Christmas Joy!

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Merry Christmas!

As the secular world began commercialized Christmas as soon as the porch lights went out on Halloween night and kicks commercialized Christmas into high gear between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and then promptly moves on from Christmas at 12:01 a.m. on December 26, the one holy Christian and apostolic Church has only begun celebrating the birth of the Savior.

Christmas, for Christians, cannot be contained to only one day – December 25. The Church continues the celebration that began on December 25 with the 12 days of Christmas! The Church celebrates “the Word (Jesus Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

There in the manger, wrapped up like any other human child, is the Second Person of the Trinity – the very Son of God – who has come as the only Savior for mankind. There in the manger is God in human flesh. There in the manger is the definition of true love that He came to “lay down his life for us” (1 John 3:16) so that all who would trust in Christ would be saved from the power of sin, eternal death, and damnation.

The secular world may be tired of and finished with Christmas, but for us there is simply too much to squeeze into a single celebration. Christmas joy spills over and fills the 12 days of Christmas with praise to the incarnate Lord.

We are all familiar with the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” From all appearances, the lyrics appear to be a total nonsense rhyme set to music. But within those lyrics is a hidden song of Christian catechesis and Christmas joy:

1. The Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ (December 25)

2. Two Turtle Doves: Old and New Testaments (December 26)

3. Three French Hens: Faith, Hope, Charity (December 27)

4. Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels (December 28)

5. Five Golden Rings: The Pentateuch [The Books of Moses] (December 29)

6. Six Geese A-laying: Six Days of Creation (December 30)

7. Seven Swans A-swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Spirit (December 31)

8. Eight Maids A-milking: The Eight Beatitudes (January 1)

9. Nine Ladies Dancing: The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit (January 2)

10. Ten Lords A-leaping: The Ten Commandments (January 3)

11. Eleven Pipers Piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles (January 4)

12. Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed (January 5)

Then on January 6 – the Day of Epiphany – Christmas joy continues as that is the day when the first Gentiles (non-Jews) fell down and worshipped the child Savior. There, the Magi, opened their gifts and gave the Savior gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Like the “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, these gifts present a mysterious confession. The gold confesses the child to be a king. Frankincense confesses Him to be God Himself in our flesh. Myrrh confesses the child’s death as He came to be a sacrifice, to offer His life on our behalf. This Epiphany joy adds to the Christmas joy with the season of Epiphany, for which we remember that Christ came for all people. The Magi, on that first Epiphany, are the first fruits of the Gentiles to be brought to faith and give Christ their worship.

Jesus came as the One and Only Savior for all people and this is why Christmas cannot be contained to one day! Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany!

In Christ,

Pastor Adelsen