𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲
The Christmas season is here! Decorations are going up, Christmas music fills the air, and there’s laughter and joy all around. For many of us, it’s the most wonderful time of the year (cue the song!). It’s a season of anticipation, traditions, and celebration. But beneath the twinkling lights and the scent of freshly baked cookies, there’s a deeper meaning—a hope that outshines it all.
In 𝘈 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴, Charlie Brown famously asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” That’s a question many still ask today. For us as believers, the answer is clear: Christmas is about 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲—a hope fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁
Advent is a season of waiting, a time to reflect on the hope of Christ’s coming. In Isaiah 9:2, the prophet declares:
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵; 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦.”
For centuries, God’s people waited for the promised Messiah, clinging to the hope that He would come to rescue them from sin and restore their relationship with God. That hope was fulfilled on the first Christmas night, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
Today, we have the same hope because Jesus didn’t just come to save us; He’s coming again! In Titus 2:13, Paul calls this our “blessed hope”:
“...𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵.”
Just like the shepherds who heard the angels’ announcement, we too have reason to rejoice. Jesus is our hope—a hope that anchors us through life’s storms, gives us peace in uncertain times, and fills us with joy as we look forward to eternity with Him.
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
While we enjoy the lights, laughter, and even the classic Christmas movies, let’s not lose sight of the true light of Christmas. The hope of Christ is what makes this season worth celebrating!
And here’s something else: We’re called to share this hope. Just as Linus dropped his blanket and recited the Christmas story in front of everyone, we too can boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus to those around us.
As we kick off this Advent series, let’s reflect on the hope we have in Christ and share that hope with the world.