As I write this, Christmas Eve has begun. But, like so many people around the world the beginning is actually on the evening of the day. Tonight our church family will gather in simplicity - hymns and carols of Christmas. We'll tell the story all over again in scripture and song. It never tires me to hear it anew.
When Zechariah and Elizabeth birthed John - who was to be the forerunner of Jesus 30 years down the road - Zechariah's tongue was loosened and he spoke for the first time in almost a year about what God was showing him in the birth of his son.
Luke 1:68-69 (NIV)
68 "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
The horn was a "Shofar", a symbol of God's calling the people. The shofar was a ram's horn and was used to call them to seasons of worship and celebration. John was going to be that horn that called the nation to God doing something in their midst. Later in that same prophecy, he said:
Luke 1:76-79 (NRSV)
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
I love the words of this song of praise Zechariah sings. Look carefully again at what he proclaims God is going to do for us in sending John to His people:
- knowledge of salvation..
- forgiveness of sins...
- tender mercy of God...
- light to those sitting in darkness...
- the dawn from on high breaks upon us...
- to guide to the way of peace...
Christmas Eve all around the world is celebrated for all of these reasons. A savior is born, sent to us by the Father who sought a way for us back to him. All over the world there is this sense of joy, mystery, peace that settles over Christ's communities as we acknowledge the simplicity and beauty of what God has done.
There is a legend in Northern Canada that at midnight on Christmas Eve, the spirit of peace hovers over everything - the cattle, wild animals, all fall to their knees in worship. Stories like that are part of a bigger picture - the need to say something is happening that none of us can believe on our own.
William Shakespeare wrote about Christmas Eve and this peace:
"Some say that whenever that season comes
Wherein our Savior's birth is celebrated
The bird of dawn sings all night long;
They say that no spirit can walk abroad;
No planet strikes,
No fairy takes,
No(thing) has power to charm,
So hallowed and gracious is this time."
Zechariah speaks in his prayer at the birth of his son John words that echo that same spirit of Christmas eve:
"The dawn from on high will break upon us..."
We may not experience any remarkable things this evening. Yet, this much is true, something has come that has forever changed the earth. While the world will celebrate, sing, proclaim, and exchange gifts; it is God who is to be praised:
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)
9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
1:23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."
In a few hours I will gather with my family of faith at New Life and we'll sing the songs, read the scripture and once again say "thank you God for this wonder-full gift".
A Prayer: "Father, we cannot comprehend the gift of your Son, our Lord Jesus. We cannot understand your heart for us, but we can see it. We can see that you so loved the world - you so love me, us - that you sent him to us that we might know and seek your life, your salvation, your mercy and grace. Help me/us - who every day walk through the better part of our days numb to your presence and what you're doing - to turn our lives continually over to you. May you be our greatest gift this Christmas. AMEN!"
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