Before there was a manger in Bethlehem…
Before there were stars in the sky…
Before time itself began…
Jesus was already there.
That truth reshapes what Advent hope really is—and why it’s strong enough to hold us, even when the world feels unsteady.
Hope That Starts Before the Beginning
The very first words of the Bible are familiar:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
But when the apostle John opens his Gospel, he deliberately echoes that line—and then takes us even deeper:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
John wants us to understand something staggering:
Jesus didn’t begin in Bethlehem.
He was present at creation—speaking light into darkness, calling order out of chaos, breathing life into the world.
“Through Him all things were made… In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
(John 1:3–4)
Advent hope begins here:
Before the darkness ever showed up, the Light already existed.
Hope That Holds the Ending Too
Jesus is not only present at the beginning of the story—He also stands at the end of it.
Near the close of Scripture, Jesus declares:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet—a poetic way of saying everything from start to finish.
Jesus launched the story of the world.
Jesus will bring it to its final restoration.
And right now—
He is holding everything together, even when it feels like things are falling apart.
What This Means for Advent Hope
Advent hope isn’t shallow optimism that things might improve.
It’s confidence that Jesus is already present in every chapter—past, present, and future.
He was there at creation.
He entered the world in humility.
He reigns today.
And He will return to restore all things.
So wherever you find yourself right now—
uncertain, weary, hopeful, or afraid—
remember this:
Jesus is already there.
He wrote the first word.
He will write the last.
And He is writing hope into the middle of the story too.
Prayer
Jesus,
You are the Word who was with God in the beginning,
the Light no darkness can overcome,
and the Hope who holds the future in Your hands.
Today, I trust You as the Alpha and the Omega in my life.
Shine Your light into the places where I feel uncertain or afraid.
Help me walk in hope, knowing You are already at work.
Amen.
Thought to Wrestle With
What changes in my outlook if I truly believe Jesus is already present in both my beginning and my ending?
A Quote to Reflect On
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” — C.S. Lewis
Want to Go Deeper? Read These Passages
If you’d like to spend more time in Scripture today, here are the passages that shaped this devotional:
Primary Readings
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Revelation 22:12–13
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John 1:1–5
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Genesis 1:1–5
Companion Reading
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Psalm 36:9
Read slowly. Notice how light, life, and hope are woven together.
For Reflection or Discussion
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Where does life feel uncertain or unresolved right now?
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How does knowing Jesus is both the beginning and the end shape your hope today?