The Thirteenth Day of Advent, 2016

Friday, December 9, 2016

  

My God my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning!  

Christmas is such a lovely time, such a happy time. I don’t like to have anything interrupt the mood as I sing, “Joy to the World.” It is so much more Christmas-like if I just look at the innocent face of the infant in some artist’s rendering of that first Christmas morning.

But the Psalmist interrupts my warm Christmas thoughts with these difficult words. They sound familiar, as well they should! Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani? [Translated, my God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?] The last words Jesus spoke before He died!

Personally, I would rather not think right here at this Christmas that my sin caused God for the first and only time in eternity – unable to look upon my sin – to turn away from Christ. That’s Easter, isn’t it?

Way before the birth of Jesus, David, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote that someday the Son of God would scream out in agony as God turned away from Him. Oh, the price of Christmas to Almighty God! How amazing that this little baby learned obedience, even obedience to the cross because of His great love for His Father!

Christmas is a wonderful time, especially when I remember the cost of that first Christmas present!

Father, Father! Thank you for caring enough to send the absolute best! Amen

And Then It Was Christmas: A Journey Toward Christmas
prepared for Homosassa United Methodist Church, 2006,
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator.