Christmas Symbols – Sunday, December 16, 1984
Christmas has accumulated a great many symbols in its passage through the centuries and the customs and countries of the world —the evergreen tree, the sleighbells, the piñata, Santa Claus, and a red-nosed reindeer to name a few.
These additions may add to our holiday spirit, but they ought not cloud our view of the real symbols of the Christmas season.
The participants in that first Christmas were, to be sure, real people in an actual historical event. But, because of the monumental significance of the Savior’s birth, their human actions resound through the centuries with deep significance and symbolism for our lives.
The noble Joseph protecting and comforting his wife, caring for her and cradling her in his strong carpenter’s arms represents the finest kind of manhood —the husband and father who spends his strength to protect and provide for those in his care.
The gentle Mary, the symbol of every mother, willing to walk the valley of the shadow to bring forth a baby. Surely the love of mothers has bound each generation to the next throughout the world’s long history. Like mothers before and since, Mary sensed intuitively that this little one’s life would demand a good part of her own. He would be totally helpless at first; then he would grow to independence and finally leave her side to make his own way in the world. And, like other mothers, she would willingly give the hours and years of herself to make this happen.
The humble shepherds working at their trade and privileged to be the first to know the long-awaited Messiah had finally come; they remind us that the Lord does not send His ambassadors to the high courts to conduct the affairs of His Kingdom. The weak, the simple, the quiet, the humble —these are they who are most willing to welcome the Lord.
On the other hand, the learned men who came from the east, remind us that those in high and lofty stations can also be touched by the Lord’s spirit to receive the truth. It is the state of our hearts not our station in life that determines our worthiness to receive the words of the Lord.
But power and prestige can be so tempting, and the evil Herod personifies and illustrates the degraded depths to which our untamed appetites can drag us. His lust for power made him willing to butcher even babies to preserve his throne. The forces of evil then, as now, wage continual war against all that is noble and good.
But they will not win. The touch of the Christ child’s tiny hand was more powerful than the greedy grasp of all the Herods of history. Eventually the gentle power of persuasion, example and love will conquer the mailed fist and hobnailed boot of force.
Then will the song of the angels be realized at last. We shall have peace on earth and good will toward all men.
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December 16, 1984
Broadcast Number 2,887