KELHUKIESIE SAVINO
CHRISTMAS! The dream season of every child- a season that brings holidays, new clothes to wear, presents, Christmas cakes and trees and stars and cards, camp fires and carol singing. Soon those away will come home. Visitations and dinners together. The choirs will sing their best. The church beautifully decorated. Frost topped mountains. A season of activities, laughter and happiness. A cold season with warm homes- may it be so for us everyone. We will again celebrate the memory of the birth of Jesus. We will visit the manger again- the shepherds, the choir of angels; the wise men from the east bearing their gifts we will meet. Yes, our Christmas stories will not be complete without them, but pause for a moment this Christmas to look beyond the manger. We will celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace and Immanuel it shall be- God with us. But for all the beauty in the birth of the baby in the manger in Bethlehem, take some time to look at the cross on Calvary for perhaps the Christmas story goes beyond the manger.
Mary is said to have treasured all that was told to her by the shepherds in her heart (Luke 2:19). Simeon at the temple blessed Mary, Joseph and the baby and said that the baby was “appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed” (Luke 2:34) and that a sword would pierce Mary’s own soul. Anna the prophetess at the temple spoke of the baby as the redemption of Jerusalem to those who are seeking it (Luke 2:38). There was definitely something special and more to the birth of the baby- who would have imagined that so many more of his peers, would be killed at the news of his birth.
As frightening as it could have been for an angel to appear in the night followed by a multitude of the praising God, the message of the angel was not one of fear or warning or judgment but in his own words “good news of great joy which will be for all people” (Luke 2:10). It was the message of the birth of the Savior, the Christ- the long awaited Messiah, The anointed One of God- a beautiful message of hope. Finally the long waited Hope here on earth, the One who would die for the sin of man and bring them back to God as someone rightly said, “the Son of God became the son of man so that the sons of man would become the sons of God”.
Christmas- the celebration of the birth of Jesus for all its beauty and joy is just the beginning of the greatest love story ever told. Did those who were there that night fully understand the meaning of the birth of the baby seeing all the wonders and signs? Yes the shepherds were excited about what they were told. But did they understand what this child would one day do for humanity? Today we look back and understand that this very child would grow up just like anyone of us- I imagine him cry when hungry, crawl around, stand and then take small steps, learn to speak, play around with other kids in the locality, help his father in his tool house, lose his father, work at his father’s trade as a carpenter and the when the time came, begin His earthly ministry as a young man. He would be tempted, hated, betrayed and crucified. A man who was born amidst wonders and signs- whose birth was foretold ages long ago, whose father and mother are visited by angels concerning his birth, an angel announcing the birth to the shepherds and a multitude joining him to praise and glorify God, a new star leading the three wise men from the east. In his three years of ministry He did perform miracles and wonders, people were amazed at is teachings- He healed the blind, the lame walked, raised the death, drove out demons and evil spirits, commanded the waves and the winds, fed thousands with a boy’s lunch. Even in His death He was gracious- never spoke a word against His tormentors, was mocked but never retaliated as it was said long ago, forgave as He hung on the cross, promised paradise to a thief on the cross and then died having accomplished what He was to do- bear the penalty for the sins of humanity on the cross. Just as His life on earth as man began with a miracle- the resurrection from the dead and between these two miracles stands the cross on Calvary. Even as he ascended to the Heavens the promise remains that one day He will come back to take us home, to where He is- a blessed hope.
O COME LET US ADORE HIM, CHRIST THE LORD! Visit the manger once again to see the baby that lies in the manger. Shepherds did long ago and they went their way praising and glorifying God telling others about what they had seen. The wise man came with their gifts and worshipped Him. What will we do this season at the manger? Come, see the baby and walk away? Or shall we like the shepherds tell others about him and spread the good news, like the wise men come seeking for Him with our gifts- our hearts, our lives- and worship Him. Yes, to those who are able to identify this baby as the savior of the world, the privilege is theirs to carry the good news beyond the manger, theirs is the hope and peace of God, theirs is the love that has been shown through the birth of the Promised One.
