J Philip Bible Readings

CHRISTMAS OR XMAS?

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 

                                                                                                                                          2 Corinthians 8:9

    “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

             according to your word;

    for my eyes have seen your salvation  

                                                                              Luke 2:29-30

Christmas - or Xmas? Do you not think it significant that the name we love is so often missed out? Christ is edged out of the season that bears His name. 

And He is edged out because there is no more room for Him in the world of men today than there was in the inn at Bethlehem, long ago.  This is the measure of man's sickness and woe, and of the hurt that sin has done him.

But Christmas is something more than the most beautiful story in all the world.  It is the Divine actionto heal that sickness and woe, and it is this fact that enabled the angels to announce to the shepherds the good tidings of great joy, and sing 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to men'.  For the significance of that song is that it brings God back again into His own world, and gives Him His rightful place - God coming back to men after they had chosen to be without Him and He had withdrawn from them because of their sin.  In the gift of the Babe, God comes back into His world again. 

This is the gospel, and when it is believed, and the Saviour received, it puts things right and reverses the topsy-turvy order of things that has caused such ruin and havoc in the world.  Putting God in the centre makes harmony and brings peace.

But, from the human point of view - and this is as true for us as it was in Bethlehem long ago - to have room for Him means making room for Him.  And there's the rub.  It would have meant considerable rearrangement, not to say upheaval, in an inn crowded with other visitors, to have taken Him in.  Nor is it different today.  Christ stands knocking still - at the door of the Church, at the world's door, and at the hearts of men.  But the upheaval that His admission would cause is too considerable, it seems, for many to countenance.  And so, again, there is no room for Him. 

But ‘where meek souls will receive Him’, as the carol says, ‘still the dear Christ enters in’.  And the feared upheaval becomes a benediction and a beatitude, for He touches nothing that He does not adorn.  When the aged Simeon took Him in His arms and to His heart, he tasted peace, and felt he could now die happy, for life's fulfilment had come to him.  This is what happens when Christ comes into our Christmas celebrations.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”                         

                                                                                                                                        Revelation 3:20-22