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The more I appreciate the narrative of Scripture (to put it simply: creation, fall, jesus, redemption) the more I have grown to appreciate Christmas. It used to be for me that Jesus’ birth was kinda, well, anti-climatic. His birth is nice and all, but let’s just get the presents and then get on to the cross/resurrection for what really matters.
Now, I don’t want to minimize the cross at all. I don’t want to de-emphasize the meaning of the resurrection. But for me, understanding the unified narrative of Scripture has helped the birth of our savior be more meaningful to me.
When you enter into the narrative, you begin to realize the desperateness at which Israel (and also the world) was waiting for a Messiah. Jesus’ birth was not only the beginning of of his journey to the cross. Jesus’ birth was a magnificent moment because it meant that the long awaited promised one had finally come. The narrative of the Bible hits dramatic moment and the wait as over. Jesus is here.
Today, we aren’t waiting for him to come. He has already come. We’re further along in the narrative. Because of this its easy to forget just how significant it was that this child was born. We are no longer awaiting a messiah who will rescue and deliver us. We’ve been delivered from sin and death. He has risen. Christmas reminds us of a time when this wasn’t true.
Of course, we are still waiting. The story is not over. We await the world’s full redemption. We desperately await for the Messiah’s return. All of creation groans….
We remember the coming of the Messiah this Christmas, the long awaited one. And as we remember his coming we sing and long for his return again, “Father, let your Kingdom come and until then let your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.”
Man, I love Christmas.
Dan B. said...
1Me too, Todd. Especially now that we have a grandson, I can’t help but think of the baby Jesus every time I see him. How helpless he was. Do not despise small beginnings (Zech. 4:10). A small baby in a small manger in a little town was a great and awesome thing.
12/19/08 10:15 AM | Comment Link
Wayne Park said...
2It was also the ushering in of a new world order, the inauguration of the long-awaited kingdom. Tho there’s still suffering in the world in a sense we “realize” the kingdom in our midst as the church in action…
12/19/08 2:16 PM | Comment Link
beth, please change… » The Christmas Story of Empowerment said...
3[...] Advent Series at CCC, Let It Be Christmas and a post by Todd Heistand got me thinking about Christmas a little differently this year. I love new [...]
12/21/08 2:54 AM | Comment Link
tghali said...
4Good post.
I used to have a love-hate with this holiday. Typical transition from kid-gift to the older self discovering the beauty and meaning of Christmas.
I think partially because some of us grow up in particular settings where only conversion is emphasized and thus Easter emerges as the greater holiday. But what is Easter without Christmas? Dare I say less beautiful. The Scriptures go through a lot of trouble to tell us about Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Zechariah, a couple of prophecies, the Magi and of course, the little drummer boy (which is my favorite Bible story ever. Gospel of John right?)
Anyway, today it bothers me a little that some in the church get more choked up on the 4th of July more than Christmas. For although I love Santa, Rudolph, and all the candy canes, we should pay more attention to Advent and come Christmas Eve us and the non-stirring creatures should be shedding a tear for the reason we celebrate this holiday.
12/21/08 7:40 PM | Comment Link