As Christians, our souls rely on the peace that only Jesus provides. Advent is the time of year leading up to Christmas. The word Advent comes from the Latin word “Adventus,” which means “coming” or “arrival” and for Christians it symbolizes the arrival of Jesus. Advent has been formally and traditionally observed more by churches who follow the liturgical calendar. More evangelicals seem to have begun to celebrate various aspects of it more in recent years.

There are four Sundays in the Advent season and it ends on Christmas Eve. It is observed with the lighting of candles and the display of wreaths and greenery. Four of the Advent candles represent Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. The fifth is white, representing Christ and it is located in the center of the wreath to remind us that the birth of Jesus is at the center of the season.

Advent is characterized by worship in waiting. In a season of expectation, we wait on something good to come to pass. Israel waited on and anticipated the Messiah. There is longing, hope, and eagerness throughout the Old Testament. Isaiah in particular, built on a longing for the Messiah, Jesus.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy as the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil…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. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

God visited His people in the person of His Son! This season heightens our awareness of the first advent of Jesus. A celebration of the first advent of Jesus reminds us we now long for the second advent of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, our hearts should be focused on the expectation of seeing our Savior face to face. The Second Coming of Jesus is filled with hope!

In the first advent, Jesus came to earth as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, consistent with prophecy. Prophecies concerning the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus were fulfilled. Jesus came as the Suffering Servant. There are also many prophecies about Jesus that will be fulfilled in the future. Jesus will come as the Conquering King. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels said to the apostles, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

The Christmas hymn, ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” was originally written in Latin with the title and words going back to as early as the 15th Century in France. The English translation was written in 1851 in John Mason Neale’s version.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

There are different Messianic promises of the Old Testament that are alluded to in the hymn including: Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14); Branch of Jesus (Isaiah 11:1); Dayspring (Luke 1:78); Key of David (Revelation 3:7-8); and Lord. It reminds us that in the Old Testament they looked forward to the coming of Christ. In the New Testament they celebrated the first coming of Christ. Today, we wait and anticipate the second coming of Christ.

Come soon, Lord Jesus!