The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Titus 2:11-14

‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…’ except when it’s not! Hallmark and other media try their best to lure us into a world where everyone receives a happy ending, where love always finds a way, a world where even the deepest hurts are overcome in a little under two hours.

Isaiah wrote of a future where those living in ‘darkness’ will receive light. The coming of the light is described in some graphic military terms: “For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.” (Isaiah 9:5, HCSB). That isn’t intended to be pleasant - one writer reminds us

The burning of the boots and the bloody clothes of enemy soldiers in 9:5 signify a victory in holy war where spoils were dedicated to God and military equipment was set on fire (cf. Josh 11:6, 9; Ezek 39:9).[1]

[1] Gary V. Smith, Isaiah 1–39, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, The New American Commentary (Nashville: B & H Publishing Group, 2007), 239.

When reading Luke’s account of an angel appearing to Mary sounds rather pleasant, let’s not forget that Mary lived in a small town. Small towns are tight-knit, usually comprising several generations of extended family. The news Mary shared with her parents led to an immediate trip – out of town!

When she returned, though, everyone in town noticed. PSst- look at her, shameful, pregnant by who knows, she claims the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit because an angel (an angel, really) told her so. Likely story…

Joseph’s embarrassment isn’t mentioned in Luke’s telling.

Matthew tells us Joseph thought it best to quietly file for divorce, and probably escape by moving out of his family home.

But an angel, the same one who appeared to Zechariah in the Temple, the same messenger of God who spoke to Mary, tells Joseph -

“Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”” (Matthew 1:20–21, HCSB)

Have you ever been in a delivery room, much less a stall for animals? Strange sounds, smells, tension, pain, maybe even loud cries, strangers peeking in as they passed by….

Towards the end of the first century, probably 20 years of so after Jesus died, was raised again, and ascended into heaven Paul, a thoroughly Jewish man, seeking to silence this nonsense about a risen Jesus, meets this risen Jesus.

Paul is blinded by what he sees, knocked off his feet – literally AND figuratively as he is handed over to one who he likely had come to imprison.

Jesus is more than just a baby whose birth we celebrate every December. As the angel spoke to Jesus’ soon-to-be parents, Jesus is the One who will save people from their sins.

Certainly we can point fingers at all sorts of enemies, but the primary enemy keeping you and I from experiencing life as God created it be is sin – that lawless and filthy sin – that disqualifies us from experiencing God’s presence.

We are to live with expectation and hope because Jesus has been born.

We are to live in hope and expectation because this Jesus whom we celebrate is coming again. He won’t die for sin again, but rather He will sort out and separate those who truly are His.

How do we discover hope?

Focus on God’s grace - not your past

Look up instead of around

Look to Jesus for redemption

Most of us have tried to find redemption in a variety of other ways

…through hard work

…through looking to others - spouse, lover, family member, friend - to provide some sort of redemption

Only Jesus - the One whose birth is the focus of Christmas can redeem us from the curse of sin

Only the Holy Spirit whom the Father and the Son pour out into our lives create new life -

-a life that results in ‘good works;’ a life that reflects hope; and a life that is fully satisfying.