Warmest Christmas Greetings!
“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see’”—here we go—“‘this thing that has happened.’” (Luke 2:15 ESV)
Are you getting ready for Christmas; if so, what’s involved? Making preparations for food, presents, travel, and festive gatherings are expected and familiar around this time of year. The joy of family reunions combined with the sights and sounds that bring good cheer, provide moments of reflection and wonder. Perhaps, like me, you have to admit how easy it is to get distracted by what is good and sometimes miss out on what is best. It is also one thing to sing, “Let every heart prepare Him room,” while personally failing to make the necessary preparations.
The birth of Jesus is the most momentous thing that has ever happened or will ever happen in the entire world. In the scheme of world history, there was never anything like it; there never will be anything like it.
As I write this Christmas message, I am drawn to this phrase from Luke’s gospel – “This thing that has happened.” Here, we are dealing with history! The angelic announcement of the birth of a Savior and the supernatural entry of the eternal God into time and space. The fulfillment of the words of the prophet, bringing light into four hundred years of darkness and bringing the four hundred years of darkness and silence underneath the sound of the very Word of God himself. This gives us an invitation to think and ponder. It also gives us an invitation to wonder but it doesn’t give us an invitation to leap into the dark – but rather to step into the light.
As we draw closer to Christmas, our prayer should be for the Lord to grant that as we go forward from this moment, that we might go and see, that we might trust and believe, and then that we might go again as they went – so that we might tell the thing that has been said; and not leading with our own experience. We all have our own stories—but we should make it clear what the angel made clear: “This is Jesus, the Savior, the Messiah of God, God himself.”
Let’s pray for one another during this season that the Lord Jesus will be increasingly precious to us and His presence will fill our homes, and the light of the Gospel will flood our communities. Let us remember to share the love of Christ and the reason why we celebrate.
On behalf of my wife Dawn the leadership team, I wish you and your family a blessed, peaceful and joyous Christmas.
Lead Pastor,
Mark Lawrence