By Shannon Caughey

You might be familiar with the term “advent.” This term is sometimes used when talking about sports. Maybe you’ve heard someone discussing “the advent of the shot clock in basketball” or “the advent of rally scoring in volleyball.” The word “advent” just means “arrival” or “coming.”

“Advent” is also used to refer to the Christmas season. Christmas is a celebration of a specific arrival: the birth of a baby in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. Why is the arrival of this baby unlike any other? In this and the following devotion, we’ll look at passages of Scripture often read during the Advent season. From these passages, we’ll consider what is so significant about the One whose coming we celebrate at Christmas.

In Matthew 1, we’re given a succinct yet staggering account of what led to the arrival of Jesus: “The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit” (v. 18). When Joseph learns Mary is pregnant but doesn’t know how this happened, he thinks it best to quietly break off their marriage commitment. The Lord then sends an angel to Joseph with this message: “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (vv. 20-21).

The angel specifies the name to be given to Mary’s son because of what the name communicates. Jesus means “the Lord saves” or “the Lord is salvation.” Why this name for this child? “[B]ecause he will save his people from their sins.” Right after the birth of Jesus, shepherds near Bethlehem are visited by an angel who announces to them, “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord”(Luke 2:11).

Here’s one reason why the arrival of this child is so significant: Jesus is our Savior. He comes to save us from our sins. The people in Jesus’ day thought that when the Messiah came, the salvation he brought would be rescuing the Jewish people from being oppressed by foreign nations—like they were currently experiencing at the hands of the Romans. Jesus makes it clear that his mission is so much greater. 

Rather than grabbing hold of political or military power, Jesus lays down his life on the cross. He does this to save us from our sins. Though Jesus is without sin throughout his entire life, on the cross he takes our place to receive what we deserve for our sinful rebellion against God. Through his sacrificial death, Jesus makes a way for us to be rescued from eternal spiritual death—that is, being eternally separated from the God who created us and loves us. Through faith in Christ, we receive this salvation.

The Bible is clear that the saving work of Jesus is complete and comprehensive. It has past, present, and future dimensions. If we have put our trust in him, we can be sure that Jesus already saved us from the penalty for our sin. Jesus made us right with God through dying on the cross in our place. He is also presently at work in us through his Spirit, saving us from the power of sin over us and enabling us to live more and more fully for him. In the future when we die or when Jesus returns, he will save us from the very presence of sin. We will live forever with him in the new heavens and earth where “death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4).

No wonder we make such a big deal about the coming of Jesus! He is our Savior. This Christmas, celebrate with joy the arrival of Jesus, who saves us from our sins.

For reflection: Take some time to praise Jesus because he is our Savior. Thank him for saving you from your sins when you put your faith in him. Ask God to help you stay focused on celebrating the coming of Jesus throughout this Christmas season.