The Dread in Christmas

Have you ever had something that you were just absolutely dreading to do, but knew that you had to do it in order to solve a problem? These things happen to us in everyday life and range from doing things to solve minor annoyances all the way up to life and death situations. We may hate doing what we have to do but know that we must do them. 

I can’t help but think that this might be the way of Christmas, not for us, but for God. When we hear the typical Christmas talk it sounds very festive and exciting and yes, that is a big  part of what we celebrate. This part of Christmas is the focus on our benefit. Of course we should celebrate that our God came to us and dwelt with us. After all His name is "Immanuel" which means God with us. 

But maybe along with this it might be good to focus on God’s side of Christmas. Why did Jesus come to dwell with us? What was even the point of His coming? The fact of the matter is that Jesus came to die for us.

“but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:7-8

Christmastime is remembering this verse. Jesus, who is God, took the form of a servant. He came to die. Should we celebrate this? Is this something we should remember at Christmas? I say the answer is a resounding YES! Our God, our Creator has this much love?? Wow! Even God Himself celebrated this. 

Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people…Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:9-10; 13-14

I’m sure that most of us are very familiar with these verses which are quoted time and time again during this season. God is celebrating what He has done for His creation which He loves so much. He was also telling us something when He did this. Let’s look at another thing the angel says to the shepherds:

“This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.” Luke 2:12

Can we really imagine this? I think a lot of mothers should be appalled to hear this. We who have given birth want our newborn to be put in the best environment possible. Even when many mothers have grown more relaxed after multiple children, would any ever feel comfortable putting their newborn baby in an animal’s feeding trough? Even the rank odor of the area would make one afraid for the well-being of their child.

Yet our God uses this as a sign to us. We cannot take this sign for granted just because we have heard it so many times and have seen a clean and un-smelly manger in our Nativity

reproductions.

Why is this a sign? It emphasizes what God tells us in our earlier verse in Philippians. Our God humbled Himself for us. Our God emptied or stripped Himself of all His glory when He came in the form of a human. We cannot forget this at Christmas time. 

Our God came to die in order to fix a very, very severe problem that we have. He came to fix the corruption and death that plagues each and every one of us. Our Creator loves us even though we are not lovely in any way.

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Did He dread having to do this? I am very sure that He did. But it was the only way to save us. 

Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

God Almighty endured the cross, He despised its shame. He didn’t love doing it.  Please don’t ever believe anyone who would tell you that.  Even in the garden of Gethsemane before His death, His sweat became drops of blood because of His distress. He even told His disciples that he was upset:

Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38 (also Mark 14:34) 

It seems that Jesus did in fact dread what He had to do. But He did it. He did it for the joy that would be His because of what it accomplishes. He did it because of His love for us. And that is a reason to celebrate!

So at this most wonderful time of the year, let’s focus on God’s side of the celebration because it is a big, enormous benefit towards us.

Even for those who may be struggling with hurt or sorrow it is time to celebrate because Jesus came to fix all of that. If you are mourning a loved one, mourn with this verse in mind.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. Romans 8:18

This is not a flippant, unfeeling verse trying to pass off grief. No, it is a promise that Jesus took care of our suffering and it will be made right even if it doesn’t feel like it at this time.

God never breaks His promises. Read about that here.

Celebrate the hope of Christmas. Celebrate what our God has done for us. Celebrate that He has defeated death and the grave. Celebrate that He has done what He promised:

I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? Hosea 13:14

Finally, celebrate that we have nothing but eternal life in Jesus Christ to look forward to. A God who choose to do the dreadful because He is good, marvelous, and full of love.

With all this in mind, have a very Merry Christmas!