
Advent,
perhaps a largely misunderstood liturgical season in the Christian year, begins
today. My aim in this message is to eliminate two common misconceptions of
Advent: namely that Advent and Christmas are one and the same and that Advent
solely prepares for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Advent holds a plurality
of themes and rituals including but not limited to expectation and remembering Israel’s
awaiting of the Messiah. Nonetheless, to relate to global Christians as a part
of the timeless body of Christ, Advent focuses more on Christ’s Second Coming
than his First. Certainly, many of the texts read and songs sung during Advent
focus on the expectation of Christ’s incarnation; yet, we live in a time after
such an event but, nonetheless, await our King’s Second Coming. In the same way
Israel awaited the coming of Messiah, the church presently awaits his Second
Coming and the end of time. The Sunday prior to Advent is known as Christ the
King Sunday and celebrates his dominion over everything. Such a reflection is
appropriate to subsequently reflect upon Christ’s certain return for his people
and the end of time. Therefore, this is an Advent message of hope, for our King
will return.
The
Certainty of Christ’s Return
The
Bible repeatedly announces that Christ will return for his people in bodily
form (Matt 24:44, Acts 1:11, Col 3:4, 2 Tim 4:8, Heb 9:28). Scripture makes no
unclear reference to Christ’s return and an end of history. Scripture teaches
that the Second Coming will be a curse for those who do not know him but a blessing
for those who are his. The Advent season celebrates this coming and its
certainty. Even believers who understand Advent not as synonymous with
Christmas but as a season of expectation often do not associate it with
Christ’s return; yet, Advent is more about the Second Coming than the First
Coming. The certainty of Christ’s return assures Christians reasons to
celebrate.
As
Israel awaited the Messiah, we too await Jesus’ return for his bride. In fact,
to some, Christ’s return could seem farfetched, surreal, or unrealistic. It
might be a distant hope to which people cling but grow weary of believing what
may seem to be an old fable while the glimmer hope slowly dies. Rest assured,
however, that because Scripture guarantees it, Christ’s return will happen.
Remembering
the expectation of the Messiah is only a portion of the Advent season. A
beautiful link to present-day Christians and ancient Israel is the empathy felt
in waiting. Christians know what it is like to await their Savior’s coming. It
is possible, however, that many Christians speak of Christ’s return and perhaps
even believe it yet do not live as if it is certain. Since Christ’s return is
sure, should believers’ lives not be impacted? The Advent season reminds the
church that Christ will return. In her waiting, she stands secure and redeemed
before the Father; yet, a day is coming when she will see her bridegroom in the
flesh. Such a truth should resonate with Christians and impact how their daily
lives are guided.
The
Expectation and Eagerness of Christ’s Return
The
church can relate to God’s chosen people, Israel, in that they also await
Jesus’ coming, albeit his Second Coming rather than his First. The word,
Advent, comes from the Latin adventus, which means the arrival of a
deity or the enthronement of an emperor. Historically, the season of Advent has
its beginnings in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Bishop
Perpetuus of Tours decreed a time of fasting from November 1 until Christmas.
Behind this order was an old custom of fasting from November 11 until Epiphany
(January 6). There was no fasting on Saturdays or Sundays; hence, there were 40
days of fasting. By the mid -5th century, references to Advent began
appearing in homilies. The time and length of Advent varied in Roman and
Western churches. In Eastern and Greek churches, references to Advent did not
appear until the 8th century; nonetheless, by this time, Advent
beginning the first Sunday in December or last in November (four Sundays prior
to Christmastide) became the standard.
Advent
is not merely a liturgical ritual; the Advent season reflects on a few themes,
not the least of which is the return of Christ. As Christians are further in
time away from Christ walking this earth in flesh, the eagerness of his Second
Coming becomes more apparent. Advent celebrates, first, the expectation of
Christ’s return. Without an expectation, there cannot be an eagerness.
Believers should expect Christ to return because he said he would; it is a
promise. Because of this expectation then, there should be an eagerness of
Christ’s return. Advent affords the church an opportunity to celebrate with joy
and eagerness the awaited coming of the Messiah. The Advent season has taken a
long path to what exists now; yet, the liturgical cycle of light grants Christians
an opportunity to share with believers of the past who also eagerly awaited the
Messiah. He has come but is coming again. Advent, therefore, represents the
church’s expectation and eagerness of Christ’s return.
Advent’s
Hope for the Season: Christ Will Return
More
than remembering a past expectation of Christ’s incarnation, Advent is relevant
to Christians presently in that the church eagerly awaits his return. While some
may speak of the return of Christ as fictional, it is certain. No one knows how
or when Christ will return; nevertheless, his return is certain. For believers,
this should be a joyful hope. As Advent begins, my prayer for all Christians is
that we would live with the realization that Christ has not yet returned and,
therefore, gives us the opportunity to continue to serve him but also that his
Second Coming is imminent. Let us be a people of eager expectation and joyful longing,
for our King will return.
