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Merry Christmas, and a happy new You!

Rev Ron Skivington reminds us how easily Jesus can get side-lined this time of year, even though He is the perfect Christmas gift.

One Christmas time a vicar asked the children in his church "If Jesus hadn't been born what difference would it make?" He got the usual answers - no Christmas trees, presents, nativity plays etc. After the service a boy about 10 years old sidled up and said, "If there was no Jesus you would be out of a job!"
 
We once performed a play called "Away with the manger" at a candlelight service. It starts with two reporters wanting to share the story with a photo of the baby in the manger and gradually Mary and Joseph, associated animals, shepherds, angels, kings, Santa, reindeer etc all get added to the picture until someone decides the tatty box used as a crib at the front is spoiling the photo and so it gets thrown out.
 
In many ways Christmas does happen without Jesus; people still have parties, presents, food and fun at the end of December as cards with pictures of robins, snow scenes and happy “Season’s Greetings” show.
 
One December an American family hosted a Russian rabbi and, after eating out at a Chinese restaurant, they were all presented with a small brass Christmas tree as a seasonal gift. Tears trickled down the Rabbi's face. “Was he upset?” his host asked. "Oh no" he replied "I was crying tears of joy to be in a country where a Buddhist gives a Jew a Christmas present made by a Hindu".
 
So, in a way Christmas does affect us all whether we believe or not, and that means all sorts of things get added in and taken away from the story to suit our traditions. What is the meaning then behind Christmas? It can be summed up by the 4 year old singing "We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new you.”
 
God sent His son to be born in our world, who grew up as a refugee, always materially poor, hated by many of His own even after doing lots of good things; who suffered the agony of a painful and cruel death for all the wrong things we have done that hurt God. But we, by believing Jesus acted as our substitute, can have the past wiped clean, be given a new life in this world and for the one to come - and it is all a free gift!
 
How often do we hear "I don't know what to get so and so" or "What would you like for Christmas?" The best gift we can give, or receive, is God's free gift of a new you through Jesus.

This article first appeared in Stalham Community Scene.

The image is courtesy of pixabay.com


ron skivington

Rev Ron Skivington is Senior Pastor of Stalham Baptist Church.

 
 
 
 

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