Faithful on Fridays Blog

Joy to the world, the Lord has come;

Let earth receive her King!

I’m sure you recognize that carol sung around the world at Christmastime but have you ever considered the ‘why’ of it’s popularity? The early, 4^th century Church, understood the need for a season of remembering, meditating, and thanking God for His two comings: they entitled it Advent. Two comings? Isn’t this just about Christmas, Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Apparently the early Church realized His first and second comings were equally valuable for celebration; the word advent actually means ‘coming’ or appearance. Yes, Jesus came as a baby born in Bethlehem, but also, there’s a second coming and on That Day He’ll reappear as the King: Let earth receive her King! 

The decision of the circular wreath surrounded with evergreen and four candles proved to be a perfect visual for believers to reflect on our continuous, unending, and eternal life we have in Christ. It also reminds us of a victor’s crown given to honor winners of contests or conquests: we see it as the Nike (overcomers) crown of eternal life.

… if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 

That encouraging word will strengthen any believer in Jesus Christ when they’re enduring times of trouble, sickness, or even death: it’s our promise of immortality with Him: we literally never die.

Adding the candles directs our focus to light as the first one is lit and increases by one each of the four weeks. It reminds us that Jesus, the light of the world, imparted His light to us and we become His ‘lights to the world’ shining more brightly as our faith increases.

The second coming or advent of Christ will be very different from His first as an infant, a humble man, and finally, a suffering servant. He will arrive on the scene as the King of all nations eager to reunite with His Bride: the Church! We long for That Day, eagerly waiting for His appearance:

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its Rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. Revelation 19:11-12, 16 

The circular wreath of evergreen branches and the four candles increasing our light every week of Advent should give you great comfort regardless of what’s happening around you. He’s Immanuel, God with us, inviting you into His Presence to fill you with everything needed for His kind of life.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14