By Josh Tinley
Advent has arrived. Here are some things to think about during this sacred season of preparation.
To many Americans, a day in late fall or winter begins with the scraping of frost or ice from the car windshield. After a long day at school or work, many of us drive, ride, or walk home in darkness because the sun has set earlier that afternoon. So, why do we celebrate Advent—the season of preparation for the joyous gift of Christ—during this coldest and darkest time of year? Do you know that Jesus was actually born on December 25? For that matter, why do we begin each new year on January 1? Wouldn't we enjoy the holiday season more if it were in May?
Scripture says nothing about the time of year when Jesus was born, but the church has always recognized the Messiah's birth in the darkest days of winter. The original date of Christmas was January 6. It was changed to December 25 in the fourth century.
We know a little more about New Year's Day, which has been celebrated for millennia. The ancient Babylonians, who recognized the holiday as early as 2000 B.C., celebrated the beginning of each new year on the first day of spring. In Roman times, emperors had the power to change the calendar and begin a new year whenever the felt like doing so. The Roman Senate in 153 B.C. decided that the new year would begin on January 1. Julius Caesar affirmed this change in 46 B.C. Unlike the Babylonian new year, the Roman new year had no seasonal or astronomical meaning.
Some ancient cultures, such as the Persians, chose to celebrate the birth of the sun at this time of year. The idea was that, on the shortest day of the year, the sun was in its infancy. From that point on, the sun would grow, lighting the sky for longer and longer periods each day until at last it began to fade. Through the late summer and fall, hours of sunlight would be replaced by hours of darkness. Then, toward the end of December, the sun would be born again.
It is interesting, then, that we celebrate Christmas during a season when some ancient peoples celebrated the birth of the light. Jesus is the "light of the world" (John 8:12), and when he came to earth, he illuminated a world overwhelmed by darkness. And in times of fear and sadness, when the light seems to be fading away, Christ can cut through the darkness and bring new light. It is also interesting that we begin each new year during this season. Even amid icy mornings and sunless afternoons, we can pause to reflect on the past year and look forward to the promises and opportunities of the year to come.
For much of the Advent season, the days will continually get shorter. Many youth will spend the weeks leading up to Christmas completing end-of-the-semester projects and papers and studying for final exams (though some have the misfortune of taking finals after Christmas). Teens who participate in winter sports will spend their afternoons in grueling practices or hard-fought competitions; youth who are involved in music and drama will likely be preparing school Christmas programs.
But students will be rewarded for their strife. That blessed time known at most schools as winter break is coming. During this two-week (give or take) vacation, teens will enjoy some much-needed rest, get some new stuff, and look forward to the promise of a new year. More importantly, they will be reminded of the ever-present hope that is theirs because God came to us so many years ago in the form of an infant child born in a stable.
The connection between the secular celebration of the new year, religiously-neutral winter breaks, and the sacred holiday of Christmas is not just a coincidence. Just as winter break provides relief from the burdens of schoolwork and after-school activities, Christ's birth offers relief from the burdens of sin and fear. And as New Year's Day signifies the promise and opportunity of a new year, Christmas signifies the promise and opportunity of a new age that began with the coming of the Messiah.
Advent is the time when we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ—both in the form of an infant two thousand years ago and in all of the ways Christ continues to work within our lives and our world. Preparing for Christ's coming means telling the ancient stories of Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and John the Baptist. We must also help our youth understand this season of cold, commercialism, and craziness in the context of the story of God's salvation. One way to do so is to take a closer look at how the church marks each Sunday during Advent.
First Sunday
The first Sunday in Advent looks forward to Christ's coming in final victory. This Sunday is the first of the Christian year, and it celebrates the beginning of our story by looking forward to the story's glorious conclusion.
Second Sunday
The second Sunday in Advent is usually devoted to the ministry of John the Baptist. We remember John as the one who "prepared the way of the Lord." John's ministry gave first-century Jews a glimpse of the one who would follow him. His story reminds us in the twenty-first century to prepare our hearts for Christ and to give others a glimpse of the one whom we follow.
Third Sunday
On the third Sunday in Advent, we celebrate how God's promises—to the patriarchs, the Old Testament prophets, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph, and us today—are fulfilled in the gift of Jesus Christ. In our darkest days (literally and figuratively), we have hope because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
Fourth Sunday
The fourth Sunday of Advent is a day for us to tell the story of Jesus' birth. On this Sunday, we recall the journey to Bethlehem, the inn that was filled to capacity, the angels who proclaimed Jesus' coming, and the shepherds in the fields who rushed to visit the blessed child. Of course, Christ's coming was not just a one-time event. Christ is born over and again in the hearts of his followers.
Christmas Sunday
The Sunday after Christmas is a day of praise and thanksgiving for God's greatest gift. Our season of preparation culminates in a celebration of God coming to us as the infant child born in a Bethlehem stable.
While youth are slipping on ice or watching four o'clock sunsets, they can be assured that, soon, the days will grow longer and the weather warmer. As they cram for exams and scramble to finish end-of-the-semester assignments, they can look forward to a new semester and a fresh start. Those of us who work with youth need to make them aware of a greater truth: Because of God's gift of Jesus Christ, they have been given a fresh start, and they can always look forward to brighter days.
From Mission: Christmas—Youth Programs & Ideas for Advent. Mission: Christmas is your source for Advent and Christmas programming ideas. In addition to five Sunday programs, this resource contains ideas for making the season fun and meaningful. This book also includes five seasonal Bible studies, a 20-page Christmas play, worship and service-project ideas, and a 5-page Bible dictionary. The programs and ideas in Mission: Christmas will help your youth better understand the traditions, beliefs, and practices that make this time of year so holy.
Picture of
Advent Wreath Pillar Candle (Set of 4) from Muench Kreuzer Candle Company.
