Christmas has a way of filling the air with anticipation. For me, it is a time filled with memories. A time with family and friends and singing. A time of warmth in a cold world. As a child, it was a time of mystery, of wondering what Christmas would bring for me. Although I have to admit to being thoroughly carnal about it as a child, there was still something about it that seemed much bigger than the gifts. I didn’t fully understand it, and I doubt if I fully understand it even now. I think it was the dark church, lit only with the giant Christmas tree and sitting next to my Dad as we sang Christmas songs together. The church was always creepy to me at night, with dark shadows playing off the ornately carved altar with a statue of Jesus standing in the center of the altar backdrop with his pierced hands extended toward me. But being in the pew with my family while my Mom played the organ made it feel warm, safe, and almost magical.

Now, my Dad and Mom have both passed, and I am a lot older than they were when I was young. The world seems much less magical; it seems instead to be a darker and, at times, almost sinister place. But it is exactly this kind of world that needs Jesus the most. It is this kind of world that Jesus was born into over 2000 years ago. Sometimes, as I look at all the evil in the world, I wonder what this place must look like to God, and I am overwhelmed at the thought. How can God, in His holiness, even look at this mess? The words of Isaiah take on a deeper meaning.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

And then — I remember John 3:16 and I am left speechless.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

The deeper the darkness, the more beautiful is the light.

The light has come! It’s Christmas!

God, despite all the evil of this world, loved us. He did not love us from afar, but He became one of us in Jesus. He came to save us, He gave His life for ours, that we might spend eternity with Him. The hard work of salvation is done, it was begun on that first Christmas long ago, and finished on that blessed resurrection morning. However, though the hard work is done, the project of salvation is ongoing. We celebrate the beginning while we grow into the image of God, until that day when Jesus returns and restores not just our souls but all of creation, a new heaven and earth. On that day, there will be no more darkness, no more pain, no more evil. The king who was born to rule will finally take His throne.

Christmas is a celebration of past blessings, present grace, and future hope all rolled into one.

So, let’s not forget the magnitude of what we are celebrating this week as we are overwhelmed with events. Find a quiet moment, or better yet, create a quiet moment at some point this season to remember how unworthy we all are of such a priceless gift. Let’s rehearse it with our children and grandchildren to perpetuate more than an empty tradition. Try reading these passages out loud together.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet,

Merry Christmas! And have a great week!