Noel: Our Past, Present, and Future (Part 2)

Noel: Our Past, Present, and Future

The crux of Noel, of Christmas, of the hope of eternity, was birthed among animals. Cattle and pigs were the only witnesses of His birth save for Mary and Joseph. I assume there was nothing special about the birthing process either. Christ the baby didn't glow or speak or do anything that would signify His presence as God of the universe. God self-reduced to tthe form of His creation. 

A chorus of angels heralded Christ's entrance to a few shepherds. The rest of Creation would examine the evidence of a star. I've no doubt that angels and demons were battling one of the fiercest wars in eternal history that day. Angels battled fearlessly, confident of their winning King. Demons fought in desperation, kamikazes of evil launching themselves every which way. Feeding Herod's jealousy, throwing obstacles in the earthly journeys of faithful servants. They must have battled for the very minds of Mary and Joseph, spurring doubts and fears. All the while growing more certain of their loss. 

And then He is born--Satan's frustrated schemes scream like nails on a chalkboard, ripping across a starry sky. This humble, unexpected, breathless victory of God compels shepherds to rejoice and Mary to sing and Joseph to tremble in awe and praise. 

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19). Looking back on the craziest 9 months of her life. That night, 9 months previous, as she lay dreaming of her soon-to-be marriage to Joseph, startled by an angel who tells her not to fear. How could fear slide back down her throat when she's just been told that the Holy Spirit has placed the Savior of the world inside her very body? Did she sleep at all that night? If so, only by the grace of God. A willing teenager. That's all Mary was. She was a soldier willing to do whatever her Servant King asked, and though she abandoned a peaceful marriage and a life unjudged, she trusted God was working all things out for her good. He was on her side. She trusted Him. Perhaps just enough. And isn't that what we all should do? 

We too are soldiers receiving instructions from our King. One command we have all been given is to go out into all the world and show others the beauty and joy of the Kingdom in which we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28.)

And Joseph--going ahead with the marriage to his dearest love--despite accusations that her pregnancy was illegitimate. The courage it must have took to stand against the uproar of friends and family. Uproar that could have led to his wife being stoned or abandoned and he rejected and scorned. Perhaps it made job prospects bleak, for who would respect a man who would take such a wife? Many tears must have been shed with the weight of this decision. This courage must have come from God alone: to be the earthly father of Emmanuel, God with us. No selfish man could have accepted that task in their own strength. 

And we too can summon courage to accept "impossible" tasks, not from within ourselves, but from the Holy Spirit who lives inside us. 

Christ, our past gift; the Holy Spirit, our present gift; God the Father in all glory and power, our future gift! Could there be a more generous God, who gives of Himself throughout history--Christ, once for all to save, the Holy Spirit to counsel and comfort, and the Father who will reign eternally. Three in one, given in most mysterious, compassionate, glorious ways. This--THIS is Christmas! 

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel has come to us! So open presents with joy this Christmas, remembering the gifts God has blessed us with, and those that are still to come!