What makes Christmas Eve beautiful and wonder-filled? Perhaps it’s large, soft snow flakes gently brushing faces and whitening eyebrows while twinkling tree lights interrupt the darkness and church carillons chime Silent Night. Maybe it’s Andy Williams singing Christmas is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” where “ those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings when friends come back to call” become“ the hap-happiest season of all.”
But is Christmas really the happiest season?
Not everyone believes in the Christmas “story.” Not everyone tunes into the season’s carol singing, good will, and “tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago” with enthusiasm. And for some, holiday gaiety and happy faces are unsettling. Loss, loneliness, disappointment, guilt, humiliating or difficult times, and memories of dysfunctional and broken relationships are ghosts haunting Christmas. They rob or deflate a celebratory spirit for many.
That first Christmas Eve in Bethlehem didn’t start out so great either. It was a difficult, lonely time riddled with tension. There was no room or concern for Joseph’s and Mary’s predicament as they struggled to find a place to give birth to their baby boy. (They knew he was a boy centuries before ultrasound diagnosing!) They were alone and unsupported. The night was not silent, calm, peaceful, and bright. The lowing of cattle was mixed with the cries of birth pains. A sense of urgency, fear, desperation, and confusion emanated from a dark, smelly stable where God’s unrecognized grace and the glorious reason for the season lay humbly swaddled on a musty mound of hay.
Desperation suddenly turned to wonder when excited, inquisitive, awe struck shepherds arrived to see this child because an angel had suddenly appeared to them with “good news of great joy.” It was a monumental God-surprise! Israel had waited centuries to hear it!. That very day their long awaited Savior had been born! Even more surprisingly, this baby was the Savior for “all people” not just Israel. The immensity, beauty, and profound mystery of that announcement had been magnified and verified by God’s indescribable glory surrounding a heavenly choir singing and praising God that His peace would be upon those with whom he was pleased (Luke 2).
However, Jesus had not come to defeat Roman tyranny with sword and rebellion or political power. He would perfectly fulfill the Law and defeat sin on a Roman cross and death with an empty tomb as the once and only sin sacrifice for all mankind. His peace would be on those who believed because trusting faith is what pleases God (Hebrews 11:6, John 3:16).
We may have lost the wonder and joy of that promise and those moments. This may not have been the best year or this Christmas the most wonderful holiday. Yet, the miracle and meaning of Christ’s birth is as crucial and marvelous now as the night he was born. This special season brings us the best news ever heard! God came to us! Jesus is humanity’s hope for redemption and eternal life.
Maybe soft, flaky snow falling upon lighted Christmas trees and a church steeple chiming “Silent Night” will remind us of the reality that God loves us so much he came to dwell with us. He lights our way through the darkness to a place of peace if we trust His gift to be our Savior.
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” Let’s receive him.
Sweet Words from Maine 
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