2010: The Year in Review

Well, this is definitely my last post of the year of 2010, so a chance to look back at what has been happening this year. We had 331 blog posts, disproportionately found in April and December, but fairly steady, with not quite one per day over the year.

We began the year in Dundonald, and we're still here a year later, albeit with an addition to the family in the shape of Pippa the puppy. It's been an interesting experience moving from not overly liking dogs to owning our own, and she's great - except when she landed me in A&E in November.

I'm still the Curate Assistant in St Elizabeth's, and over the course of this past year I have preached about 46 times, conducted 4 funerals and 2 Baptisms. Still no weddings yet, but there are some in the diary for next year.

In June we lost a dearly loved family member, and celebrated the wedding of another.

We were fortunate to be able to spend some time on holiday in Lanzarote (twice), and some other holidays around home with family and friends.

Over the year I've been involved in a Can't Cook, Won't Cook event, and a Barn Dance, and they were just at church!

There were also special series on Zephaniah, and the Promise of His Coming.

For more details about this past year, check out the monthly archives and reviews: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2010 will be remembered as the year of my 365 project, and below is a slideshow of every one of the 365 photos taken this year for it:


Thanks for reading this year, and watch out for new content next year!

December 2010 Review

The final month of the year, and a bumper month, with lots of blog posting, boosted by the Promise of His Coming series.

My preaching was from 1 Timothy 6 (audio), Matthew 1, Luke 1, Luke 7, John 1:1-5 (audio), 6-8 (audio) and 16 (audio). We also thought about spot the difference, and snow white.

There were book reviews on Revelation - CJ Sansom, The Courage to be Protestant - David F Wells, Jesus of Nazareth - Pope Benedict XVI, Code Red - Andrew J Drain, Disciplines of a Godly Man - R Kent Hughes and The Incarnation in the Gospels - Daniel M Doriani, Philip Graham Ryken, Richard D Phillips.

We had two sets of McFlurry's McLinks - 18 and Christmas, and some other Christmas stuff. All in all, December is a funny month on the blog, with many end of year features, but I'll mention those separately.

Church of Ireland Tweeters - December 2010

Here's the latest ranking for Twittering Clergy in the Church of Ireland, using Twitter Grader. Together at the top are the Bishop of Cork and Stephen Neill; while the biggest climber was Craig McCauley, moving from joint 11th straight into 3rd:

Rank Name Twitter Username Grade 31/12/10
1= (1) Stephen Neill @paddyanglican 95.4
1= (2) Bishop Paul Colton @b2dac 95.4
3 (11) Craig McCauley @rrrcmcc 80
4= (3) Victor Fitzpatrick @prayspot 75
4= (4) Gary McMurray @garibaldimcf 75
6 (5) Rob Jones @robdjones 69
7 (6) Liz Hanna @hannamanor 68
8= (7=) Alan Barr @alnbarr 66
8= (9=) Daniel Owen @dnlowen 66
10= (7=)Earl Storey @topstorey 64
10= (9=)Bishop Harold Miller@BishopHarold 64
12 (11=)Arlene Moore @revamo 61
13=(13=)Bryan Martin @dromoreminister 54
13=(13=)Robert Ferris @rferris281 54
13=(16=)Adrian Dorrian @adriandorrian 54
16=(15) Trevor Johnston @trevorjohnston 51
16=(16=)Robert Miller @robsmiller 51
18 (19=)Stephen Lowry @shlowry 49
19 (18) Brian Lacey @brianlacey1978 48
20=(19=)Simon Genoe @simongenoe 46
20=(24) Daniel Nuzum @danielnuzum 46

Top Ten Referrers for 2010

The Simple Pastor recently compiled a list of the top ten blog referrers to his site (in which I was 6th), using the tools of Google Analytics. I've been signed up to GA for ages and never really did anything with it, so here's the top ten blog referrers of this year:

1. After Darkness, Light. The blog of my brother-in-law, Bryan, labouring for the gospel in Scotland.

2. The Diary of a Reformed Workaholic. I've never met Ali, despite her living in Belfast and frequenting Ulster Rugby games. Always plenty of laughs going on her blog.

3. Rambling Rural Rector. The Venerable Craig who is across the border in the diocese of Kilmore and into his techie stuff - much more than me!

4. Mindkee. The blog of my sister-in-law, Louise, who writes some poetry, reflecting on Bible readings as well as devotional hymns.

5. Clerical Whispers. Perhaps the most random of the referrers, a kind of gossip site on all things clerical, although mostly Roman Catholic.

6. For The Fainthearted. Another minister, blogging from rural Ireland, sharing sermons and reflections from his life's experiences.

7. Bishop Alan. One of the English bishops who blogs fairly frequently on matters of faith, culture and society.

8. Virtual Methodist. The blog of another minister here in Dundonald - I can almost see his church from our house!

9. The Simple Pastor. I've never met Phil, but we've connected through blogging about advertising and issues relating to consumption and poverty.

10. St Aidan to Abbey Manor. Sadly David decided to stop blogging this year, because he was always worth reading.

I'm grateful to these blogs (and many others) for sending readers in my direction, and also for the things I learn from these people. Here's to hopefully lots more blogging and building relationships in 2011!

The Promise of His Coming (31)

The Comfortable Words are well known to anyone familiar with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer service of Holy Communion. They serve an important function in the order of liturgy - coming immediately after the confession of sins and the absolution; they are words able to comfort, through their great and very precious promises to those who need to hear them.

There are some words from 'our Saviour Christ', as well as from the Apostles Paul and John. It is the sentence from Paul's first letter to Timothy that links in again with our Christmas theme of the promise of his coming:

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Tim 1:15 - BCP)

Words able to comfort, words which are true, words which are worthy to be received by all, telling us, reminding us of why Jesus came into the world - to save sinners. Sinners like us, who have just acknowledged and confessed our manifold sins and wickedness. That's why the comfortable words have such impact and are so memorable - they apply again the gospel, telling us that the very reason Jesus came into the world was to save sinners like us.

It's almost disappointing, though, that Cranmer, when he put together the service in his Prayer Book, stopped where he did (although we can see why he did!). Here's how Paul continues:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Tim 15: ESV)

Paul is often much aligned, criticised for being very difficult to understand (don't worry, Peter thought the same!), seen as too far off and remote from ordinary sinners like us. However, even as Paul presents the grand theology of the gospel, declaring the glory of God in the good news of salvation, he becomes intensely personal. Just think of Galatians 2:20 - 'And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.'

So we see it here too - Christ Jesus came into the world, and I'm the worst sinner in the world. So if Jesus came to save me, he can save any other sinner! A bad sinner, yes, but Jesus came to save me.

It's the difference between the academic knowledge of theology: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (even the devil can affirm that!); and the personal knowledge of salvation: Christ Jesus came into the world to save me, the sinner, the chief of sinners.

We know why Jesus came - but did he come for you? You know that you're a sinner, but did he come to save you? Or will you spurn his salvation? Don't let another year pass while still lost and helpless. Turn today to the Saviour, and know his peace and forgiveness and rescue.

2010 Books

I find it useful to keep a note of the various books I've read, and a brief overview of what they were about, mostly for myself, although sometimes the reviews can be helpful for others as well. So here's what I've read in this year:

1. Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor - Don Carson
2. A History of St Peter's Church - Brian Barton
3. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture - Graeme Goldsworthy
4. The Last Gospel - David Gibbins
5. God's Big Picture - Vaughan Roberts
6. Stop Dating the Church - Joshua Harris
7. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
8. Journey - Alec Motyer
9. The God I Don't Understand - Christopher Wright
10. Scandalous - Don Carson

11. Dissolution - CJ Sansom
12. The Trellis and the Vine - Col Marshall and Tony Payne
13. Awakening - David Robertson
14. The Last King of Scotland - Giles Foden
15. God's Word Trilogy - Alan Stibbs
16. Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church - Don Carson
17. Living Sacrifice - Helen Roseveare
18. Raised With Christ - Adrian Warnock
19. Lifted - Sam Allberry
20. Dark Fire - CJ Sansom

21. Changing the World (Through Effective Youth Ministry) - Ken Moser
22. The Gospel in Revelation - Graeme Goldsworthy
23. John Stott: The Making of a Leader - Timothy Dudley-Smith
24. The Road - Cormac McCarthy
25. The Books The Church Suppressed - Michael Green
26. The Last Word - John Stott
27. Sovereign - CJ Sansom
28. Bible Delight - Christopher Ash
29. The Ever-Loving Truth - Voddie Baucham
30. The Unheeded Christ - David Cook

31. The Nine Tailors - Dorothy L Sayers
32. Let God Arise - Marcus Loane
33. Why We Love The Church - Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
34. Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
35. Captured by a Better Vision - Tim Chester
36. A Short History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
37. Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism? - Wayne Grudem
38. Should Christians Embrace Evolution? - ed. Norman C Nevin
39. Supernatural Living for Natural People - Raymond Ortlund
40. Saturday Night Peter by Peter Kay

41. Son of Hamas - Mosab Hassan Yousef
42. The Unquenchable Flame - Michael Reeves
43. The Last Word - Wallace Benn
44. The Chosen One - Sam Bourne
45. The Way of the Righteous in the Muck of Life - Dale Ralph Davis
46. Religion Saves - Mark Driscoll
47. Revelation - CJ Sansom
48. The Courage to be Protestant - David F Wells
49. Jesus of Nazareth - Pope Benedict XVI
50. Code Red - Andrew J Drain

51. Disciplines of a Godly Man - R Kent Hughes
52. The Incarnation in the Gospels - Daniel M Doriani, Philip Graham Ryken, Richard D Phillips

52 books this year, one per week, and eleven more than last year. The difference probably came through having two weeks of Lanzarote holiday reading in March and September, whereas in 2009 our September break was more active, sightseeing in New York.

Top five books from this year's reading?

1. The Trellis and the Vine
2. The Courage to be Protestant
3. Dissolution
4. Bible Delight
5. Scandalous

Previous reading lists can be found for 2009, 2008, and 2007.

2010: The Year in Pictures

This past year has been a major one for me in terms of photography, taking on the challenge of a 365 project - one photo every day for a year. There's still today and tomorrow left to do, but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to manage a photo each day now!

Some days it was a curse, remembering at the last minute that I still hadn't taken a photo that day; other days it was a handy iPhone camera moment; but the best days were when I managed to get a photo on the big camera - my Canon 500D SLR. Here are my best photos from the year:

January


February


March


April


May


June


July


August


September


October


November


December


I think I might have peaked too early, having the best shot of the year on the 6th January, but which of these would you pick as the photo of 2010?

The Promise of His Coming (30)

When we think of greatness, we think of those who have made something of themselves. Take Alan Sugar, from the TV show, The Apprentice. Starting as a small trader, he has built up a multi-million pound business, and the programme is for others who want to follow his path to greatness by getting a job with him and making money themselves.

The best stories of success always have this nothing-to-something element. Through hard work, ingenuity, 'luck', or whatever, they've raised themselves to a prominent position. However, that's not how it worked with the Lord Jesus.

There's no doubt about it - he is at the very top - King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the one seated on the throne, to whom every knee will bow and every tongue will one day confess that he is Lord. But it wasn't a bottom up approach - Jesus didn't start as an ordinary man who worked his way up to be God. No, Jesus had it all, but gave it up in order to be exalted. Notice Jesus' descent into greatness:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

Jesus, the eternal God, with the Father, kept stepping down further and further - being born as a man. This is the Christmas story - the word became flesh and dwelt among us. But even that wasn't enough - Jesus went on to die, not in a nice clean hospital ward at the age of 102, but the death of the cross. Did you notice the joint reasons for this? His humility, and his obedience.

Jesus gave himself to serve us, so that nothing was too low for him to do, nowhere too far for him to go, in order to save us. Will we, who know this salvation through his death on the cross, will we have this mind as well, of humble, obedient service? Come, O Christ, and help us serve, to follow in your path, so that all the glory is yours, now and forever.

Sermon Audio: John 1:16

This was my last sermon of the year, preaching at the Family Service on Christmas Morning, from John's Gospel on Grace Upon Grace. Here's how it sounded.

Book Review: The Incarnation in the Gospels

Around the main seasons in the church calendar, I like to do some seasonal reading. It helps to focus again on the events of Christmas / Easter or whatever. This year's Christmas book had actually been bought last Christmas, but wasn't opened and saved until this year.

The Incarnation in the Gospels is a publication from the Reformed Expository Commentary series, with contributions (on one of the gospels each) from Daniel M Doriani, Philip Graham Ryken and Richard D Phillips. At some future point (at least when they were originally published in this volume) they will be found within the broader scope of the entire gospel commentary.

Unlike most commentaries, this volume comes across as more a collection of Christmas sermons collated by the authors and presented as a commentary. This approach has good aspects - we see how these men would preach to their congregations the message of Christmas and apply it; lots of ideas are contained within for readers and preachers alike; the expositions are fairly thorough and, if preached, would be longer than most sermons congregations (certainly in Northern Ireland) would be used to.

However, it doesn't quite do what it says on the tin. It isn't really a commentary on the Bible passages, as we've been at least one step removed from the hard work of engagement with the text - which is what would perhaps be most useful in a commentary. I think we see the polished, finished article too much here, and not really the difficult issues or interesting word studies and background or further discussion of the passage.

As I've also said in previous book reviews, it's harder to read when there are multiple authors, getting used to their very different writing/preaching styles in their own contributions.

That said, I think this will still be useful for pastors and those tasked with preaching at Christmas services. While you're not going to repeat word for word what has been written here, there are plenty of ideas and illustrations from which to build your own sermons on the Biblical texts of the incarnation. There are also some additional resources which may be helpful for pastors planning Christmas worship, including an outline for a ten lessons and carols service; extra ideas for gospel-centred worship at Christmas; and some modern carols with music printed in the book!

It's obviously too late for this year, but keep an eye out for it in September when you're planning your Christmas services and preaching.

The Promise of His Coming (29)

Sometimes we can wonder why things happen the way they do, and at the time they do. We want something to happen according to our timescale, and then get angry with God when he isn't bound by our plans and timetables. Perhaps it's losing your job just before Christmas (when in the New Year God has arranged something better than you could have imagined). Or the plans to buy your dream home fall through at the last minute - you've waited for so long, and then it still doesn't happen.

Just think of the people of Israel waiting for the Christ to appear. They had those promises, to Eve, to Abraham, to David, to Solomon, to the kings and prophets and people. The people went into exile, and returned from exile. And then silence. A long silence.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5)

God was acting according to his timetable, not Israel's. When the time was right, when the fullness of time had come, then and only then, God sent forth his Son. He was born under the law to save those under the law; he was born of woman to save those born of woman.

The law stood accusing us, Jesus redeemed us from it, by perfectly fulfilling it, and by bearing our punishment. As a result, we are transferred from the sinful family of Adam to the righteous family of God, adopted as sons to share with The Son his family privileges and remain with him forever.

And when the fullness of time has come, when the Father has purposed, Jesus will return, and time shall cease, as all his people are brought home together. We don't know when it will be, but we earnestly look forward to it. Come, Lord Jesus, come, in your perfect timing.

Church Mishaps

I'm not sure why, but it appears that church can often be a very funny place. Sometimes it can be something unintentional but hilarious. Something like leaving your radio mic on while you visit the bathroom. On other occasions, it might be truly horrifying, if a glass jug of wine is knocked over and smashes on the floor. For whatever reason, church can be a tense place.

Perhaps I'm slightly twisted (ok, I know I am...), but I tried to exploit that to make the point of my sermon on Christmas morning sound out very clearly. I had two 'presents' wrapped up, to show the two things that Jesus gives us in John chapter 1. The two big sides of a Cornflakes box had one word each on them, all nicely wrapped up.

The first volunteer opened the present, and revealed the word 'grace'. All was going well, so I explained about grace.

Then I called up my second volunteer, who unwrapped the second present, having hyped up the fact that the first present was grace and what would the second one be?

Yes, it was grace again.

I looked down at the congregation as we spotted that word grace again - and there were some horrified, embarrassed, shocked looks on their faces. Oh no, they were thinking, he's made a mistake. What's he going to do with that? He's written the same word twice!

This will go into that unwritten book of funny church memories, when the Curate made a muck up of his Christmas morning sermon!

I might even have milked the tension for a moment or two, before revealing that it was intentional, to illustrate John 1:16 'And from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.'

It's one way to ensure that the congregation doesn't sleep, especially if they've been up very early to see if Santa has been!

What are your favourite church mishaps?

Book Review: Disciplines of a Godly Man

This has been on my to-read list for a long time, it having been recommended to me back in first year in college, but I only managed to read it this year. Kent Hughes has written a comprehensive and intensive book on the spiritual disciplines required for godly men.

Several times as I read the book, I was thinking to myself, this all seems a little prescriptive, as he examines a particular area of a man's life (e.g. family, work, worship, church, giving, and many more), explains some relevant scriptures, provides some illustrations, and then proceeds to say what this will mean and look like for the godly man. You could even go so far as to say it's not a little prescriptive, as he admits there are over 100 'do's', intentionally. However, he does make the point that there's a difference between discipline and legalism - that of motivation. The desire to live a godly life (and be disciplined to do it) should be to please God as a response to God's grace; not to try and earn God's favour through our efforts.

As you can imagine, it's a fairly challenging read. Areas of life perhaps never considered before are brought into scrutiny, and motives, thoughts, words and actions are examined carefully. It's definitely not one to zoom through quickly - but one to savour slowly, perhaps taking a chapter per week. It's also an ongoing thing for each of us, we won't be finished being sanctified before we die, so there will always be things that stand out and challenge us to continue to work at.

My only slight negative is that it's very American in style, and may be best suited to that particular culture and society's standards. Some of the illustrations didn't connect with me at all, due to their being over-American.

However, I wouldn't let this stop me from recommending the book. It's not an easy read, but it will do you good!

Christmas Morning Sermon: John 1:16

We've already seen lots of presents that you've received this year - all very exciting! They'll give you lots of fun later on and in the days to come! One of the reasons we give presents to each other at Christmas is because God gave us the excellent present of his Son, sending Jesus to be with us.

You might remember that some people brought gifts to Jesus not long after he was born - the magi / wise men. But we're also told in the Bible that Jesus gives us a gift - can you imagine that, it's Jesus' birthday, and he gives us a present! In order to find out what it is, though, I need some help.

Here's a present, all wrapped up, and one of the young people come up to unwrap it: 'GRACE'

Jesus gives us grace - but what does that mean? Grace is when Jesus gives us good, when we don't deserve it.

You see, some people think that Jesus rewards those who are good (like Santa does), but that's not true. Jesus came into the world to forgive us for the wrong things we have done. It doesn't matter how bad you are, no matter what you have done wrong, Jesus offers you grace today.

Just think of all the things that Jesus offers us through his grace - the things that we don't deserve: he forgives our sins, all the wrong things we have done; he welcomes us into his family; he promises that we will live with him forever in heaven; and so much more. All the things we don't deserve, but Jesus gives us as he gives us his grace.

So that's grace. But Jesus offers us something else as well. A second gift at Christmas. Another present, so I'll need another volunteer to come up to the front and open the second wrapped present. So, if the first one was grace, what will the second one be?

One of the children come forward to unwrap it, and it says: 'GRACE' (!)

Oh dear, what has happened here? The first one said grace, and this one says grace too. What's happening? Have I made a terrible mistake as I was preparing the props today?

Actually, no, as we'll see as we look back at verse 16 which was read a wee while ago:

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)

Jesus doesn't just give us grace once and that's it - don't use it all at once. No, Jesus gives us grace, and then gives us more grace, and then gives us even more grace.

Have you ever seen a waterfall? We have some small ones here in Northern Ireland, but the biggest in the world is found in Africa, the Victoria Falls. And what happens with a waterfall? The water just keeps coming and coming and coming. Water upon water. You could say the same about the grace we receive from Jesus - grace upon grace. That's how amazing grace is - it just keeps flowing to us.

Have you ever heard the advertising slogan you hear around this time? A dog is for ___, not just for _____. What are the blanks? A dog is for life, not just for Christmas. What it's saying is that you don't just get a dog for Christmas, and it's exciting to receive a puppy as a present, but then you get rid of it by about the 28th December when you find it's too much work to clear up after the doggie. You could say the same about the grace from Jesus - grace is for life, not just for Christmas. In fact, we could even go further and say that God's grace is for ever, not just for Christmas!

Jesus offers us grace this Christmas Day. It's like any other present you might be offered today. You have to receive it in order to benefit. Will you receive this grace from Jesus today? Perhaps you've never heard of it before, speak to one of us. Maybe you need to think about it a bit more, and learn more before you receive it - come along to our Christianity Explored Course which begins on the 5th January, or take one of the 'Christmas in Three Words' leaflets from the church porch.

Jesus offers grace today - it's the best Christmas present you'll ever receive. Will you take it?

This sermon was preached at the Christmas Day Family service at St Elizabeth's Church, Dundonald on 25th December 2010.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

I've seen a couple of versions of this knocking about the internet over these past few days:

The true meaning of Xmas is an imaginary man who sees everything you do and rewards you if you’re good all year. Just like Santa.

Some may think that Jesus is an 'imaginary man', but with the wealth of historical detail and unquestionable facts pointing to the existence of the Lord Jesus, it isn't that I wanted to take issue with. Rather, it's the whole basis of what is supposed to be Christianity as found in the statement: 'an imaginary man who sees everything you do and rewards you if you're good all year.'

It might make a snappy soundbite, but this is certainly not Christianity! The gospel of Jesus Christ is not that those who are good will be rewarded - it simply doesn't work, because none of us are good enough. We can't earn any favour with God; we don't deserve anything from God. So if Christianity were about us being rewarded for being good for a year, then none of us would receive any reward.

But if you've been listening again to the message of the angels, the testimony of Jesus, and the promise of the Scriptures, the coming of the Lord Jesus is all about grace - undeserved grace for the sinner. We deserve hell, but Jesus came from heaven to rescue us by dying in our place, enduring our hell, so that we can share his heaven.

It's why one of the first things you'll do at the church service is to confess your sins - to acknowledge that we aren't good; that we have sinned, and so we ask God to forgive us and to change us. This is the good news of the gospel - that Jesus came to save sinners, not reward the righteous. We see that repeatedly in Luke's Gospel in particular.

The real meaning of Christmas is the Son of God who became a man, who sees all that we do and offers forgiveness for those who are bad, and condemnation for those who think they're good enough! Anything else isn't Christmas and isn't Christianity.

The Promise of His Coming (28)

In these days following Christmas Day, we're looking at some of the New Testament explanations of the incarnation, as the apostles reflect on why Jesus came into the world at all. Today, we come to the letter to the Hebrews, with its glorious opening chapter on the glory of the divine Son, through whom God has spoken in these last days.

As well as being divine, though, the eternal Son had to become human in order to bring many sons to glory, being made perfect (i.e. complete) through suffering. In order to save us, he had to be like us:

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Through our flesh, he destroyed our death, but more than that, destroyed the one who has the power of death. Jesus is the great substitute, who came onto our team, who took our place, and has defeated the enemy that terrified us for so long. Just like David, he stepped up to defeat the Goliath who defied the living God and the armies of the living God.

Our chains are gone, our fear is forgotten, through the serpent crusher, the one who took on flesh for us and our sake. Praise be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, very God and very man!

The Promise of His Coming (27)

John's Gospel doesn't tell us about the shepherds and angels, nor the wise men. Rather, he goes back even further to the very beginning. He introduces us to 'the Word', who was with God, and was God. So in Genesis 1, as God spoke light into being, this Word was the agent of creation. This Word is also light and life for the world, but it's in verse 14 that we find the Christmas message:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The Word of God became one of us, and lived among us. Matthew may use the word Emmanuel, John tells us the very same thing. John, one of this who saw Jesus up close and personal describes what he has seen as glory - God's glory manifested in flesh, full of grace and truth.

Often we imagine that's it's an either / or choice - grace or truth. Truth in it's brutal reality withholding nothing; or else just being nice without integrity. Jesus, however, gives us both grace and truth. The glory of God is here.

The Promise of His Coming (26)

Yesterday we thought about the contrast between mighty Caesar and Almighty Jesus, who lay in a manger. Today we continue to see the Christmas contrasts, as the angels announce the very special birth.

If a royal baby is born these days (perhaps if the Lord is gracious to William and Kate after they're married), there's a tremendous fuss. The world's media will assemble, 24hour news will be full of it, the heads of state of the nations of the world will be informed and invited to see the baby.

When the King of Kings is born, though, the media don't know about it. The king of the region will only find out at least a year later. Caesar is unaware of what is happening. The news is first told to a rugged (or ragged) bunch of shepherds out in the fields. Because of the amount of time they spent with their sheep, they were ceremonially unclean, outsiders, one of the lowest groups in society.

It's the shepherds, perhaps even tending the sheep to be used in sacrifice at the temple, that God sends the angels. It's an amazing message:

10 And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12)

The Christ has been born, the long promised king, which is good news of great joy for all the people. May you know this joy this Christmas time.

The Promise of His Coming (25)

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The top of the empire is far removed from the very bottom. Caesar's palace was the location for his decree, that all the world under his control should be registered. He's at the top of the tree, ruling with great power.

At the other end of the spectrum, a baby lies, not in a cot, but in a feeding trough, a manger. His mother and adopted father have journeyed the hundred miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, at the behest of Caesar. Poor pawns in the grand scheme of the empire. Yet this Joseph is the son of David, a once powerful line in the region. His great-grandfather (plus a few more greats) was king.

The baby, though, far outstrips the wealth, glory and majesty of Caesar. This is not just a baby. This is God's King, the King of Kings, to whom every knee will one day bow.

Appearances can be deceptive. The real power does not lie in Rome, but in a draughty stable. Bow before him in worship.

Merry Christmas

To all my readers, subscribers and occasional ransomers who call with their weird searches:

Merry Christmas one and all!

May you be blessed through the salvation of the Christ Child, and the joy of the angels and the shepherds.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)