A Jesus that outlasts Christmas day! by Basson Nel
Luke 2:1-20
Different passages of scripture, stir different emotional responses within us and this description of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, is synonymous with Christmas time!
Without fail, this portion always excites me, always fills me with joy and even overwhelms me with emotion:
Jesus is born in a stable, in Bethlehem, fulfilling age old prophecies;
He is surrounded by Mary and Joseph and the shepherds from the area;
there is a special star hanging above the stable, bringing a peaceful glow;
wise men carrying gifts, are en route from the East, to find and worship the newly born Jesus – gentiles, worshiping the Messiah right from birth;
and angels are singing, as all heaven announces and celebrates this greatest of events!
This is our Christmas card picture of the events, and of the Christmas Jesus.
A wonderful picture that instantly takes us back to our childhood:
The smell of the Christmas tree and the special meal on either Christmas eve, or Christmas day; lots of laughter and excitement; fun with cousins that you haven’t seen since last Christmas, or even the year before that; a huge big Christmas bed on the lounge floor to accommodate everyone’s children; and a little more of everything:
more people in the house than usual;
much more noise and chatter than usual;
mom has more patience than usual;
uncle Nick’s nose is a little redder than usual;
and I get more pudding than usual!
Our scripture reading and picture of baby Jesus, fits in well with this setting:
A time of the year when most people are on leave;
we, here in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy good summer weather;
the house is strewn with Christmas cards from family, coconut-smelling suncream bottles and rolls of wrapping paper;
most people are surrounded by family and friends, children, grand-children and other loved ones – generally it is a time of peace and goodwill.
It’s a beautiful, traditional picture of the Christmas Jesus and of our childhood memories:
“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the bright sky, looked down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”
But soon we grow beyond our childhood years and then one fateful day, we discover a Santa suit in a drawer in mom and dad’s bedroom.
Unlike Narnia, this discovery does not lead to a magical world, but somehow brings a fantasy world to a close.
Soon more harsh realities of life begin to follow:
Holidays make way for hard work;
good health is often displaced by sickness, as youth bends the knee to old age;
family and friends may disappear into a mist of rejection and divorce;
cash, and eventually even credit may run out in an ongoing recession;
and peace and good will can change into war and evil in a single political declaration.
This is why I need more than the Christmas Jesus!
I need a Jesus that can cope with these things, these realities, with this life I have to live!
I need a Jesus that outlasts the festive season, and the Christmas lights decorating our streets and the batteries in the new toys.
I need more than baby Jesus!
I need a Jesus that will still be there in February when my marriage goes through a rough season;
I want a Jesus who will still be there in May when my business faces stormy seas;
I need a Jesus who will still be there in August when the bank wants to auction off my house;
I want a Jesus who will still be there in November when my mother/father passes away, while my children battle through year-end exams.
We all need a Jesus that outlasts Christmas day!
The world desperately needs a Jesus that can outlast this festive season!
It is wonderful to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and it is great to have childhood memories and family traditions around Christmas – but there is so much more to Jesus than these events surrounding His physical birth!
There is so much more to enjoy and to celebrate than “Gentle Jesus meek and mild”, there is so much more to Christianity than Christmas day!
Jesus came to earth for a reason, a reason that definitely outlasts this season!
Although we do celebrate the birth of Jesus today, we also celebrate His life today!
Jesus was born to live a perfect life – a perfect example to follow.
Jesus had to be taught and He had to learn the normal things of life – He was trained in carpentry and masonry – He worked with wood and stone.
He lost his father, Joseph, at a young age – most say at around 13 years old – and grew up without him;
at no stage do we read anything about a life of wealth, or luxury or glamour;
He was tempted by satan just as we are;
Jesus had to face and cope with every situation that we might encounter, and He did it perfectly!
We celebrate His birth today, but we also celebrate His crucifixion, because I need more than a Jesus who lived a perfect life – I need a Jesus who died a perfect death!
1 Tim.1:15 reads: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”
I need a Jesus that can cope and deal with my sin and my sinful nature, and in John 1:29, John the Baptist points to Jesus and says: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
I need a Jesus who has paid the full price for my sins, once and for all.
I need a Jesus who rescues me from hell and reconciles me to His Father in heaven.
This is exactly what Jesus did for me on the Cross!
We celebrate Jesus’ birth today, but we also celebrate His resurrection:
See, I need a Jesus who did not only die for me, but who also conquered the grave and rose again – who is alive and well!
A Jesus who displayed His power and victory over both sin and death; a Jesus who removes the fear and the anguish from death, and destroys its power.
This is exactly what Jesus did for you and me when He rose again!
This is why Paul wrote: “”Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor.15:54-57)
We celebrate the birth of Jesus today, but we also celebrate His ascension:
because I need a Jesus whose sacrifice of death on a Cross for the sins of mankind was accepted by a holy Father in heaven.
I need a Jesus who is seated at the right hand of the Father – His work completed.
This is exactly what Jesus is doing right now – interceding for us before His Father!
“For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” God said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant, because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself.” (Heb. 7:17-27)
We celebrate the birth of Jesus today, but we also celebrate the promise of His return:
Because I need a Jesus with all power, victory and authority.
I need a Jesus who will return to destroy satan, sin, death, disease, unrighteousness, and every kind of evil for ever!
I need a Jesus who will return to rule with all power, majesty and authority, glory and splendour!
“I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Rev.1:12-18)
This is why we celebrate the birth of Jesus today – because in doing so, we celebrate hope for the future!
We do not merely celebrate a historic, physical birth – but we also celebrate a heroic physical return!
It is wonderful to get together like this and to celebrate Christmas together, but we all need more to celebrate than just the birth of Jesus – we need all of Jesus before we can celebrate!
In Ex. 12 when the passover lamb was introduced as a prophetic forerunner of the Christ, Israel was ordered to eat the whole lamb.
In fact vs 9 specifically mentions “head, legs and inner parts” – not just the choice parts, not just the Sunday roast, or the loin chops, but the whole lamb!
Likewise in Luke 2 vs 11 we have read: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Jesus Christ is both Saviour and Lord – if He is not my Lord, the one who rules in my life, then sadly, then He is not my Saviour either – He is either all or nothing!
The apostle Peter explained it in these words: “ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” – this is for us! (Acts 2:36-39)
In order to celebrate all of Jesus, we need to give our all to Jesus – eat the whole lamb; receive the whole Jesus; give Him your whole life!
Because this Jesus whose birth we celebrate today, will outlast Christmas day, He will return and He will reign and rule for all eternity!
