Join us on Christmas Eve at 7:30pm for one of the most beautiful and meaningful services of the year as we celebrate the Light who broke into the darkness of our world. Our Christmas Eve service will feature traditional readings, Christmas hymns, Holy Communion, and carols sung by candlelight.
Join us also on Christmas Day for worship at 10:00am as we celebrate the birth of the Savior.
~By Pastor Mike Middaugh
“A loud noise at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.”
–Ronald Knox, British Theologian, on “Babies”
Some have argued that the greatest miracle in Christianity is not the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but the incarnation. Imagine, the infinite, omnipotent, supreme creator of the universe becomes a small, helpless, needy child. God disposing of power and taking on flesh – somehow fully divine, and yet also fully human.
J.I. Packer puts it like this:
God became man; the divine Son became a Jew;
the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless
human baby, unable to do more than lie and
state and wriggle and make noises, needing to
be fed and changed and taught to talk like any
other child…. The babyhood of the Son of
God was a reality. The more you think about it,
the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is
so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.
Some people say they cannot believe in miracles. The thought of Jesus calming a storm, turning water into wine, or raising people from the dead is, to them, preposterous. Many also find the atonement – the claim that through his death upon the cross Jesus forgave the sins of billions of people –inane.
And true, if the angels never appeared, if the shepherds never visited, if Gabriel never calmed Mary’s fears and the Magnificat was never sung, then the rest of the gospel is probably not to be trusted.
But, if there is a God, and if he has been born as a child, why would you find it incredible that he would do miracles, pay for the sins of the world, or even rise from the dead?
He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
For in him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together….
For in Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.
–Colossians 1:15-20
-by Pastor Mike Middaugh
These words indicate that an epic story is about to be told. Similarly “once upon a time,” and “some years ago” are phrases that prepare us for the beginning of a great adventure, a myth, legend, or fantasy that promises to sweep us away to a new land where anything might happen.
O
ften, these stories contain timeless truths and lessons worth learning, but one thing is certain about stories that begin this way, we never mistake them for being real.
It is striking then, by comparison, that the New Testament Gospels decidedly do not begin in this way. Matthew introduces his account with the words “This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ” and goes on to name names, concluding with the statement that “there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah”. Matthew gets specific, and explicit.
If anything, we as the reader of these words are supposed to take notice – what comes next is not a tale or metaphor, but reality, it actually happened. Luke even writes at the beginning of his book, “I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, and I too decided to write an orderly account for you . . . so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”
Here is why this matters. If the gospels were good advice, another story with a moral, then we could read them and learn how to live as better people. But the gospels are not good advice, they are good news – accounts of things that have taken place. Advice encourages the listener to take action. News informs us that some action has already taken place, and now there is an opportunity to respond.
The difference is significant. Imagine if you received word that your favorite professional team was short players and needed you for the next game. You would suddenly be desperate for good advice. You would want a trainer, a coach, and your teammates to help you perform your best. But, if instead, you received news that your favorite team had just won the championship, you would no longer be worried about seeking advice. Instead you would celebrate. The game is over, your team has done it!
And so it is with the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ. We don’t come to this story to get swept away to a distant land, or to a place where magic exists. Instead, we find a historic reality. And what a reality it is! The gospels contain miracles – sight for the blind, food for the hungry, a cure for the sick – epic battles – Jesus versus Satan, John the Baptist versus Herod, the disciples versus wind and wave – and a great protagonist, tragically heroic, who gives his life for his people. Everything you might want to fill out a great fantasy adventure.
But instead of being one more myth or legend pointing to some underlying reality we might wish for (true love’s kiss, a whole new world, happily ever after) the gospel is the underlying reality to which all the other stories point.
It is true, it is real, it is woven into history, and it is for you.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
–Isaiah 9:6
Join us this Saturday for one of the most fun events of the year! Breakfast with Santa is an opportunity for a delicious breakfast, time with Santa, and a chance to give back by creating “Gifts of Love” for those in need in our community. Santa will arrive (via firetruck we hear) around 9:00am. Last call for pancakes is at 10:30am.
