“During Advent we occupy our greatest longings.”

-Ruth Haley Barton

Have you ever yearned for something? Consider how often you thought about it. How many times a day did you find yourself dreaming about it? Waiting is hard, but waiting for something you long for often feels impossible. This is true in life, and it is true in the story of Christmas.

The people of Israel were in this seemingly perpetual state of waiting and longing. Prophets foretold of a Messiah to come, a king to save them. This king didn’t come in the fashion expected though. And isn’t that the thing - our longing is not often fulfilled in the manner we anticipated. Advent is about this internal conflict of waiting, anticipation, frustration, confusion and excitement. Drawing closer and closer to the arrival of Jesus - a Prophet, Priest and King, born as a baby in obscurity, surrounded by poverty and unlikely nobodies.

Who is this Messiah and why do we need Him?

This Advent, we go back to the beginning of Matthew. We trace tragedy and frustration in a genealogy. We find confusion and comedy in Joseph’s opportunity. We see excitement and boldness in the Magi. And we see the arrival of a long awaited king.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (NIV)