Why Advent?  We have the blessing of celebrating Advent this year at Redeemer.  What is the reason, and why do it?  The word itself tells us.  Advent comes from the Latin word for coming.  The Christian life is really one that is centered around coming.  We look backwards to the central point of history, Christ’s coming in the Incarnation.  He came as Immanuel, God with us.   The whole of a Christian’s life on earth is really a preparation for our lives in eternity with Immanuel.  That takes us forward to the same word, coming.  The Greek word for Coming is Parousia, which is commonly used for the 2nd Coming, Christ’s return for His people.  Advent and Parousia – they bookend our lives.

We have the opportunity for a season to meditate upon our Savior, our humble king.  In this incredible reality, he fulfilled the prophecy from Genesis 3 such that he would crush the serpent’s head.  May this be a season where the Incarnation of the humble babe warms even the coldest heart, where visions of the King of Glory to come awakens the loudest Hosannas in His people. May Advent help us to wait with hope, wait with joy and wait with wonder.

Rev. Darol Timberlake, Assistant Pastor