EVERYTHING I DON'T KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS
(What's in a name, anyway?)
I've got questions about Christmas. A lot of questions.
Like, whatever happened to Joseph? And where'd we ever get the idea that the innkeeper was a cruel, heartless old man? Or that Mary rode a donkey into Bethlehem?
And the magi – were they kings? How many of them were there, and when exactly did they arrive in Bethlehem?
You've probably asked some of these same questions yourself. And there is, for sure, a lot of mystery surrounding the Christmas story. But, true to His character, God has chosen to let remain sketchy those elements of the nativity narrative that don't really matter. It seems as if those things that might distract us have been afforded little attention. Then, so that we couldn't possibly miss the point, He gave us in blazing detail the essentials that we dare not miss – like Jesus, the image of the invisible God, becoming one of us. Hope for the hopeless and redemption for the helpless. And He came, not how or when we expected, but as we've come to see, in just the right way and at precisely the perfect moment of God's timing. “The fullness of time” - that's what God's Word calls it.
A former pastor once posed this question to our congregation: When do you open your Christmas presents? Most, he said, wait until Christmas Day; these we call traditionalists. Others unwrap theirs on Christmas Eve; these we call modernists. Still, some tear into theirs with abandon the moment they receive them; these we call barbarians! Christmas is, indeed, all about giving. After all, God Himself took the initiative and demonstrated this … beautifully … perfectly. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV)
And “Gift” - though we don't often think of it in this way – is a beautifully and perfectly appropriate name for Jesus.
Because names mean something.
In ancient times, God often changed a person's name according to some past event or some future purpose for their life. Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel. Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul.
When God chose to reveal His own names to His people, He was sharing something of His essence, His character, His very being. But who can fully understand the infinite mysteries of God Himself? Perhaps if He described Himself in terms we could visualize, we would start to grasp how perfectly complete He is. Perhaps if He took the unthinkable step and became one of us, we would begin to comprehend what real love is. Maybe then we could realize where our need and His provision meet.
He is Emmanuel, God with us. Good news in times past and a fresh word of comfort for our world. An ancient promise … a prophecy fulfilled … a reality for today.
He is The Word. What God speaks is revealed in what He does. The Word is God's pronouncement of redemption in action.
He is the Light of the World. Darkness is illuminated and shadows are dispersed. Jesus is the blaze of glory that leads to the Father.
He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. The totality of God is found in Him. The entire scope of history is held in His hand.
He is the Messenger of the Covenant, anointed by the Sovereign Lord to preach good news and to proclaim freedom for the captives. His word of redemption is alive and active.
He is the Image of the Invisible God. To know what God is like, we look at Jesus; the exact representation of the Father; fully God yet fully man.
Again, there's lots we don't know about the Christmas story. But the backstory is vividly clear. We have a need and God has a provision. But for the life of us, we can't do anything to remedy this situation on our own. And so, we're offered a redemptive encounter, made possible by a flesh and blood God who is given a name that means salvation itself; a name that angels whisper in reverence and awe; a name above all other names – Jesus.
This part we know for sure.
--Click here for more helpful articles from writer/arranger/director Marty Parks.