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Christmas Address - 2009
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.” The writing of this magazine takes time and care. It often falls to me as the Pastor of the church to look at it and decide what should be in and what should be left out. I must admit this goes against my natural inclinations. However I do give it time and thought. In this edition, I looked carefully at the letter to the innkeeper and wondered. First impressions are of a tongue in cheek piece that might just grab your attention. We are all too familiar with the folly of bureaucracy, with the ‘jobsworths’ who turn petty issues of administration into great matters of principle. I suspect the Roman Empire had its fair share of these, but the truth is that the gospel account of the birth of Christ leaves all of this apart. In the census that takes place and brings Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, we see clearly that behind all was the hand of God. It was He who moved emperors to count the people, He who ensured that Christ was not born in a palace, or even in an inn. Far from being able to complain, the world was hushed at the sound of angel voices and men could only fall before such majesty and worship God. The birth of Jesus Christ was no minor event, nor was it the arrival of some inspiring teacher. It was nothing less than the stately yet humble entry of God upon Earth. Within thirty-three years, the mystery of God would be unfolded on a bare hill outside Jerusalem, where men by wicked hands would crucify God the Son. Yet all was according to God’s eternal plan. The story rightly gives place to shepherds ‘abiding in the fields by night, watching over their sheep’. Not to the mighty, not in the halls of the great, not to the religious or the self righteous, but to ordinary hardworking men, is the news of God’s arrival given. It is still the same. Paul the Apostle tells us “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (1Corinthians 1:26). Such worldly wise, mighty and noble people are too taken up with the power and wealth of this world to have any care for that of the world to come. I am glad the message came to men who knew what it was to work hard all day and often into the night; to ordinary people who knew the tedium of earning a daily crust and living with all the uncertainties and insecurities of life. Why am I glad? I am glad because I and my fellows are numbered amongst the shepherds. We are just ordinary people. If the mystery of God’s coming could be known by them, if the joy of Christ’s birth could fill them, then can that not be my experience as well? To the pub for a quick illegal pint? No, not at all! They were stone cold sober. Rather they would tell family and friends of the angelic host and of the babe in the manger, of whom the angels sang. All these would wonder at the news. They would run with awe to the Temple perhaps, there to fall again in worship and thanks. They knew that God had not abandoned mankind to a lonely and hostile fate. Yes, Christ was laid were the animals were fed; ‘lying in a manger’ we read. The one who flung all the stars into space, the one for whom and by whom all things were made was born to a peasant family. Of midwives we are told nothing, nor of the place of the inn, nor of the innkeeper’s family and circumstances. Petty officials had no part in this mighty event. It was ordered by a far higher government. My dear reader, will you take time this Christmas to consider the claims of Christ upon your life? Will you hear His voice saying,“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”? Will you abandon the fleeting pleasures of a life lived without Him, without hope or purpose beyond the grave? Will you not come into the light and into the love of Jesus the only Saviour of mankind? May God so bless you in this Christmas season. George J Bell Pastor.
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For further details please contact MKW@bhbc.gb.com |
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