The Long Wait

I have many childhood Christmas memories but one never varied from year to year. That common memory was the agony of waiting. From Thanksgiving on, the days seemed to drag, it seemed like Christmas would never come! My childlike anticipation was so great that nothing really helped to ease time along. Probably many, if not most people, can identify with this cute childish Christmas memory.

As an adult I no longer experience Decembers that seem to last forever. In fact I no longer anticipate Christmas like that. Supposedly this is a good thing; it is a sign of “growing up,” of becoming a mature adult. And yet I wonder, Jesus said that we need to become like children to enter the Kingdom of God. Could this be one reason why Advent does not seem so important to many Christian adults?

Advent, celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas day, is a time of preparing for, anticipating, and waiting for the coming of the Messiah. It should be an important part of our calendar, as it is getting ready for one of the two most important “holy times” in the Christian calendar. Advent is important, however, it also seems like it is mainly for children. A look at Christian books and Advent material reinforces this notion. You know those cute Advent calendars with their little flaps you lift for each day, revealing a new person, animal, or angel. Or take the picture books with the adorable donkey!

The Bible gives us a different picture and as adults we need to pay attention to it. The Biblical account while full of wonder and mystery, tells of heartache, struggle, and seemingly unending waiting. Actually Simeon and Anna’s lifelong wait for the Messiah speaks powerfully to me.

Here are two mature adults, Anna is eighty-four, The Bible does not tell us how old Simeon is, but the assumption is that he is older too. Anyway, they are both godly, devout people who are passionately waiting for the Messiah. I imagine Simeon had the harder time waiting because “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” {Luke 2:26} That is like when I thought I knew what I was getting for Christmas, I wanted it so bad and could not have it yet; it was a long, long wait for Christmas morning. I can imagine every morning Simeon wondering, “Is this the Day?” He prepared his whole life by living a “righteous and devout” life. He anticipated it eagerly and waited every day. Finally, The Holy Spirit led him to the Temple to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

Simeon demonstrates to me the way I should treat Advent, with righteous preparation and anticipation. He also shows me something else, Jesus or Yeshua to use his Hebrew name, is the Savior! Simeon said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation,” {Luke 2:30} That reminds me that during Advent I am not waiting for a baby in a manger but the Lord and Savior of my life!

This Advent rather than trying to pretend to be that child of years ago, it would be better to model ourselves on Simeon and Anna: mature, righteous, and devout individuals who are waiting for their Savior with joyful anticipation.

So observe the first week of Advent preparing for Christmas and thanking God that Jesus, the one who “will save his people from their sins.” {Matthew 1:21b} has come for you.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker December 2003



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