A news report this week highlighted the saga of 8,000 inmates complaining that the sheriff was forcing them to listen to Christmas music all day long. Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s policy of playing the songs has faced six lawsuits over the past two years for “cruel and unusual punishment” but that has not deterred him from doing it again.
Now I admit that listening to carols all day long, could get old pretty quick but then again, you can’t play these wonderful songs any other time of the year (at least not without people thinking you need to be locked up in a rubber room).
I’ve hearD several people this week remark that they are ready for the holiday season to be over and for life to return to ‘normal’. It’s a shame they feel that way as they not only miss out on the special moments that this time of year brings, but they may also miss the very meaning or purpose of the season.
I think Christmas more than any other time of the year is an opportunity to begin a fresh start with our lives. Why? Because Christmas is all about new beginnings.
The Apostle John writes in his Gospel letter, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:1, 14
The Word of God was made in flesh form—a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. This was a first; a new beginning. The angel declared that very night to shepherds, “For unto you is born (new beginning) this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) “A Savior…”—one who saves!
The idea of someone needing a savior denotes that a person is in a situation or circumstance beyond their ability to deliver or free themselves from it. It necessitates an outside force to release or extract them from their ‘prison’ and in doing so, enables them to have a fresh start or new beginning.
That is what John conveyed in his Gospel, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) “To become” — something new; a gift from God Himself to us when He gave His only Son. So you see, Christmas is all about new beginnings; a new leaf on life—through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Physics tells us that time exists because and when matter exists. But God is not matter; He is Spirit and not bound by the dimensions of time as we know it. And the words spoken that eve of the birth of Christ, transcends the element of time. The words spoken that night are as alive to us 2,000 years later as they were for those shepherds that first heard them. “For unto you (us) is born this day in the city of David a Savior…”
So while some are saying, “I’ll be glad when it’s all over” and others are lamenting “I can’t believe Christmas is almost over”, I would say, “Christmas is never over for those that understand it and have received that precious gift.”
That night long ago when an angel declared to the shepherds the breaking news, they immediately rose from what they were doing and rushed to witness this extraordinary event. And once they saw Him, they went everywhere telling the story of God’s Christmas gift.
I would suggest this year we stop and follow their example. I think I’ll “go tell it on a mountain”… Merry Christmas!
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