Every Day Can Be Christmas

December 25, 2017 at 5:15 am Leave a comment

Gerard_van_Honthorst_-_Adoration_of_the_Shepherds_(1622)

Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst, 1622

The first Christmas was a work day.

These days, Christmas is one of the few days of the year widely marked by time off. But for the first people to hear of Christ’s birth, Christmas day was not a holiday, but a normal day:

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:8-11)

There was no glistening tree, no holiday feast, no gift exchange, no melodic carols, and no time off to be with family when an angel appeared to some shepherds that first Christmas night. There was only another day at the office of the open field, with lots of sheep milling about. The first Christmas was a work day.

The holiday of Christmas is, of course, precious. I love to open gifts with my family and enjoy all the traditions and accoutrements that accompany this time of year. But if the message of Christmas is kept within the boundaries of the actual holiday of Christmas, the truth of Christmas will be quickly lost.

The heart of the Christmas message is that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. He “took and flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). But Jesus did not become human to give us a holiday, as wonderful as that holiday may be, but to change our everyday. This is why Jesus poured Himself into twelve men for three years. This is why He healed the sick and fed the masses. This is why He taught the curious and rebuffed the self-righteous. He poured Himself into the everyday lives, struggles, and sins of people not to give them another holiday, but to show them that He was for and with them every day.

Assuming the traditional chronology of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is correct, I find it telling that the climax of Jesus’ work – His death and resurrection – occurred between holidays. The Thursday night before Jesus died, He celebrated the high holy Jewish holiday of Passover with His disciples. The Saturday Jesus was in the grave was the holiday of a Sabbath. Jesus died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday. He accomplished His mission not on important holidays, but during two common days.

The message of Christmas extends long beyond the holiday of Christmas, for the message of Christmas reminds us that Christ is with us not just during a day full of carols, decorations, presents, and food, but “always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). So, as we celebrate Christmas today, let’s not forget why need Christmas tomorrow – and all year long.