Christmas as the Sign of Hope
As a child, Christmas was nothing but pure excitement. I would often get out the lights and other decorations at the beginning of November and decorate the entire house with the goal of having everything up before Thanksgiving. I loved the traditions, whether it be the Santa Lucia Swedish Festival, the Christmas fair at our local church, the lights in the town square or the rhythm of meals. But if Christmas were to represent anything as a child, it would be the gifts I’d find under the tree. I loved the feeling of receiving gifts and getting the entire day to play with them. It’s not to say Jesus’ birth story wasn’t presented during this time, but my focus was always on those boxes.
As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that Christmas means something a lot deeper than a package I receive. As my wife and I raise our four boys, we are often very cognizant of how we represent Christmas to them. We do have traditions that include all the festivities of the season, but we also have been very clear to present what Christmas is and is not. As we enter this Christmas season, I’d encourage you to think about the hope of Christmas and what it represents. Consider these 3 things:
Christmas as an Ebeneezer
After God led Samuel and his army to victory over the Philistines, they erected a pile of stones (1 Samuel 7). This was known as an Ebeneezer and was meant to represent God leading His people to victory. It may seem odd to consider Christmas as a representation of victory, but it is just that. As the Israelites recognized what God had done, so we should see Christmas as an icon of what God has done for His people. In bringing His Son to earth, He gave us victory by overcoming the rulers, authorities and the prince of darkness of this world (1 Peter 5:8).
Christmas as a Signpost
Christmas can serve as a sign that points us towards what is truly valuable on this earth. As Isaiah prophesied the birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14) and John the Baptist continually pointed others towards the coming of Christ, we are called to do the same. When we pass the lights, snowman and marketing, we can instead walk toward the stable. We can choose to experience Christmas as a sign pointing us towards Jesus and an invitation to share with others.
Christmas as an Invitation
When we receive an invitation, it asks us to make a choice—whether we want to participate or not participate in whatever is being asked. Many people see New Year’s as an invitation to reset aspects of our lives and start new resolutions. Maybe we want to live healthier? Maybe we want to experience freedom from an addiction? The truth is that it is not a new year that allows us to experience freedom and renewal. It’s Jesus Himself. Jesus is calling us to move toward Him this Christmas season and as we do, our sin, guilt and shame will fade away. Christmas can serve as an invitation to recognize the death of our trespasses (Colossians 2:13-15) and to experience the freedom to live how God designed us to live, whether for the first time or in a renewed way.
C.S. Lewis one said, “Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” The traditions, lights and glitz of the season are so much smaller than what happened in the stable so many years ago. Jesus is inviting us to join Him this season in thinking about & celebrating Christmas rightly. Let’s not miss the real hope of Christmas!