The Advent theme for this Tuesday, Christmas Day, is “Rejoice!” and the Scripture reading is Ruth 4:18-22 and Luke 2:1-20.
Rejoice! It’s a word synonymous with Christmas. Christmas is a time of celebration and presents, a time of turkey dinners, sales, and advertising. Every year we hear the song telling us that Christmas is “the most magical time of the year.” It’s a time when even some of the crankiest people that we know will turn up the Christmas music and belt out, “Joy to the world!” or “Deck the Halls!” It’s a time when people think about doing good deeds for others because, after all, it’s Christmas.
But every year, Christmas rolls by, and things “get back to normal.” The family time that we looked forward to maybe wasn’t as great as we thought it would be. Boxing day sales entice us with slogans like, “Get what you really wanted for Christmas,” and after all the Christmas excitement we’re just a little tired. Christmas can be so much work.
Maybe after an especially hectic Christmas, or maybe after (or during) one in which we aren’t too excited about celebrating without a loved one, we wonder about Christmas and whether it’s worth all the hassle. Rejoice? It's not always that easy.
As the shepherds near Bethlehem that night were out with their sheep an angel appeared to them, proclaiming, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Then the whole angel chorus sang with joy, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Christmas is the time that we remember the good news of great joy that the angels proclaimed to the shepherds; the Messiah had arrived.
Rejoice!
Then the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see the thing that happened that the Lord told them about. There they found Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus. Jesus, the Saviour of the world, was lying in the manger. The angels words were still ringing in their ears, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” As they crowded around the manger, staring at Immanuel (God with us) they rejoiced in the hearts. Christmas is the time we remember that God’s own eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became flesh and blood to rescue us from sin.
Rejoice!
After their visit, the shepherds left the stable telling everyone what they had seen and heard. People were amazed; shepherds – not exactly people of good standing – bringing news of the Messiah. The shepherds returned to their fields, rejoicing and praising God for the things He had done. Christmas is the time we worship God for the gift of Jesus Christ at Christmas.
Rejoice!
And so, in the midst of all our Christmas celebration, we remember the real reason for the season. Let’s rejoice in God’s gift to us – our Messiah, our redeemer – and bring Him our praise and worship.