This article was originally written by Jamie Caldwell and originally appeared in his monthly “Carry the Fire” email.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

These beautiful words are more than a seasonal greeting embossed on holiday cards. They are, in fact, part of an ancient prophetic oracle that is, in turn, based on an even more ancient divine promise.

We find that promise in the opening chapters of Genesis. Following humanity’s betrayal, God curses the serpent and the ground, while graciously disciplining the man and the woman.

God says to the Serpent,

“I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

Scholars call this verse the proto-evangelism, i.e. the first Gospel. With these words, God promises that one day a seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. This promise is ultimately fulfilled in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but before we get to that first not-so-silent-night and an empty tomb, God reminds us of His promise and His plan over and over again.

First, there is Seth, the child that brings new promise following Cain’s violence.

Then Noah, a son hopefully named in anticipation of God’s promised rest.

There is Isaac, the laughter of Sarah, the son of Abraham, and the father of Israel.

Joseph is used by God to save the seed of the woman from a devastating famine.

Moses is the baby drawn from the water, who will eventually lead God’s people through the parted waters.

Before the Prophet Samuel becomes the final judge and the anointer of kings, he is the answer to Hannah’s prayer and the child she gratefully gives back to God.

There is also the infant redeemer of Naomi whose life leads us to King David and his sons, a long line of failing kings that eventually bring us to the Christ child.

Unto us children have been born.

Unto us a son has been given.

And … he has crushed the head of the serpent!

This season is an invitation to inhabit the story of Advent, the story of God’s promise!

It is an invitation to remember the future! God has promised us a Son that will crush the head of the serpent for our good and His glory!

It is an invitation to worship! Our God is faithful, so we can be a people of great faith.

It is an invitation to wonder! God is fearsome in his power and gentle in His pursuit of us; He redeems our brokenness with beauty!

Finally, advent is an invitation to want more! God sets eternity in our hearts. In other words, He delights in cultivating a desire within us that nothing else can meet.

So, let’s carry the fire throughout this season. Let’s remember God’s plan for our good and His glory. Let’s worship God in faith because He is faithful. Let’s wonder at the way He redeems our brokenness with beauty. And let’s want more!!!

Let’s cultivate a desire for Christ, not just Christmas. Let’s lean into our deepest desires this Christmas season. Let’s move past holiday parties, Christmas presents and family memories into the reality of the Gospel.

Jesus has come, and He is coming again.