Beyond the Bright Lights
The True Meaning of Christmas
I guess many of us would have been to Orchard Road lately to see the annual Christmas light-up. My walk down the beautifully lit street a few nights ago filled me with the wonder and amazement of Christmas. But today, there are many people, young and old, who have lost the ability to marvel at things that are truly magnificent. We get jaded; we have experienced hardships, so we miss something of the mystery and grandeur of life, and even the majesty of God.
Can you imagine what it might have been like to be one of the shepherds on the Judean hillside when the angel announced the birth of Jesus? Luke uses this narrative to demonstrate God’s intention to come into the world and expand His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
It was good news ‘for all people.’
Shepherds were the least likely of people to be approached, as they are often portrayed as outcasts, despised and rejected; yet it was to these common folk that the angel made the glorious announcement of good news. Luke assures that this wonderful news was going to the whole world, not just to the Jewish people; it was good news ‘for all people.’
A Saviour was coming into the world! He would come out of the house of David, fulfilling the covenant that God made with David that one of his descendants would reign on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). This is the One the nation of Israel has been waiting for, for centuries.
The angel describes this One with three titles: Saviour, Christ, and Lord. A Saviour is someone who delivers from an enemy. The idea of a Saviour is still part of Israel’s history; repeatedly, when confronted by enemies, God would raise up someone from among them to lead the nation into battle and throw off the oppressors. Currently, after centuries of oppression under Roman rule, the Jews long for a deliverer, as in those days. They still do not understand that salvation is not merely political freedom, making the nation of Israel a great nation among others. Salvation is about deliverance from the ultimate enemies: Satan, sin, and death. The rescue that this One brings is the complete rescue that every man and woman in history have yearned for: deliverance from things that bind them and destroy them.
The next title, Christ, is the Greek word for Messiah, which means ‘the anointed One’. Lord is a title reserved for God Himself, but it becomes the name by which Jesus is commonly known. As Lord of all creation, He is worthy of our worship!
God’s favour rests on those who respond with humble hearts.
After the angel’s pronouncement to the shepherds, a whole heavenly host appeared and began to sing a song of praise: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests.’ What does this song mean?
For God, it means glory in the highest, filling heaven and earth with the praise and glory of God.
It is the fulfillment of God’s covenant faithfulness to His people and of His love for the whole world.
It testifies to His nature and to the hope that now would continue to be in Him.
It proclaims to the world that God is a personal God of love, promise, grace and peace.
This is God loving the whole world and calling all of us to respond to Him. God’s favour rests on those who respond with humble hearts, and we will enjoy the peace of God. This opens up the reality that we, who have been estranged from God by our own sinfulness, can be brought back into harmony with God.
Now, what did the shepherds do after this revelation of the glory and wonder of God? They praised God and proclaimed the good news of Christ’s coming. So must we do the same! It is wonderful to be confronted by God, as were these shepherds, when He reveals Himself in power to us. We have a new and deeper understanding of who God is and what His character is like. But the important thing is what to do when the angels are gone.
The shepherds then looked at one another, saying, ‘We must go and see this! We want to find out if this is true.’ So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger, just as the angels had told them. Interestingly, after seeing the baby, Luke says, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. Mary and Joseph had gone through the same angelic visitation. Now this miraculous baby is born, the child who is going to be the Saviour, the Messiah, the Lord! The shepherds left, ‘praising and glorifying God.’
It would be a tragedy for us to go through the motions of this season without encountering the God of the season.
Luke tells us that ‘Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ We, too, need to do the same this season: to think through what it means to us, to allow our minds and hearts to deeply absorb the Word of God and the story that God has revealed to us about this great work of Christ; following up in praise as there is nothing that lifts our spirits and energizes our being like focusing on God and what He has done.
Perhaps, you may have heard this Christmas story again and again, but have never known God’s peace. God invites you this day to hear His Word and in faith come to Him, accept the gift of new life and salvation from the Saviour who is Christ the Lord. What a wonderful gift that would be to you and to those around you. But what a tragedy it would be for us to go through the motions of this season repeatedly without encountering the God of the season, who acts decisively on our behalf, bringing glory to God and peace to us.
Prayer: O Child of God, come among us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter and be born in our lives today. May your favour rest on us and the peace of Jesus Christ remain in us, even as we glorify your holy Name. In the Spirit of our Lord we pray. Amen
Rev Ho Chee Sin
(Former Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore)
