Getting Ready for Christmas

Image by J. Henning, Pixabay

I always get jittery at this time of year. Suddenly there's a lot more to do and no more hours in the day or fuel in the tank. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas - both sacred and secular aspects: the gatherings of family and friends for feasts, gift-giving and fun and games. And the gatherings of believers to worship and celebrate God's gift of Jesus, His Anointed One or Messiah. 

Yesterday I started my Christmas shopping – at least I’ve now taken the first step up the mountain that leads to Christmas. Each year as I prepare for Christmas, I spend some time contemplating how God prepared, sending prophets to his people, Israel, about the Messiah he would send. In the 8th century BC, Isaiah foretells the birth of a Wonder Child:

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned…
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[Isaiah 9: 2, 6]

The child would grow up to become the human embodiment of: supernatural wisdom (Wonderful Counsellor); divine power (Mighty God); never-ending parental care (Everlasting Father) and total wellbeing or shalom (Prince of Peace).

As an adult, the wonder child would become the suffering servant Isaiah speaks of later in his prophecy:

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors. [Isaiah 53: 10-12]

No amount of celebration and worship could ever come close to expressing the height, depth and breadth of God's love and mercy in Christ. But in all the singing, gift-giving, home-decorating, praying, feasting and fun, I'm going to give it my best shot.