The Tradition of Advent
Many people participate in lighting Advent candles, but they have no idea of the true meaning behind it. Though the practice of Advent has many years-worth of tradition, several traditions are worth noting. Many attribute the incorporation of wreaths into Christmas decorations as an early form of practicing Advent. The first Advent wreath is credited to a Lutheran minister in Germany (1839) who was working at a mission for children as they were impatiently counting down to Christmas. He created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart and placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays as a countdown to Christmas. Eventually, this tradition became the Advent wreath we know today which is created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle became a symbol to remind us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible. Additional decorations, like red holly and berries point to Jesus’ sacrifice and death. Pinecones symbolized the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection.
The candles themselves are also deeply meaningful. John 1:4-5 tells us that Jesus came and “his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” The candles symbolize the light of Christ in a dark world.
As the traditions stretched over years, eventually the smaller weekday candles were left out and just the candle representing each of the four Sundays before Christmas remained, each taking on their own meaning. As those candles representing hope, peace, joy and love were lit, what they symbolized was to be remembered.
The candles themselves are also deeply meaningful. John 1:4-5 tells us that Jesus came and “his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” The candles symbolize the light of Christ in a dark world.
As the traditions stretched over years, eventually the smaller weekday candles were left out and just the candle representing each of the four Sundays before Christmas remained, each taking on their own meaning. As those candles representing hope, peace, joy and love were lit, what they symbolized was to be remembered.
Week One: The Candle of HOPE
On week one we light the candle of Hope. This candle is also called the Prophet’s candle because multiple Old Testament prophets had told of the coming Messiah. It is estimated that the Old Testament includes as many as 300 prophesies about the coming Messiah, including specific details of His birth, lineage and ministry.
The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. Isaiah said The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel which means ‘God is with us.’ (7:14)
Maybe you have heard the words to the Christmas song “O come Emmanuel”, but read the first verse again with fresh eyes:
O come O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, Rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee o Israel
The Old Testament prophets waited in hope, but we can see this hopeful yearning in the New Testament too. In the book of Luke, we read about Simeon, a Jew, who was described as eagerly hoping for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel (Luke 2:25). When Simeon met Jesus, he praised God for allowing him to see the salvation God prepared for all people. Simeon called Jesus the light to reveal God to the nations (Luke 2:32) Immediately following Simeon, Anna, a prophet, also met Jesus. Luke 2:38 tells us that she then talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Galatians 4:4 helps us see a glimpse of God’s plan, telling us that when the appointed time came, God sent His Son… And Matthew sums it up for us when he declares that Jesus’ name will be the hope of all the world (Matthew 12:21).
Today, we sit in the unique span of time between Jesus’ first arrival and His return. We can relate to the yearning for the return of Christ and we hold onto hope in prayerful expectation for the arrival of the Messiah, our resurrected King, to deliver, to save and to heal. The Hope candle reminds us that God keeps His promises. It reminds us that God is with us, that He promised a Savior, that He fulfilled His promised by sending Jesus and that Jesus will return again.
The Hope candle symbolizes our desire to wait in expectation for Jesus’ return. It is our reminder that Jesus is the hope of our lives, the hope of our families and the hope of the world, and He will show up at the appointed time.
The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival. Isaiah said The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel which means ‘God is with us.’ (7:14)
Maybe you have heard the words to the Christmas song “O come Emmanuel”, but read the first verse again with fresh eyes:
O come O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, Rejoice
Emmanuel shall come to thee o Israel
The Old Testament prophets waited in hope, but we can see this hopeful yearning in the New Testament too. In the book of Luke, we read about Simeon, a Jew, who was described as eagerly hoping for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel (Luke 2:25). When Simeon met Jesus, he praised God for allowing him to see the salvation God prepared for all people. Simeon called Jesus the light to reveal God to the nations (Luke 2:32) Immediately following Simeon, Anna, a prophet, also met Jesus. Luke 2:38 tells us that she then talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Galatians 4:4 helps us see a glimpse of God’s plan, telling us that when the appointed time came, God sent His Son… And Matthew sums it up for us when he declares that Jesus’ name will be the hope of all the world (Matthew 12:21).
Today, we sit in the unique span of time between Jesus’ first arrival and His return. We can relate to the yearning for the return of Christ and we hold onto hope in prayerful expectation for the arrival of the Messiah, our resurrected King, to deliver, to save and to heal. The Hope candle reminds us that God keeps His promises. It reminds us that God is with us, that He promised a Savior, that He fulfilled His promised by sending Jesus and that Jesus will return again.
The Hope candle symbolizes our desire to wait in expectation for Jesus’ return. It is our reminder that Jesus is the hope of our lives, the hope of our families and the hope of the world, and He will show up at the appointed time.
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