Many people participate in lighting Advent candles, but they have no idea of the true meaning behind it. Though the practice of Advent has many years-worth of tradition, several traditions are worth noting. Many attribute the incorporation of wreaths into Christmas decorations as an early form of practicing Advent. The first Advent wreath is credited to a Lutheran minister in Germany (1839) who was working at a mission for children as they were impatiently counting down to Christmas. He created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart and placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays as a countdown to Christmas. Eventually, this tradition became the Advent wreath we know today which is created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle became a symbol to remind us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible. Additional decorations, like red holly and berries point to Jesus’ sacrifice and death. Pinecones symbolized the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection.
The candles themselves are also deeply meaningful. John 1:4-5 tells us that Jesus came and “his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  The candles symbolize the light of Christ in a dark world.
As the traditions stretched over years, eventually the smaller weekday candles were left out and just the candle representing each of the four Sundays before Christmas remained, each taking on their own meaning. As those candles representing hope, peace, joy and love were lit, what they symbolized was to be remembered.

On week four we light the candle of Love, remembering the love that spurred God to send his Son Jesus to the world as our Savior. God’s love is woven throughout the biblical story. In the beginning, creation emphasized God’s love as the source of all existence and God’s covenant relationship with His creation. Despite shortcomings, failure and sin, God’s love drives His commitment to pursue and care for humanity. Throughout the Bible, God’s love remains steadfast, and He sustains His desire to be in relationship with His creation.

The New Testament reveals the culmination of God’s love in the arrival of His Son Jesus. Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection are built on His sacrificial, selfless and redemptive love. It IS the message we build our lives on: that God loved us so much He gave His Son to reconcile humanity to Himself (John 3:16). 1 Peter 1:18-20 tells us that God paid a ransom to save you…and it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began…

This is a love that is hard for us to comprehend. It is unconditional, we can’t earn it and we can’t be disqualified from it. It is a love that is patient, kind and merciful. We don’t deserve it, and yet it is offered freely. This love forgives and is eternal. God’s love for us is everlasting.

The Love candle reminds us that God’s love is vastly universal (for all humans), and intimately personal (for ME). God’s love cannot leave us unchanged; as we receive it and are transformed by it, we are compelled to offer it as a gift to others. This is how we become part of the great story of God’s love. As part of God’s story, we can look back on the love that compelled God to send Jesus as the sacrifice on our behalf, and we can also look forward in anticipation to the culmination of this love; when Jesus will return to complete the work of restoration and redemption that began with His death and resurrection. This Christmas, receive the gift of God’s immeasurable and unconditional love for YOU.

Check back on Christmas day for the meaning of the final candle, the Christ candle.