There are two major “Christian seasons” on the believer's calendar: One is Easter, which is preceded by 40 days of Lent, and the other is Christmas, which is ushered in during a four-week period of spiritual preparation called Advent.

Both periods of time require solemn personal contemplation, and at the same time, anticipation of the momentous events in the life of Christ which they represent.

The Lenten season bears heavily upon the Christian's heart, because it leads to the betrayal of the son of God, his mock trial, conviction and crucifixion. But, it also ends with the joyous resurrection of Jesus Christ, the human sacrificial “lamb,” who died for the remission of the sins of all mankind. Nothing in the annals of world history could equal the importance and significance of that. Easter's meaning is that there is, therefore, no death, but life eternal.

For someone who was God's only begotten Son; one who fulfilled prophecy; one whose message was “love your neighbor as yourself,” and whose sacrifice promised hope for all believers should have had a spectacular “advent and nativity.” Such was not the case.

By all rights, the Christ child should have been born in a palace, attended by retinues of seers, priests and royalty. Such was not the case. Trumpets should have sounded throughout the realm, bells should have peeled and messengers sent far and wide to proclaim His birth. Such was not the case.

Instead, the most momentous happening in the history of mankind was a well-kept secret. Christ came into the world as a human baby born to an, as yet, unwed mother who, was a nobody, from an obscure village, Nazareth. His actual birthplace was ugly, uncomfortable and unclean. Attendants were smelly stable animals and His royal robes were sweat-cloths used to wipe them down.

An angel from on high proclaimed the glorious news to lowly shepherds, society's poorest of the poor. Yet, royal potentates found their way to His manger bed and brought with them gifts which, symbolically, acknowledged His Messianic, holy birth and also presaged his significantly sacrificial death: Gold was a gift fit for a King, while the other gifts were burial ointments of frankincense and myrrh.

Regarding the appearance of the angel of the Lord to the frightened shepherds in Bethlehem, there are these words in the book of Luke 2:10: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The appearance of the angel and the heavenly host to the shepherds inspired Charles Wesley, a writer of over 6,000 hymns, to pen one of the Advent season's beloved songs. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” He was obsessed with writing hymns and often wrote as he jogged along on horseback or would dismount at someone's gate and ask for a “pen and ink.” He was, however, adamant about his words being tampered with or changed.

He made it clear that anyone was perfectly welcome to use his songs, but if a word or phrase were altered, a notation must be made on the margin or at the bottom of the page. He frowned on that, however, saying that “not anyone was able to mend either sense or verse.”

One man did Charles Wesley, the church and us a great favor by “polishing up” one of his best-loved hymns. At age 32, he wrote a Christmas hymn that began: “Hark, how all the Welkin rings, “Glory to the King of kings; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; Universal nature say, “Christ the Lord is born to-day!”

It was Charles Wesley's friend, George Whitfield, who changed the words in 1753.

“Hark! The herald angels sing. “Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” Joyful all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies, With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.

In many churches Advent candles are lit each Sunday prior to Christmas. Five candles in a circle are colored: Three are purple, one is pink and one, which is larger than the others, sits in the middle of the circle and is white.

Purple represents royalty. After all, Christ came to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The white, or Christmas candle, is symbolic of the Savior's purity and of his being “the light of the world.” The other candles represent “anticipation,” “hope” and “love.”

So, Advent is a month-long time of searching one's heart for the true meaning of Christmas.

-- Advent heralds the coming of the birth of Christ.

-- The Advent season celebrates the coming of Christ.

-- Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter.

-- Advent candles represent Christ's bringing “light to the world.”

Christ's birth is the most significant event in the history of mankind. Anticipating His coming into the world is a serious soul-searching time for Christians everywhere.