Christmas and Christmas Victor

It’s the second week of Advent, and Christmas is coming. Advent means “coming.” We remember when Christ came to earth and look forward to his return, when he will make all things new.

When we think of Christmas, we think of the babe lying in a humble manger. We may think about how the wood of the manger-bed points to the cruel wood of the cross where Jesus died for our sins.

Jesus didn’t just defeat sin on that cross. He was also victorious over death and evil. I recently learned in my Theology class, that the classical biblical view of the Atonement is also called the Christus Victor view. I like that. Zephaniah 3:17 says:

The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
    he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
     as on a day of festival (RSV).

Above is my drawing of Jesus as the Victorious Warrior, defeating the evil one.

Below is a photo of our beautiful new puppy, Caspian. He is not afraid to be in a graveyard, because Christ has defeated sin, death and the devil. In fact, Caspian is even eating the graveyard grass, like a sheep lying down in green pastures!

 

OK, so I intended to post this photo at Halloween and am a bit late. OK, so the neighbors may not have appreciated Caspian eating their grass. However, this all ties together for Advent, in a very old poem by Aurelius Prudentius (Roman, ca. AD 348-415). This poem is also a splendid Christmas hymn, entitled “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”

Here is the closing stanza of the poem/hymn:

Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore.

Let’s keep that eternal victory in view, as we wait for the time when there will be no more mourning, crying or pain, and we see our Savior face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12; Revelation 21:4).

Advent Blessings to You!

Please leave a reply and share some encouragement with others.

Where do you see goodness and beauty? How do you see God’s Kingdom and Christ’s victory breaking into this world?