THE ADVENT WREATH

he word advent means coming or arrival. It is a time when we pause to reflect on and celebrate the incarnation of God, His coming to this world, and into our hearts and lives. The advent wreath provides for us a focal point for this time of both preparation and celebration.

The wreath that supports the candles is made of evergreen. It reminds us of God’s unchanging love, a love that sustains us and gives us life even as a tree sustains the branches that are attached to it. In the Gospel of John chapter 15, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

A wreath is also type of crown. In ancient times it was a symbol of victory. If we remain in God, if we persevere in faithfulness to Him, we are promised a crown of victory upon His arrival at the end of the age. In the first chapter of James we read, “blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” Advent reminds us to be thankful for God’s incarnation but it also reminds us to watch and wait with patience and diligence for his return.

The wreath is laid in a perfect, unbroken circle to remind us that God’s love is eternal. It had no beginning and it will have no end. In the first epistle of John the forth chapter we read, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

He came to us once in a manger many years ago. He comes to us again every time we choose to love, every time we choose to forgive, every time we choose His way over our own.

The number of candles used in an Advent Wreath as well as their color and placement varies depending on the tradition and even the circumstance. Like any other symbol, the meaning of the advent wreath, the candles etc. is determined and defined by the user. Tradition certainly has some bearing on this but like many other Christmas and holiday symbols the advent wreath itself has pagan roots.

In pre-Christian times, candles were lit around a wheel during the festival of winter solstice to celebrate the return of gradually lengthening daylight. In the providence and sovereignty of God, Christians have adapted and modified this tradition with emphasis on the spiritual light of the world. Many of our traditions have roots in paganism but this does not invalidate them. Instead, it demonstrates God’s sovereignty in anticipating His coming not only in the prophecy of scripture but also in the traditions of the world.
We should not be surprised at the variance that exists in the Advent Wreath traditions. Like any other tradition, the Advent Wreath should never become a focal point of debate but of unity.

Some Advent Wreaths have only four where others have five candles. Most often when only four candles are used, three of the candles are purple and the other is rose. The rose-colored candle is lit during the third week in glad anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Then the final purple candle is lit on Christmas or on Christmas Eve to suggest our longing for the Second Coming of Christ.

To assist in conveying the differences between the traditions, I have included the following outlines:

The readings as they exist now:

Week One: Purple Candle – Meaning and Symbolism Overview & Repentance
Week Two: Purple Candle – Longing
Week Three: Purple Candle – The Fulfillment of Property
Week Four (The Sunday before Christmas): Rose Candle – Joy at His Coming
Christmas Eve: White Candle – The Nativity

Four-Candle Variation:

Week One: Purple Candle – Repentance
Week Two: Purple Candle – Longing for Advent of Our Lord
Week Three (The Sunday before Christmas): Rose Candle – Joy at His Coming
Christmas Eve: Purple Candle – Longing for His Second Coming

Still other variances exist; some place a Christmas candle in the center of the wreath and light it on Christmas day, some on Christmas Eve. Some use blue instead of purple. Others burn four white candles during the twelve days of Christmas until the Feast of the Epiphany. While many variances do exist, the point is to be intentional in whatever tradition you choose to follow – that is, understand what you are doing and why you are doing it so that the ritual has meaning and purpose within the context of your worship experience.

On top and throughout the wreath there is holly. Holly has sharp points and those sharp points remind us of the crown of thorns our Savior wore on Calvary. They remind us of His suffering as the red berries within the holly remind us of His shed blood. The writer of Hebrews in the ninth chapter told us that “without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins.”

He came to accomplish for us what we could not accomplish for ourselves. In his epistle to the Philippians chapter 2, Paul said of Jesus that, “being in the very nature God He did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

At the beginning of the Advent season, the wreath, like our world, lies in darkness waiting for the light of God to shine upon it. The prophet Isaiah said in the ninth chapter, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

The candles remind us that Jesus is the light of God. In the eight chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.”

With the passing of each Sunday until Christmas one and then another candle is lit until all of the candles are lit. In this way the light from the collective candles will grow brighter as Christmas draws nearer.
There are three purple candles. They are lit fist. Purple is the color of longing, of patient preparation and of repentance. This single burning candle calls us all to prepare for the coming of our King even as John the Baptist called those of his time to prepare for the coming of the King when he said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

We turn away from that which preoccupies ours minds and from anything that has a hold on our hearts so that we can fully and without reservation embrace our Lord when He comes. We empty ourselves so that He can fill us with his love.

Rose is the color of the forth candle. It is the color of joy. When our hearts are free to love him, free to be filled with his love, we will know His joy, His life sustaining life-giving joy.

The larger candle that stands in the middle is white. It reminds us of our sinless lamb, the lamb slain before the foundation of the world, slain for our sin. Slain to give us life. In lighting it we both celebrate His coming to the world and we anticipate with joy and eager expectation His coming again. He came once long ago as a suffering servant He will return soon a conquering king.

The season of Advent reminds us that God will come to us at any time, through any person, and in any experience. As Christmas draws ever closer we will be constantly reminded that when He comes, our lives will never be the same again.

Many blessings to you,
David