Peace Christmas

You are probably expecting some kind of Christmassy message today. After all most churches around the world will do a special “Christmas focus” as the CEO (that’s “Christmas & Easter Only”) visitors will make their way in. You’ve heard enough debates about “should we” since it’s a pagan holiday, etc. We’re used to traditional Christmas stories: baby in a manger, shepherds with their flocks, wise men with gifts, and much more gets lumped up into a garbled message of tranquility and serenity.
Today I want to redirect your attention to one Christmas story that is rarely preached on – the one from Revelation 12 – a woman giving birth right in front of a dragon crouched and poised to eat up the baby. The woman gives birth to a baby boy who will shepherd all nations and he was seized and placed safely before God on His Throne. Have you heard about this Christmas-in-the-middle-of-the-war-story? This Christmas only makes sense in the war context, the Great War of good and evil, which is far from over as the dragon is still making war with the rest of woman’s children.
Whenever I think about the original Christmas I am appalled that those who said they were expecting it - missed it. And those who were ignored as unworthy came to recognize the newborn King. It was actually predicted long ago. Isaiah writes: “gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising…caravans of camels shall cover the land and the dromedaries of Midian, Ephah and Sheba will come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you.” (Isaiah 60:1-7) Prophet Isaiah was talking here about Abraham’s sons from Keturah and Hagar, the Arabs from the East coming to Jesus, not because they wanted to start a trendy Christmas shopping spree, but to fulfill the prophecy.
Today those who call themselves Christians, especially Adventist – those expecting Advent again – do we really expect and wait? Jesus commented “when the Son of man returns, will He find any faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8) Christmas here is simply a reminder of the Second Advent, the return of the Savior. A prompt cue that just as the first set of prophecies was fulfilled, so will the last set be completed.
So greet each other this merry season with simple words: Maranatha – Come Soon, O Lord! And believe it!