ONCE AGAIN THE WORLD pauses to recognise the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ more than 2 000 years ago. It is the single most powerful event to happen in history, with the exception of Jesus’ own crucifixion and resurrection from the dead.
More than 100 years ago Charles Haddon Spurgeon of London preached on Luke 2:11, which says, “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”.
I’d like to paraphrase his closing words: The scene at Bethlehem is one of utter simplicity: a mother, a father, and a baby. In this way “the Word became flesh” to dwell among us. What God does is both simple and clear. The message to us is also simple and clear. Those who come in simple faith to the Lord Jesus Christ find great peace. Today we celebrate the essential gospel, free of speculation and centred on Christ.
Spurgeon then urged his hearers to come in faith to the Babe of Bethlehem who would one day die for the sins of the world. Little children should come for He was once a little child Himself.
Young women should come for Mary was a young woman who was God’s instrument for bringing Christ into the world. Young men should come for Joseph was a young man who had great faith in God.
Old women should come for Anna was an old woman who looked for the coming of the Lord. Old men should come for aged Simeon waited for the consolation of Israel. The working men and women should come to Christ because the shepherds represent all those who work with their hands for a living – and they too came to Bethlehem. Finally, the highly educated of the world should come for the Wise Men came bearing gifts. They too bowed and worshiped the King.
This is Spurgeon’s closing appeal: “For my own part, the Incarnate God is all my hope and trust. I come back to preach, by God’s help, the gospel, the simple gospel of the Son of God. Jesus, Master, I take Thee to be mine forever! May all in this house be led to do the same, and may they all be Thine, great Son of God, in the day of Thine appearing, for Thy love’s sake. Amen.”
In the early part of the last century Dr James Allan Francis wrote a description of Jesus in a piece entitled One Solitary Life. I close my brief message by quoting the last part of Francis’ description:
“19 centuries have come and gone, yet today He is the crowning glory of the human race, the adored leader of hundreds of millions of the earth’s inhabitants. All the armies that ever marched and all the navies that were ever assembled and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the rulers that ever reigned – combined – have not affected the life of man upon this earth so profoundly as that One Solitary Life.”
My family along with the national executive of Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies and their families, join in wishing you a most blessed Christmas. May the Reason for the season bring salvation, tremendous joy, peace and contentment into your life.