After Advent
You may be reading this blog after wading through a season of Advent. Advent is a part of the liturgical calendar, followed by millions of Christians all over the world, across a variety of denominations. Advent is all about the season of anticipation.
Whether its gifts, seeing family, or a much-needed holiday – anticipation is no stranger to many of us. Anticipation implies waiting and preparing. You may buy a gift, set the table, or book your ticket to enjoy an Aussie summer Christmas! Either way, waiting for something and preparing for something includes our activity.
To begin exploring this, I want to ask you three questions.
Does the arrival of different things bring about alternate preparatory choices?
What kinds of activities might be a well-intentioned mis-step during this season?
Toward which kind of activities can we re-orient ourselves?
Once we explore these questions, we may be more clearly able to acknowledge & prepare for the beautiful Christmastide season.
The word ‘advent’ means arrival. So, the question becomes the arrival of what? For believers, this appears to be a rather simplistic answer.
“Jesus, of course!”
But this answer betrays its complexity, depth and significance if left unexplored. The coming of Jesus on Earth is known formally as the doctrine of the Incarnation. Incarnation is an old word, simply meaning, ‘in the flesh’.
Often, the implication is that something that did not have flesh before is now expressed or appearing in the flesh. What is this ‘thing’ that did not have flesh beforehand? Historically, the church has attempted to explain this using the word ‘logos’ – something you can see playing out in St John’s Gospel prologue. (John 1:1-5)
So the claim is, that the divine ‘logos’, a Greek word with a variety of usages and meanings including: ‘speech’, ‘talking’, & ‘message’, but more commonly, and in particular John’s case – ‘Word.’ This divine Word is used to describe Jesus becoming flesh. Human. To live and dwell among us. What’s more is Jesus comes as an infant, not as a ready-made messianic man, ready to take on the word. He comes humbly, swaddled in flesh, exhibiting the base fragility that is humanity. But also, a child represents much more than fragility; it signifies new life, new legacy, new beginnings, a future. So, I love what Isaiah does in his prophetic work with this phrase,
“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us” (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus comes not only as a nursing babe but as a gift. A gift from the Father, who loved the world so much that He gave. Arguably the most precious gift to ever be bestowed upon humanity.
Another reason for this supernatural event is linked to its motivation. Why did the Father send his Son in such a fashion? The answer here will be brief, but also attempt to show the breadth & depth of what has been done. Jesus was born with two natures, one divine, one person. This is known as the ‘hypostatic union’ and is inextricably linked to Jesus’ work on the cross.
To demonstrate this mystery, I love what Gregory of Nazianzus, an early church father says in his letter to Cledonius.
“For that which He has not assumed He has not healed; but that which is united to His Godhead is also saved”
This to say that just as God dwelt in creation entirely when He created it, so also must He inhabit humanity fully when saving it.
Will all this theology on the table. The question returns. The arrival of what?
The arrival of the eternal Son of God, as a gift from the Father, for all creation. So that it might be saved and redeemed through a perfect life & a death on the cross, so that humanity may once more be reconciled to God and enjoy him forever.
Advent is the season in which we have expected the arrival. Christmas is the season we’ll celebrate and worship him. I encourage you not to neglect gift-giving, meeting with family and taking time off. But while you do so, remember to celebrate the most perfect gift ever bestowed upon us. Recognise the enormity of the incarnational meeting of the logos within the earth and the invitation to break bread with him. Be present in your rest, remembering all that has been done, and all that is to come.