The Gospel of John - Jesus Came Near

Let’s face it. There is no holiday in the western world that suffers more propaganda than the Christmas season. Every commercial, song, television special, and Hallmark movie promises us that this is the year that Christmas will bring everything and everyone together. This will finally be the Christmas where my family experiences great joy, peace, togetherness, and gratitude. I mean, this is the year our kids are going to be great. They will be filled with gratitude and joy for everything they receive. They are going to open every present and be like, “Thanks, mom. This is perfect. I couldn’t ask for more.” This is the year when everyone is going to get along. We’ll sing carols, eat cookies, tell stories, and laugh together around a roaring fire. The conversation will be uplifting and inspiring as we bask in one another’s presence. This will be the year when I will finally feel rested, peaceful, and joyful. Even though Christmas is one big, massive shop-till-you-drop, make sure everybody is happy, gift buying, food-gorging panic attack. To make matters worse, Christmas is that it is a time where we are reminded not only who is coming but also who won’t be coming. It is a season when we are reminded of what we are going to get, but also of what we will never get. It is a season where we are told there is beauty in this world, but that same beauty seems to pass us by. What if all that propaganda misses the mark? What if the hope and joy of Christmas isn’t found in propaganda, but a simple message? The message of Christmas is this: Christ came to be with me in spite of me. Christ came to be with you in spite of you. He came for me to live in me to free me from the weight of my sin so that I may have life in His name. Merry Christmas indeed!