The Christmas season, Advent season, marks the period of preparation and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. Advent is characterized by the lighting of Advent candles on an Advent wreath, reading of Scripture, and various other observances. It’s a time of reflection, prayer, and hope as Christians look forward to the coming of Christ.
The Advent Hope candle is the first candle lit leading up to Christmas. This candle symbolizes the anticipation and hope associated with the coming of Jesus Christ. It signifies the hope of salvation and the expectation of Christ’s arrival to bring light and redemption to the world.
Each of us, all of humanity, has a fundamental need for hope. Hope provides motivation, resilience, and a positive outlook on the future. Hope can inspire people to overcome challenges and pursue their goals, even in difficult circumstances. Hope is a powerful force that drives us to seek better outcomes and fuels our determination. The difficulty comes in that anything we place our hope in, that’s of the stuff of earth, will leave us wanting. For those truly searching, hopes unmet can lead us to something more, Someone more!
Christian hope is the confident and expectant belief in the promises of God, particularly the hope of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Hope involves a firm trust in God’s goodness, longing for His presence, and the assurance of future blessings in accordance with our relationship with Him through Christ. We discover this hope of the coming Christ in the prophecies found throughout the Old Testament.
We read in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This sign, the birth of a Son, shows that God is with us. Then, we read in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” It’s fascinating that God’s answer to the arrogance of the world is a child, His own Son. The promise of this child and what He represents makes these verses worthy of memorizing.
In the New Testament, we read of the birth announcement of hope. It’s found in Luke 1:26-33. Here, the angel Gabriel tells Mary she will give birth to the Messiah. He is described as great because He is the “Son of the Most High.” God Himself came among us. Jesus is great because He sits on the throne of David. Lastly, the angel declares He is great because, unlike human kingdoms, His reign has no end. God’s promise of the One to come, found throughout the Old Testament, including that given to David, hoped for since The Fall, is fulfilled in Jesus’ birth.
The Christmas or Advent season, while a time of anticipation and joy for many, can also bring about several difficulties and challenges for people. There is commercialization, stress, loneliness, unmet expectations, spiritual emptiness, family conflicts, overcommitment, and seasonal depression. I am sure there are more you could add to the list. It’s important to acknowledge these difficulties and support one another during the Christmas – Advent season, as well as being reminded of the hope we have in Jesus.
Genuine hope is found in Jesus Christ. We discover this gem in 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In other words, Christian hope is not some wishful thinking but living hope rooted in the One, Jesus Christ, who has come, died for our sins and risen for our salvation. Here it is. Our expectant hope is found and only found in Jesus Christ.
The hope that Christ brings to the world, to each of us, is profound and enduring. It’s spiritual hope. Christ offers the promise of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. His teachings emphasize love, compassion, and a path to eternal life, providing hope for a meaningful and eternal connection with God. It’s hope in suffering. The story of Christ’s suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection demonstrates that even in the face of immense pain and adversity, there is the hope of transformation and new life that provides solace to those enduring hardships. It’s hope for the future. Christ’s teachings inspire hope for a better world. They call for justice, peace, and the care of one another, which is a foretaste of the perfection of such a life with God in paradise. It’s hope of community and fellowship. The Christian faith encourages believers to come together in fellowship and support one another. This sense of community and belonging can be a source of hope and comfort in times of need. Overall, the hope that Christ brings to the world is a message of love, grace, and the possibility of transformation, both individually and collectively. It has been a source of hope, inspiration, and solace for countless people throughout history.
As children, we all have desired the perfect gift. We approached Christmas morning with great hope. Maybe we were disappointed because we never got it or later disillusioned by what we received and left desiring the next perfect gift. We have all been there as children and even as adults as we have faced unmet hopes that we have placed in things and people other than Christ.
Our expectant hope is found and only found in Jesus Christ. Just as the world once awaited the birth of the Savior with anticipation and hope, let us remember that in our lives, we, too, have moments of waiting and longing. In those times, we have more than wishful thinking, but sure hope in Christ and His eternal promises. Just as Mary was presented with the birth announcement of hope, where she trusted in God, which led her to the stable where Jesus was born, and the Christ Child was laid, we too can find our way through life’s challenges and uncertainties by trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord. Christ is the beacon of hope in our darkest hours, the source of grace in our times of need, and the embodiment of the expectant hope that never disappoints.
So, as we celebrate this Christmas season, may we embrace the message of hope and carry it to the places where we live, go to work, school, and play. Let our words and deeds reflect the hope that Christ brought into our lives. In Christ, we find our expectant hope and our reason for celebration. I pray this Christmas season and the year ahead will be a time when we truly embrace and share the hope that Christ has brought into our lives. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!