“The Elisabeth Elliot Podcast” had an episode discussing the Advent of Christmas. She said, “Advent is the name the church has given to what precedes the Christmas season. The word simply means ‘coming’. It comes from two Latin words meaning ‘to come toward.’ We want to think during this week of the coming of the Lord Jesus… The word ‘Advent’ for Christians throughout the ages has had three different meanings. One is the coming of Jesus to the world as a baby. Another is the coming that He speaks about in the passage in Luke, of His coming back again. And the third is His coming to you and me in His gentle and patient and courteous love.”
Her challenge: “I want us to be preparing ourselves for the Christmas season not in terms of shopping and cooking, but in terms of recognition of WHO it is that we receive, and WHO it is that is reminding us in this season of His coming… How do we prepare for His coming? We should be spiritually attentive, awake, watching for Him, listening to Him, expectant…In this Advent time, we take up our stand, we watch to learn what He will say to us… Wait for Him. Listen to Him. Be silent before Him. And receive the coming, the Advent, of the Lord Jesus at this Christmas time.”
Names of Jesus For Advent, from the YouVersion app
Day 1 Alpha and Omega:
We praise God that in His kindness, He gave us Jesus to be all that we need, having been there from the beginning, as part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
Day 2 Lamb of God:
In Revelation 5:9, we see the living creatures and elders fall before the Lamb because He purchased all of the people with His blood. We thank God for Jesus, the Lamb of God.
Day 3 Light of the World:
There are few things more glorious than a beautiful sunrise or dazzling sunset. Light in the Old Testament was seen as a sign of God’s power (burning bush, bright clouds, pillar of fire, etc.). In Psalm 27:1, the writer describes God as his light and salvation. It was clear that light stood for the glory of God. The ultimate glory of God is found in the person of Christ Jesus, who came into a world darkened by sin and shed the light of life and truth through His work and His words. Those who trust in Him have their eyes opened by Him and walk in the light.
Light is beautiful, mysterious and practical. It shows us the way to where we need to go. Light helps us to see the truth of all that is around us. In Jesus we see the light of life, the way to God. When Jesus is described as the light of the world, we see the fullness of God in human form, for all to see His glory.