How Christmas Beats Coronavirus - The Land that Longed for Christmas

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. Isaiah 9:1‭-‬5 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/isa.9.1-5.NIVUK

These often read but little understood verses refer to a chilling fact that should completely change our attitude to Christmas: this promise was given to a people who were at tremendous risk. Zebulun and Naphtali were tribal lands that were extremely vulnerable. They were in the immediate firing line for the Arameans when they began raiding Israelite territory (2 Kings 13:1-7). They were also directly in the path of the Assyrian war machine when it smashed through their territory on its way to Samaria. This promise was to a people who really needed to hear it. The battle weary needed to know that one day the war would be over. Those who were in darkness needed a light. Those living in hopelessness needed hope. And do you know something? Their region was the place where Jesus spent much of His time. It was where His leading disciples would come from. His earthly family lived there (Luke 2:4). A light was coming to the place of deep darkness. A hope was coming to the hopeless. Peace was coming to the war-weary. And that light, hope and peace was Jesus. This is where we have flipped Christmas completely on its head. Instead of being a joyous celebration for the needy, we have turned it into a triumph of marketing. Instead of wanting Jesus, we have hypnotised our children, and sometimes ourselves, into wanting anything else but Jesus. Christmas was never set up so the rich could get richer or the fat could get fatter. It was never designed to sell, to own or to consume. No, Christmas is for the poor, the needy, those who have no peace, who live in great darkness, who are deprived and have no hope. As John put it: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. John 1:5‭, ‬9 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/jhn.1.5-9.NIVUK

Christmas is not for those who already live in the light. No, it's for those living in the darkness. One of the greatest Christmases I have ever had was in Romania, far from my family, in a place unsullied by our rampant need to sell. I was with a Romanian family who could not afford any of that. We spent the day giving food parcels to homeless children living in the street and visiting and carolling for elderly people abandoned in an old folk's home. It was beautiful. Because, you see, that was what Christ came to do: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’ Luke 19:10 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/luk.19.10.NIVUK

One of my closest friends there needed something. He didn't tell me. He was too proud for that. But his computer keyboard was falling apart and he couldn't afford a new one. He was studying computer science at university so this really was quite a problem. That year I decided to buy him a new one - a good one, because he was also into computer gaming. I found a keyboard, gift-wrapped it and gave it to him. He was quite a tough guy, but he nearly cried. He wasn't expecting it and it was just what he needed. That's why Jesus came - for those who really need Him. Many of us will have an incredibly difficult Christmas this year. The presents may be smaller - or possibly even none at all. The food may be of a lesser quality. There may even be empty seats around the table for relatives who have gone. Those who are in this position will honestly be dreading this festival. But it's time we flipped it back to what it should be. It's time we changed the gift tag back so that the right person receives the gift. Christmas doesn't exist so that those who have can gain more. It's for the needy, the desperate, the weary, the lost. It's so those who live in darkness can receive a light. And that light is Jesus. We'll now look at Jesus' first name: the name of WONDERFUL.