Easter helps explain Christmas

It’s Christmastime but I want to start by speaking about Easter, which concerns

the judicial murder of Jesus the teacher, prophet and miracle worker. He was put

to death on a Roman cross. Who was he? He was a human being like you and

me and yet there’s more... He said that he had come down from God and would

return to him. When credible reports that he had been resurrected from the dead

began to circulate, there was much consternation amongst those who had

contrived to be rid of him. Conversely, such a wonderful event certainly validated

what Jesus had said about himself and brought much joy to those who had

trusted in him.

What was the point of the death and resurrection of Jesus? The Christmas story

helps us a good deal here.

A devout man named Joseph was pledged to marry a virgin named Mary. He was

informed by a heavenly messenger that she was to bear a son as a result of a

miraculous conception. Joseph was told that the infant was to be given the name

Jesus because he would save his people from their sins (the name Jesus means

‘God saves’). We read about this in Matthew’s gospel where we also read that the

child would be referred to as Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us’. On the night

of the birth of this baby, rejoicing angelic messengers appeared to shepherds

outside Bethlehem confirming the unique things spoken earlier to Joseph.

Luke’s gospel records much about Mary’s own revelations of what was to take

place in the coming months and years. The gospel of John expands this more

when he identifies Jesus as the Son of God who predated time but latterly had

clothed himself as a human just as we are.

The man Jesus never erred in thought, word or deed. He was a person of

excellence and yet he was killed by people who recoiled from his light - this

because it showed up the darkness of their own self-centredness. We naturally do

the same and the Bible calls this sin.

Jesus’ coming (which we call Christmas) and his death and resurrection (which

we call Easter) bring forgiveness of sins and a radical change of heart for all who

will humbly believe. This is how we can be reconciled to God and this is the ‘glad

tidings’ that we sing about each Christmas.

Blind people

When it comes to accessing published material, blind people have never had it so good - I know: I’m blind. This is especially so for those who are tech-savvy but even those of us who are less digitally tuned-in are better catered for than in earlier decades. When putting out written information, many organisations and publishers offer a choice of ‘accessible formats’ to meet the individual’s need. These are braille, large print and audio.

When we stop to consider, we all know that good visual perception is a wonderful thing and ought to be treasured whilst we have it. Picking up on this, Jesus applies it to our inner (spiritual) lives, by warning that there are none as blind as those who think they can see when in fact they can’t! He says that, by nature, men and women are born spiritually blind, unable to see the true God. As with physically blind people, the term ‘blind’ doesn’t necessarily mean no sight whatsoever, but severely incomplete, distorted or very inadequate vision.

When it comes to seeing God, people look for ‘accessible formats’. These may include seeing God in creation, in religion, in a specific denomination or in a particular teaching.

I have no doubt that creation portrays the wisdom and power of God, and that a few religions show something of the holiness or ‘otherness’ of God. Denominations and specific teachings can emphasise a particular aspect about God which can be helpful (though there is the danger of developing tunnel vision here). However, none of these ‘accessible formats’ are adequate in themselves for us to see the true God as he desires us to see him. So God sent Jesus to introduce us to himself.

Jesus Christ stands at the centre of history and declares himself to be our sole access to the true God. “I am the gate; the way; the truth. I and the Father are one. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus was not a syncretist; he did not teach that alternative religions were simply complementary ways of meeting God. He said that concerning God there is for us only one ‘accessible format’ and that he is it. This is the challenge that Jesus faces us with: to believe him or not.

The Divine Wind

A couple of windy days and many of the leaves on the trees around where I live have become unglued from their branches. All, that is, except our magnolia tree. Here they hang on with determination. In the spring the magnolia flowers first and then the leaves arrive somewhat late, so I suppose they just want their full life span.

The wind which causes many a leaf to fall is absolutely unpredictable. It may be a whisper or a gust, brief or prolonged and from any direction at any moment.

Jesus spoke about the mystery of the wind. One night he was in deep conversation with a man named Nicodemus, a religious minister akin to a Bishop. Jesus was telling him that a personal, valid and life-changing experience of God was dependant on the move of God’s Spirit, and no amount of earthbound religion could provide this. The dead foliage of this man’s spiritless religion needed to be blown clean away by God himself!

Jesus said: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” was Nicodemus’ earnest question. How indeed? When someone comes to personal faith in God, there is a mystery present because ultimately it is a miracle from God.

If we hear and feel within our own heart the wind of God’s Spirit, which is essential and can’t be predicted anymore than can the wind, our part is not to hang on to the branches of our doubt as do the magnolia leaves to their branches. This is why God, through the pages of the Bible repeatedly says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…’ Rather we should yield and exercise our trust in Jesus. God has so fixed it, that if there is the fall of autumn there will be new life in spring. We can receive that spiritual springtime today.