Cut Out The Light Pollution!

Let’s apply these ideas to ourselves. It would be impossible to overstate how important Christmas is. It was important to the people of Jesus’ time. It is important in world history. And it’s important to US.

Jesus turned the world of his time upside down. But the impact didn’t stop after he was crucified. Not at all! H.G. Wells, the author of novels such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, once said, ‘I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.’ That’s quite a commendation.

But think about what Jesus means to us today. The passage which Scott read for us [Matthew 1:18-2:6] is packed with reasons why Christmas is SO important … to US.

Look at 1:21. Jesus would be a SAVIOUR. An angel tells Joseph that his wife Mary, ‘will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ Because Jesus came into the world, I have a saviour who has set me free from my bondage to sin.

Look at 1:22. Jesus would be ‘IMMANUEL’, God with us. The angel tells Joseph that what Isaiah had prophesied was about to take place [Isaiah 7:14]. Because Jesus came into the world as Immanuel, I have Jesus with me through the Holy Spirit.

Look at 2:1. Jesus would be KING. The wise men from the east come asking, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?’ Because Jesus came into the world, I have a king who looks out for me and whom I must obey.

Look at 2:6. Jesus would be a SHEPHERD. The chief priests and scribes tell Herod that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. That’s what the prophet Micah had prophesied [Micah 5:2]. He would be ‘A ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ Because Jesus came into the world, I have a shepherd who leads me and protects me.

All these things are VERY important to me! Jesus’ INCARNATION calls for REFLECTION and CELEBRATION! I think it calls for some PROCLAMATION too.

But at Christmas time we’re in danger of not seeing Jesus and of not reflecting on who he is – to US and to the world. The presents and Christmas trees and turkeys and all the other distractions of Christmas are like bright lights in Lovell’s cockpit or like the daytime sun for the wise men. They keep us from focusing our gaze on Jesus, the person who Christmas is all about. Don’t get me wrong. There’s a place for presents and Christmas trees and turkeys. Christmas IS a time for CELEBRATION. But during Christmas we need to take time out. We need to turn the cockpit lights off. We need to set off at night. We need to get rid of the light pollution. When we do that, we won’t see phosphorescent algae or a star above, but Jesus, the Light of the World.

The Grinch wanted to steal Christmas. The Grinch is fiction. But sadly, there’s a lot of truth in the story. There are things which really do steal Christmas if we let them. For some of us, parties and presents distract us. For the business person, November to January is ‘The Golden Quarter.’ Making money occupies our thoughts. For some of us, tiredness or worry or busyness sap our energy.