Missing Christ at Christmas
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I love Christmas Carols!
This year, I’ve been especially reflecting on the words of the third verse from Charles Wesley’s “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:
“Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.”
I just can’t seem to get my head around the idea that Jesus would leave his place of glory, sovereignty, and power – and enter this world as a helpless and dependent baby. He exchanged power for powerlessness, glory for humiliation, and majesty for a feeding trough to bring light, life, and healing to us all. In Him, we move from hopelessness and fear to grace and eternal life.
As we read the Christmas story, the wise and powerful among Jesus’ own people did not recognize him. While they looked for a Warrior-King who would overthrow governmental and political oppression, their long-awaited Messiah came to them in a manger. They missed him at his birth and crucified Him at the end of His public ministry. Jesus didn’t live up to their expectations and never fit their notion of how a savior would look, act, and talk. It’s pretty easy to miss Jesus when we create Him in our own image. It’s even worse when we confuse our agenda with His!
Centuries later, I find it absurdly easy to make the same mistake! We’re living through a global pandemic of historic proportions. We’re also living in a time when our culture and government seem increasingly hostile to historically Christian values. Many believe our religious liberty is under attack. It’s so easy for us to make the mistake of the Pharisees – and assume that at the top of God’s plans are overthrowing ungodly political, cultural, and economic systems – and restoring a Godly culture rooted in Christian beliefs.
I wonder how many of us are missing Jesus this Christmas – even as we celebrate His birth. Do we have the humility to recognize and receive His love and leadership in our lives today? Or, are we so consumed with the day’s problems, pandemic strains, and political issues that we blind us to His face? He still comes to each of us to bring light and life to the darker places in our hearts and share the joy of friendship with us. My prayer is that we will not miss the humble arrival of our Savior in this season and make room in our hearts to receive Him.