A Christmas Eve Message:
This evening is Christmas Eve. This is when we celebrate the eve of the birth of our Saviour in a manger in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. There are many things closed tonight and more tomorrow. We hope and we think that we are all prepared for that. Christmas Eve is a time when we hope and think that everything is prepared for tomorrow: stockings are stuffed or ready to be stuffed, presents are made or bought, wrapped and placed under the tree or ready to be placed under the tree, meal plans and/or travel plans are made. Christmas Eve is a time of anticipation.
2000+ years ago, the evening before Jesus was born (whatever evening that was) it must have been a time of great anticipation – at least for Mary and Joseph and whomever happened to be with them. Mary was very pregnant and about to give birth to her first child. Any moms (and even dads) who can remember the birth of their first child, think of your own anticipation and the plans you had made in anticipation of that day. When Rebecca was born, we had our baby bags packed and were already to drive a few minutes up the road to the hospital and it was a good thing we were prepared because almost as soon as Susan and I arrived at the hospital, so did baby Rebecca. When Susan was born, her parents were out of province; they were in Calgary, Alberta at a Premiers’ Conference. I can’t imagine what it was like for them being in a strange place, a strange province, a strange city when your especially first baby arrives.
Mary and Joseph were in a strange city when their baby arrived and they weren’t at a Premiers’ Conference. They weren’t in a fancy hotel and they didn’t have access to a modern hospital. They were in a stable, maybe with friends or travel companions, probably with animals and later to be joined by shepherds working the night shift. Christmas Eve is when we remember their waiting and their anticipation. Christmas Eve is when we remember how they must have felt after a day’s travel -by foot mostly- when she was fully pregnant; Christmas Eve is when we remember how they must have felt after a time of looking for accommodation for the night at the inn and possibly elsewhere and finally winding up in the stable. Christmas Eve is when we remember the relief and/or anxiety that they would have had at their accommodation and the relief and/or anxiety as well as the definite anticipation that they would have had as Mary went into labour waiting for the birth of the baby who would also be their Saviour and ours.
Christmas Eve is when we remember not only waiting for the arrival of their first-born child. Christmas Eve is when we remember waiting for the Saviour of Israel who is the Saviour of the World. We are celebrating that anticipation. And as we are filled with all the excitement of the commemoration of the incarnation of God and recalling the impending birth of Jesus, we are also eagerly awaiting His return. For this Jesus, who was born in a manger 2000+ years ago, is the Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, who will return and when he does as Isaiah tells, His government will never stop ruling and being peaceful.
Let us Pray
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