A REMINDER OF SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 37, 24 December 1948, Page 5

A REMINDER OF SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS

(Contributed by the Ministers’ Association).

Love came down at Christmas Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign. Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine Worship we our Jesus— Your Jesus and mine. The Babe of Bethlehem

To sheppards abiding in their fields at night an angel appeared and proclaimed to them the Royal Birth “For unto you is born this day in the city- of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” No sooner was the glad news given to the startled sheppards than the stillness of the heavens above them was broken by a whole multitude of angels praising and glorifying God in the highest.' “Glory to God jin ..the highest and on earth peace—goodwill toward men.” The angels broke the silence of the centuries, and heaven and earth were linked while that royal proclamation was read. But you may ask, “Peace on earth and goodwill. among men?” Surely the angel was wrong in his outburst that first Christmas morning? After nearly two thousand years of Christianity and its teachings where is the peace and the goodwill promised? That proclamation was given by the heralding angel upon the divine authority of a God who never makes a mistake; a God who is no speculator or gambler. God has spoken to the World in terms of peace and goodwill. On that first Christmas morning was born into this world He who is the Prince of Peace.

This Saviour of men shall luring (o pass the triumph of His final consummation when evil shall be no more; when man with man shall agree and learn to love and not to hate; when the weapons of war shall be beaten into plough-shares; when the families of the earth shall gather around the throne of the King of Kings—when the will of God shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. How do we know? Because once in the night there was born a baby •—born to be a king. It is true He had no royal robes, no canopy of satin- or silks, no royal attendants and no court physician. Those who came to seek him out had to go to a cattle shed and behold him in a- manger for a bed. When the sheppards looked down into this child’s face they saw the Son of God made man and a birth which was the beginning of a great redemption plan. In the Christ-child was born the hope of all. mankind. We see Jesus born into a world that would take the hands and feet of His and wound them with the nails of hate and malice. We see the Infant Jesus born to wear a crown of mockery. We see Him born into a world that would despise and reject Him, a world That would spit at Him and crucify Him! “Yes Mary a sword shaft pierce thine own soul also.” Such was the anguish of the Mother when she stood beneath His Cross. We see Jesus the Son of God who came and lived and suffered and who died upon that Cross of shame, bearing our transgressions and our guilt. The Jesus of Christmas time who was born to be our Saviour, who alone can give us peace within and who can give to the world right relationships between God and Man thereby creating a true spirit of goodwill among men. As we so learn to love the Babe of Bethlehem so shall we all enjoy a happy Christmas and help to spread its goodwill among those we know.