The King Is Coming: An Advent Message - a podcast by Jonathan Michael Jones

Advent, perhaps a largely misunderstood liturgical season in the
Christian year, begins today. My aim in this message is to eliminate two common
misconceptions of Advent: namely that Advent and Christmas are one and the same
and that Advent solely prepares for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Advent
holds a plurality of themes and rituals including but not limited to
expectation and remembering Israel’s awaiting of the Messiah. Nonetheless, to
relate to global Christians as a part of the timeless body of Christ, Advent
focuses more on Christ’s Second Coming than his First. Certainly, many of the
texts read and songs sung during Advent focus on the expectation of Christ’s
incarnation; yet, we live in a time after such an event but, nonetheless, await
our King’s Second Coming. In the same way Israel awaited the coming of Messiah,
the church presently awaits his Second Coming and the end of time. The Sunday
prior to Advent is known as Christ the King Sunday and celebrates his dominion
over everything. Such a reflection is appropriate to subsequently reflect upon
Christ’s certain return for his people and the end of time. Therefore, this is
an Advent message of hope, for our King will return.

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