Symbol 03: Stars
By the grace of God, Abraham was called to be the father of many nations. What a comfort it must have been for Abraham as God renewed his promise by showing him the magnitude of his descendants in the stars above—out of which would come the Messiah.
Fast forward a couple thousand years and God now uses a star to point the wise men from the east to their Savior. One of those stars—Abraham's seed—is their divine Messiah and King.
There are many meanings that are attached to stars in Christianity that are typically based on how many points a particular star has. An eight-pointed star has been tied to baptism because of its connection to Old Testament circumcision that was performed on the eighth day. Early church fathers also used eight pointed stars and other objects to symbolize the "Eighth Day", i.e. The Lord's Day, the resurrection, and a new creation.
Symbol 02: Manger
A manger (from the French word, meaning "to eat"). Certainly not as stylish or trendy as what new parents would find at an Ikea or Pottery Barn. And definitely one of the last places where you'd expect the newborn King to be resting. This feeding trough—brimming with the smells of manure, dried animal saliva, and unappetizing fodder—is the humble crib of our Savior.
Symbol 01: Advent Wreath
A traditional fixture in Christmas homes and churches, the advent wreath points us to the coming Savior, as well as the victory and everlasting life we have in Christ Jesus.