21th December 2024
GO OUTSIDE
“and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for
them. ”
Luke 2:7NIV
It was a cold night in Bethlehem. People rushed in from the cold and the
humidity and many flocked to enter the small inn at the bottom of the
street. They had put the camels and donkeys into the barn, closed the door,
and laughed, rejoicing merrily with relatives whom they had not seen for
many years.
Family ties were renewed all the while sitting and eating the hot soup and
tasting the wine. They broke the bread together and talked together about
the long journey they had traveled. A young man was playing his musical
instrument and men were clapping their hands to the beat of the music.
With a tray of meat and bread in hand, the host opened the door, where
someone was standing knocking. A man named Joseph stood at the door
with his cloak pulled all the way to his eyes. It was late and cold and he
and his wife, who was heavily pregnant, needed a room.
The host just faintly heard Joseph for the noise behind him; but he
managed to say that he had no vacant rooms left, only a stall or two in the
barn.
With a casual apology, he closed the door in front of their noses. Outside,
Joseph stood and heard the laughter continue inside. He sighed and then he
and Maria walked silently into the barn. While the music and the party
continued inside in the heat, the Son of God was born in silence, just a few
feet away.
Often it is not at the big noisy Christmas parties, but in the cool, peaceful
silence, that you experience the greatest moments of Christmas. In the
midst of the bustling and whipped up atmosphere, God seeks and finds the
quiet heart.
However, there is a big difference between the silence in the barn and the
excited noise in the pub!
If only someone had taken the time to look out the window, out into the
courtyard or perhaps had left the party to look at the donkey - what would
he then have seen? Possibly the angels, the shepherds and - well, even the
very Son of God. Come into my heart, Jesus; there is room for you in
there.
A historical "Christmas tribute"
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ”
Galatians 6:7NIV
In Italy, in a city called Messina, early in the 20th century there was a
magazine called "Telefono" which constantly mocked the Christian faith.
In 1908, the following little "Christmas reflection" was written: "Oh, you
little Jesus child, who cannot be content with being human but who also
wants to be God. For the sake of the cross, let us hear your voice. Show
yourself to us who live in our time. Send us a little earthquake!”
In Aschehoug's lexicon 5th edition, book 13, page 447, we read that this
city was razed to the ground by an earthquake and a tidal wave - in the
middle of Christmas, 28 Dec. 1908. Out of the 120,000 inhabitants of the
city, 84,000 perished.
We don't know the spiritual situation in the city, but the "Christmas
viewing" gives us a small foretaste, and the historical fact also gives us
something to think about.
"Faith & Facts" Effie Campbell translated.
God himself became man
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen
his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth.”
John 1:14NIV
At Christmas, there is talk of incarnation. It is a Latin word meaning "to
become flesh". God "became flesh" through the man Jesus. We are used to
hearing it and don't think about it. But in reality it is an impossible thought.
Did God become flesh? Then we might as well say that a battleship can
sail in a bathtub. That a skyscraper can be placed inside a dollhouse. That a
field of wheat can be stuffed into a lunch box. Indeed, it's like trying to
form blue paint out of thin air. Absurd. Yes, we do not understand any of
this. How can the almighty God of heaven become an infant?
Unbelievable that it could even happen, and it's strange that it did. After
all, God's purpose was to save us humans from sin and death. But babies
cannot save anyone, they need more someone to take care of them and
save them.
The Christmas Gospel is wonderful. Nothing else in the entire history of
the world compares to it. If you take a walk through one of the world's
major cities, you will notice noble monuments to famous men and women.
But have you ever seen a monument that is supposed to represent the hero
as a small infant? You've never seen a statue of George Washington in a
baby carriage. It would look foolish.
But it is not foolish to praise the Lord of the universe as an infant, because
the child is the secret of "God becoming flesh". What was incredible and
unthinkable, well, it did happen: God has become flesh. It is as
unfathomable as filling an oil well into an oil jug or pressing a mountain
down a mole's hole. God became flesh.
Knowledge of the world
the news was brought with joy
God himself became man.
A king is born
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:11NIV
When we wait for and expect a prince to come into the world, we never
know what he will be like. But of course we become aware that a royal
birth is imminent, and the court issues an official announcement that the
royal house is expecting an heir. But even if the court can announce that an
heir is expected at the royal palace, no one can say anything about the
future royal child. He may be born without sense and he may become a
useless king. It has also happened in the past that princes have been both
rebellious and wicked.
No one can know in advance how the awaited king will turn out, but the
people had to settle for waiting and seeing. But it was written about this
king we are talking about now, not just one year before his coming, but
centuries before he came into the world. For several generations before his
birth there was talk of this king. It was predicted how he was to become
and what he was to do.
A monarchy without borders
Shortly before his birth, an angel came to Mary in Nazareth, who was to
give birth to him. And the angel brought the following message, which we
also find in chapter 1 in Luke: “You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son
of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father
David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom
will never end.””
All other kings die and are replaced by princes and heirs. Blair does not
rule in France, Chirac does not rule in England, Bush does not have power
in Russia or Putin in the United States, because they have their borders and
territories. But the king we are talking about today, he has no boundaries,
he stays within with his government power. And of his kingdom there shall
be no end. "... his kingdom will never end"
He will never die, will never lose his royal dignity, and will never be
deposed. He will never be exiled and a coup d'état will never depose him
or force him from the throne.
The prophets announced his birth
He was referred to several centuries before his birth, how his work was to
be. The prophet Isaiah said about 800 years before his birth that he was to
be born of a virgin. Unbelievable! He is both the first and the last to be
born of a virgin.
Micah tells us that he was to be born in Bethlehem, he said that several
centuries before he came. Daniel told us about 480 years before his birth
when he would be born and how he would be killed.
A thousand years before his coming, King David foretold that this king
was to be hung on a cross and pierced through the hands and feet. Zakariah
also said centuries before the king's birth that he would be let down for 30
silver pieces. Isaiah says that he would be laid in a rich man's grave and
that he would rise again. David said he was to return to heaven and sit at
the right hand of God.
Birth of the King
When royal children are born, preparations are made in the king's castle.
Royal children don't get laid in just any bed. There is pomp and splendor at
the king's castle, because a king is about to be born. And when the incident
has happened, news is broadcast from all over the world's radio and TV
stations that a royal child has now been born.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he did not need a four-poster bed, nor
did he need pomp and splendor to maintain his royal dignity. It was
completely irrelevant whether he was put in a stable or whether he was
born among animals. Nor did it matter if he lay in a manger of straw, for
he was such a great king that he could be laid there without losing his royal
dignity. And there were no earthly messengers announcing his birth either,
for he did not need it. But all the hosts of heaven announced to this world
that the king was now born. The whole starry sky around Bethlehem and
the mountains of Judea was filled with millions of angels who cried out:
““Glory to God in the highest heaven,...” Now Christ is born, the King in
David's place!
And God put a new star in the sky on that occasion, because the King was
born and the wise Magi from the East saw the star of Bethlehem and they
wandered over mountains and valleys to be able to come and worship the
king, who had now seen the light of day. A king was born.
Aril Edvardsen. Effie Campbell translated
Knud found his way back to the God of his father and mother
”Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Col. 3:20NIV
Knud was the youngest of six siblings. He was a so-called latecomer.
There were seven years between him and the second youngest in the pack
of siblings. Father and mother had already passed 40 when Knud was born.
The parents were not wealthy but not poor either. Things went well on the
medium-sized farm located inside the town of Valdres. They wanted to
give their children insight and knowledge. They all went to secondary
school. In addition, the parents were professing Christians and active in
both church and the mission house in the village. As the mission was very
close to their hearts, it was in the mission house where they spent a lot of
energy. Several of Knud's siblings had also made a clear Christian
decision. When Knud entered the crucial period of change after
confirmation, he rebelled against what his parents and siblings believed.
He did not want to come to the mission house with them and went his own
way. When Knud had finished his practical examination and had assisted
on the farm for some time, he applied and got into the engineering school
in Gjøvik.
When he had finished his education - and Knud had indeed got good
papers - he got a job in a wood production company in the neighboring
town. Here things went extremely well for Knud and it was not many years
before he became director and owner of the company. He also got a seat on
the city council. Everything was going great for him. But unfortunately the
Christian life and the mission house were forgotten.
The years went by and when the parents died at short intervals in the mid-
70s, many thoughts went through Knud's head. His eldest brother, who
now ran the farm, was a good-hearted and believing man. In the memorial
service for both parents, his brother spoke boldly about the rich Christian
heritage that father and mother had left behind. He had also mentioned
how necessary it was to repent and have personal faith in Jesus Christ. This
has most likely stabbed Knud in the heart. But he denied it. He was very
busy. A few years later, Knud had an affair in the capital. As a politician, he
had to attend a meeting in a directorate. It was in December and it was
clear in the capital that Christmas was now approaching. He came to Oslo
in the afternoon. After he had registered at the hotel where he was to spend
the night, he took a stroll down Karl Johansgade. On the
Universitetsplassen, the big Christmas tree was lit and the Salvation Army
stood singing: "It's time for a Christmas party". It sounded so beautiful.
This Christmas hymn meant quite a lot to Knud. It was the one they always
sang at home every Christmas Eve when the father had finished reading
the Christmas Gospel.
The thoughts of the childhood home and father and mother became strong
now that he was standing there listening. Then the Salvation Army started
with the song: ”Never fades the name of Jesus”. This was the song above
all for his parents. Now it became too much for Knud. He felt like his heart
was about to burst. He hurried back to the hotel room. He slid into a chair
and cried loudly. Suddenly everything was so clear to him: He had rejected
the God of father and mother, and now he was on the way to perdition. But
he also knew God's call to repentance and to start a new life. For the first
time in many years Knud prayed to God. And now it wasn't just a prayer
for help to make the right decision in a difficult situation. No, now it was a
repentant sinner confessing his guilt to a holy God. Such a prayer is always
heard. He knew there was a Bible in the hotel room. He read the
instructions at the front: "How can you be sure that God has forgiven you
of all your sins." It was good to read 1 John 1:7-9NIV: "But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without
sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness." and also other scriptures. Knud made peace with God
that night.
He knew that the Salvation Army temple was nearby, in Pilestrædet. He
headed that way. When the invitation sounded to come forward, Knud was
the first to come. There he prayed together with Christian counselors. His
heart became more and more filled with assurance of salvation as the
evening wore on.
After he had finished his business in the directorate, he began his journey
home. But now he did not stop until he reached his childhood home. "I
have surrendered to God," he said to his brother. They threw their arms
around each other and wept with joy on this cold December evening in the
courtyard of the Moen Farm. They sat and talked late into the evening
about God's wonderful leadership. "Father and mother should have
experienced this," said Knud's brother. Knud stayed there that night. The
following day he went out to the cemetery. At the grave of his father and
mother he stood for a long time and wept in silence. "We will meet again
in heaven", was engraved on the stone. "Yes, there we will sing together:
"It's time for the Christmas party" and "The name Jesus never fades", Knud
whispered through his tears.
That Christmas Knud experienced a peace he had never known before. It
was the peace of heart that everyone receives who turns and receives the
Prince of Peace himself. Knud had found the way back to the God of his
father and mother.
"Heavenly Road". Effie Campbell translated
The star
”On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and
they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures
and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
Matt. 2:11NIV
Have you ever thought about how great it really was that the Magi set out
from their own land far away from Israel and still arrived at the right
manger – to the right stable – to the right village – to the right country
many hundreds of kilometers away?
They had neither map nor compass, but only one guide—a large, bright
star that stood directly above the place they were to visit.
They did not know Jesus, but they wanted so badly to know him, and so
they followed the star. And then they were led exactly over to the stable
where the baby Jesus was lying in a manger.
Maybe you feel like the magi. You may also have heard something about
Jesus - heard that he is the Savior of the world. You don't really know him,
but you want to get to know him better - well, then you should do like the
Magi.
"... "we have and a guiding star..." we sing in a Christmas hymn, and "and
when we follow it gladly,
we come to Jesus Christ. "
So it wasn't merely the Magi who had such a clear and distinct guide to
Jesus. We all have such a guiding star. In the last verse of the Danish hymn
by Grundtvig: “Dejlig er den himmel blå” (Beautiful is the blue sky)
This star bright and mild,
which can never go astray,
is his word of God clear,
which he let us reveal
to shine before our feet.
God's word - what you read in the Bible, or what you hear in church or in
the mission house, is your guiding star.
If the Magi had not followed the star, they would never have found Jesus.
And only if you follow your star, the word of God, will you reach your
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Effie Campbell translated
Love has a cost
”When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he
bowed his head and gave up his spirit. ”
John 19:30NIV
Love costs money, and with the coming of the baby Jesus into the world,
God pays the highest price. He gave his Son to us in love so that
everything is paid in advance. For us to dare to love ourselves. Former
bishop Elisabeth Dons Christensen reflects here on the Christmas gospel.
“... “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for
all the people.”
Red is the color of Christmas – regardless of what all the women's
magazines, lifestyle books and smart shops do to make us choose new
colors and new designs every year. And it is good, it is like that, because
red is also the color of love. What would we celebrate Christmas for, if not
for the deep realization that we live from love being given to us and from
giving love ourselves to others, as best we can?
But then it's still a bit strange with all our red Santas and pixies, because
they actually don't belong there at all in the waters of love. The pixies is
originally a deceased ancestral spirit who inhabits inhabited places, just as
other deceased, ghosts and apparitions do.
The pixie also always moves in and takes revenge if it is not treated
properly. That is why he must have a large portion of rice pudding on
Christmas Eve. Therefore he lurks on all our weak points and on our fear
of not being able to pay back what we owe. And we owe an infinite
amount when we think about it. There is always someone or something
that has a claim on us. Life has demands on us. Our fellow man, society
and the suffering world around us have a claim on us.
And the more that which has a claim on us means to us, the greater the
payment each of us must shake up with. This applies most of all where we
love the most. And therefore we also know – despite all our knowledge
and information – that love costs. It costs unrest, uncertainty and long
days. It costs between people who cannot help but bond with each other in
love, and it costs for God, who also could not help but bond with us
humans in love.
Therefore God let go of all his own. Therefore God sacrificed himself.
Nothing less could do it. God had only himself, his own beloved son to
pay with. To stable and manger, cross and death.
God gave himself to us so that we would dare to also love and give our
lives to the lamb of God. God did it out of joy. There is absolutely no pixie
on God's moving load. Everything is paid in advance for us. To our
delight.
Merry Christmas in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Elisabeth Dons Christensen is former bishop in Ribe Diocese in Denmark.
14th December 2024
An incredible revenge
"A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me
lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes
my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even
though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are
with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my
cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of
my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Psalm 23
"In 1943 I was sentenced to death by a German military court." This gray-
haired man who gave his testimony was humble and had a low voice.
"I had a wife and four children, so the sentence was changed to be in a
prison camp in Germany. Nine months later I weighed 40 kg and I had
wounds all over my body and my left arm had been broken without any
doctors having even looked at the arm.
One Christmas Eve I was in the barracks with the other men when the
camp commandant sent for me. When I came in to him, he was sitting at a
well-covered table, where the Christmas dinner with all the good things
was on the table. He let me stand straight up and down, all while he ate.
The meal took a full hour. He enjoyed titillating and arousing me because I
was a believer and witnessing to my friends. I was sorely tempted by the
evil one who said to me: "Dapozzo, do you still believe what is written in
Psalm 23?"
I had prayed to God, and I could answer him: "Yes, I do!"
A stevedore came in with coffee and some cookies. The camp commander
sat down to take these and then said: “Your wife is a good cook, Dapozzo.
For seven months now, your wife has sent you a package of cookies every
month. I have eaten them all.”
At that point I was sorely tempted. I knew that my wife and children did
not have much to eat and that they had collected flour, butter and sugar
from their small means so that they could send me something. So this man
ate my children's food.
The evil one whispered to me: "Hate this man!" Again I prayed to God and
I could not hate him. I really wanted him to give me just one cookie, not
because I wanted to eat it, but because I wanted so badly to look at it while
thinking about my children. But he ate them all - and he scolded me
violently.
I said to him: "You are a poor man, Mr. camp commander, and I am rich,
because I believe in God and am saved by the precious blood of Jesus."
He became absolutely furious and sent me back to the barracks.
When the war was finally over, I set out to look for him. Most of the camp
commanders were executed, but he escaped and hid somewhere. I tried to
find him for ten years and finally I succeeded in finding him. I went to
visit him.
I'm number 175! Do you remember Christmas Eve 1943?
Then he and his wife got scared and he said: "Now have you come to get
revenge?"
Yes, I replied and opened the package. In the package was a large cake,
and I asked his wife to make some coffee and we drank the coffee together.
The man began crying and begged for forgiveness. I said I forgave him for
Jesus' sake. A year later, both he and his wife were saved and they now live
a Christian life.
It was very quiet inside the hall in Rome while he spoke, because the Spirit
of God was upon us, and when that happens, people must be quiet before
him.
"Shalom" E.Campbell translated
When eternity came into time
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that
will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11NIV
One evening a year, Christians all over the world meet to commemorate
the holy night, when eternity entered time - and the meeting was in a stable
- in a small, village - among ordinary people. And every Christmas there
is still an opportunity to feel something of the closeness of eternity.
One Christmas Eve, when I was working at the school, one of my
colleagues was on his way home from church with his wife and two boys,
when their car suddenly began to spin on its own axis on the icy road, and
the car tumbled like a merry-go-round until it lay calmly along a snowdrift.
There was a deep silence in the car and thoughts flew through their heads.
But then the youngest son broke the silence and asked: "Father, are we in
heaven now?"
He must have undoubtedly felt in the forecourt when he sat in the church
and now expressed this feeling. Because Christmas has to do with heaven.
On the very first Christmas, heaven came down here to earth - and down
here we, who are mere guests on this earth, get the invitation to the heaven
that He 2000 years ago left and opened up for us. - "... Today ... a Savior
has been born to you ..." These words are from the angels, because
everything in the Christmas message is not so poor.
When we want to say the reality as it is, the joy of Christmas for most
people culminates after the duck and the red cabbage, and it fades again
among all the Christmas paper that hid so much of the now released
excitement. We will always experience such a drop in tension as long as
we only accept the joy and not its Savior. Because in the end, it is the case
that only the Savior of Christmas is the Joy of Christmas. And this joy is
wonderful. We must proclaim it and share it with others. The shepherds
were the first to do so – now it's our turn.
We who live here in the Nordic countries today have a Kingdom of God
administration, where we send many missionaries all over our globe. They
are ambassadors for the great joy of Christmas worldwide - initiated
because they put their own lives on the line, and we, God's friends, give
the millions. But we also have them at home. William Booth (the founder
of the Salvation Army) spent one Christmas at home. He wandered about
as an outlaw and said: - Never again! - For the rest of their lives, they were
in slums and spread the joy of Christmas. It is not only the Salvation Army
that sacrifices itself, but these troubadours of joy have taught us more
about joy, true Christmas joy, than we know.
We can all give joy. Here I am particularly thinking of the oldest in our
family. For many years we celebrated Christmas together with our old
ones. And my wife was definitely the one who possessed the more joy-
creating talents between the two of us. Today I can do no more about this.
Their last Christmas has been. The obligations of joy fall especially on
those in our family who are in the prime of life.
But the obligation also extends to the children. The joy can soon come to a
screeching halt. It only takes a little bit to turn it off. When I was a child,
we were often visited by an aunt for a few hours on Christmas Eve, where
we danced around the Christmas tree, among other things. But I remember
that one Christmas I was pretty sour and I made my sisters go on strike
when we were supposed to sing. It worked 100% to perfection and no one
forced us. But that Christmas was a silent and quiet Christmas. But
malicious pleasure is not Christmas pleasure. We had to settle for
malicious pleasure that Christmas. It was a bad trade. Now I am more than
70 years old, but I still remember to this day how ugly I was, and I repent...
It is good to stop at the manger once a year. What blessed hands from
Eternity—they touch our hearts so wonderfully. And yet they count for
nothing against the outstretched hands on the cross and the blessed words:
It is finished. - But they are the same hands, because the child in the
manger is the Lord of victory on the cross, who came down here to earth
on Christmas night and opened the gate of heaven for all man on an Easter
morning sunrise.
This is the real gift of Christmas!
Arne Prøis, Priest, Oslo. E.Campbell translated
God himself became man
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen
his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14NIV
At Christmas, there is talk of incarnation. It is a Latin word meaning
"becoming flesh". God "became flesh" through the man Jesus. We are used
to hearing it and don't think much about it. But in reality it is an impossible
thought.
If God became flesh? Then we might as well say that a battleship can sail
in a bathtub. That a skyscraper can be placed inside a dollhouse. That a
field of wheat can be stuffed into a lunch box. Indeed, it's like trying to
form blue paint out of thin air. Absurd. Yes, we do not understand any of
this. How can the mighty God of heaven become an infant?
Unbelievable that it could even happen, and it's strange that it did. After
all, God's purpose was to save us humans from sin and death. But babies
cannot save anyone, they need more someone to take care of them and
save them.
The Christmas Gospel is wonderful. Nothing else in the entire history of
the world compares to it. If you take a walk through one of the world's
major cities, you will notice noble monuments to famous men and women.
But have you ever seen a monument that is supposed to represent the hero
as a small infant? You've never seen a statue of George Washington in a
baby carriage. It would look foolish.
But it is not foolish to praise the Lord of the universe as an infant, because
the child is the secret of "God becoming flesh". What was incredible and
unthinkable, well, that has happened: God did become flesh. It is as
unfathomable as filling an oil well in an oil jug or pressing a mountain
down a mole's hole. God became flesh.
Knowledge of the world
the news was brought with joy
God himself became man.
Therefore celebrate Christmas,
Jesus is the sun of the holiday
He built a bridge to our land
Where did Jesus go when Santa came?
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen
his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth.”
John 1:14NIV
David Marshall
I was just three years old when I understood the lie about Santa Claus. It's
not like I'm some prodigy. The fat man who snuck into my room and
placed a pillow case with some exciting things inside by my bed was
without a doubt my father.
As a five-year-old, I suddenly became totally aware of the situation and
lost all illusions about Santa Claus. The town where we used to shop for
Christmas was flooded with red-clad, cotton-bearded, broad-shouldered
and bag-toting men. The first time I got near one of these he was stealing
the purse from a woman who was Christmas shopping. My mother
arranged for the man to be arrested.
I never forgot that experience. At school, the teacher sat and told the old,
eternally young story about Jesus, the shepherds, the stable, the stars, the
Magi and the gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, which they brought with
them from the East. Suddenly the teacher added: "And if you are nice now,
Santa Claus will probably give you some Christmas presents..."
It was too much for me. I set out to tell about the long-fingered Santa I had
seen. My friends were shocked and cried. Everything turned into chaos in
the classroom - and we were even only boys in the class. - The teacher was
furious: "Marshall, how dare you!"
One of my friends came to my rescue with a question that made the
teacher and the whole class lose their minds: “Mr. Teacher, what happened
to Jesus when Santa came?” The teacher remained silent. But here comes
the answer: He was forgotten. A sign with the text: "We have no vacant
rooms" was hung above the planet he came to save. And the time of the
year, which the Christians call "Advent", turns almost everything into a
gigantic "consumption party", a heady rush where we have to surpass each
other and achieve as much as possible. Advent should be a time of
preparation, where we remind each other of the truth that Jesus became
human, and where we also remember that the child, who was then born in
poor conditions, will soon return again as the King of kings.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us ....” John 1,14
But what is even greater is that he came to save man from their sin. To
bring us salvation.
Never let an old Santa be allowed to push this truth away!
"Sign of the Times". Effie Campbell translated
Christmas hope
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ” and “And I
heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is
now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his
people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe
every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or
crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ”
Revelation 21:1 and 3-4NIV
When I opened all my Christmas presents as a child, I was always waiting
for something bigger. Not more gifts, but "more" in a deeper and greater
sense. I could leave the presents, stretched out towards the window and
gaze longingly out at the snowy expanses outside. What was I longing for?
Jesus had come. What more could I expect and hope for? Why did I sense
this strange longing for a more complete Christmas?
True, I was only a child, but in some strange way I had understood that
Christmas on this side of eternity is nothing more than a promise. The
savior has come, yes, right, but the story is not over yet. There is peace in
our hearts, but we also long for peace in the world. Every time we
celebrate the first coming of Jesus, we at the same time affirm that his
second coming is now one year closer. All our Christmas carols are like an
echo from the heavenly hymns that will fill all heavenly spaces when God
makes all things new. Each and every Christmas present is also a sign
pointing towards the greatest of all gifts: eternal life. Every smile reminds
us of the joy that awaits us when we are allowed to be with our loved ones
forever.
The angels over the fields of Bethlehem announced the birth of Jesus, but
one day they will announce his return. The flame in the Christmas light
must remind us of the light that "The nations will walk by its light, and the
kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it." Rev.21,24 Every
Christmas we can celebrate that now his return is one year closer.
Maran ata (Our Lord is coming). Merry Christmas. You came to us and
you will come again!
9th December 2024
Christmas in Korea
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33NIV
W.F. Miller
The best of all days of the year was fast approaching, when we were to
celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. We were all excited. The children at
the orphanage were eager to learn their part of the Christmas program.
We had ordered Christmas presents, sweets and food from Seoul, 240
miles away. It was the only place from which it was possible to get it - and
that was by train. We did that three weeks before Christmas, and the first
week nothing happened. Then the train employees began a strike. A week
went by and then another and now it was just before Christmas Eve. I
cycled to the railway station, which was a mile from our home in Milyang.
But there hadn't been any trains yet, and thus no food, Christmas presents
or sweets either. I cycled back again. My wife met me at the doorstep. She
asked, "Haven't there been any trains yet?" - "No," I replied, "and the
director there didn't know when a train would arrive." - "This will be a
poor Christmas," said my wife. We had almost nothing in the house, a little
bit of flour and rice, that was all.
I tried to encourage her and said, "My God has never failed us yet." But
even as I said this I felt heavy and discouraged. Then the Lord's words
came to me: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33NIV God said, "all
these things" - What does that mean? Did it also apply to what we had
ordered and were so anxiously waiting for? We had to celebrate the
holiday together with the children.
The following day, Christmas Eve, I got up early, well before the sun came
up, and cycled again towards the train station. Again I got the same
answer: "There has been no train and I don't know when one will come." -
I began to pray: "God, what shall we do?" I reminded Him that He had
promised to be with us always until the end of the world. The sun faded in
the east. My wife again came against me. Her eyes were wet. “What do we
do? What shall we say to the children?”
I replied, "My dear, God has never yet failed us." We went inside, read the
word of God and fell on our knees. We had no words to say – we could
only cry. While we were lying there there was a knock on the door. Outside
stood a small Korean boy with a basketful of eggs in his arms. I said to my
wife: "God has not failed us - we have eggs for Christmas." Again we fell
on our knees, but this time to thank God for the eggs. Again someone
knocked on the door. We rushed out – our faith grew. A young Korean
stood there. He handed us a large package wrapped in newspaper. I took it
and placed it on the kitchen table and as I did so I could feel something
alive inside. Quickly I opened the package - it was a big 10 pound fish.
“You see,” I said, “God does not fail us.” And again we had to thank the
Lord.
While I was cutting the fish open and taking out the entrails, someone was
standing outside the door shouting in Japanese. I looked out. It was the
police chief.
We were in Korea during the genocide. We were arrested and thought he
had come back again to arrest us, but he wasn't. He said: “I have come here
with a gift because I know it is your God's birthday. I just came to this
parish and I want you to know that I value your work as missionaries very
much and I want to be your friend.”
He had a Korean man with him carrying three boxes. He asked where to
put the boxes. I asked him to put them in the corridor. I thanked heartily
and turned inside to get the hammer to open the boxes. There were
tangerines in all the boxes. We were overjoyed and filled with gratitude to
the Lord. This was pure luxury for these little Korean children. We counted
the mandarins. There were 320, plenty for all the children and even some
for us too.
I had eaten many good Christmas dinners, but never one better than this
one, consisting of eggs, fish and tangerines.
Many years have now passed since that time, but God has never yet failed
us.
Merry Christmas everyone!
"The Church Bell" 1969. Effie Campbell translated
Christmas was expensive
”but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these
last times for your sake.”
1.Pet.1:19-20NIV
Christmas cost Maria and Joseph that they had to do without the cozy
atmosphere at home for the many years they had to stay in Egypt to protect
the little child's life.
It cost the mothers in and around Bethlehem their little children, because
the horrible Herod killed them.
It cost the shepherds their rest, when they had to leave the flock in favor of
the manger.
It cost the first apostles and other Christian disciples persecution and often
death.
It cost the missionaries an unimaginable amount of suffering and
deprivation to preach and spread the gospel.
But more than all this - it cost God our Father His only Son - He sent Him
to earth to die for sinners.
It cost Jesus a life of sacrifice and service and a painfull death on the cross,
where He bore the sins of the world.
IS CHRISTMAS TOO EXPENSIVE?
It is if it simply means giving and receiving gifts.
It is, if it merely means Christmas tree and decorations.
It is when millions are being used for this party.
It is, if it merely means a few days off.
CHRISTMAS IS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE
If it brings hope to the world!
If it means forgiveness of sins!
If it means peace between people!
If it prepares people to go to Heaven!
If we look at what God and Christ gave, and we see all the world's need
today, is Christmas even expensive enough for us?
"The church bell 1969. Effie Campbell translated
A Christmas story about a cuckoo clock
““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who
seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ”
Matt.7:7-8NIV
A deaconess and nurse who works at the nursing home in the Betaniahouse
near Solingen in Germany once experienced something quite special:
She cared a lot about all those who suffered from various ailments and
diseases and were tormented in this world and therefore for many weeks
leading up to Christmas she had packed 24 packages. The work of finding,
buying, packing and shipping had exhausted her, yet it had filled her with
joy and gratitude.
But there was one more package missing that had to be sent off. It was
going to Poland. She had just enough money for that last package. She
couldn't help but look up at her blank wall, and then she remembered a
wish she had long cherished, the wish to buy a cuckoo clock. After all, she
also had to be kind to herself!
Didn't the Bible have a reminder for Christians to love others as
themselves? 24 packages were the evidence of her love for those who were
her neighbors, friends and relatives! But it had to be okay to be a little
good to yourself too!
As Christmas now approached, she could not find rest in her mind. She
had planned to go out and look at the cuckoo clock several times, but each
time she had put the money back in her purse.
"Maybe the people in Poland no longer need my help," she tried to
convince herself of this. But then it suddenly became clear to her that the
thoughts were just an attempt to stop her good plans and she then left to
spend her last money on things that could not be obtained in Poland and
were soon bought, made ready and sent off.
Gladly she returned to rest after a long trip down to the post office.
Suddenly someone rang the doorbell. Uncertain and doubtful, she opened
the door and there stood the postman with a package for her. She couldn't
imagine who had sent it. After some effort, she managed to spell her way
through the name of the sender. And then she remembered. It was from
some people in Schwarzwald whom she had met some time ago and to
whom she had since sent some Christian literature.
When she had removed the brown paper and opened the box, she had
almost screamed out loud with joy and delight, because in the box was a
cuckoo clock, a real cuckoo clock from Schwarzwald!
These people from Schwarzwald wanted to show their gratitude for the
Christian literature the deaconess had given them. Or was it perhaps God
himself who used the family in Schwarzwald to decorate the wall and to
light up the life of this believing deaconess? Call it what you want, but this
German deaconess is convinced that God not only listens to the silent
desires we hide in our hearts, but that He also speaks to us, even through
the sound of a cuckoo, because every time the cuckoo beats its hour, then it
reminds her of how the victory over selfishness and craving this world can
lead to the greatest joy.
"The Church Bell" Effie Campbell translated
Great joy
"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that
will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior
has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. "
Luke 2:10-11NIV
From the very beginning, when God created man and breathed the breath
of life into him, God has loved his creation. But it was soon that the devil
began to work against God to make people turn their backs on God and go
against His commandments and regulations.
Humans turned to sin. God hates sin. He hates the sin, but even though He
hates sin, He does not hate the sinner. On the contrary, God loves the
sinner.
When sin had gained such power over the human race that God had to
send the flood over the earth, he could not bring himself to exterminate
people mercilessly. He wanted to give them an opportunity for salvation.
He had Noah build the ark so that all those who clung to the living God
would be saved. After the flood, people again became more and more
numerous. Sin took over again, so people turned their backs on God. God
sent His prophets to warn people and ask them to turn again to the living
God, because He still loved people in the same way. But soon it became
clear to God again that people had distanced themselves so far from God in
sin that this could only be restored through this one thing. God had to let
his only son come down to earth, be born, live and die as the son of man.
Only if the Son of God gave His life for us could His blood be the ransom
for all the sins of the world. And God loved the world so much that he
gave his only begotten son to our world.
It was this glad tidings that the angels announced on the first night of
Christmas. The Savior of the world was born.
Now 2,000 years have passed since this happened, but do we celebrate
Christmas to commemorate this immeasurably great act of love towards
the human race by God?
Jesus Christ was born in a stable on the first Christmas night on earth. He
gave his life on Calvary, but before he breathed his last breath, he cried
out: "It is finished!" What was finished? Indeed, the whole work of
salvation, which he had been sent down to earth to complete, was now
fully fulfilled. Now he had paid for all the sins of the world with his own
blood. Therefore whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal
life.
Indeed, God still loves us as before, and therefore we can rejoice in the
Christmas message: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 and say together:
Now, dear Lord Jesus Christ,
make you a cradle in my chest,
take shelter in my heart there,
that I will never forget you again!
J. Kass
"You have won, Galilean!"
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped
in cloths and lying in a manger.””
Luke 2:11-12NIV
One of the Roman emperors who was the greatest opponent of the
Christians, it was Julian the Apostate, who was emperor during the period
(361-363). He was called "the apostate" because as a young man he had
supported Christianity, but after he had been crowned emperor he turned
180 degrees and became a pagan instead.
Paganism was given good conditions for growth under Julian's rule and the
pagans were given many privileges, but still there were only a very few
who abandoned their Christian faith and went over to the pagan faith.
Julian was almost 32 years old when he died in a battle against the
Persians in the year 363. It is said that before he expired he stretched his
hands to heaven and shouted: "You have conquered, Galilean!"
In the end, Julian had to admit that Jesus Christ had won, but so many
other people have had to admit that too. However much they tried to fight
against Christ, they did not win the final victory over Him, but had to
succumb. Many had to admit that, if not before, then at least when the
hourglass of life was about to run out.
In the eyes of men, it looks poor and wretched that a child is born in a
manger - and poor it was, but this little child prevailed in the end!
There was something despicable and mocking about seeing a man hanging
on a cross, but the man on the cross won the final victory on Easter
morning!
Jesus triumphed over the devil and the evil one - he fought the battle to the
end and he won the victory.
We too can win the final victory - if we let Jesus rule our lives, then we
will win together with him.
The angel said on the first Christmas night out in the fields of Bethlehem:
”...peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke 2:14 Indeed, that was
the greeting, but we will not get peace on earth except when Jesus wins
and defeats human hearts. -
Therefore let Jesus conquer your heart, a victory that makes you a part of
salvation and then you will help make the greeting of peace on earth a
reality.
In the life of a believer there is always a struggle, but a struggle that will
eventually lead to the final victory if you are persistent, and the victory
will give you a heavenly peace. Such is the Christian's life, exciting,
meaningful and joyful.
God grant that he who was born into the world in a stable in Bethlehem on
Christmas night, that he may win victory in my life and yours - because
then life is worth living"
G.Z.
THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
”... “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? ...”
Matt. 2.2 NIV
Chr. C. Svendsen, editor
This was the question that the Magi set when they arrived at Jerusalem.
Who was the Magi? It was believed that they were three representatives of
the Gentile population. We do not know for sure, whether they were three
or more. It is not said.
Propably it is the descendants of the Jews who were driven away from
their land 500 years prior to this by Nebuchadnezzar army at the time
when Babel occupied the land, destroyed the temple and forced the
majority of the people in exile.
Just a hundred years later, a small part of this groupe returned and rebuilt
Jerusalem, but the majority of the Jewish people remained in Babal, where
they gradually built a school for the Jewish faith, an institution that had a
decisive influence on how the jews would later exist as a Jewish groupe in
the coming centuries. Here the scriptures were thoroughly examined, and
where God is examined wholeheartedly and reasonably, there is also the
possibility of revelation.
They have probably known about the sequences in the Old Testament
where it is said that a king was to be born, one who would save the people.
One of these sequences, which they have undoubtedly studied, is, Numbers
24.17NIV: ”... A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of
Israel. ... ”
But there are more sequences from the Scripture that inspired them. And
when the time was ripe for these historical events to come to pass, the
Holy Ghost worked among these theological researchers, the Magi. One
day they saw this unusual star, and these learned men must have talked
about this phenomenon. A small delegation was selected and sent to
Jerusalem. They received gifts to bring to the new king and then they
departed, along the Euphrates River, through the dry desert and up from
the north, they entered the country, along the Megiddo Pass and on to
Jerusalem.
How long were they on their way? At least two weeks. Faith and hope
brought them forward. In Jerusalem they immediately began to ask for the
newborn king. But the inhabitants of the city knew nothing about it. The
Magi told them that they had seen his star in the east, and now they had
come this long way to worship this unique person. When Herod found out
why these strangers had come to Jerusalem, he became terrified. But he
did not sweep all of the table as rubbish, because the ancient Scripture had
a powerful influence on the Jewish people. He summoned the town's chief
priests and asked them, "Where is Christ to be born?" What is written
about this? "
These scribes and priests gave the king a clear answer: ”“‘But you,
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people
Israel.’” ” When Herod heard this, he secretly sent for the Magi and
inquired them when they first saw the star. Suppose he thought he could
calculate how old the child ought to be.
He sent the Magi to the town in order to find the child and then asked them
to come back to him and tell where this king was, for he would like very
much to come and worship him. But he lied, he had fraud in mind. He had
hidden plans. Herod apparently believed the Prophet's words; but he made
some wrong conclusions. His heart was not right in relation to God. It is
not enough just to know about God's word. The heart must be set to the
truth. When the Magi went outside again, they had to admit that they did
not get anything out of it. And they now had no one to guide themselves.
But then suddenly they saw the star that they once had seen in the east, and
they became very happy.
These men wanted to find Jesus, which is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
And they found him. The star went ahead and showed them the way. Here
we can learn something important. If you follow the light you have, you
will be taken on the right path, even if you come to a place where
everything seems to be hopeless. It is Jesus, that is the answer in your life.
They found the house where the child was. They gave their gifts to the
child and they worshipped the king.
Then they were to return and tell Herod all this. But these men were
sensitive to the spirit - that's why they were wise. God warned them so
they did not seek Herod, but instead they immediately set their course
toward their own country.
- - -
Jesus is the king. Before his birth, an angel said to his mother, ”You will
conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give
him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s
descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” ” Luke 1.31 to 33 NIV
In the Christian church we have emphasized that Jesus reconciled our sins
with his own blood. And this is a vital truth. This is the beginning of the
gospel, the joyful message. But we must not forget the end. We must
remember that he is king. He returns to sit on his high throne in Jerusalem.
He called Jerusalem "The Great King's City". That's what once began in
Bethlehem.
Kirkeklokken "The church bell." E. Campbell translated.
The only thing I want for Christmas
”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9NIV
If we confess that we have sinned, we can come to our Savior and receive
the gift of forgiveness.
C.S.Lewis wrote: “Getting forgiveness from Jesus is like being handed a
video tape with your whole life on it, where everything has been erased
from the tape. Unbelievable, wonderful! Then we enter into a personal
relationship with Him and receive His Holy Spirit as a gift.
It's a real Christmas present. But as with all other Christmas gifts, we must
be willing to receive it and open it.
Are you willing to give Him your heart this Christmas? Do you want to be
like the MAGI:
* Bring myrrh – your sins will be put behind you
* Bring incense - entering into a personal relationship of trust with Him.
* Bringing gold - giving Him the best you have. Yourself!
If you want to receive Him, pray this prayer:
Thank you Jesus for leaving Heaven to come to our world as a little child.
Thank you for all that you want to give me in this life. Thank you for
dying for my sins. I know I am a sinner and I am extremely sorry for that.
Forgive me, Lord. Come with your Holy Spirit into my life. Help me from
this moment to show that I belong to you and want to follow you. Amen!
E.C translated
GOD'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU
When we go to a full church on Christmas Eve and hear those beautiful
words from Luke 2.1 to 11, we are all touched. The text is about Maria, a
birth, a manger in a stable, the shepherds and the angels, those who pass on
the good news:
”In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own
town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of
David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be
married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time
came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was
no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in
the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the
Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying
in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared
with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””
Luke 2,8-14 NIV
This is so beautiful, so great, so pure and divine. It has all the elements in
it to show God's perfect love for us humans, and the best is that everyone
is included. God does not discriminate. All are included. For God, every
women and men are deer to him.
Therefore, the Christmas tradition and our Christian heritage is so
important. They point back to our roots and show us the way into eternity.
When a society becomes dechristianized and secularized, we lose
reverence for God and subsequently, we loose respect for nature and our
fellow human beings, created in God's image. Then we have a cold society
where nobody cares for the neighbour. Then it is only me and what is mine
that counts.
I thank God that I was born in a country where I heard the gospel from
early childhood. Thanks to mom and dad, my grandparents. Not least,
thank you that I was allowed to meet baby Jesus in the manger, and even
greater is it having received and said yes to the risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
Now it is Christmas and we see the lights in thousands of homes in our
towns, and I think: I hope that you all will have a blessed Christmas and
that you will meet the risen Jesus Christ. Christmas is a joyful time where
we forget what is sad. As it says in Neh. 8.10: ”Nehemiah said, “Go and
enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have
nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy
of the LORD is your strength.” ”
Of course, Christmas can be a difficult and sensitive time for you who has
experienced grief in the past year or in previous years. Perhaps you have
lost a loved one, or have undergone various trials, for example. Illness,
divorce, unemployment or bankruptcy. Regardless, do as the Scripture
says. Rejoice in Jesus, who came down to our world to save us. Remember
that the joy of the Lord overshadows all sorrow and all hardships.
Remember that the joy of the Lord is your strength.
So the only thing left to say: Blessed Christmas. Remember, you are
counted in. Effie Campbell translated
The light has dawned
““Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the
Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a
great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned.””
Matthew 4:15-16NIV
Again Advent came to us. - The lights on the Advent wreath are lit and in
many places the Advent wreaths also light up in the dark. We have now
reached the darkest time of the year, where each day is darker than the
other, indeed, when the weather is dark, the day is not much more than
dawn and dusk and in many homes the lights are on all day.
Such was the situation at one time in Israel's history. There was only
darkness, a long, long twilight, and it seemed as if this would never end
and bring new days again. And the people lived in darkness and struggled
with discouragement. It seemed as if it would never end. The dark night
would only come closer and closer until finally it would suffocate all hope
of life in its cold and suffocating embrace.
But when it looked the darkest, the light dawned. Then the Lord himself lit
his brilliant light from on high.
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, who had gone so bitterly
longing for the light to come, they were allowed to see the light. All the
region of Galilee and Judea was permitted to see, indeed, even the
unpopular Samaria was permitted to see this shining clear light. And who
would have thought it? Even in the East, the strong glow of the light could
be seen and it was so strong that a small groupe set off from there too to
pay tribute to the light that had broken out.
Now our Advent candles shine brightly. They bring us a message. They
have a message for you who thought it would never be light again. Now a
beautiful and bright day awaits!
And you who sit in the darkness of the sinner and pull the chains, the
chains of sin in order to break them, you who always had to give up. The
Advent candles that are now lit also have a message for you. It is a sign
that our King, our mighty Lord Christ, will enter the fortress of the strong
one and deliver the captives out of his hands. He calls himself the stronger
one and therefore he can also do it.
Therefore, be happy to consider these Advent candles, because they have
great and good news for people. God give that the Lord would give us
hearing ears and seeing eyes, so that we can all grasp the happy news that
the Advent candles have to bring us!
Christian Hoej
