"THE NEVER ENDING CHRISTMAS"
Luke 1:26-38
Posted December 23, 2000
How long will you celebrate Christmas? One day? Two, including
Boxing Day? Or perhaps, like the song, will you celebrate 12 days
of Christmas?
How long you celebrate Christmas really depends on how you
understand the meaning of Christmas.
Christmas can be a passing celebration. But the Christ of
Christmas is eternal. The angel said to Mary, "you will conceive
in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He
will be great, and...of his Kingdom there will be no end."
Jesus once told this story about a farmer who sowed seed in his
field. The seed has only a passing impact in some cases. In other
cases, it made a lasting difference. Matt. 13:3-9. If we apply
this parable to Christmas, we learn something like this:
Some people are as hard of hearing as a concrete sidewalk. As they
pound the pavement doing their Christmas shopping, they hear the
wonderful Christmas hymns tell of the birth of the Saviour. But
they turn a deaf ear and tune out the messages. The evil one
diverts their attention, and the songs of the Saviour's birth
bounce off them like echoes in a deserted street.
Some people are like the gravel shoulders beside the road, where
nothing can really take root and grow. They really do enjoy
celebrating Christmas. They love to sing the Christmas Carols.
They are truly moved by the story of Jesus' birth, and they even
read it to their children at bedtime during the holidays. But
their response to the story of salvation is never more than skin
deep. They are like the Christmas trees that decorate their living
rooms during the holidays. They have no root, and last only for a
season. When the flurry of Christmas concerts is over, they find
it hard to worship the new-born King, and they drop out again.
After Christmas, their Christianity is discarded, and their
religious feelings are packed away like Christmas ornaments.
Yet other people are like rest areas along the highway. They stop
long enough to smell the roses. They actually keep their New
Year's resolutions for a while. Then along come the pressures of
too much trouble or too much success, and God gets squeezed right
out of their lives again. It is not long before they are racing
down the road of life again in pursuit of happiness, and the joy of
Christ diminishes like a manger scene in the rear-view mirror.
But there are others, like you, I hope. To what shall we compare
them? They are like a fertile field or a garden of delights. The
message does not just fall on their ears. It comes to life in the
rich soil of their hearts. The good news of the Saviour's birth
takes root and grows in them. They do not just hear the Word. It
becomes alive in them. Christ lives in them. They are like an
expectant woman who carries a new life within her. They are
somewhat like Mary herself. They tremble at the good news that
they have found favour with God. The Holy Spirit overshadows us,
and we are born again as the new and eternal life of Christ
indwells us.
Mary carried Jesus twice. First, she bore her child. She carried
her child as a son of man beneath her heart. After Jesus died and
rose for her salvation, he sent his Holy Spirit to her once again.
And the second time, she carried him IN her heart as the Son of the
Most high. We too, by the power of God, carry the living Saviour
in our hearts. And we in turn, for Christ's sake, are carried
forever in the heart of God.
With man, a never-ending Christmas is beyond reach. But for the
God of miracles, nothing is impossible. To all who receive Christ
the Lord, who believe in his name, he gives the power to become
children of God, born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh or
the will of man, but of God.
May it be to us according to his Word, made flesh, which dwelt
among us and dwells in through His Spirit.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ
enters in.
Amen
Prayer:
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray;
Cast our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.
Amen
Annunciation Hymn
The long-awaited Word has come,
As promised, from above:
A message, borne from God's own heart,
Announcing a Saviour's love.
"I greet, you highly favoured maid,
The Lord your God is near.
Now put your anxious thoughts to rest;
You have no need to fear."
"Behold, I bring you blessed news,
Announcing the holy One:
The Spirit of God will come upon you,
And you will bear His Son."
We magnify you, O Most High,
Whose love casts out our fear;
For unto us a child is giv'n;
The Lord our God is here!
Speak life to us, your servants, too,
And let it be, dear Lord,
With whom all things are possible,
According to your Word.
O Lord be merciful to us,
Who put our trust in you;
O'ershadowed by the Holy One,
Be formed in us anew
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