22. His Story
It might be helpful to take some time and grasp the history of Advent. It’s a traditional thing for the church. It isn’t in the Scriptures per-say. There is nothing in the Old testament nor the Gospels that would support that the Jews had an Advent season. That’s kind of obvious though isn’t it?
In the New Testament from Acts to Revelation there isn’t anything that points to a season of celebration or anticipation of the birth of Christ. That is really where we might expect to find it. Advent, however, hasn’t always been about the Christmas event.
For many Christians unfamiliar with the liturgical year, there may be some confusion surrounding the meaning of the Advent season. Some people may know that the Advent season focuses on expectation and think that it serves as an anticipation of Christ’s birth in the season leading up to Christmas. This is part of the story, but there’s more to Advent.
“The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.
By the 6th century, however, Roman Christians had tied Advent to the coming of Christ. But the “coming” they had in mind was not Christ’s first coming in the manger in Bethlehem, but his second coming in the clouds as the judge of the world. It was not until the Middle Ages that the Advent season was explicitly linked to Christ’s first coming at Christmas.” (Holcomb, Justin. “What is Advent?” https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html)
And so beloved, in Advent 2019, might we ask the question. Are we anticipating the Second Advent of our Savior? How would that impact our anticipation of His first coming in the hind site way we must celebrate it?
Advent Song
Words:Arthur Pierson, 1897
Music:Louise Shephard.
Hear the advent song of the angel throng
As they hovered over earth;
As the night shone bright with celestial light,
As they told of Jesus' birth.
Refrain
Glory be to God, in the highest, praise!
Peace on earth, good will to men.
Roll the angel song all the earth along,
Till the Lord shall come again!
Glory be to God! all His works we laud!
But of all His gifts, the best
Is the Son he gave, sinful men to save;
Be His name forever blest.
Refrain
We will seek His face, we will know His grace,
We will worship at His shrine;
All our treasure lay at His feet today,
As we hail Him king divine!
Refrain
At His cradle bend, for in Him descend
All the blessings God can give;
At His shameful cross, count your gain as loss,
By His death we sinners live.
Refrain
Peace on earth shall reign when He comes again,
Lord of lords, and King of kings;
Even now God's rest fills the troubled breast,
When the Lord His presence brings.
Refrain
Let the sons of light, through the world's dark night,
As the watchers wait the dawn,
Look with eager eyes for the new sunrise
Which shall bring the endless morn!
Refrain