Dec 11th

For so many people I know this Christmas is going to be very difficult.

I have a friend who is facing his first Christmas alone following divorce, another two who very probably will be spending their last Christmas with a loved one.  Bill and Karen are without their beautiful daughter Amy who died a few weeks ago.  Janice and Bill will quite probably be facing a morphine dosed pain filled day like every other.  Geoff and his wife are worrying about their daughter whos kidney transplant might be failing.  Harry's wife has been given three months to live.  Mark is suffering a crisis of faith and cant see the point in carrying on..... and so it goes on.  There is depression and financial hardship and emotional distress.  Christmas just seems to rub it all in doesnt it?   It is supposed to be a celebration, a family time, fun.   But for many it isnt, wont be, cant be.

The central message of Christmas is that God cares.  He knows and understands - not just as an onlooker, observer, bystander - but because He came to participate fully in our human experience from cradle to grave.   He was born into poverty, was a refugee and homeless, lived in an occupied country.  He grew up working hard with his hands in the family business. He had siblings, relatives, friends who got sick and died and for whom He grieved bitterly.     He knew what it was like to be unmarried in a society where everyone was married.  He was tormented in his mind to the point that he sweat drops of blood.  He suffered being misunderstood, falsely accused, tortured and crucified in front of his own mother. And finally He felt utterly abandoned by God.

Jesus knows

And Jesus cares.   He didn't just come as some divine experiment to ' see what it was like and report back'   He came to live and die among us to make it right again.

God is totally righteous.  Like a white sheet of paper.  No spot or mark or stain.   We are not totally righteous.  If we come near to God we shall put a smudge on that white piece of paper and He will no longer be holy and pure and righteous.   Problem.   What to do??  We need to be washed clean - but washed in something holy and righteous - something with the power to remove all sins and stains and dirt.    the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  1 John 1: 6-8

That thing is the blood of a sinless man.  Jesus.  Who died in our place, who took the punishment for all our wrongdoings and who washes us clean so that we can come close to God.  And THIS is the good news of Christmas    


Bill and Karen and Harry and Mark and Janice and Bill - and all of my dear friends who are having such a difficult time this Christmas can all know the huge comfort and security and peace and love of being on the same page as God.   Of being encompassed by Him.  Of being so close to Him that despite all the difficulties of their circumstances they can hear His voice, listen to His heartbeat, feel His comfort. Know His love.

Lord , today we pray for all those we know who are dreading Christmas.  We pray for your comfort and strength, for Your blessing and peace.   Let them know that You understand and care.   Help them to  embrace the sacrifice you made for them and fully experience that miracle of being on the same page as God, creator of the universe, lover of our souls.    Thank you that when You came as a baby 2000 years ago this was the plan all along.  We are so deeply grateful that You saw it through Lord and finished what You started by shedding your holy precious blood to make us clean.