Yesterday I wrote about the Advent Wreath. I mentioned the four candles in the circle of greenery for the four Sundays of this season. I neglected to mention that big white candle that sits in the middle of the wreath unlit until the season of Advent comes to an end. That candle is known as “The Christ Candle.” It points to Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Light of the World.

John 1: 1–5, 14, 16-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth … From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

In the Nicene Creed we confess to believe Jesus is “Very God of very God, begotten, not made.” Yet he took on human form. He became one of us and, as Paul tells us:

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Jesus, whose name means “The Lord Saves,” came for that very reason. His light shone among us, and it is still shining in the world today. We wait until the celebration of His birth to light the Christ candle, a reminder of His light shining in the darkness and overcoming it. The Christ candle also reminds us of Immanuel, the God who is with us, who’s Spirit lights our daily path.

The King shall come when morning dawns And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old a little child,  To bear and fight and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun That lights the morning sky.

Oh, brighter than the rising morn When Christ, victorious, rose
And left the lonesome place of death Despite the rage of foes.

Oh, brighter than that glorious morn Shall dawn upon our race
The day when Christ in splendor comes And we shall see His face.

The King shall come when morning dawns And light and beauty brings
Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray: Come quickly, King of kings.
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns  Lutheran Service Book #348