Tip of My Iceberg

What happened to December?

It feels like the downhill slide since Thanksgiving was late this year, and I’ve been confronted with my lack of preparedness for Christmas at every turn. More homes seem to be generously decorated, store windows feature displays filled with whimsy and fun, and people are already gifting us with homemade treats.

We were in San Francisco a week ago to celebrate my little sister’s birthday, and we had time to enjoy the city’s decorations. In one famous old hotel, a massive gingerbread castle was replete with details that made it reminiscent of a bygone era.

Immense trees were everywhere, sparkling with lights and baubles that mocked me for not having my Christmas stuff together. Don’t get me wrong; this was beautiful. But the sense of not being more timely with all that I consider necessary preparations is a little daunting.

Isn’t this typical for many of us? We fill our days during December with gatherings, dinners with family and friends, parties at work or school, and by December 25, we’re just glad it will soon be over. The joy of the season is overcome by busyness and exhaustion. We set a high standard of expectations for ourselves regarding what needs to be done to make this holiday perfect.

It was never intended to be perfect.

The reason we celebrate Christmas is the birth of the Messiah, God become Man, who came here to reconnect us with the God who loves us.

When Jesus was born, it was a miserable time for the Jews.

The Romans ruled over Israel with harshness and suspicion, demanding high taxes and treating the Jews with cruelty just because they could. Herod was king at the time, a power-hungry man who was so obsessed with protecting his throne that he had his favorite wife murdered, along with two sons, because his jealous sister told him they were trying to take over his throne. He built many great monuments, including the Jewish Temple, but the cost to his people was high.

When Jesus was born, the Magi, a tribe of king-makers, came from what is now the region around Iran and Iraq. They were non-Jewish scholar-priests who interpreted celestial signs. They had discovered an unusual star that, through study, indicated the birth of the expected Messiah.

They came through Jerusalem, expecting royalty to live in the capital city. When Herod heard who they were looking for, he became upset, not wanting anyone to usurp his throne. He plotted to kill the yet uncrowned Messiah by having all boys two and under murdered.

Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to stay until Herod was dead.

Christmas isn’t what we’ve made it. Where many see only a baby and the reason to party, Jesus came as our Advocate, the One who chose to intercede on our behalf, to take the punishment for the wrongs we’ve committed. The harshness of His story is one of patient love for a people who stubbornly refuse to accept such love.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One who is truly righteous. He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins–and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” 1 John 2:1-2.

It’s not about the decorations, the parties, or the cards and gifts. Christmas is the coming of the One who gave Himself out of love for us so we could spend eternity with Him.

No stress needed.