Exploring the timeless themes of Advent

Note: Hey, everyone, it’s Jon. I’m finally back from my travels and just in time for our final Theophilus series of the year. Aaron and I hope that you’ve enjoyed what we put out this year and that you’ll join us this week as we close out 2025 with a reflection on the Advent season. Be blessed.

Last week, Aaron talked about the unsung heroes of the Christmas story.

This week, I want to conclude our year by reflecting on the Christmas season itself, the season of Advent to be specific.

For those who don’t know, Advent is the season in which we reflect and celebrate the coming of Jesus. That is, His coming as a baby and His imminent second coming, too.

Advent celebrations vary across Church traditions, but most commonly, these celebrations begin four Sundays before Christmas Day.

It’s common for a specific theme to be explored each week. For many churches, these themes are hope, peace, joy, and love.

This week, we’ll examine each, exploring their significance at both the first and second coming of Jesus.

So, let’s begin with hope.

Advent Hope

Why is hope associated with Advent?

Hope is all about expectation, positive expectation. The kind of expectation that enables you to pull through the most difficult circumstances.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that hope and Advent go hand in hand.

Imagine you’re an Israelite shepherd for a second.

For your entire life, you’ve heard stories about a long-awaited Messiah. Then, one evening, you’re minding your own business, doing your job, when angelic beings burst on the scene, announcing that the Messiah has been born.

Then you go and see him yourself, lying in a manger. Though an infant in that moment, He’ll one day achieve what your ancestors have prophesied for generations.

It’d be strange not to find hope in that!

Jesus’ birth, for many, was the fulfillment of hope as it signalled an important turning point in God’s redemptive plan.

And you better believe it didn’t end there.

Future Hope

Advent reminds us that Jesus came once and that He’s coming again.

Meaning, the hope of those shepherds isn’t limited to their own time and place. It extends into today.

This hope sits steadfastly at the center of our faith. It’s the hope that Jesus will return and complete the work He began with the first Advent and the ministry that followed it.

Advent reminds us that even during the darkest time of the year (if you live in the Netherlands at least, with its 8 hours of daylight 😭), hope is still present and palpable. 

This is helpful as we live in a fallen world, especially with all the unrest and uncertainty everyone seems to be feeling lately. It’s a hope that pulls us through, keeping us rooted in the presence of Christ in the past, present, and future.

And that rootedness is something the other Advent themes follow quite spectacularly. 

We’ll continue with that tomorrow. For now, be blessed.

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

    I wait for God my Savior;

    my God will hear me. (Micah 7:7)

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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