Friends, Our Christmas joy is because of a person, not a holiday.  See the column below.    Blessings and Merry Christmas!  Bob

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Spirituality Column #892

December 19, 2023

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

The Lord is Near, Part 4

By Bob Walters

“The Lord is near to all who call on him; to all who call on him in truth.” – Psalms 145:18

My friend and mentor George Bebawi, the Coptic priest, Bible translator, patristics (early church history) expert, and retired divinity lecturer at Cambridge University, England, teasingly but truly let his disgust for modern Christmas be known.

“What is this Jingle Bells?” he’d intone in his raspy accent. George joked about once taking a pen knife and carving up a blow-up Santa Claus at a friend’s place of business in Carmel, Ind., where he retired. Similar stories were part of knowing George.

Christmas, George maintained, was the incarnation recorded in John 1:14, “and the Word became flesh.” Salvation came near in a living person, Jesus, not in a holiday.

In Jesus, God entered humanity, the eternal encountered present time, and the Spirit embedded in man as God’s image quickened and animated the sinful human heart with hope and faith.  Jesus the Lord was now near, and joyous, renewed, personal relationship with God Almighty became possible for fallen man. “Jesus not only taught the truth,” I heard a radio preacher say recently, “Jesus was the truth to be taught.”

Yes, the Lord is the Truth and Christmas tells us the truth: the Lord is near.

Jesus at Christmas is that thing that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, and fills one’s heart with peace and joy.  That is God tapping us on the shoulder, inviting us to knock on His door and invite Him into our lives. We think we are seeking Him; Christmas should tell us He is already here, seeking us.

The Baby Jesus, gifts, and the red-suited Santa Claus may be the leading symbols of Christmas, but it is the rescue mission of God – Jesus coming to invite sinners back into God’s Kingdom – that is the true meaning and the true gift of Christmas.  Jesus is Emanuel, God with us. I believe Santa understands that.

Santa’s Letter to Jesus

Speaking of Santa Claus, I have no idea who wrote the following, but it has been working its way around the Internet: “Santa’s Letter to Jesus.”  Take it to heart.

My dear precious Jesus, I did not mean to take your place,

I only bring toys and things and you bring love and grace.

People give me lists of wishes, and hope they come true;

But you hear prayers of the heart and promise your will to do.

Children try to be good and try not to cry when I am coming to town;

But you love them unconditionally and that love will abound.

I leave only a bag of toys and temporary joys for a season;

But you have a heart of love, full of purpose and reasons.

I have a lot of believers and what one might call fame,

But I never healed the blind or tried to help the lame.

I have rosy cheeks and a voice full of laughter,

But no nail-scarred hands or a promise of the hereafter.

You may find several of me in town or at a mall;

But there is only one omnipotent you, to answer a sinner’s call.

And so, my dear precious Jesus, I kneel here to pray;

To worship and adore you on this, your holy birthday.

Santa is only as real as we make him, but Jesus is the real deal of Christmas.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) wishes all a Merry Christmas! Be near to Jesus.