The essence of all that Christmas is – Sunday, December 22, 1957
Among the several sides of this season, there is one that is the essence of all that Christmas is, By its very name (and by much more) Christmas is a commemoration of the birth of Jesus the Christ—our Savior—the only begotten of the Father in the flesh; who came to earth and died, and literally was resurrected, and did for us what we could not do for ourselves, and so assured us everlasting life.
Accept it or not, rationalize it or not, or wave it away if you will, yet Christmas without this cause, without this conviction, is devoid of that which most makes it all that it is.
It is true that the peace on earth of which the angels sang, is not so solidly assured as we would wish it were. It is true that there are fears and threats, and arrogance and evil, and selfishness and conceit.
It is true that many are beset with misgivings inside themselves and with fear of forces outside themselves.
It is true that some are downhearted and discouraged; that some are sorrowing and some sick; that some have lost those they love. It is true that there are grievous personal and public problems, and issues so serious as to be frightening for mere men to try to solve or decide. It is true that men and nations too frequently have failed to hear or heed the voice of the Prince of Peace.
But it is also true that there are some blessed assurances, among them this: that He who sent His Son, not to condemn but to save—He who is the Father of us all, who made us in His own image—will not let His eternal plans and purposes be overridden by the arrogance and evil of misguided men.
And among the greatest gifts of Christmas are the comfort and courage that come with this conviction. Let it be a time for the sweet gathering together of families and friends. Let it be a time of cleaning out old errors and false attitudes, and gossip and grudges, and envy and indolence, and thoughtless acts and utterances. Let the spirit of Him whose day it is move upon us with its kindliness and consideration, with less of cynicism, less of frustration, less of despair, and more of the courage and comfort that come with the keeping of His commandments; more of repentance followed by the blessed quieting of conscience.
Against all outward and inward storms, amidst all the confusion of men and weapons and words, let us take this assurance unto our souls this Christmas, with these, His own words, and add them to the greatest of His gifts. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”1 Let us witness, with the very sweetness of repentance and peace inside ourselves, our conviction that these things we celebrate are so—and witness with the words of Job: I know that my Redeemer liveth, Thus may we keep Christmas.2
1John 41: 1
2Job 19.25
December 22, 1957
Broadcast Number 1,479