Ponder the three comings of Christ during the Advent season

By Editor | November 29, 2012 |

“John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the Prophet Isaiah:

"A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord…'” (Luke 3:3,4).
Some of our churches observe the Season of Advent, four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Even if your church does not have this custom, the weeks before Christmas should give us all an occasion to slow down and reflect. In our faith-tradition, we reflect on the “three comings” of Jesus the Christ: 1) His coming in history; 2) His coming in mystery; and 3) His coming in majesty. In other words, friends, it all doesn’t come to an end at midnight on Dec. 25!
His coming in history – Our Lord Jesus Christ came in history. This is, of course, the coming that drove the dreams of the faithful people of Israel, who had waited so eagerly and so long for the coming of the Messiah. What we try to do during Advent, in a small way, is to compact those centuries of waiting into four short weeks. And we’re reminded – guess what? – that God takes his sweet time in fulfilling his promises.
God may have promised a Savior in the Garden of Eden. You bet he did. But he was slow in following through on that sacred promise. So that’s why we hear words such as “yearning,” “waiting,” “hoping,” “watching,” “longing,” “looking,” and “preparing” throughout this holy season. These words all become part of our sacred vocabulary in prayer and worship.
But all that yearning, waiting, hoping, watching, longing, looking and preparing – was it ever worth it when he finally did come! As St. John the Evangelist records: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). We can assume the posture of the expectant people of Israel and admit that we have a very real need for a Savior. Did you get that? We sure do need a Savior! There is his coming in history.
His coming in mystery – We believe that Christ comes to us daily. Jesus is reborn in our lives every single day in so many ways if we but recognize him with the eyes of faith.
You also know the great tragedy of that first Christmas. The Messiah’s birth went largely unnoticed. Nobody recognized him. The world missed him. The world passed him by. The world ignored him, so much so that he was actually born in a manger, in a stable. You know what? That’s not just a tragedy in history. That tragedy continues now, because Christ comes to us in mystery every day, and we usually miss him! In Christ, today and every day, is born a Savior, and he is Christ the Lord. It’s almost become a cliché that we say, “Boy, wouldn’t it be great if Christmas could continue all year?” Well, it does – because every moment, every day, Christ can be reborn in our hearts, as we recognize his coming in mystery.
His coming in majesty – Christ will come again in glory. That is an essential part of our Christian faith. That’s his coming in majesty. And you know what? Advent is a great time to reflect on that, to remember it, and to prepare for it.
Everything here in life, as beautiful and as wonderful as it can be, is only a hint of what awaits us when Christ comes in majesty at the end of the age. Nothing is permanent here, and we look forward to the day when Christ will come and usher in his everlasting reign.
Keep in mind how different that coming of Christ in majesty (at the end of the age) is going to be than his first coming in history, when he arrived as a helpless baby. When he comes in majesty, he’s going to come as the omnipotent judge. When he came in history, he was acknowledged only by Mary, Joseph, some shepherds and the Magi. When he comes in majesty, all creation will bow down in homage. When he came in history, the angels announced peace on earth. When he comes in majesty, those same angels will divide all peoples for eternal reckoning. This is why the preaching of John the Baptist is as timely now as it was in his time and place.
Are you listening? Will you be prepared? “Amen! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20).