Why bother about Christmas?
As I move around the community this year I am getting different responses to Christmas. Over the past few years a lot of people have been saying – “let’s get back to the real meaning of Christmas.”
This year people are still saying that. But there is a new feeling in the air: “Why bother?!”
There is a real disenchantment around the place – whether it is because of the drought, or global warming, or the economic downturn, or the fires, or something else … there is a real sense of disappointment. All the effort you put into Christmas, and its over in a flash – quicker that the left-over food, quicker than the broken presents, quicker than the credit card repayments – so people are beginning to say - “Why bother?!”
Now, that is a fair question. It’s a question that I am sure must have passed through God’s mind more than once! Let’s face it: he made the world and put people in it as caretakers. The job of humankind was to live in the world and take care of it. But, the caretakers decided to run things their own way. And, we have been making a fair mess of it.
So, God sent his son to sort out the mess. Now God isn’t one for lots of show and ceremony. Let’s face it, he doesn’t need to make a name for himself. So he sent his son to grow up in the world. We have all heard about the manger, the wise men, and the cross. So, we know that he understands all the pressures and problems of being human first-hand!
Then Jesus started calling people to turn back to God – but a whole load of people weren’t too pleased, so they made up some charges and had him arrested. Then, after a pretty lousy kangaroo court, they beat him up and killed him.
So, you could understand why God could say “Why bother!” After all – if you sent your only son to sort out some ratbags who had hijacked your world – and then they turned around that murdered him, you would have to ask “Why do it?” “Why bother?!”
But, that’s not the end of the story. God took that broken body of his son and breathed new life into him. You see God had a much bigger plan -–he was going to sort out the hijackers by giving people an escape route. When he sent his son, he wasn’t sending a helpless baby – he was sending the man to rescue millions. And, his rescue mission even overcame death. And, he did it for you and me. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so that everyone who trusts him could share that new life.
So, this year, whether you bother with the traditional Christmas celebrations, or do something different – I want to challenge you to trust Jesus and get involved in his rescue mission. He put his whole life into it. From the time he was born and laid in the feed trough in Bethlehem, his life was on the line.
Should Jesus have bothered about you?
This year people are still saying that. But there is a new feeling in the air: “Why bother?!”
There is a real disenchantment around the place – whether it is because of the drought, or global warming, or the economic downturn, or the fires, or something else … there is a real sense of disappointment. All the effort you put into Christmas, and its over in a flash – quicker that the left-over food, quicker than the broken presents, quicker than the credit card repayments – so people are beginning to say - “Why bother?!”
Now, that is a fair question. It’s a question that I am sure must have passed through God’s mind more than once! Let’s face it: he made the world and put people in it as caretakers. The job of humankind was to live in the world and take care of it. But, the caretakers decided to run things their own way. And, we have been making a fair mess of it.
So, God sent his son to sort out the mess. Now God isn’t one for lots of show and ceremony. Let’s face it, he doesn’t need to make a name for himself. So he sent his son to grow up in the world. We have all heard about the manger, the wise men, and the cross. So, we know that he understands all the pressures and problems of being human first-hand!
Then Jesus started calling people to turn back to God – but a whole load of people weren’t too pleased, so they made up some charges and had him arrested. Then, after a pretty lousy kangaroo court, they beat him up and killed him.
So, you could understand why God could say “Why bother!” After all – if you sent your only son to sort out some ratbags who had hijacked your world – and then they turned around that murdered him, you would have to ask “Why do it?” “Why bother?!”
But, that’s not the end of the story. God took that broken body of his son and breathed new life into him. You see God had a much bigger plan -–he was going to sort out the hijackers by giving people an escape route. When he sent his son, he wasn’t sending a helpless baby – he was sending the man to rescue millions. And, his rescue mission even overcame death. And, he did it for you and me. God loved the world so much that he sent his only son so that everyone who trusts him could share that new life.
So, this year, whether you bother with the traditional Christmas celebrations, or do something different – I want to challenge you to trust Jesus and get involved in his rescue mission. He put his whole life into it. From the time he was born and laid in the feed trough in Bethlehem, his life was on the line.
Should Jesus have bothered about you?
posted by Chris at 7:45 PM
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