Thursday, Fourth Week of Advent 2009
Colossians 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (NIV)
So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross. (The Message)
God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.
And God was pleased for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God. (CEV)
Yesterday as Randy & I were traveling we were listening to Christmas music. A phrase in one of the songs stood out, “and man will live forevermore because of Christmas day.” It was as if it were the first time Randy had heard those words. “Really? If we just had Christmas that would be enough? I don’t think so. It takes the CROSS to finish the work and give us eternal life.” My response of course, “without Christmas we wouldn’t have the CROSS.” It wasn’t a serious debate – we both knew what the other one meant – and we believe the same about it. Not necessarily how all of our theological discussions end!
This evening many of us will journey to church for Christmas Eve worship. In most of these services communion elements will be given and received. As Christians we know that as we celebrate the joy, coziness, and awe of the “birth” – looming down His road is “death.” We will celebrate that death tonight by receiving the bread and wine.
For most of us when our babies are born we aren’t looking that far ahead. We’re just hoping to live through the days and nights until we get our first “sleep through the night” experience. Then it’s time for kindergarten and we just hope they fit in and do well. We don’t know what the future holds – we place them in the hands of our Heavenly Father – and do our best to raise them in the right way. We imagine futures for them and I’m sure none of those futures holds pain, suffering, and death. We try to keep those pictures out of our minds. We try to protect our children not only from physical pain and suffering, but emotional pain and suffering as well.
But with the birth announcement of Jesus we know that the CROSS is shadowing the manger. His life will be full of acts of obedience and sacrifice that lead to the CROSS – His final act of obedience and sacrifice. And of course, we know the rest of the story! What a gift we have been given – Jesus – obedience in flesh. Our Savior! The Resurrected One who is seated now at the right-hand of the Father interceding for us – He’s big enough for all of our fears and failures.
“Father, today we rest in Your Gift to us. We will sit quietly and receive the embrace of Your grace. We will marvel anew that Your Son was willing to come and live among us so we can know YOU! Amen”
A favorite Christmas Song that says it all, Welcome to Our World:
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting
Welcome holy child
Welcome holy child
Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long awaited holy stranger
Make yourself at home
Please make yourself at home
Bring your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking heaven’s silence
Welcome to our world
Welcome to our world
Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born
So wrap our injured flesh around you
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect son of god
Perfect son of god
Welcome to our world.
You can listen to it at:
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