It’s Not Over…
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). —Matthew 1:22-23 NIV
It may be December 26th, but Christmas isn’t over, liturgically speaking; the season of Christmas has only just begun. On the liturgical calendar, we are now in Christmastide, or the twelve days of Christmas leading up to Epiphany when the arrival of the magi is typically recognized in liturgical churches. Christmastide is more than just a good excuse to keep your decorations up a little longer, it’s an opportunity to enjoy and rest in the magnitude of what the holiday really means.
When they [the shepherds] had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. —Luke 2:17-19 NIV
We live in the A.D. times, so we’ve heard it all before. We know Jesus came, and we know he lived, died, and rose again for our salvation, so we’re not surprised as these events unfold. But, perhaps we need to linger and treasure these things in our hearts for a little longer. Imagine if we were hearing it all for the first time. Would we be able to quickly move on?
I think the societal pressure to do all the things and buy all the things is one reason we feel pressed to move on at 12:01 AM on December 26th. It’s back to work for many. It’s likely the first opportunity to take any sort of pause from the extra activities as well, especially for those in ministry. I think another reason it can feel like we need to move on quickly is that it seems like the Christmas season starts in September or October now, at least in the retail world. So the 26th seems like a good time to just move on. I mean, the chocolate in that Advent calendar is long gone, right?
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 NIV
Christmas isn’t over liturgically, but it’s not over spiritually either. Christmas Day marks the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth, a life that would one day save all who believe in him. It seems like the beginning of our salvation story, but it’s really another step in God’s unfolding plan for our redemption. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfills; some scholars says there are hundreds more! Each prophesy fulfilled is proof that God keeps his promises. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many people who can make AND keep that many promises. If you like math and statistics, check out this short article on the probability that one person could fulfill even eight of those prophesies. I also love this video from The Bible Project that gives an overview of our salvation story unfolding throughout scripture. Jesus really came to be all the prophets said he would be, and that can never be taken away from us. So, the spiritual implications of what we celebrate on Christmas reach far beyond just one day on the calendar.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:12-13 NIV
Thinking on Christmases past this week, this passage from Philippians came to mind. Verse 13 is one that I imagine most people grew up reciting. Maybe you even had a t-shirt, motivational poster, or bookmark with this verse. It wasn’t until adulthood that I started seeing verse 13 in the context of verse 12. Paul experienced the full spectrum of life and realized the secret to getting through it and finding contentment in all of it was Jesus, the Messiah, Emmanuel. I thought of this passage over the past few days as I browsed my Facebook memories. Christmastime has been somewhat of a roller coaster, much like the rest of life. Some have been great, some have been bittersweet, some have been full of church services and musical events, and some have been filled with hospital trips and recoveries. If you’ve known me for more than a couple years, you know that I’ve had a couple surgeries just before or after Christmas. And you may also know that last year, my husband and I spent Christmas in an ICU about a thousand miles away with his brother and family. Not the type of Christmas that anyone plans, but I can tell you this: Jesus showed up as Emmanuel, God with us, in all of it. Jesus’ presence wasn’t contingent on Christmas being perfect or just right. Jesus is present because God saw our need and did something about it.
From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. —John 1:16 CEB
The meaning and the weight of Christmas can’t be contained in just one day. The story, our story, is still unfolding. Maybe we breathe a sigh of relief when Christmas Day is done, when the decorations are put away, when the last special event is over, but let us carry the true meaning of Christmas with us through Christmastide and beyond. Let us remember that we are worth God’s time, that we are loved more than we can even fathom, and that God is working for our good. The tiny baby in the manger is proof of that. And in light of all of this, Christmas is never truly over. Thanks be to God. Amen.
