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Friday, December 25, 2009

A Message for Christmas
By webmaster @ 7:00 AM :: 864 Views :: 0 Comments :: Dr. Michael Brown

This is my blog for Christmas. It's quite a challenge, you know. There are two Sundays when every preacher knows our words cannot do justice to The Story: Christmas and Easter. I've often been tempted on those Sundays to just read the lesson for the day, say to the congregation: "What can I possibly add to that?," pronounce the Benediction, and go home. I've never done it, but I've been tempted.

Today, I face the same temptation with this blog. The Christmas Story transcends anything I can say about it. I can talk about angels singing overhead, but Luke does that so much more effectively. I can talk about the Magi who sought the Babe and honored Him with their gifts, but Matthew tells that story with greater power than I ever can. I could theologize about the Incarnation and how God miraculously and mysteriously "became flesh and dwelt among us," but I could never match the beauty of the words written by John.

This is the day for us bloggers when The Word is so much greater than our words, that perhaps we should just let The Word stand on its own. So, that's what I'm going to do.

And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that 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 fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all!" (Luke 2: 7-14)

There. That's what you need to read in today's blog. And it's stated with an eloquence I could never approach. Even Martin Luther deferred to the text itself when he wrote:

Good news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven.

May THE Message become YOUR Message – "good news of great joy!" I wish for you and all you love a blessed and joyous Christmas!

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