Looking Forward to Advent

In the Bible there are lots of things designated as markers, memorials for God's people to remember things that God intended them to remember. They put a pile of stones in the Jordan so they could bring their kids back there, point, and tell them, "Here ... here is where God parted the Jordan for us to cross into the Promised Land" (Josh 4:1-7). A big one was the Passover that they celebrate to this day, a reminder looking back to the Exodus but also to the Lamb of God that would eventually shield them from the Destroyer. Jesus perpetuated that memorial at the end of His life by highlighting a couple of its components -- the bread and the wine -- that pointed to Him, to His sacrifice, to the new covenant God was making with mankind (1 Cor 11:23-26). Passover, then, looked back and looked forward. Back at God's salvation from Egypt and forward to the coming Messiah. And Communion does the same. It looks back at Christ's death and resurrection -- His "It is finished" -- as well as His future return (1 Cor 11:26). It is done "in remembrance" and to proclaim His coming.

I think we ought to be doing the same with Christmas. For us, Christmas looks back. We recall the Advent ("the arrival of a notable person"), the Incarnation (the Son of God becoming carnal -- flesh). We celebrate the miracles -- a virgin bears a son, God takes on flesh, angels sing to shepherds, a star leads followers to Jesus, etc. -- and the events -- the prophecies fulfilled, the visitations of angels, the birth, the shepherds, the magi, etc. -- and it's all good. It's all necessary. It's all important. But I think it's not quite complete. If the arrival of a notable person and the coming of God to our midst 2000 years ago is worth celebrating again and again, I would think the coming of the King in final victory would be equally worth remembering and anticipating. If the Last Supper is a remembrance and "you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Cor 11:26), wouldn't Christmas be of similar value?

One of the key components of Christianity itself is the Return of Christ. We are urged to keep that in mind at all times. Merriam-Webster indicates that "Advent" refers to Christmas and the Second Coming. Paul said that a key part of the gospel is "our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13) and that there would be a crown of righteousness for "all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim 4:8). The day is coming when the Servant Savior whose arrival we celebrate annually at Christmas will return as the Sovereign King, and that day is our blessed hope. There will be another Advent, the arrival of an important person -- the most important Person. Let's keep in mind this Christmas that the arrival of Emmanuel -- God with us -- will be repeated again with all His accompanying glory. And I am so ready for that.