As we journey through this 2018 Christmas season, no doubt many of you find yourselves in the annual ‘hustle and bustle’ that this time of year brings. Go to the store. Buy those last minute gifts. Get the house cleaned for the party. “Did you mail the Christmas cards?” Another last minute gift. Take the kids to see Santa. “Mail the Christmas cards!” All of this on top of the already mounding pile of responsibilities that come with simply being an adult.
This time of year can be frustrating and leave us feeling stressed, anxious and hopeless throughout the holidays; or just wishing they would end altogether. If you find yourself here, I would encourage you to look at this Christmas season through a different perspective: Why He Came.
In West Side’s journey through Advent this year, we have been looking to the scriptures to discover why Jesus came to the earth. God’s word tells us that Jesus came to take away sin. (1 John 3:5) To take out the enemy. (1 John 3:8) To give us life. (1 John 4:9) To reveal God’s love. (1 John 4:10) And to save the world. (1 John 4:14) These are powerful truths that can transform the way we live; but if we don’t stop to reflect on them, the holidays can very quickly consume us and even become about us.
We wrote a song to help aid our journey through this series and I want to invite you to pause for a moment, listen to this song and adjust your perspective of Christmas. Just as the night he was born, in the midst of the sin and death of our lives, Jesus came in the darkness of our hearts and brings us to life with the gift of His grace. (Luke 2:7) He came and emptied himself as a servant, to the point of death on the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8) He rose again and lives today as our eternal Savior and King! (Luke 24:5-6)
Lyrics
Why He Came
You came in darkness, the lowliest birth. (Luke 2:7)
The Son of the Father, to ransom the earth.
Just like the manger, in cold dead of night,
you came in darkness and brought me to life.
This is true and this I know, (1 Timothy 1:15)
You left your worth to claim the worst, (Philippians 2:6-11)
it’s why you came, it’s why you came.
Submitting your will to the Father’s, and still,
it’s why you came, it’s why you came.
Broken creation, rejecting you still. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
Humbly you came fulfilling His will.
You condescended, setting us free!
God’s wrath on the Savior; His mercy on me!
Sing, “Noel! The light has come! (John 1:1-5)
God has sent His only Son.
Incarnate God, in flesh He came
to save us all! My debt is paid!”
In the chaos of the holidays, God’s word offers us hope, peace and joy through Christ. Hope in Christ that he has come and will come again. Peace in Christ that he has come to save sinners, that’s you and me. And Joy in Christ, our eternal King. As you continue your journey through the 2018 Christmas season, remember why Jesus came! Let these truths guide you through the holidays!
God bless you, Merry Christmas; it’s all about Jesus!