But the angel said to
them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for
all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is
the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child
wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to
God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
- Luke 2:10-14
‘Tis
the season for hurrying: hurrying to buy last-minute presents, hurrying from
one Christmas party to the next, hurrying from family gathering to family
gathering. For every child whose eyes light up with the joy of the holiday,
there is a parent whose eyes are bleary with exhaustion. Christmas is the
season of hope, peace, love, and joy—but also of long lines, bumper-to-bumper traffic,
torn wrapping paper, and ‘some assembly required.’ It is, simply put, a
stressful time.
In
a sense, that’s fitting, because so was the first Christmas. Jesus was born in an
unfamiliar town because of a government order, was placed in a makeshift crib because
no suitable place would host his parents, and was visited first by strangers
from a nearby field then by foreigners carrying strange gifts. His first years
of life were spent in hiding from a powerful king who wanted him dead.
Without
even meaning to, we tend to idealize that first Christmas, picturing a serene
Mary, a strong Joseph, gentle shepherds, and a silent night. But the truth is
messier, louder, and less picturesque. The first Christmas was stressful, a
night of fears and doubts, blood and tears.
But
out of all that stress came Jesus. Though that first Christmas was hardly a
peaceful one, peace ultimately came, not because the noise stopped or the
activity ceased but because Christ was born. In that tiny baby laying in the
manger came our reconciliation with the Father, redemption from the Son, and
restoration in the Spirit. All around him may have been chaos, but in him there
was peace.
As
you rush through the next week, don’t look for peace in the events and traditions,
however meaningful. Don’t look for peace in the gifts you give or receive,
however beautiful. Don’t look to Christmas for peace—look to Christ.
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