Reflections: On Advent

The four Sundays and weeks preceding Christmas day is the Christian’s season of Advent – November 29 to December 24 this year 2020. During these weeks Christians worldwide focus on the importance of the Advent to the faith – the celebration of the birth of Christ 2000 years ago and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.

Advent ("adventus" in Latin) means “coming.” The English dictionary further defines the word advent as the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event – all aspects of which we can apply to the Christian Advent. The notable person being Christ, the “notable thing” the redemption from sin Christ brought to the world, and the “notable event” being His second coming when He will judge the world and reign in it forever.

 

Two Advents?  

Through the prophet, Isaiah, GOD foretold the coming of JESUS: 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

This fulfilled prophecy represents the first advent which we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus came then as Savior and Redeemer. He bore our sins at the cross so that those who believed in Him by faith are saved from the wrath of GOD. This too was foretold by the prophet Isaiah:

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6.)

This too was fulfilled: They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him... Mark 15

Now we are to live in anticipation of the second Advent when Jesus will return as Ruler and Judge.

Many Old Testament prophets hint at this triumphant return Zechariah 9:14-15.) But Jesus Himself speaks of it in the New Testament gospels.

Three parables in Matthew 25 foretell His return. Each with a different emphasis but a recurring theme - no one knows when He will return.  

In the parable of the "Ten Virgins," Jesus is represented as a ‘Bridegroom”; in the second parable, He is the “Master” of three servants whom He entrusts with “talents” that they are to put to work for Him. But in the third parable, He is more direct with His identity and the purpose for His return:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (verses 31-46)

Jesus is coming again to judge the world and take His place as Sovereign Ruler of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)  

The first Advent brought salvation for all who would believe – freedom from sin, soul rest, and peace that we cannot get from the world; all of which prepares us for the Second Advent.

If we accept Him fully as Savior, we will reign with Him forever when He comes as King.   

 

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS!