Randy and Shari's World

Some struggle with separating the social demands and materialism of the holiday season from the celebration of Christ's birth. A friend of mine recently said that he would feel no disappointment if Christmas never came again. This struggle is clearly understandable. In fact we all struggle with it to some degree. However, I seem to struggle with the burden of the season less than most, and have an almost child-like enthusiasm for the whole season. I hope that I can share my excitement with you by explaining why I love to celebrate Christmas.

In one word, it is Immanuel. God with us. Every time I hear that word it puts shivers down my spine. I can't help but be overwhelmed by the magnitude of God walking among us. Let me explain.

Imagine yourself in Mary's or Joseph's place. What must they have thought? Months ago, they were told that they were to care for Jesus, the Son of God. Certainly they had time to prepare and make their home ready for the arrival of the new child. Yet, just about the time he is due, they are forced to pick up and move. For what purpose? For a census. Surely there must be some mistake. The journey must have been long and difficult for Mary. Did Joseph worry about how slow their progress was? Did he worry about how to provide proper accommodations for his young, pregnant wife? When they reached Bethlehem, there was no place to stay. All they were given were the quarters of animals. Surely there must be some mistake. This was the town of Joseph's family, yet there was no room for him and his pregnant wife. When Mary began to labor and give birth, did they have any doubts? At a minimum they must have wondered, "Did we do something wrong, that this is the best we can offer the Son of God?" The timing was awful, the journey trying, and the accommodations deplorable for a new mother. Without a midwife or friend at her side, Mary's labor must have been frightening at best. Surely Joseph did the best he could, but what did a carpenter know about giving birth at that time? Did they even have clean water to wash the new baby with?

Consider the glory of heaven. Perfect, holy, without sin, without disease, without pain… the Holy Presence of God the Father in all of his glory. Angels hover and continuously sing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." No eyes can bear to see the Father's face, but all cover their own to shield the brightness of his glory. And the Son of God sits at his right hand.

Consider the stable where Jesus was born. The dark cave, with mud, hay, excrement, bacteria, disease, blood, hunger, pain… this is our world, and he made it his home. Imagine the most helpless newborn infant: picture yourself holding that newborn in your arms and consider that God chose to become so weak, helpless and dependent- dependent on us. When Mary and Joseph sat in the straw among cattle, holding this new baby boy, I am sure they rejoiced. But I'm sure they also wondered. And perhaps even doubted. What did we do wrong? Is this what the angel meant? Surely this is not how it was supposed to be. Perhaps we misunderstood. This cannot possibly be how God intended to send his son into the world. Surely we have failed him.Then a stranger appeared, a shepherd. "Excuse me," he may have said, looking into the stable as others crowded in behind him. "Do you know-" His eyes stop on the child, wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger. The shepherds' wonder and awe must have been contagious! They saw not just an angel, but a host of angels, singing praises to the baby that lay before them. For Mary and Joseph, all their doubts were swept away as strangers poured in from the night praising God.

Imagine your poorest point in life when you felt completely destitute – you could barely afford food for your table. Or imagine your poorest point when you were so helplessly lost in your sin that you gave yourself up for lost. Or imagine your poorest point when you were all alone, when no one seemed to care if you lived or died – no one had a kind word or a ray of hope.

The King steps in. He eats a crust of bread with you at your barren table. He embraces you in your filthy, depraved sin. He takes your hand when no else will, and asks you to be his bride. Immanuel. God with us. God enters at our poorest, darkest, loneliest point and says "I am with you."

And the wonder of it all is that he came to suffer. You can't have Christmas without Easter. It was for the Cross that Christ came.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Did You Know" by Todd Agnew. He sings "Did the cross cast a shadow over your cradle? Did you shudder each time your hammer struck a nail?"

For some, everything they see in Christmas speaks of the world hijacking our religious celebration. For me, everything I see during Christmas reminds me that Christ came to earth; that he came to die for my sins. Every song I sing, whether "O Holy Night" or "Jingle Bell Rock", and every decoration I see, whether a nativity, a tree, or a Santa, reminds me that Christ came to save us all. Everything else fades away.

The world will see what it wants to see. But I see Immanuel. God with us. This is why I love to celebrate Christmas.