Ed Jones
Oh, how exciting it was to see the first candle lit celebrating Advent and the coming of Christmas. Today, in many Christian denominations, it is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming.
Traditionally, four candles are placed on a wreath or circle of garland and lit each of the Sundays leading to Christmas. This year, the last candle will be lit on Dec. 24.
The first candle is known as the “Prophet’s Candle,” the candle of hope, for Advent assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. The Scripture readings and prayers during this week often focus on the prophecies in the Old Testament about the promised Savior and the expectation of His arrival.
The second candle, the “Bethlehem Candle,” represents peace. It symbolizes the preparations being made to receive and cradle the Christ child. Bethlehem is a story about a humble couple on an unwanted journey, at an inconvenient time, to visit a tiny, insignificant town. As we draw nearer to the birth of Jesus, we begin to see just how specific God was about giving His people “directions” to the main event! In Micah 5, we read a prophecy that occurred 735 years before the birth of Christ, and yet it’s as specific as if it were spoken right before! Micah tells us several things. He tells us where the Messiah will be born, that He will come from a tribe of Judah, He will rule in Israel, Jesus is eternal and divine but will rule on earth, and He will be a shepherd to His people. This One will be our peace.
The third candle is the “Shepherd’s Candle,” or the Candle of Joy. Luke 2:10-12 reports that the Levitical shepherds were visited by an angel, “And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord’” (KJV). I grow weary of TV news. I hunger for encouraging news. Reflect on the joy of our Savior (literally, our rescuer). It is good news, indeed!
The fourth candle of Advent represents Love, the ultimate love of God that He might send His only Son for us. Called the “Angel’s Candle,” the fourth candle of Advent is lit the Sunday before Christmas, leading us to eagerly await the new Kingdom of God on earth. This Advent, light the fourth candle on Sunday, Dec. 24.
This year Fellowship At The Ranch will have an Advent wreath, and I hope to experience the same anticipation with the illumination of each candle as I did as a child so many years ago.
Merry Christmas!
Ed Jones pastors Fellowship At The Ranch Church at Robson Ranch. This nondenominational church meets at the Robson clubhouse on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. For information, visit Fellowship’s website, www.fellowshipattheranchchurch.com.