Title: Immanuel, Christ Who Came as Light
Contents
First of all, I bless you in the name of the Incarnate Baby Jesus, so that the light and glory of Christmas overflows abundantly on you, the church, and your home.
Christmas is now more than just a Christian festival, it has become a festival for everyone. It is also true that it is easy to forget the deep meaning of Christmas due to the merry-go-round and bustling atmosphere with the year-end and New Year holidays. We, Christians, are most responsible for this kind of atmosphere. It is unfortunate that even the church is already creating an atmosphere where Christmas is just a celebration of splendid Christmas decorations and a celebration of joy among church members.
The birth of the baby Jesus, who came into the world in a human body 2,000 years ago was itself a holy festival. The birth of Jesus, who refused to visit the splendid ancient palaces and palaces, and came in a very lowly and lowly manger, what would it be other than a very humble festival? The very owners of Christmas were not the kings who enjoy the honor and glory of the world, nor the priests or the Pharisees of the scribes, but the shepherds who kept the flock all night long.
At that time, it was customary to celebrate the birth of a boy in a Jewish home, with local musicians playing instruments and singing, but there was no song or celebration for the baby Jesus who was born in a manger. Only the songs and praises of the angels were sung holy in the middle of the night. Although the birth of the baby Jesus, who came into the world in a very small, humble and lowly appearance, we realize that it was the great work of God who created and governed the world and that it was a work of re-creation.
Hebrews 1:2 records about Jesus, "God created the whole world through his Son, and he has decided to pass on all things to him", clearly testifying that Christmas is the second event of creation. There is. The birth of Jesus Christ is a creation event comparable to that of Yahweh, who created the heavens and the earth and all living things out of chaos. We have the promise of salvation and eternal life through Christ Jesus. Only through Christ can we stand before God. In other words, God did not come into the world in the first creation, but in the second creation, the birth of Jesus, God in human flesh came directly into the world. That is, the God of Immanuel was incarnated. Therefore, the Christmas we face today celebrates the second creation event, and we participate in that creation work.
We should thank God for being invited to such a meaningful feast. In addition, I believe that we need to remember the coming of the baby Jesus with a humble heart at this time, and to reflect on the deep meaning of his coming into the world.
First, the birth of the baby Jesus is due to God's supreme love for man.
In John 3:16-17, "God loved this world so much that he sent his only Son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God sent his Son into the world to condemn the world." It's not that he wants to do it, but he wants his son to save him." I did.
Even if we look back on ourselves, we can easily see that we are weak, lacking, and sinful. So, how insignificant our human existence is in the eyes of God. However, the God of all has given us his only Son to not judge our sins, but to show us the infinite love that saves us.
After all, God came directly into the world in a human body to teach us the great power of love. The first thing we must learn through Christmas is this spirit of love. I feel sorry for the foolishness and selfishness of humans who can't see the beam in their own eyes while looking at the dust of others and reprimanding them. This is a time when we need the attitude of faith that is exercised in the body, even if it is one tenth of God's infinite love.
Second, the birth of the baby Jesus is itself 'glory and peace'.
Angels announcing the birth of the baby Jesus and numerous heavenly armies appeared and praised God. "Glory to God in the high heavens, and peace on earth to those whom he loves!" (Luke 2:14) What the angelic praise made known to the world is that the baby Jesus is the 'Prince of Peace'. In addition, God sent Jesus into the world to be glorified through man.
Even at this moment, the world does not stop wars and slaughter due to national interests, religious divisions, and ethnic conflicts. Even if it is peace, it is not true peace. It is nothing but a peace that devours the earth whole, armed with nuclear weapons, threatens with a pretentious laugh, and succumbs to it, that is, 'Peace of Rome.
This is not just a foreign country story. More than 50 years have passed since the division of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean people, and Korea, which remain as the only divided country in the world. We must pray that Jesus, who does not want division and war, will achieve peaceful unification with the dew of peace. It is also a time to pray that God's glory will truly be restored to the spread of peace in the world in a world that takes God's name in vain.
Third, Christmas is the spirit of 'Immanuel' who comes to a low and lowly place.
As Jesus said, ?쏷he Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost??(Luke 19:10), Jesus came into this world to give comfort and rest to those who are lowly, marginalized, wounded, groaning and fearing God.
In the human world, we prefer to throw, crush, and take away rather than helping and comforting. Eventually, the marginalized and the oppressed will have no place to stand, and eventually become 'lost ones'. No one in the world can truly share their pain. Only the baby Jesus, who was named Immanuel in a small town, low and lowly stable, can find the lost, wash their wounds, and give them the promise of comfort and salvation.
Today, in a quiet and holy atmosphere, we are offering a worship service of thanksgiving and joy, remembering the coming of the baby Jesus. But elsewhere there are also throngs of revelry and festivities of the flamboyant senses. And beyond that joyous festival, our poor neighbors who are suffering from loneliness, poverty, disease and wounds are crouching and crying in sorrow.
I hope this year's Christmas and year-end and New Year's holidays will be such an act of love to find and care for our neighbors. When we open our eyes and look around us, we must not forget that there are disadvantaged neighbors who accept us with infinite joy and warmth with just a little help and comfort. Many of our neighbors, including the head of a boy and girl who became lonely due to poor family circumstances, the elderly without trust, the elderly and children of nursing homes and orphanages, and the brothers and sisters in prisons who are living in English due to a momentary mistake, many neighbors cannot survive without our care. people who are there.
I pray that the colder the weather and the bigger the wound, the more valuable the little love and comfort are, and I pray that it will be a Christmas season to experience the meaning of the Lord's Christmas deeply through love and care for our neighbors.
I have no doubt that this will be a meaningful event to mark the birth of the baby Jesus, who forsook the heavenly glory and came into the world with our joy and faith.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen