Yesterday, we went to church for Christmas Eve service. And the pastor put a twist on the message that I hadn't really considered before.
He asked "How many of you believe that Jesus is the reason for the season?"
Hands went up throughout the sanctuary.
And then the room when silent when he said, "Jesus is NOT the reason for the season!"
Now, I've heard this man speak many times and believe that he has a pretty firm grasp on the Word of God.
So I was wondering how he would spin this. It took me a few seconds to realize where he was going... and I grinned.
He said that WE are the reason for the season. And he proceeded to make his point by playing a clip from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", and highlighting this verse as quoted by Linus towards the end of the program...
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men of good will whom He is pleased." - Luke 2:8-14
Notice that? Christ came for YOU... and for me.
Certainly, without Christ there is NO Christmas... regardless of what the world says.
But the reason He came was not for Himself.
No, my friends. What He did was done for us... for you and for me. So we could see what God is like. So He could communicate to us on a level that we mere mortals could understand. And so He could show His love to the point that He would lay down His life and die... so we could live.
I'm a sucker for western civilization's way of celebrating Christmas.
I love the trees... I love the presents... I love the Grinch and Rudolph... I've even got a place in my heart for dear old St. Nick.
But above all else, Christmas exists because of God's love... exhibited through his Son Jesus Christ... God's gift to the world.
God's gift to.....
you.
Merry Christmas!
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 25, 2006 07:28 PM
MERRY CHRISTMAS JOEL AND FAMILY 2006,
I really had no idea you were responsible for so much that I associate with on the internet Joel.
Wishing You and Your Family ALL THE BEST IN 2007.
December 25, 2006 08:23 PM
Thanks Joel, I needed that. That was a very eloguent post.
It has been a long and lonely Christmas weekend for me. But...he came for me, I know that.
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gifts, also. God Bless You
December 26, 2006 12:03 AM
But in every sense of my Catholic teaching not only did He come to earth for all of us but He suffered torture and death on a cross only again for us. Thank God that He sent His Son to be born and to die and to rise again just for us. I am trying to learn how to set up a business on the internet to make enough money first to live and then to live larger in hopes that when I make the bigger money I can then help the people who don't seem to find their way in the wilderness. I am in that wilderness but with His help He has so much for me already, my prayers to HIm and my getting my act together and executing some of the stuff I am learning I will live the life I deserve and I will in turn help those less fortunate but never in the way the Lord has helped me.
Keep up the good works and words you perform for us people out here.
Bernie Boylan
December 26, 2006 06:33 AM
Joel
You always have a way of putting things in perspective.
Merry Christmas to you and your family
And to everyone
December 26, 2006 07:29 AM
Joel,
Thank you so much for sharing your faith in God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
May the upcoming New Year be a blessing to you and your family...
January 1, 2007 02:55 AM
You, americans, can't do anything without God ! So stop the war. The middle ages are over.
January 7, 2007 01:33 PM
America is blessed because of those of us who have faith in God. The spiritual war will never be over until Jesus Christ comes again!