Advent which reminds us vividly of the coming of Christ to make His abode among us is swiftly passing, and Christmas Day – the celebration of the birth of Christ is upon us.

Reverend Joseph Lloyd

Even before the commencement of Advent on December 2, Christmas carols were being beamed over radio stations on Anguilla and elsewhere. Christmas cards, toys and gifts were displayed conspicuously in stores. Children have been expressing to parents and guardians what they would like to receive as their Christmas present. Everywhere there is an atmosphere of expectancy, and children, youth and adults are eagerly awaiting Christmas Day.

Amidst the music of carols, the expectancy, and hectic preparation being made for Christmas, this question needs to be addressed and answered honestly and forthrightly. Is the meaning and significance of Christmas really understood by the majority of people? A thorough investigation may reveal that the celebration of Christmas has become formality – a tradition – and there are those who are devoid of the real meaning that underlies it.

I read some years ago of a chaplain who visited a factory during Holy Week and was conversing with the workmen, one of whom made reference to Easter. ‘A busy time for you persons in the church, I suppose,’ he said with a grin. The chaplain agreed, and added as an afterthought, ‘I wonder how many people here remember what Easter is about?’ The workman replied, ‘O yes, it was the birth of Jesus, Easter, wasn’t it?’ ‘No,’ said the chaplain gently, ‘that was Christmas.’

I trust that as we intensify our preparation and Christmas Day approaches, that God, through His Holy Spirit will so illumine our minds that we will get a better and more enlightened understanding of the real meaning of Christmas. God himself in the person of Jesus, the babe who was born in a manger in Bethlehem, became a human being – flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone – to redeem lost and sinful humankind and to restore them to their former state.

In St. John 1: 14 the writer says that ‘the Word i.e. God became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.’ (Revised Standard Version)

The Advent of Jesus is an actual historic fact – the coming of God among us, as one hymn-writer expresses it, ‘To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin, Which Adam’s transgression hath wrapped us in.’ (M.H.B. 128: v,6)
That God in Christ should clothe Himself in human flesh is a staggering thought, is unfathomable and incomprehensible as far as finite man is concerned, yet true, nevertheless. In one of his great hymns about the Incarnation Charles Wesley writes: ‘Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.’
The well known and much-loved verses in St. John 3: 16, 17 leave us in no doubt about Christ’s coming into our world. ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.’
‘For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world might be saved through Him.’

The real reason for our celebration, festivity and rejoicing at Christmas is, that we have ‘glad tidings,’ ‘good news.’ ‘For unto us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.’ This Saviour redeems us from sin and claims us as His children by adoption and grace.
‘See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.’
(1 John 3: 1a – R. S. V.)

There can never be any real or permanent joy and happiness without Christ indwelling the heart and life of any individual. In essence, to speak of Christmas without Christ is hollow mockery – a farce.

May I therefore invite every reader who has never welcomed the Incarnate Christ into his/her heart as Saviour and Lord to do so now. Then, and only then will your rejoicing at Christmas become truly meaningful and significant.
O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel. Amen. (Phillips Brooks)

Mrs. Lloyd joins me in wishing all a blessed Christmas.

- Joseph Lloyd (Rev.)

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