“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
December is upon us, and the Christmas season is officially here! I love this time of year. I love the decorations, the music and movies, peppermint mochas, and, of course, additional time with friends and family. The Christmas season is special, which is why it’s easy to look ahead and anticipate it with excitement each year. November 30th marked the beginning of the Advent season. The Advent season, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is also a time of remembrance and anticipation. We are reminded of how Mary felt as she anticipated giving birth to a baby who would go on to be the Savior of the World. We are reminded of the humble conditions unto which the Savior was born. We are reminded of how the Shepherds and the Kings sought out the Savior in His manger and looked upon the scene with awe and reverence. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” We are reminded that Jesus Christ came so that ALL may be saved. Today, as we prepare for Christmas, these things are still true; however, Advent points towards a greater anticipation: the second coming of Christ.
As a child, it was hard to be patient during the Christmas season. With each day that passed, gifts that had been prematurely placed under the Christmas tree became harder to resist. I’d be lying if I said that my impatience never got the better of me. I know that there are others who would admit to the same thing, and even more who would admit to getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of our culture’s Christmas season. Contrary to our culture, in the midst of the Advent season the call for Christians is to be patient. This patience was never intended to be a passive waiting, but rather an active one. “For Christians, Advent is the annual opportunity we are given to dissociate ourselves from the bustle of our culture and to learn all over again how to fix our eyes on Jesus and wait on our Lord.” (Unruth 2005: 6; Come and Behold) As we wait this Christmas season, let us watch for Christ, prepare our hearts, and join together with other Christians in anticipation of the coming King.
