Christmas Thoughts
While we remained focused on The Sermon on the Mount through Advent (the beginning of the Christian Calendar), I could not help but collect some thoughts on Advent/Christmas that I hope are an encouragement to each of you.
The Advent Season - the four Sundays/weeks leading up to Christmas, the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - is one of preparing our hearts and minds for the threefold reality:
He has come
He is with us
He is coming again
HE HAS COME
Hymn(s): O Holy Night & Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Scripture:
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…”
Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV
Jesus came. Born of a virgin in a small village of Judah, Bethlehem. God Incarnate, that is “God, in flesh”; the revelation of God yet a baby. He was born into an awkward family dynamic, much like most of us experience. We were made of the dust of the earth and he was born surrounded by it. Actually, the “manger” He was laid in was likely a nook carved in to the ground. He was in it. From his very birth He was living out what Paul explained in Philippians 2:6-8. His birth was a foreshadowing of His purpose.
Jesus came. Because it was the only way to bridge the gap. Because He IS love. His coming is the proof of His love. For each of us.
HE IS WITH US
Hymn(s): Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Scripture:
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Isaiah (7:14) prophesied that He would be born of a virgin and be known as Immanuel, “God with us”. He came to be with us. He walked among us, experienced temptation and pain just as we do. Eugene Peterson, in his translation of the Bible “The Message”, phrases it that Jesus “personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity” (Romans 8:3-4). He is familiar with our struggle. He promises to be with us in it.
Whatever circumstance or season of life we find ourselves in, He is with us. He is not only available to us. He is present with us. Just turn to Him. Give Him your attention and your spirit will be refreshed.
HE IS COMING AGAIN
Hymn(s): Joy to the World
Scripture:
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.””
John 14:1-4 NLT
As a child, Joy to the World was one of my least favorite Christmas songs. Maybe it was due to my grandmother’s cheesy, overly jolly demeanor as she sang it. Either way, when I grew older and understood the depth of the lyrics, my opinion changed. The song is about Jesus coming as a baby andabout when He returns. Look at the lyrics of verse 3:
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
Maybe it is because it has been nearly 2000 years since Jesus’ ascension. Maybe it is because our faith needs to be greater. I am not sure the reason, but I do know that the promise of Christ’s return is not a primary message in the Church today. It should be! His return is the hope of all creation. Here is the promise:
“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:3-5 NLT
What a hope we have, those of us who believe this promise. He’s coming again in glory! He is doing away with the struggle and pain forever! That is something worth celebrating, maybe even singing. Joy to the World, He is coming back again!
Love you all,
Jeff