The following post was originally written on my old blog during the Christmas season of 2012. May it find you well during this season and may it point us to God's Word and profound hope we have in Christ.
By now at least a few of us have watched some Christmas classics or some low budgeted made for TV Christmas movie. A majority of the Christmas movies and shows that will be on TV this season will focus on the "magic" of Christmas, the warm feelings and a cheesy version of love. The other day Jess was watching a tail end of a movie called a Snow Globe which is about a woman who is trapped in a snow globe, gets released and falls in love with a guy at Christmas. We laughed hysterically over the concept of this movie. We joked about the guy. "Sir what do you look for in a woman in order for her to become your wife?" The answer, she has to be trapped in a snow globe.
The problem I have with the expectations that are presented in these movies is that it doesn't line up with reality. For many people, Christmas makes them sad. They don't see the magic of Christmas and experience pain instead of love. Does that mean there is something wrong with them? Does that mean they are a Scrooge and we should avoid them? What if instead of warm feelings they have grief, sadness, remorse or maybe even rage. Every time they think of Christmas they think of a dead loved one, a betrayal, a failed marriage, a horrific event, broken relationships or lack of employment.
This makes me think of the story that Matthew records shortly after the birth of Jesus in his Gospel account. In chapter 2 Matthew writes about the slaughter of all the firstborn male children 2 years and younger in and around Jerusalem. This slaughter was the result of the incompetent King Herod. He was afraid that the coming Messiah was going to steal his thunder, his power, his wealth, and most importantly his throne. He issued his soldiers to carry out this slaughter because he wanted to eliminate the Messiah long before he had an opportunity to rise up and become King. However, to ensure the Messiah was eliminated he ordered them to kill all the male children under the age of 2.
Then Matthew closes this story by reciting a prophecy in the Book of Jeremiah that describes the anguish and grief over this tragedy, which is now fulfilled because of Herod: Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18) I can only imagine the emotions, anger and remorse the parents of these children felt when this happened. I can only imagine what they felt like every time during the anniversary of that tragic night. I can only imagine how the parents cried out to God and asked him where he was.
The problem I have with the expectations that are presented in these movies is that it doesn't line up with reality. For many people, Christmas makes them sad. They don't see the magic of Christmas and experience pain instead of love. Does that mean there is something wrong with them? Does that mean they are a Scrooge and we should avoid them? What if instead of warm feelings they have grief, sadness, remorse or maybe even rage. Every time they think of Christmas they think of a dead loved one, a betrayal, a failed marriage, a horrific event, broken relationships or lack of employment.
This makes me think of the story that Matthew records shortly after the birth of Jesus in his Gospel account. In chapter 2 Matthew writes about the slaughter of all the firstborn male children 2 years and younger in and around Jerusalem. This slaughter was the result of the incompetent King Herod. He was afraid that the coming Messiah was going to steal his thunder, his power, his wealth, and most importantly his throne. He issued his soldiers to carry out this slaughter because he wanted to eliminate the Messiah long before he had an opportunity to rise up and become King. However, to ensure the Messiah was eliminated he ordered them to kill all the male children under the age of 2.
Then Matthew closes this story by reciting a prophecy in the Book of Jeremiah that describes the anguish and grief over this tragedy, which is now fulfilled because of Herod: Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18) I can only imagine the emotions, anger and remorse the parents of these children felt when this happened. I can only imagine what they felt like every time during the anniversary of that tragic night. I can only imagine how the parents cried out to God and asked him where he was.
Christmas is not about magic, it is not about warm feelings or cheesy love. Christmas is about Jesus. It is about how God came into a broken, hurting, ugly and sinful world in the form of a humble baby born in Bethlehem and slept in a feeding troth.
He would be named Jesus. He would be called Wonderful Councillor and Immanuel (God is with us) He would go on to grow up, faithfully teach God's law, point people to his Father, bring healing, and forgiveness. This sinless Messiah would be murdered on the Cross, be resurrected 3 days later and ascend to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. This is what he knew he came to do. Every day would bring him closer to the cross. Every Sabbath. Every Birthday. Every Passover, Jesus was closer to the Cross.
He would be named Jesus. He would be called Wonderful Councillor and Immanuel (God is with us) He would go on to grow up, faithfully teach God's law, point people to his Father, bring healing, and forgiveness. This sinless Messiah would be murdered on the Cross, be resurrected 3 days later and ascend to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. This is what he knew he came to do. Every day would bring him closer to the cross. Every Sabbath. Every Birthday. Every Passover, Jesus was closer to the Cross.
The purpose of God drawing near to us in the person and work of Jesus and then going to the cross, wasn't so that we could experience the magic of Christmas, warm feelings, cheesy love, or fuzzy thought. No, he came to forgive us of our sin and heal us from our sinful condition so that we would be brought into a relationship with him and have true life. Each Christmas we are closer to Christ coming back and bringing Heaven with him so that we could spend forever with Him in His Kingdom.
Christmas brings mixed emotions for me because it reminds me of the blessings and redemption that I have in Christ, but it also reminds me of the broken relationships that I have with my parents. There is a tendency for me to find my hope in Christmas itself to deal with my pain instead of my Savior. However, my joy can't be found in the tree, the gifts, the memories or the possibility of a restored relationship with my parents. It has to be and will be found in Jesus Christ. He is enough to get me through this, regardless of what happens or what the outcome will be.
My Encouragement to you is this. No matter the state you find yourself in this Christmas; whether you are in a season of deep sadness, emotional exhaustion, financial stress, or in a time of mourning. God is present with you. He is the God of the hills and the valley. Look to Him. Cry out to Him.
If life is going incredibly well for you and you are having a mountaintop experience. I plead with you, don't put your stock in the absence of pain and suffering in your life because everything can change in the blink of the eye. Put your stock and hope in Jesus Christ who never changes.
This Christmas may you trust in Christ, may you confess your sins to Him, may you let Him heal the wounds of your heart (whether pride or pain). If he is already your Lord and Saviour, I pray that he would become your treasure because he truly is enough for us, even at Christmas.
If life is going incredibly well for you and you are having a mountaintop experience. I plead with you, don't put your stock in the absence of pain and suffering in your life because everything can change in the blink of the eye. Put your stock and hope in Jesus Christ who never changes.
This Christmas may you trust in Christ, may you confess your sins to Him, may you let Him heal the wounds of your heart (whether pride or pain). If he is already your Lord and Saviour, I pray that he would become your treasure because he truly is enough for us, even at Christmas.
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