Out of all the moments of the year, that moment where Christmas Eve becomes Christmas Day is probably my favorite. As much as i love the giving of gifts, the gorgeous music, and the general cheerful atmosphere that accompanies this season, I could live without all of that to just relish in that moment. I often sit in my living room just looking at the Nativity scenes that hold prominent positions in our house. They're the most beautiful part of Christmas to me, a perfect reminder of the night that God gave up his home to come to earth for me.
Imagine the days leading up to the beautiful night. For centuries, the people of Israel had been waiting for God to send them their Messiah. This man would restore their freedom, but I'm sure that many had ceased to believe that this wonder would ever come. Darkness had settled over the land and the people of God. It had been a long long winter, and it seemed as if spring would never come again to the children of God. They were displaced, mistreated, abused, and left to wonder if the God who had saved them before would ever do so again
O Come O Come Immanuel
And Ransom Captive Israel
That mourns in lowly exile here
until the Son of God appears
O come O come, though Lord of might
Who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times did'st give the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe
O Come Desire of Nations Bind
Our spirits with one heart and mind
Bid envy strife and quarrels cease
Fill all the world with heavens peace
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse free
Thine own from Satan's Tyranny
From Depths of Hell thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And deaths dark shadows put to flight
O come Thou Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
and close the path to misery
Rejoice, Rejoice,
Immanuel shall come to thee O Israel
And He did, quietly, in the form of a tiny, helpless little child, son of a carpenter and his Nazarene wife. As if that weren't enough evidence of God's infinite grace, the first to see Immanuel were not great kings or religious leaders, they were shepherds, the outcasts of humanity. These misfits were among the first to see God face face to face that night; to bow in worship to the only one who loved them enough to give up all He had for their salvation. They abandoned their flocks, their livelihood, their purpose, because their King had come to earth. They discovered a new purpose that night, to love the one who loved them more than they could ever imagine.
God was present on with mankind that night. He would grow up and walk among them in friendship, something hadn't happened since Eden. He restored paradise for His children, and all they needed to do was believe. I wish I could have seen that night, that star, and listened to the voices of the angels and the shepherds. Love cloaked the world that night and it hasn't left since. So Merry Christmas, May you always get caught up in the wonder of that night, the night when we were saved.
Did it feel like a night any different
Then at least a million before
Was there any rare expectation
Like there was some kind of somethin' in store
Did the sky have to hold back the thunder
Did the moon find new reasons to glow
Could the children somehow sense the wonder
2000 Decembers ago
Were the sheep as amazed as the shepherds
At the new sky that lit up the sky
Did the willow trees whisper excitement
To the rivers and streams passing by
Did the joy ricochet off the mountains
Till it filled up the valleys below
Did all the world sense love abounding
2ooo Decembers ago
Was anyone able to look at the stable
And not see a child but a King
I wish I could hear back over the years
as heaven and nature sing, as heaven and nature sing
Oh the love must have been overwhelming
2000 Decembers ago
Did the walls of the barn start to tremble
With a glory they could not contain
Did anyone wake with the feeling
Of peace that they could not explain
Oh the love must have been overwhelming
As it warmed everyone with its flow
For all the earth is Still telling
Of 2000 Decembers ago
- Joy Williams
