Sunday, 29 November 2009
O, one is for the prophets
This year, for the four Sundays of Advent, I want to blog about the Shapes of Christmas. Also, as is the tradition for the first Sunday in Advent (at least in churches I attended in my childhood), I am going to talk about the Prophets.
At this time of year I often wonder where all the time has gone - how can Christmas be less than a month away already? As those who regularly read this blog will know, I like to get my Christmas shopping out of the way well before now, and I have been known to panic a little if I'm not as organised as I'd like.
But this is silly of me! After all, presents are not what Christmas is really about!
The true meaning of Christmas, of course, is the story of Christ's birth. Now, I know, everyone in this country probably knows the story off by heart. Children act out the Nativity each year in schools, the story is sung in a variety of ways at Carol Services, every year it's the same and many people switch off, thinking they don't need to listen any more. But hold up. Yes, you know the story, but maybe you've forgotten something important - this birth was special!
Why is it special, you ask? Why must we dwell on it, year after year? Perhaps you need to take another look at the story of Jesus' birth if these questions are on your mind. For now, let's look at one of the most common Christmas Shapes, and see what we can learn from it. I wonder if you'll put one on the top of your Christmas tree. It's a star. Have you ever wondered why people put stars on the tops of their trees?
You will, no doubt, remember the part of the Nativity story, where the wisemen follow a star to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus. But have you ever asked why they followed it? In the Bible, in Matthew, chapter 2, verse 2, (NIV translation used here) the wisemen tell Herod, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
They followed the star, travelling a great distance, in the hope of finding a new king. And, as you know, they met the baby Jesus, gave him gifts and returned home, satisfied that they had met the one they had been looking for. But, what exactly were they hoping this babe would grow up to become? After all, they weren't the only ones hoping for the arrival of this special baby - the Jews had been expecting him for centuries!
Read the words of Isaiah, a Jewish prophet, first spoken near the end of the 700s BC:
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on His shoulders.
And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."
Isaiah 9:6-7, NIV
People had high hopes for this special baby. Look at those titles again: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. When Isaiah first said these words, the Jews were going through quite a turbulent time, facing invasion by other kingdoms. The prophecies made by Isaiah, as well as those by other prophets concerning the Messiah's coming, gave hope to the Jewish people through all the trials and tribulations they suffered between that time and Jesus' birth.
However, when He did arrive, he was not quite what some were expecting. Israel was under the authority of the Romans at this time, and many had hoped the promised Messiah would be a great warrior who would help them regain their independence. They did not like learning that this was not God's plan, and refused to accept that Jesus was the one they were waiting for.
And so, as you know, Jesus was crucified. You'd expect a lot of people to be disappointed at this, right? The Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, killed on a cross by those He came to save. And yet Jesus knew this was what had to be - and by dying on the cross, He accomplished what He had set out to do: He paid the price for all our sins, and opened up the Way for us to turn back to God. And then, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, thus becoming the hope of the whole world, and our only chance of salvation.
That is why His birth is so special: on December 25th, we celebrate the arrival of the Light of the World, our Saviour. As you rush around the shops this December, looking for bargains or the latest must-have accessory, does the hope of Christ live in your heart? Next time you see a star adorning the top of a Christmas tree, you might want to take a moment to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus has given you the best gift of all - the offer of full redemption and hope for eternal life. How will you respond?
