It's hard to believe 2014 has almost come to an end! This next week, we will be celebrating Christmas. This holiday has stolen our radio stations, our TV's, our homes, and if you work in retail, our sanity. But this time of year truly is “the most wonderful time of year" for personal reflections for many. Amidst the chaos of shopping, “Elf”, and long hours, let’s take time to reflect on what Christmas means for us, whatever our perspective
What is Christmas about?
The problem is when people go about doing "Christmas reflections" they are often reflecting on their own idea of Christmas, not the actual one. Reflection on our own ideas will lead us to nothing but pride and arrogance. Today's Christmas reflections can often be self-indulgent and legalistic. "Was I giving enough?" "Did I spend enough money?" "I sure hope they like what I got them." "I'm thankful I am so fortunate." These can be good things to think about, but they miss the point.
Christmas has never been about us. Christmas is about God. If we are going to take Christmas seriously, we must see it as Christians do (Say what you want about it being a Pagan holiday, so are the days of the week, but no one is whining there). And for Christians, Christmas is about mystery.
The mystery of Christmas is found in one word...wait for it...incarnation. As John 1 puts it, the "Word became flesh." The Divine perfectly united with the human. The inconceivable was conceived, while never ceasing to be eternal and infinite. The Infinite became finite. In darkness, the light entered the world. God- in the flesh. Christmas is about God.
The Triune God sought to save a rebellious humanity through an obedient human, Jesus Christ. He came as a man, so that He could truly sympathize, but was God so that He would be a perfect sacrifice. He was made man so that He could suffer; He was God so as to be without sin. Two natures, one true person, He was without conflict in mission. His mission was to "save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). Only Jesus could do it.
Therefore Christmas is also a celebration of the cross. Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice, bearing the wrath of a Holy God. Jesus would die, be buried, and rise again to conquer sin, death and Hell. By faith in this work, He rescues and ransoms people for His glory.
Yes, Christmas is about gifts. A gift. The gift of eternal life. And that is what Christians celebrate and what personal Christmas reflections call us to. We are called to reflect on the gospel- the good news- the work of Jesus Christ and the glorious mystery of His incarnation which is foundational to the gospel itself. We must reflect on the incarnation because without it, our gospel has major holes in it. In fact, without the duo-nature of Christ we have no salvation.
"...As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” - John 20:21
The incarnation, God's dwelling with men through the means of human flesh, has major implications for Christians. Let's take Jesus' above words at the end of the gospel of John. As Jesus was sent, we have been sent. Jesus was sent to "dwell"-literally to "tabernacle"-to "temple" among men. Jesus was called to be all in to serve (Matthew 20:28), love (John 13:1), and to save (Matthew 1:21) sinners. He took on humanity in its fullest (Heb. 2:14-18), while retaining his divinity (John 8:58) to ransom humanity.
Jesus took upon the mission of God to identify with sinners and rescue them. Jesus dwelt among sinners, so do we. He took upon our mess in ways that were not required. He came from a broken home (Matthew 1:19), He did not chose the cleanest heritage to come through (Matthew 1:1-17), He did not come from the best city (John 1:46), nor did He shy away from loss and suffering (John 11:35).
What does this mean for us? We have been sent to do the same. As Jesus has been sent, so we have been sent.
A Word for Christians:
We have not been sent to turn sinners into projects. We have been called to lovingly-and in the truth- serve, love, and proclaim the Gospel of salvation among sinners. This can be messy.
Jesus incarnation called for commitment, sleepless nights, and tough times. So does our mission. Jesus gladly took upon this mission (Hebrews 12:1-2). Christians, do we?
Are the lost projects or people? Are our relationships about vain things, or do we have an eternal perspective? Do people and their drama matter or not? At the same time, do we, like Jesus, remain pure even while dwelling in sinful mess, knowing our witness matters more than others approval? (John 6:38) It mattered to Jesus, therefore it should matter to His people. Jesus dwelt among mess, we dwell among mess.
A Word for the Casual Church Goer:
The incarnation is not just a call for Christians to get out of their "church bubble", but also for the causal church goer to get into it! Jesus came to dwell among messed up people, this includes those inside the church and outside. I understand that some people have been hurt by the church. I sympathize with that. The good news for those people is that so did Jesus! In fact, no one has been hurt by the church as much as Jesus was- they crucified Him!
Jesus came to dwell among "us". This includes the hypocrite, the self-righteous, the religious, the "goodie-two-shoes", and the prideful. Jesus came for self-righteous sinners as well as self-aware sinners. Jesus endured the worst the "church" has ever offered because He endured their sin. He lived among church people, was rejected by them and was crucified by them, but rose to live and rescue them. Jesus commands (not suggests) those who have been rescued to now go and do likewise, and to do so in the context of a local church. Christmas is a glaring reminder of the importance of the church, not the building, but a dwelling for the rescued.
A Word for the Skeptic:
If you are a nonbeliever and you have been invited to church or have a friend who is a Christian, let me let the cat out of the bag- they have been commanded to share the gospel with you and should be attempting to do so. If they are a Christian, or claim to be, and do not intend to share the gospel with you, ask them why? How could a Christian believe the Bible and the reality of eternal judgment and not warn you? Wouldn't a real friend do that?
A real friend, and I consider myself a real friend, would leave you to wrestle with the question Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:29) Who is Jesus? If the reality of Christmas is true and Jesus really is God in the flesh, then the question is of eternal importance. If Christians are correct then God is holy, we are sinners and have earned God's righteous wrath for our sins. If Christmas is a reality then God will judge sin, and is bad news for all of us. But, if Christmas is true, then there is good news for you. The same God who is your Judge, has also been judged. Jesus was judged when He bore the wrath of God and died as a substitute. If you would but turn to Him in repentance and faith, then the work of Jesus will be applied to you. He will be your substitute and will rescue you.
In conclusion, if Christmas is not true, then Christians are fools to be pitied. But if Christmas is true, then there is a true gift to receive and a true reason to celebrate. If Christmas is true, we have blessing which are more than money can buy and more than we can fit under a tree. (Eph. 1:3-14). Our hope is best summed up in the words you have no doubt heard consuming your radio- "Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth, Hark! The herald angels sing, 'Glory to the newborn King!'"
No comments:
Post a Comment