Belmont University Advent GuideSample

Generation to generation Israel waited for their Savior to come. Through God’s promise to Abraham, fourteen generations later through David, fourteen generations later to those exiled to Babylon, and fourteen generations later to the Messiah. The waited for the celebration of redemption, renewal, promise, fulfillment of the holy covenant and hope for their future. Countless times Israel turned away on the journey to Jesus’ salvation, and God pursued relentlessly, making a way and fulfilling His promise through His Son. This hope passed through generations remembering God showing up, pursuing Israel, with reminders of His goodness, committing to His promise of fulfilling their needs—finally brought to fruition in the promise and joy of Messiah. Christmas—a celebration of all generations, from long ago, and yet to come.

For me and my extended family, Christmas is a time of gathering and remembering. We celebrate each other, our love for family members’ influence in our lives, and remember grandparents who set traditions long ago before most of us were born. We cherish traditions of laughter, sharing good food, presenting a gift to our “pulled a name out of a hat” relative and attending Christmas Eve candle light service together. Our connecting around life is life-giving itself.

There is a sense of coming together, a building and weaving of our lives over years, a community of celebrating what Christ means to us individually and collectively. Our clan is 40-something people strong—a loud laughing raucous, and a reverent and thankful “singing off key in church” type of group, with little kiddos clamoring to be on the front row so they can get up and do a little Christmas jig when the music picks up. Our Christmas is a time when my soul rests, I remember and I become grateful. Grateful that I too am part of those generations of old that waited on their Savior, and He showed up; grateful that I am a part of the generations of today slipping on the front row in a celebratory jig with the kiddos; and grateful that I can participate in creating traditions for tomorrow, for the celebration of Jesus in lives to come.

Jesus come into our life, renew, create new avenues of remembering and celebrating as we too take part in bringing Christ to the world.

Jill Robinson
Director of External Relations and Executive Learning Networks
The Jack C. Massey College of Business