Caution: soapbox available and now in use. 🙂
There has been a saying which has gained an audience. When I say an audience, I mean an AUDIENCE. Bigger than a cathedral. Bigger than a stadium. It has garnered the attention of the retail establishment. You see it on mugs, posters, signs, church signs, billboards…you name it. I know what it is trying to say; I know what it is trying to do. The saying?
Jesus is the reason for the season.
Sounds catchy. Sounds so…right. But I don’t think it is. Sometimes I have felt like a lone wolf (probably because I don’t get out much) in speaking against it. And I know whoever made it up never intended a whole cottage industry to build up around it (then again maybe it was just a marketing tool). The one who made it up was trying to get us to focus-away from Santa Claus and to the real meaning for Christmas.
But they got it wrong. And this is what I’ve been trying to say for years. Jesus never was the reason for the season. We were. Want proof? Take a moment and read Phil.2:6-8 and then Isaiah 53: 4-6. That oughta do it. Jesus was never the reason for the season. You were. I was. As the old song by David Meece says, “We were the reason He gave His life/We were the reason He suffered and died.” But…wait…that’s the rest of the story!! (And in case you are wondering it is called Easter).
Jesus is not the reason for the season; He is the one who is and who gives meaning to the season.
“Thank you, Father, for Jesus being willing to come for me. I was the reason He came and He gave the ultimate gift…His life.”
The stray sheep are the reason. As you said in your latest sermon series, As, it is impossible to separate the birth, the death and the resurrection.
Thanks for the comment Jim. And it is good to know someone was listening! 🙂 🙂 🙂 Appreciate you coming by.
I love when you get on your soapbox, Bill. Undoubtedly, that saying must have been said to turn eyes from Santa to Jesus. And marketers knew the value of it. But, what you said is Absolute Truth! Have a most wonderful celebration of our Lord’s human birth with thoughts of His death and resurrection all rolled into one.
Thank you Diane. Sometimes I do wonder if I’m barking up the wrong tree. But notes like yours and the previous one tell me I’m not. Have a blessed and Christ-filled celebration.
Thank you, Bill, for opening our eyes to what Christmas is truly about. Jesus came for us, and we should rejoice in that marvelous and grace-filled act.
Blessings!
More than welcome Martha. You say it well