week 1

It’s possible you’re familiar with the traditional origins of Christmas. An angel appeared to a virgin named Mary, who told her, “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” When Joseph wanted to divorce Mary because he assumed infidelity, the same angel appeared to him and assured him all is well. They were married soon after. When Mary was very pregnant, they travelled to Bethlehem for a census. She gave birth in a barn surrounded by animals and placed Jesus in a manger.

Angels appeared to a group of shepherds at work tending to their sheep and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” They were curious, went to Bethlehem and glorified and praised God. Much later, a group of wise men travelled to the home of Mary and Joseph. Then Jesus turned 12.

What we think about Jesus matters. Was Jesus created? Did Jesus always exist? Did Jesus come to earth as a course correction for sin? Who is Jesus? James Montgomery Boyce said, “According to Christianity, this is the most important question you or anyone else will ever have to face.  It is important because it is inescapable – you will have to answer it sooner or later, in this world or in the world come – and because the quality of your life here and your eternal destiny depend upon your answer.  Who is Jesus Christ?  If he was only a man, then you can safely forget him.  If he is God, as he claimed to be, and as all Christians believe, then you should yield your life to him. You worship him and serve him faithfully.”

We cannot recapture the glory of Christmas without talking about the truth of Jesus.

The Christmas narrative begins with glorifying God, but giving glory to God did not begin with Christmas.

Glorifying God with the Christmas narrative is a continuation of the glory he has received from eternity to eternity. Remember Isaiah 6:2–3 from last week, “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

Have you considered Revelation 4:8-11?

Revelation 4:8–11 ESV

8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Amen! I serve with our state convention in two roles. I serve as an officer on the board, but I also serve on the pastor care team. In September, we were brainstorming how to care for other pastors well and landed on Pastor Appreciation month. My idea was, “What if we sent every pastor in the state a $10 gift card so they know we appreciate them? It’s low hanging fruit. The calendar tells us to appreciate pastors in October. Our work is to make sure they are appreciated the other eleven months of the year too.”

Glorifying God during the Christmas season is the low-hanging fruit. There are dozen of opportunities to serve people during the Christmas season. More than half of unchurched people will attend church during Christmas if invited because it seems like the right thing to do even if church isn’t prioritized any other week of the year.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.”

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.”

If we kept reading Revelation, we would see, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” All that humans covet to receive for ourselves, the angels, the elders and every created thing in heaven declared Jesus alone is worthy while they glorified and praised him.

If glorifying God happens daily in heaven and the “whole earth is full of his glory”, what are some ways to do that in December? Don’t get involved in something out of obligation, get involved as a child of God seeking to be relationally connected with other people.

Bring somebody to church on December 21

Go ring a “red-bucket” bell for a few hours.

Find a “shoe-box” location and help for a few hours.

Volunteer at one of the many “social justice” agencies in our community.

Hand-write cards and mail them.

Take somebody a meal “just because”.

Pay for the order behind you in the drive-thru.

The Christmas narrative declares the birth of Jesus, but the life of Jesus did not begin at Christmas.

John 1:1–5 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Verse 1 would be translated better if it said, “at the beginning…” or “while the beginning…” There are some beliefs that Jesus was the first created being, which contradicts this verse. Jesus has always been and always will be; that’s what Revelation tells us.

While the beginning was happening, Jesus was there. Jesus was with the Father. Jesus and the Father are the same God. Nothing was created without Jesus. Jesus is the life of all things. Jesus gives light to all men and shines through the darkness of life.

Hang on, seasonal depression is around the corner. Maybe some of us suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.  It is a real sickness that happens when there is less natural light, mostly during the winter months.  Symptoms include depression, hopelessness, low energy, problems sleeping, difficulty concentrating, thoughts of death or suicide, etc. 

One of the treatments is light therapy – get more light into your life. The life of Jesus is the light of men. Maybe you’re one of those rare people that have ZERO needs this Christmas season. Your finances are in order. You don’t lose sleep over debt. Parenting is not a challenge for you. Your health is perfect. Your marriage is the standard everybody aims for. You have all As. There are no strained relationships in your life. You’re the perfect candidate to spill the light of Jesus into other people during the Christmas season.

Maybe you’re not one of those people with ZERO needs, but you are a redeemed child of God that daily gets on the altar as a living sacrifice, and you soak in consistent light therapy during your personal time with the Lord. You are the perfect candidate to spill the light of Jesus into other people during the Christmas season.

Quality of life is impossible without the light of life.  The light of all men is experienced when we glorify God every day, but especially at Christmas.

During December, I want to encourage you go beyond spending money you don’t have, or avoiding the negative emotions of Christmas or seasonal anguish that you might have. I want to encourage you to soak in spiritual light therapy and share your light therapy with others.

What is one next step to help your Christmas traditions avoid obligation status and continue being worship?

What is one next step that will help your Christmas season intentionally glorify Jesus this year?