14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NIV)
When I was a young boy, I didn’t sleep well on Christmas Eve. I was so excited about what was coming on Christmas Day that I hardly slept at all. I kept thinking about the presents I might get, hoping to get something I wished for. A few years ago, I was reflecting on John 1:14, which reveals the miracle of the Incarnation – the Word became flesh and lived among us – I remembered the lyrics of Christmas carols that seemed to downplay the full humanity of Jesus. For instance, “Away in a Manger” with its line, “The little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.” Wait a minute! If Jesus was truly human, then of course He made some crying. Next, recall the opening stanza of “Silent Night”: “Silent night, holy night. All is calm. All is bright, ‘round yon virgin Mother and child. Holy infant, tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.” Again, if Jesus was a flesh and blood baby, then the holy night really wasn’t that silent. There wasn’t much sleeping in heavenly peace for the holy family, not to mention the animals who were hunkering down in the stable. My crankiness about these beloved Christmas carols continued for many years until I read about “Stille Nacht,” the original German version of “Silent Night”). I discovered something fascinating about the lyrics of “Stille Nacht”. The final line of the first stanza in German read, “Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!” In German, the line was not a statement, but an imperative. “Stille Nacht” wasn’t claiming that the baby Jesus was sleeping. Rather, it was urging Him to go to sleep! With that in mind, I invite you to revisit the lyrics of the English translation. Perhaps like me, you have misunderstood them for decades. The opening lines describe a scene in the indicative: “Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright, ‘round yon virgin Mother and Child.” But the last lines faithfully follow the German original’s imperative: “Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.” This is not a claim that the baby Jesus was sleeping. Rather, it an imperative, urging him to go to sleep. It’s exactly the sort of thing that parents of newborn infants say when their babies are crying at night, often with desperation and many parental tears. The song wasn’t claiming that Jesus was sleeping silently. Rather, it was urging him – begging him? – to get some sleep, perhaps so that His parents and the hosting animals might sleep too. At Christmas time we celebrate the fact that the divine Word of God became fully human in Jesus: not in part, not sort of, not in appearance, but truly human. Jesus was both fully God and fully human. We have every reason to believe that the baby Jesus cried plenty, just like other babies. Because Jesus was human, He was able to take the sin of humanity upon Himself. He is a Savior who not only delivers us, but also understands us. He knows what it’s like to hurt, to grieve, to be rejected, to weep. In this difficult time of history, how good to know that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Why does this matter? It’s not just an important theological point. It’s also about being in relationship with a Savior who really knows what it’s like to be us, One who was born as a real baby, One who no doubt struggled with sleepless nights, much as we do. The Incarnation means that Jesus was able to save us and that He also understands us. He is indeed Emmanuel, God with us, for real! Now that’s something to celebrate this Christmas. Even better than getting presents on Christmas morning! Tonight, as you lay your head on your pillow, “Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!” May you sleep in heavenly peace! Thank you, dear Lord, for understanding me, for knowing me thoroughly yet loving me utterly. 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5And whoever welcomes one such child in My Name welcomes Me.
(Matthew 18:1-5, NIV) In Stave Five of Charles Dickens’s classic, A Christmas Carol, after Scrooge had been changed through his spiritual encounters, he celebrated with whimsical laughter. He said to himself, “I don’t know what day of the month it is! I don’t know how long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby. Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!” The man, who once prided on his stern maturity, was acting like a child, filled with giddiness and uncharacteristic ignorance. In Matthew 18, Jesus commended childlikeness. His disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Perhaps they were hoping that His answer would affirm their own greatness. Jesus’s response was not what they expected. Calling a child to their midst, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Unless you change and become like children . . . sounds rather like Scrooge in the final chapter. Yet, in calling us to childlikeness, Jesus was not thinking of giddiness or ignorance. Rather, we are to be children in our humility. The path to greatness in God’s kingdom begins as we humble ourselves, putting aside our desire for greatness. In our humility we are set free to welcome all people in God’s name, even children, who lack power and privilege. Our notion of greatness will be reversed in the kingdom of God as we follow the way of Jesus, the servant. Jesus entered this world in utter humility and vulnerability. We can keep Christmas well by putting aside pretense and privilege, becoming like a child, remembering that God also came among us as a Child. In what ways might you experience childlikeness during Advent and Christmas? When you hear Jesus say that to enter the kingdom of heaven you have to become like a child, how do you respond? How can you be more open and dependent on God and his grace? Recall some of your own childhood experiences of Christmas. Then, ask the Lord to help you respond with childlikeness to the good news of Christmas. So much in us do not want to be like a child. We want to be grown up and strong; and in control of life. We want to be well regarded. God calls us to childlikeness, not presumptuous maturity. To humility, not grandiosity. God calls is to rely on Him, not self-sufficiency. He invites us to trust Him simply, as young children trust their parents. Dear God, help us to come to You as a child, so that we might live under Your rule. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:7, NIV)
In Charles Dickens’s beloved story, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge starts out as anything but a lover of Christmas. For him, Christmas is a “Humbug!” But, after his encounter with the Spirits of Christmas, Scrooge is a changed man. As Dickens observes, Scrooge “knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.” What would it mean for you to keep Christmas well? What would it mean to live each day in light of the fact that God came to dwell among us in the baby born in a manger? In the first chapter of Dickens’ classic story, Ebenezer Scrooge didn’t have much enthusiasm for Christmas, to say the least. “If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly to his nephew, Fred, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” Fred was understandably horrified. “Uncle!” he exclaimed, to which Scrooge replied, “Nephew! . . . keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.” “Keep it,” Fred responded, “But you don’t keep it.” To which Ebenezer replied, “Let me leave it alone, then.” Indeed, Ebenezer Scrooge did not keep Christmas well, at the beginning of Dicken’s story. Yet, by the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge promised, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Indeed, that’s exactly what Scrooge did. The final paragraphs of A Christmas Carol report that Scrooge “knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.” To this the author adds, “May that be truly said of us, and all of us!” Yes, indeed! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to keep Christmas well, not just on one special day or during one special season of the year? Shouldn’t we who profess to follow the One whose birth is celebrated on Christmas live in light of its reality “all the year”? When I speak of “keeping Christmas well,” I’m not thinking of decorations, gifts, and parties, though I have nothing against these. Perhaps you fill your front yard with thousands of lights at Christmastime. But, in “keeping Christmas well,” I’m thinking about living in light of the reality of Christmas, namely, the birth of the baby Jesus. This is the essential reality of Christmas. As it says in Luke 2:7, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the one who, as the Messiah, would save His people from their sin, the one who was Emmanuel, “God with us.” What would it be like to keep Christmas well, really to keep Christmas well, not just in this season of the year, but throughout the year? What would it be like to keep Christmas well as we go about our lives as spouses, parents, children, church members, friends and workers? What would it be like to live in light of the Incarnation, the coming of God in human flesh, Jesus, Emmanuel? Today, I would invite you into a time of discovery. You can keep Christmas well by living each day in light of the Incarnation of the Word of God in Jesus. What comes to mind when you think about keeping Christmas well? How might your life be different if you lived in light of the birth of the Messiah, the Word Incarnate? What difference might there be in your work? Your home? Your neighborhood? As you go about your daily business, ask yourself, “What difference does it make that Jesus was God Incarnate?” Ask the Lord to help you connect the miracle of the Incarnation to your daily life. May God teach us how to keep Christmas well, and to live in the reality of Christmas daily. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:7, NIV)
In Charles Dickens’s beloved story, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge starts out as anything but a lover of Christmas. For him, Christmas is a “Humbug!” But, after his encounter with the Spirits of Christmas, Scrooge is a changed man. As Dickens observes, Scrooge “knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.” What would it mean for you to keep Christmas well? What would it mean to live each day in light of the fact that God came to dwell among us in the baby born in a manger? In the first chapter of Dickens’ classic story, Ebenezer Scrooge didn’t have much enthusiasm for Christmas, to say the least. “If I could work my will,” said Scrooge indignantly to his nephew, Fred, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.” Fred was understandably horrified. “Uncle!” he exclaimed, to which Scrooge replied, “Nephew! . . . keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.” “Keep it,” Fred responded, “But you don’t keep it.” To which Ebenezer replied, “Let me leave it alone, then.” Indeed, Ebenezer Scrooge did not keep Christmas well, at the beginning of Dicken’s story. Yet, by the end of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge promised, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Indeed, that’s exactly what Scrooge did. The final paragraphs of A Christmas Carol report that Scrooge “knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.” To this the author adds, “May that be truly said of us, and all of us!” Yes, indeed! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to keep Christmas well, not just on one special day or during one special season of the year? Shouldn’t we who profess to follow the One whose birth is celebrated on Christmas live in light of its reality “all the year”? When I speak of “keeping Christmas well,” I’m not thinking of decorations, gifts, and parties, though I have nothing against these. Perhaps you fill your front yard with thousands of lights at Christmastime. But, in “keeping Christmas well,” I’m thinking about living in light of the reality of Christmas, namely, the birth of the baby Jesus. This is the essential reality of Christmas. As it says in Luke 2:7, Mary gave birth to Jesus, the one who, as the Messiah, would save His people from their sin, the one who was Emmanuel, “God with us.” What would it be like to keep Christmas well, really to keep Christmas well, not just in this season of the year, but throughout the year? What would it be like to keep Christmas well as we go about our lives as spouses, parents, children, church members, friends and workers? What would it be like to live in light of the Incarnation, the coming of God in human flesh, Jesus, Emmanuel? Today, I would invite you into a time of discovery. You can keep Christmas well by living each day in light of the Incarnation of the Word of God in Jesus. What comes to mind when you think about keeping Christmas well? How might your life be different if you lived in light of the birth of the Messiah, the Word Incarnate? What difference might there be in your work? Your home? Your neighborhood? As you go about your daily business, ask yourself, “What difference does it make that Jesus was God Incarnate?” Ask the Lord to help you connect the miracle of the Incarnation to your daily life. May God teach us how to keep Christmas well, and to live in the reality of Christmas daily. “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him?” (Deut. 4:7)
The national election is now behind us. Regardless of what your choice was, it is time to put that aside and pray for wisdom for the unity of the country and its future. Many believe that we are one of the greatest countries in the world – the United States of America. But, let us not forget that America’s strength has always been rooted in our spiritual foundation. It continues to grieve my heart that our country relentlessly attacks the foundational biblical principles our founding fathers relied upon. President Lincoln believed that “it is the duty of nations as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God.” Thus, prayer still needs to be our foundation. From the very beginning, our nation has always relied on prayer for guidance, protection, and strength, even when we were just a handful of colonies. The faith of our founding fathers established the precedent that prayers need to be an essential part of our way of life. As a church, we have constantly experienced the power of prayer. As you have been witnessed, the Lord has been so gracious to us in the past 32 years. When we prayed, things seem impossible became possible. Our church has grown from one campus to four campuses. God has manifested His mercy to us, and let’s join our hearts together in celebrating God’s faithfulness and goodness. All glory be unto Him forever and ever. Christmas is fast approaching. It is the season that fills us with a feeling of wonder and awe; but it is more than a time of traditionalism, commercialism, materialism, and indulgence. Christmas celebrates the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Christmas story is the account of God coming into a redeeming relationship with ordinary people. The key to living a full and meaningful life is first discovering this unique and precious relationship with Jesus Christ. God is calling us to take part in making His message known, near and far. Brothers and sisters, who can you share the Christmas story to this season? God is calling you to take part in making His message known. Our country needs Jesus! Everyone needs Jesus! Will you do your part in making the kingdom of the world one step closer to being the kingdom of Christ by sharing about the reality of His love and the assurance of our position in Christ to all those you come in contact with this holiday season? May we look forward to the celebration of Christmas and in unison say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) |
Archives
April 2024
Categories |