There is such an enormous building of anticipation leading up to Christmas morning. We actually have “Christmas in July” promotions in the United States to kick start the excitement to December 25th. When I was a kid, I remember the most fun part of the season was getting the big Sears Catalog at my grandmothers house and flipping right to the toy section. My grandmother would then give my brother and I a pen and paper, and tell us to make a list of the toys we really wanted. Needless to say, making this list took a good bit of time. There was serious strategic planning involved in this delicate process. We didnt want to ask Santa for too much, but we wanted to make sure we picked the best of the best toys.
We would literally analyse the toys. Studying how they were put together by the pictures in the catalog. If a toy looked cheaply made, we would erase it from our list. We would also cross reference our study in the doctrine of toys with other children. If one of our friends happened to have a particular toy we were interested in, a special “play date” would be planned and we would invite them over asking them to bring the toy in question so we could feel things out.
Once we had our list finalized, grandmother would mail the list to the North Pole for us. And then the waiting began.
Finally Christmas day would arrive. My parents would torture my brother and I by making us wait in our rooms while they went downstairs and made coffee. They never seemed to be in any hurry, but we were like two rabid dogs behind our bedroom door just scratching to get out. And once that bedroom door was opened, it was a mad dash to the living room where Santa would always leave our holiday stash.
Each present we ripped into revealed a treasure that we marveled over. But only for a few seconds. We had to move on to the next gift. Then after all of our presents were opened, my brother and I would swap and I would check out his toys as he gave the same once over to mine. Not long after, it was time to clean up all the wrappings and throw the empty boxes away. And after the long build up of anticipation and the climax of opening the great gifts on Christmas morning, I was always left with the same thought…..
“This is it?”
It was like being famished for a big meal and then once finished realizing that I was still hungry. And I believe many adults still have that same feeling after the Christmas season passes. Sort of an empty, “the good time is over” type of feeling. And I believe this is what happens any time we put our hopes and expectations in anything worldly. Everything and anything in this world will eventually leave you disappointed at some time or another. Even the Christmas season. That is, if you focus on the wrong things.
As I wrote in the last blog, I have been convicted this season as to where I place Jesus during Christmas. Is he just another holiday accessory like the Christmas tree, the mistle toe, egg nog, and Santa? Or is he made to be the primary reason for the season?
The Christmas story is told most every year and we hear it numerous times during the holidays. The story of the birth of Jesus. But the Christmas story started way before the virgin Mary gave birth to our Savior.
We can go all the way back to the garden of Eden. After the serpent Satan had caused Adam and Eve to fall into sin, God cursed the serpent and said to him…..
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15.
This was the foretelling of the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ right there in the Garden of Eden. God was telling Satan right here that he had crossed a big line, and that the one coming to crush sin and death would be born of a woman. Jesus would indeed have sin strike his feet when he bore the sins of the world on the cross. But through his sinless life, sacrificial death, and redeeming resurrection, Christ would deliver the crushing blow to Satan, sin and death.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” Isaiah 7:14-16.
Isaiah foretold many many years before Jesus was born of his coming. He told of the virgin birth and described him as the King who will eat curds and honey. Back in this day, curds and honey was a poor mans meal. The rich rulers would be dining on fine meats and the best wines. But Jesus was born into the most humble of settings. He was to be the king that would come to serve and save.
The coming of Christ continues to be told through the lineage of Abram, and through Abrams son Judah, which made its way through the blood line of King David. The entire bible is not just a collection of stories about different good men. If you pay attention to what these men are saying, the whole Bible is the Christmas story……the entire bible is about Jesus. It is simply impossible to talk about any story in the bible without talking about Jesus. The virgin birth was a magnificent part of the story, but its not complete unless we understand the big picture.
You see Christmas is takes on a whole different level of importance when we view Christ in the bigger scheme of things. For centuries the story of the coming Messiah was told starting from the beginning of time. And people Im sure hearing of these predictions wondered….even doubted when and if the savior would ever be born. Their may have been some that doubted the old testament scriptures speaking of the birth of Christ all together. Because generations would come and go and the prophecies were yet to be fulfilled until Mary gave birth to him.
Do you see the same pattern today? Just as many doubted that Christ would be born, many today doubt that he is coming again as is written in the new testament. Just as centuries had passed in the time between the old testament predictions and the birth of Christ, so have centuries passed since the new testament predictions of Christs return. We need not doubt God just because he doesnt operate on our time line. His word stands true, and the only reason He tarries in his return is because there are still many to be saved. In his grace, he is giving humanity time to repent. But just as he fulfilled his birth in scriptures, you can be sure he will hold true to his promise of returning for his people.
The Christmas story is more than just the story of our saviors birth. Its the story of our salvation. Its the story of Gods promises to his people. Christmas is not just a reminder of his beginnings. Its a reminder to humanity that he return is imminent. When Christ returns, he will not enter humanity again through the guise of a baby, coddled in a manger. Jesus will return as a warrior with eyes of fire on a white horse. Christ will strike fear into those who have mocked him and lived their life apart from him. He will return seeking the blood of his enemies.
But to those who were faithful, he will return as a loving father. And the bible tells us he will bring with him their reward. I once heard a pastor that when Christ returns, he would much rather be looking at the back of Jesus instead of facing him eye to eye. Basically saying he wants to be one of the people following him instead of in his path as he declares war on the wicked.
This Christmas reevaluate just where Jesus is on the scale of importance. And let this holiday be a reminder of how very much he loves you and wants desperately to have an intimate relationship with you. He wants to be a part of your life, not just an accessory to be boxed up with the lights and the garland.
Christmas doesnt have to end with the feeling of emptiness. That feeling of anticipation should only be renewed this time of year. We have the joy of knowing the King of Kings who is returning sooner than we may think. And that joy is not just a once a year thing. Its a joy that should fill our hearts daily. A savior was born of a virgin. And a mighty warrior king is returning to establish his kingdom! That is a gift worth looking forward too! The final chapter has yet to be fulfilled. We are literally amidst eternity in the making. And we need stand in anticpation of his coming glory!
