Jesus Christ's first coming marked the decisive moment when the Kingdom of God was at hand, as He announced the era of God's Kingdom commencing with His arrival. During His ministry, He declared that the time was fulfilled, signifying that the King of the Kingdom was present among humanity, walking in their midst. His presence was the opening salvo, the necessary first step that laid the groundwork for future events. His ministry, including His teachings, death, resurrection, and ascension, were all essential components of this initial phase, setting the stage for what was to come. Jesus Himself indicated that His first coming was part of a continuous process, emphasizing that everything must occur in its proper order to fulfill God's purpose in a major way.

The Messiah's mission to preach the Good News of His Father's Kingdom unfolds in two distinct visits, known as His first and second comings, each serving as a witness to mankind. His first visit, nearly 2,000 years ago, began when He introduced His message by reading Isaiah 61:1-2 in the synagogue of Nazareth on a Sabbath day. During this first witness, reactions varied among the people. In Jerusalem, during the Feast of Tabernacles, as recorded in John 7, there was division because of Him. Two groups, dubbed the Magicians and the Jingoists, failed to recognize Him as their Messiah due to misconceptions and misinterpretations of Scripture. The Magicians believed the Messiah would appear suddenly out of nowhere, misunderstanding Malachi 3:1, and thus rejected Him because they knew His origins. The Jingoists, clinging to flawed arguments about His Galilean roots, ignored prophecies like Isaiah 9:1-2, which foretold His ministry in Galilee, and missed the detail in Micah's prophecy that He would come forth from Bethlehem, not reside there. In contrast, a group called the Devout, encountered shortly after His birth in Jerusalem, recognized Him immediately. As narrated in Luke 2, individuals like Simeon and Anna, guided by God's Spirit, frequent engagement with God's Word, prayer, fasting, and fellowship with like-minded believers, understood His identity as the Messiah. Their deep love for truth and adherence to spiritual practices enabled them to see Him for who He was, even before His public ministry began. The example of the Devout during His first witness stands as a lesson for recognizing Him, highlighting the importance of spiritual readiness and devotion to truth.

Advent, derived from the Latin word adventus meaning arrival or appearance, refers to Jesus Christ's first coming as a human being, born in Bethlehem of Joseph and Mary. At this time of year, manger scenes appear at churches and in yards across Christendom, while Christmas carols extol this glorious Child and narrate the story of His birth. However, the New Testament writers never use the term parousia, the Greek equivalent of adventus, to describe Jesus' birth, focusing instead on other arrivals or presences. While Matthew and Luke detail the incarnation story in their gospels, the Bible places far greater emphasis on His finished work as the sacrifice for sin and His present role as High Priest. Scripture nowhere commands or hints at celebrating the day of His birth, raising questions about observing Advent and Christmas. Jesus' coming as a human was an essential part of God's plan, yet His birth marked only a wonderful beginning, as He was a helpless baby with His real work still years away. God commands us to remember His finished work, culminating in His death as a sinless sacrifice on Passover, rather than the day of His birth.