The Lodestar

I roamed through the city centres and shopping malls this week decked lavishly for Christmas, but there was no sign saying it was Christmas. None had a nativity scene, but there were reindeer, Santa, trees, etc. Christ, whose birth that Christmas is about, is exiled from the celebration. The decorations meant to raise the footfalls in the shopping centres will be taken out in a few days, and life will return to normal.

Christ's birth is not all about celebrations, but there are some stark realities that we should take account of. These realities demand a response to what he came to this world as an infant. Simeon, who uttered prophetic words about the child and blessed the parents, had insight into the child's mission (Luke 2:22— 35).

First, “this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34). Fall means the judgment of God. In Mary’s song, which is also prophetic, she affirmed that the Lord will not tolerate the wicked and arrogant: “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate” (Luke 1:51—52). The judgment began as Jesus walked around and condemned the sinful and the unrepentant (6:24–26).

However, there is another reality to his ministry. He will cause many people to rise, referring to the blessing upon those who respond to his call. While he condemned the arrogance of the ungodly, he also blessed the humble and meek. In his first sermon in the synagogue in Nazareth, he declared what he had come to do.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour” (Luke 4:18-19). He further elaborated on the “rise” of the humble in the Beatitudes (Luke 6:20—23).

There is a third reality besides the judgment of the ungodly and the blessing of the meek: the reality of pain. Simeon prophesied that “a sword will pierce through your own soul also,” referring to the pain that Mary would have to endure seeing her son die on the cross (Luke 19:25).

Christmas is not a celebration at the expense of a helpless babe. Still, it reminds us of stark realities beyond the manger: the blessing of the godly, the condemnation of the ungodly, and the undeniable pain of Gethsemane and the cross. The story does not end there but continues to the resurrection, ascension, and triumphant return of the Lord.

Christmas marks the beginning; the end is yet to come when the helpless babe brings haughty minds and wicked kingdoms to his feet.

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