We’re approaching a new year in two days. Then it’s 2017. I’m not quite ready to leave 2016 just yet. My tree is still up. The beautiful nativity scenes are gracing shelves and buffet. They are the focal point of our celebration because it isn’t about the gifts, the food, even the tree. It’s about the Creator who entered the Cradle, and became the Lamb. The perfect lamb. Does that boggle your mind? It does mine. We think about Baby Jesus, born in a manger, sweet and “no crying he makes”. Yet, Jesus was before he was born. Yes, the Creator became the Created. I took that phrase from our pastor’s sermon last Sunday. Think about it: Creator became the Created. Only God would/could do something like that.

Merry Christmas, 2016

I’m reluctant to let go of this beautiful time of the year. I’m going to enjoy the lovely tree.

The touching nativity scenes.

 

My attention was drawn to words from a Christmas Carol written by Charles Wesley—who by the way wrote more than 6,000 hymns in his lifetime and is considered the greatest Christian hymn writer of all time. I’m pretty sure you’ve sung this or at least heard it many times. This time, though, focus on the words of the third stanza:

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing on his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born than man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the Newborn King.

So friend, enjoy the last two days of 2016. Embrace the receding year by reflecting on the Sun of Righteousness.