What does Christmas mean for us at this time, in this kind of world that we live in? Christmas has meant many things to many people. To the entrepreneurs, it is a time to make money. To some it is a nostalgic time to remember all the popular notions of Christmas (snow, Christmas decorations, Santa Claus, presents, festive songs, etc.), meant to make them feel warm and nice. To others, it is a convenient year-end holiday for a time to shop, celebrate and feel good.
The core meaning of Christmas has to do with the birth of Christ our Lord. It is a time in the church year set aside to celebrate Gods “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). In a time like this, perhaps there is a greater opportunity for the primary meaning of Christmas to stand out against the gloomy background, like a flame of hope in a dark night.
Christmas is surely not a time for some escapism from stark reality. On the contrary, the truth of Christmas plunges into thick reality. That is the way Jesus was born into this world. He “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). He was not born in some palace, with all the make-belief luxury that is meant to keep a safe distance from disturbing reality. No, Jesus was born into the stark reality of poverty. He was born in an obscure stable in the humblest of circumstances, and that by His own choice. He came to a people living in a harsh world, to a nation dominated by the foreign power of Rome. These people were led by God over the centuries, through thick and thin. God struggled with them. When He brought them back from their captivity, they returned to their ancient homeland with the promises of God. Then for 400 years, heaven seemed to be distant and silent. It was as if God had forgotten them and finally given up on them. The godly among them hung on to the thin threads of their faith, despite the terrors of their world (like when their holy temple was desecrated or when their people were massacred cruelly). They looked forward to the promised Messiah.
God kept His promise. He sent His Son Jesus. And that is why we celebrate Christmas. We too may feel like the ancient people, waiting for better times, waiting for God to act. Christmas is a timely reminder that God does keep His promises.
The One whose birth we celebrate was given two names at his birth: Jesus and Immanuel (Matthew 1:21, 23). Jesus means “God saves” while Immanuel means “God is with us”. What wonderful truths these are! The message of Christmas is that through Christ, God saves us (from sin and death) and comes to be with us. This message does not change no matter what our present circumstances are. In fact, in our present gloomy world, this message shines all the more clearly. Who can deliver us from our dire circumstances? Who can change the bad news to good news? We declare that it is Christ our Lord who brings salvation, reconciliation, healing, peace, and hope. Let us place our hope in Him in these troubled times.
Christ was born into the real world. Our real world is filled with anxieties and trouble, uncertainties and pain. The Christ of Christmas does not offer the momentary relief of escaping into fantasy. Instead, the One who hung on the cross offers us His abiding presence, even in times of trouble. He is not only our Saviour, He is also our Friend.
This is the message of Christmas which I encourage you to lovingly share this Christmas with at least one relative, one friend, and one stranger. Can we still celebrate Christmas this year? Why not? It is a time of joy, and joy, rightly understood, is based not on circumstances but on our relationship with God. No matter how good or how bad our times are, may the unchanging, saving presence of God fill our hearts with peace and joy this Christmas—because of who Christ is to us. Let us in our heart of hearts be quietly confident that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As Martin Luther remarked, “The mystery of the humanity of Christ, ,that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.” Let us therefore celebrate this mystery of Christmas with awe, gratitude, and hope.
Consider this:
Think of times when you felt you were waiting desperately for God to act. What made the experience easy or difficult?
Excerpted and adapted from Fire for the Journey: Reflections for a God-Guided Life by Robert M. Solomon. ©2002 by Robert M. Solomon. Used by permission of Armour Publishing. All rights reserved.
Related Resources:
The Light of The World: Experiencing the Splendor of Christmas. Christmas is more than just the celebration of Jesus’ birth—it is a symbol of hope. Remind yourself of the true majesty of Jesus’ birth and the anticipation of His glorious return. Discover how you can experience the brilliance of Christmas every day, when you keep the Light of the World brightly shining in your heart. Find out more here.
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