An Advent Story and an Advent Surprise
With tingling toes and dripping noses, we drove home from the big Christmas Light Switch On absolutely reeling from our first taste of Christmas in November of last year.
Mum, whyyyyyyy do we have to wait for Advent to put up our Christmas tree? a voice hollered from the black abyss of the back seat, obviously anticipating our next hit of magic.
It was the same question I answer every year, pretty much every day of November.
Because Advent is how we prepare to celebrate Jesus at Christmas. Because with all of the busy stuff going on, Advent signals that it’s time to slow down and make room in our hearts for him. Because it’s good to wait, honey.
I was tired of the 6394729 car questions, but the answer to this one was well rehearsed.
Preparing, remembering, waiting–Advent was my jam.
That’s when a panicked sweat dripped down the back of my neck, and I looked at my husband, Paddy who was just trying to stay conscious while driving us home.
Wait, when does advent start? It’s always the last Sunday of November, but tomorrow is Sunday. TOMORROW IS SUNDAY, PADDY. It starts tomorrow, doesn’t it?! DOES IT?!
He shrugged nonchalantly, wondering what I was freaking out about next.
I am always ready for Advent, but on a dark car journey along the M2, sneaking bites of chocolate with thawing hands, with one child screaming and one asking for a bedtime story; Advent quietly snuck up on me.
The lights weren’t up. The candles weren’t lit. The number blocks weren’t out. The Advent devotional was yet to be chosen or purchased. It‘s typical, really. God’s people had thousands of years to get ready and when the time had finally come, they still had no room at the inn.
For days, I kicked myself and tried to play catch up. And yet, in my forgetfulness, all I saw was God’s faithfulness.
He knows that even in my most well-intentioned moments, my heart drifts. But he calls me back every time. And as I made a last-minute decision to slowly read through Luke 1-2 in December, this is the Jesus I met.
The One who stepped down, so I could give up. Give up striving, working, mustering my own strength, and playing catch up. The Lifter of my Head, the Person of Jesus–he is my first love. Not the lights, the candles, or any pretty study book (but this ebook is particularly pretty, I think you’ll agree).
Yes, Advent is about preparing, but we mustn’t forget Jesus has done it all. He has already prepared a place for us. A place at His table, a place in His arms. We just have to come.
It’s safe to assume this year I haven’t forgotten. Actually, I’ve been thinking about Advent and Luke 1-2 for the last twelve months, but especially since the end of August while my children took their final slurps of ice-cream and made their last dashes through the water sprinkler. In fact, I’ve written an Advent bible study for you.
You see, the whole Christian life is an Advent life. While Israel waited for thousands of years for Jesus’ first coming, we wait for his return. This season pulls us into how we’re supposed to be living all the time. It pulls us into a deep longing and expectation. In case you needed the reminder: the One who came will be faithful to come again.
As Christians, we purposefully allow ourselves to sit in the tension of the season. Advent is a remembrance, but it is also a rehearsal.
And let me be real: I want Christmas, not Advent. I want to get to the other side of the suffering, not the discomfort in between. I want the celebration, not the waiting.
Christmas is a hard time to embrace the discipline of pausing and feeling our need. We have a million things to do! Gifts to buy, people to see, events to attend–Advent is almost incompatible with the pace of Christmas. As a human race, we don’t like to wait. It drives our kids crazy to open only one door or light one candle at a time. And it drives me crazy when an Amazon delivery takes two days instead of one.
But waiting is part of the job description as a Christian. We live in an everyday advent, longing for the second coming. It’s tempting to believe that fleeing this broken world is the answer, but Advent not only reminds us of Jesus’ first-in-flesh arrival to this broken earth, but points ahead to his physical return when he will reign over this broken world forever. He will wipe away every tear and bring an end to our illness, grief, pain, and suffering once and for all.
While this season is already filled with sweet sentiments, the discipline of Advent is crucial. As we wearily recover from a busy year of hard work, we need this blocked-off section of our calendars to remind us of the eclipsing truth: He is on his way.
Just to be clear: I didn’t want this bible study to be something you have to check off a list every day in December. I didn’t want you to have a rushed quippy thought to read in between the chaos–or read a whole bunch in catch-up mode like me. I didn’t want it to be just another thing to do.
So, I wrote it to be a companion. It is the friendly and informative hug I wish I’d had to accompany my study through Luke 1-2 last year. I have broken these two chapters into four passages–one for each week of Advent. And as you slowly savor them this Christmas season, I hope my words will only illuminate what is already in your Bible.
Whether you are a ‘savour every word at snail’s pace’ kind of person or a ‘binge it all at once’ kind of person, you are the boss here–not me. But if I were to be bossy for just one second, my only recommendation would be that you spend the first day of Advent (Sunday 27th) reading the full two chapters. And then at the beginning of each week, I recommend reading the assigned bible passage on its own and highlighting, wandering, exploring, and falling down rabbit holes. Don’t be tempted to rush ahead to the explanations. Get the Word under your skin and the pen under your paper.
Each week will begin with a personal story as I press you to see the ways in which these eternal truths relate to your real life. Partly because I’m a storyteller at heart, but also because this is how I make sense of God’s story in my own life. But this won’t primarily be a book of vignettes. No, I won’t waste your time on loads of stories about me, because there is way too much good stuff in God’s word to give you, and more importantly, my stories are not what your soul needs most of all.
Then, I will attempt to guide you through the waiting stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the Shepherds, and Simeon and Anna–followed by some reflection questions at the end of each week.
I’m fully aware there are approximately one billion Advent resources and devotionals out there, and I’m even more aware you could buy yourself a coffee instead of buying this study (shoutout to the many coffees it took to write this at 5 am before my boys woke up). But please know I would be honoured to walk through this season with you and I will genuinely do a happy dance if you choose to let me. I wish we could talk about Jesus over coffee or hot chocolate every single time you read it, but instead, I would be delighted to read a message or email if you fancy sharing <3
So, here’s to Him, the Rising Sun–who emptied himself, so we could be full.
Full of everlasting life, peace in trials, freedom from sin’s grip and guilt, and hope for our heavy hearts.
Be so blessed,
Reb x
Front cover design and graphics by the magical and ever-so-patient Deyna Seffen ✨
@deyna.draws