Growing up, I always looked forward to Christmas. Lights, music, decorations, food I was only allowed to eat once a year—and of course, presents. Who doesn’t love presents? Christmas is a season of joy and, like any season, also difficulty, sickness, challenge...uncertainty on many things.
Uncertainty isn’t unlike the first Christmas. Not a lot was going well for the people of Israel—they were under oppressive occupation, high taxes, the high priest was a political appointment — King Herod was a cruel king and corruption flourished. Tension was thick in the air AND tangible, touchable HOPE was coming.
Before anything happens—before the Cross, before the resurrection, before Pentecost—the Apostle John writes of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). John isn’t writing a Christmas story, but he’s echoing Isaiah’s prophetic prose that Matthew and Luke reflect on for their Christmas stories: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).
...A light.... has ......dawned...... and it cannot be extinguished or overcome. Difficulty and challenge is true and real, but it doesn’t get the final word.
Christmas reminds us that God stepped into our broken world, into the deep darkness—and brought us light and His life. He moved into the neighbourhood, tabernacled among us, he wasn’t so far removed that he didn’t go through it too.
Christ is our light...HE is THE Light that whispers hope to the world....to to us...to you this day!
When Mary sings her Magnificat—she’s heralding what’s coming—justice, mercy, all things made right and restored....and so, we too look to Christ and await his arrival. That’s advent—a light has dawned and we’re awaiting God’s arrival.
Merry Christmas Alliance Canada
I pray that this year, as you celebrate, as Christ in you and with you, you would be the presence of Christ in your neighbourhoods, but also—that you would feel and see the great light that cannot be overcome. That you would be encouraged with hope as you are faithful to the call which he has entrusted to you.
Merry Christmas.