Advent
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 04 Dec 2011 in From Steve's Study ::
Some of you may know that last Sunday was the “first Sunday in Advent”. Many of you will have heard of “Advent” (even if only through “Advent Calendars”), but my guess is that many won’t know what it’s about. So, let me enlighten you.
The word “advent” means “coming” & it marks the start of the church’s calendar for the year. This period was set aside as a time of preparation for the coming of Christmas. You’ll have noticed, I’m sure, that the shops have been “preparing for Christmas” for some time, but Advent is not about getting all the Christmas shopping done.
As we wait for Christmas Day, when we celebrate the coming of God’s Son into the world, the season of Advent is set aside as a time to remember the Israelites who, before Jesus’ birth, were awaiting the promised Messiah. Christmas Day heralded the consummation of all they had hoped for.
But it is not just a time for looking back, it is also a time for looking forward. For, just as the Israelites were awaiting their Messiah, so too, we wait for the return of that same Messiah. As we look forward to Christmas celebrations, we can also look forward to that great day when our King will return and when we will be in his presence for ever. Just as the excitement grows each day you open another window of your Advent Calendar, so too our excitement grows, knowing that just as surely as Jesus came over 2000 years ago, he will certainly return soon.
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