The greatest present is a promise: Christians await the coming of Christ

Often the question we ask in Advent is, ‘What are we waiting for?’ The answer is simple. We’re waiting for the coming of Christ. However, I think it is more important to ask how we are waiting. We are waiting in joy.

Karl Barth says most joy is anticipatory. This means, firstly, anticipation can create joy. Secondly, this joy of anticipating something better in the future changes how we live in the present. For example, a glance under the Christmas tree can brighten our mood on a gloomy winter day as we imagine laughing with family and opening presents. That feeling of joy can carry into our day and change how we act. We might call our kids or parents because we can’t wait to see them.

The anticipatory joy of advent begins in Genesis with the promise that God Himself will come and defeat the evil of this world at its source. From then on the trajectory of the Bible is one of joyful anticipation of the coming of a Messiah. Everything from page one looks forward to the coming of Jesus Christ.

Fast forward to the gospel of Luke chapter two. The angels tell the shepherds what they’ve been waiting for is happening now and it is cause for “great joy”! At this pivotal moment, the joy of anticipating Christ’s arrival transforms into the joy of anticipating how He will change the world.

Then, on the cross, when it seems that Christ has been defeated, and hope shattered, the joy of the resurrection bursts forth new life. Though dying Jesus triumphs over evil and death! The rest of the New Testament is about how the resurrecting power in Jesus is granted to all his followers. The Church begins to experience the life-giving power of God’s Holy Spirit. They witness God permeating this world and confronting evil and death in the lives of people. Now, the Church points back in witness to Jesus Christ and his resurrection, while at the same time, joyfully anticipating His coming again in Glory.

This joyful anticipation transforms how the Church waits. In the same way that Canada prepares to receive a sovereign, the role of the church today is to lay the groundwork for the coming of the King of the universe.

Firstly, we do this through worship. We believe that who and how we worship matters because it shows the world who Jesus is, His work on the Cross, and His resurrection. Secondly, we believe how we live matters because it’s a witness to what Jesus’ kingdom will look like in the future. Think of it this way. In worship, we proclaim Jesus as God and King. Through our actions, we show what His Kingdom will look like. We feed the hungry because, in Jesus’ kingdom, no one goes hungry; we care for the earth because Jesus’ kingdom will be established here, on Earth; we forgive and work to advance reconciliation because Jesus’ kingdom is one of mercy and forgiveness; we confront evil with goodness because Jesus’ kingdom is the way of the cross; we evangelize because Jesus and His kingdom are for everyone.

Right now, the world looks gloomy. There are wars, earthquakes, and humanitarian crises. In Advent Christians look under the Christmas tree and find that the greatest present is a promise. King Jesus has promised to come back and there will be no more death, tears, mourning, crying, or pain. This world will be in perfect peace and God will rule as Just Judge. This is cause for great joy! And this joy transforms how we wait. We prepare the world and ourselves to receive Jesus. What is your role in laying the groundwork for the Kingdom of God? How does the joy of Advent change how you wait?