Advent begins the Christian Calendar each year. The Christian Calendar began not long after the passing of the apostles and the first century converts. As believers became second and third generation Christians, a desire to commemorate significant days or events developed. The Christian Calendar, initially unofficial, commemorated these significant days in the life of Jesus and of those who had faithfully followed him. Primarily, the focus of the Christian Calendar is to commemorate and be reminded of the life of Jesus. Thus, it is marked by his first coming, Advent, Transfiguration Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension of our Lord, and Pentecost. Down through church history, this Christian Calendar has taken various forms, but today is commemorated most notably through the lectionary. The lectionary offers readings from Scripture that commemorate each of these significant events throughout the year and most lectionaries work off of a three-year cycle, offering some variety in the readings from year to year.

The celebration of Advent dates all the way back to the earliest times of the organized church.  It is believed to have been first mentioned around the time of the Council of Sargossa in AD 380.  It is likely that Advent was initiated in response to the heretical ideas of Gnosticism and Manichaeanism (both having a dualistic focus of the world).  Advent was likely conceived to be a balance and focus on the blessings and glories of the incarnation of Jesus into the world as a baby, to live as a man and ultimately die in our place as a sacrifice for our sins.

Advent consists of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Each year, those Sundays are different; but the focus throughout remains the same – that the first Advent of Jesus should be celebrated, but also that we should remember there will absolutely be a second Advent.  Jesus is coming again!

Throughout the four weeks, colors have significance, the songs we sing have significance and ultimately, it is all intended to point us to Jesus. The four Sunday each focus on a specific aspect of Advent: 1 – Preparation, 2 – Anticipation, 3 – Joy, 4 – Incarnation.  Each week there are readings that correspond to these aspects of Advent. These readings come from four different place in Scripture and change focus by year slightly based on the three-year cycle.  This year, the readings come from Isaiah, 2 Samuel, the Psalms, the Gospels and the Epistles.

This season of Advent is also an anticipation of the coming Messiah, the one who will set His people free.  He will rescue us completely and bring the saving work he has already begun in us to its completion.  It’s about Anticipation and Expectation and that expectation just keeps growing until it seems to be at an almost fevered pitch. I hope you will take time this year to focus on the reality that the Savior has come into the world and that he will indeed come again.

This year, we have a new Advent reading plan for our church family at Graceway. You can find it here. Please use it to contemplate the coming of our Savior into the world and the hope that we know – he is coming again.

Merry Christmas and Keep Looking Up! We will see him soon!