Christmas Letters: Week 1

​Today marks the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a season the Church has cherished for centuries. Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and carries us all the way to Christmas Eve. It is a season of anticipation—of watching, waiting, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ.

Many churches and homes mark this season with an Advent wreath, a simple yet profound symbol rich with meaning. The Advent wreath originated in the middle of the nineteenth century as a custom in small Protestant communities in northern Germany.[1] The wreath’s circular shape, without beginning or end, reminds us of God's eternal nature and unchanging faithfulness. The evergreen branches speak of the everlasting life we find in Christ, a life that remains vibrant and steadfast even in the coldest seasons.

In many modern usages, the four outer candles represent the four Sundays/weeks of Advent, and are associated with themes like hope, peace, joy, and love.

Traditionally, the wreath includes three purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle.

• The purple candles represent repentance, reflection, and the royal dignity of Christ.
• The pink candle signifies joy—a moment of celebration in the midst of waiting.
• The white candle represents purity and victory, symbolizing Christ Himself, who cleanses us from all sin.
  
  

Each Sunday, we light a new candle, and with each small flame, the glow grows stronger. It is a weekly reminder that the darkness is giving way, hope is rising, and the coming of Christ, His return we await, draws nearer with every passing day.

Advent invites us to slow down; to wait, to watch, and to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It is more than a prelude to Christmas morning; it is a season of spiritual renewal rooted in repentance, reflection, and hope.

With that in mind, today we’re going to look specifically at Advent through the lens of repentance. Drawing from John 1:1–18, see how this theme has shaped Advent historically and how it continues to speak to our lives today. Ultimately, Advent calls us to open ourselves to the light of Christ, the light that enters the darkness of life and of ourselves, and exposes what needs to be changed and renewed in our lives.

Advent Through the Lens of John 1:1–18

The Gospel of John introduces us to the point of Advent. In his opening verses, John does not begin with shepherds or angels but with eternity itself.

“In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

This verse reveals that Jesus did not come into existence at Bethlehem; He is eternal, has always been. The Son of God is eternal, divine, and the very Word through whom all things were made. John declares that the One who formed the heavens and earth has stepped into His creation, taking on flesh to redeem it.

“So the Word became human and made His home among us.”
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This incarnation is the heart of Advent. The infinite became finite. The Creator entered the world He created, not as a conqueror but as a child. This act of divine humility reveals the depth of God’s love and His desire to dwell among His people.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”

Here, we see the two great symbols of Advent: light and life. The light of Christ exposes sin, illuminates truth, and brings hope to a world shrouded in darkness. Yet even as this light shines, humanity often turns away.

“He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.”

That rejection reveals our deep need for repentance—a turning from darkness toward the light that has come.

The Call to Repentance
The earliest Christians did not treat Advent as a festive countdown but as a season of repentance and preparation. In many early regions (around the 4th to 6th century), of the Church, especially in what is now France and Western Europe, Advent was observed as a period of fasting and reflection similar in spirit to Lent, sometimes lasting as long as forty days, beginning after St. Martin’s Day. It was a time set aside to confront personal sin, pursue reconciliation, and renew one’s relationship with God in anticipation of celebrating the joy of Christ’s birth.

And this still speaks to us today. Advent reminds us that we cannot fully embrace the light until we are willing to face the darkness. It calls us to confess, to surrender, and to open our hearts to the transforming grace of God. Fleming Rutledge captures this tension beautifully when she writes:

“Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us in this world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light.”[2]

To begin in darkness is not an act of despair but of honesty. We acknowledge the brokenness of our world and the sin within our hearts, but we do so with the confidence that light (Jesus) is coming, and it cannot be overcome.

Repentance, then, is not punishment but preparation. It clears away what clutters the heart. It allows God’s light to shine where shadows once lingered. When we turn from sin, we make space for grace; when we confess our need, we open ourselves to joy.

Historical Context
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival” or “coming.” It translates a Greek word often used in the New Testament to describe the second coming of Christ. Advent as a season of the Church likely began sometime after the fourth century. Initially, it wasn’t about Christmas at all—it was a time of preparation for Epiphany (also known as Three Kings’ Day), when believers celebrated the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles through the visit of the Magi and His baptism in the Jordan River.

By the eighth century, the Western Church began observing Advent as we know it today—a time to both remember Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and to look forward to His glorious return. Advent now holds three beautiful truths in tension:

1. Christ has come – The Incarnation
2. Christ is present – The Holy Spirit
3. Christ will come again – The Coming King

Advent has carried a dual focus: looking back to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and looking forward to His return as King.

While many modern celebrations focus on the nativity, the Church emphasized Christ’s future coming, the day when He will return to make all things new. This broader vision of Advent reminds us that the season is not merely about nostalgia; it is about hope rooted in eternity.
At the same time, Advent highlights Christ's humility. The angel’s announcement to Mary declared, “He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David” (Luke 1:32).

This promise speaks of majesty and kingship, yet the fulfillment came in the humblest way possible—a manger, a carpenter’s son, a suffering servant. The irony of Advent is that the Sovereign Lord came not in power, but in weakness, not in splendor, but in humility.

This humility shapes how we are to prepare our hearts. Just as Christ stooped to serve, so we must bow before Him in repentance and gratitude. The first coming of Jesus was wrapped in humility; so should be our response to it.

Tish Harrison Warren describes Advent as a time to be “unsettled, undone, and remade by the coming of Christ.” Advent waiting is not passive; it is transformative. It confronts our pride and teaches us to wait in faith, trusting that God’s ways are higher than ours.

Advent for us Today
Advent is not only a theological reflection, but it is also a lived practice. It invites us into practices that promote repentance, hope, and anticipation. Here are three spiritual practices that can help us live out Advent this year with intentionality.

1. Embrace Silence and Reflection: The pace of life often drowns out the voice of God. Advent calls us to slow down, to carve out moments of quiet for prayer, confession, and meditation. In silence, we make room for God to speak. Setting aside time to read passages like John 1:1–18 allows us to remember who Christ is, the eternal Word, the true Light, the One who brings life to all who believe.
   
2. Engage in Acts of Humility and Service: Christ’s coming was an act of self-giving love. He humbled Himself for our sake, and we honor Him by doing the same. Acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion become living reflections of His character. When we serve those experiencing poverty, forgive those who have wronged us, or simply show patience in our daily lives, we participate in the humility of Advent. These practices prepare our hearts for the King who came not to be served but to serve.
   
3. Anticipate Through Worship and Expectation: Worship grounds our waiting in hope. Advent worship looks backward to Christ’s birth and forward to His return. Singing hymns, reading Scripture, and praying with expectation all remind us that Christ’s light is still breaking into the darkness. Each act of worship declares that the world’s story is not one of despair, but of redemption.

Through these practices, silence, service, and worship, we turn repentance into renewal. They help us raise an awareness of God’s presence and prepare us to receive His grace anew.

Conclusion
Advent is a season of holy tension, between darkness and light, humility and majesty, waiting and fulfillment. It calls us not only to remember Christ’s first coming but to long for His return. It invites us to journey inward, confronting the shadows of our hearts, even as we lift our eyes toward the dawning light of His glory.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” John reminds us that Jesus is the eternal Word, the source of life, and the true light that no darkness can overcome. Advent, therefore, is not merely about anticipation; it is about transformation. As we wait, we are shaped. As we repent, we are renewed. As we worship, we are filled with hope.

This season does not shy away from the world’s pain but moves through it toward promise. In our waiting, we are reminded that the light has already come—and that it will come again.
Through silence, service, and worship, we prepare room in our hearts for the One who came and will come again. The story of Advent is not just the story of Bethlehem; it is the story of redemption unfolding in every generation.

Let us, therefore, enter this season with humility and anticipation, confident that the same Word who became flesh still dwells among us. May the light of Christ shine in our darkness and lead us on the journey of repentance, renewal, and everlasting hope.
 

[1] Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 2.

[2] Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once & Future Coming of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 251.

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