Sunday, 06 December 2009
And two for John the Baptist
Last week we looked at a special Christmas shape, the star, and learnt about the hope we have in Jesus. Today, it's time to look at another Christmas Shape. This one isn't as obvious as the star, although it is quite common on some Christmas trees...
It's the shape of the candy cane. What's so Christmassy about this shape, though? Why do you think candy canes are made in this shape? No, it's not just so they can be hung easily on the Christmas tree...
Apparently, a 17th Century German choirmaster bent straight sticks into canes to give to children to keep them quiet during the church service. He chose that shape, because of its similarity to this object: the shepherd's crook.
As you will remember, in the Nativity, shepherds tending their flocks at night were visited by a host of angels who sang praises to God and told the shepherds, in Luke, chapter 2, verse 11 (NIV translation): "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." What a wonderful message - wouldn't you have joined them in hurrying to see the baby they had been told about, had you been there?
Those shepherds probably had crooks of their own, which had many valuable uses, including using it to guide their sheep in the right direction when they wandered off. That is why the crook is curved at the end, so that the shepherd can gently hook it around the sheep's head. Sheep have a tendency to follow, so if one goes the wrong way, the whole herd can be quickly led astray.
And sheep aren't the only ones with this problem! People are just as foolish. Let's face it: we've all fallen short of God's grace and sinned. Which is why Jesus Christ was born in the first place! But before He began His ministry, someone else was needed to "prepare the way for the Lord"...
John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin, and as an adult he was able to convince a large number of people of their need to repent and be baptised. All of this was in preparation for Jesus' arrival, aged thirty, to start his ministery. As John himself stated, in Luke, chapter 3, verse 16 (again, NIV translation), "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
Jesus described himself thus, in John, chapter 14, verse 6 (NIV): "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." There is only one way to receive salvation from all of your sins, and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Like a shepherd's crook is used to guide sheep when they go the wrong way, so John the Baptist showed people the errors or their ways and helped them prepare for Jesus' arrival.
How are you preparing for Jesus this Christmas? Will you dash around madly trying to get things ready for the big day, and forget what's important about this season? Or will you find time to learn what Christ's peace can do for you? The choice is yours, but only one leads the right way...
