One of the reasons we love Christmas is because of tradition. There’s an old saying that tradition is a clock that tells you what time it was. And for many of us, that time was our childhood…or when the kids were little…or before a loved one passed away. So it stands to reason that many of us have a love/hate relationship with the season.
But despite the emphasis on tradition, there is a newness in the air at Christmas. Out of the millions of stars in the sky, that night there was a new one…one that had never been there before. It led the wise men to Jesus.
Out of all the songs sung up to that point in history, angels appeared to the shepherds and sang a new one never sung before: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors (Luke 2:14)!”
But most importantly, of all the history, all the news, the rise and fall of kings and empires, for the first time, there was good news to share: “But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David (Luke 2:10-11).”
What’s new at Christmas is hope. The King who came to us then gave his life to save us. He will come again. And when he comes, sin will be eliminated, tear
s will be wiped from every eye, disease will disappear and death will be no more. Nations will no longer raise their swords against each other and peace will reign.
What’s new at Christmas is the end of the status quo – the promise of order amid our chaos. God’s gifts to us at Christmas were threefold:
- The cradle: his Son
- The cross: his life
- The crown: his coming kingdom
Join us this week as we begin a new sermon series, “The Cradle, Cross, and Crown.”
