A Christmas Message

By the age of five almost every child knows the Christmas story of the baby in the manger. Many people from devout Christians to Agnostics celebrate Christmas with the understanding that December 25th is set aside to hail the birth of Jesus. We know Him to be the saviour of mankind, and for those who earnestly seek an understanding of the Christ Child, we accept the gift that God has freely given as our Saviour with the clear understanding that Christmas Day harkened the arrival of forgiveness of not only our sins but of our sinful nature.

This message is for many the hardest pill to swallow, in light of the fact that the world we know is and always has been in a state of sinful chaos as far back as man has recorded history.

The month of December has seen thus far four more Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan as a result of a war started in 2001 when a group of terrorists attacked an internationally occupied structure we knew as the twin towers. For at least 103 Canadian families this Christmas will be a bitter celebration as they look across the table and see an empty plate set for their fallen loved one. Many Canadians see their sacrifice for nothing, with no benefit for Canada as a nation or any individual Canadian. The fact is that no Canadian, politician, soldier or mother wants to see even one soldier die in action for no just cause. For many including myself, 2011 cannot come any sooner. We will breathe a sigh of relief the day our troops withdraw from that war torn country.

But are Canadian soldiers dying for nothing? Jesus’ birth was foreseen by the Hebrew’s 800 years before Jesus was born. In Isaiah 9:6 we read “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The middle east has always been in some form of conflict. Their history shows that oppression has always held the peace loving people of the east in either terror or fatal conflict. Almost every army has had a piece of the region. Interesting how Isaiah, a Hebrew prophet would describe the messiah as a “Prince of Peace,” a phrase we today use in describing Jesus. The fact is that as far back as history records, the people in the middle east looked for a saviour from death, oppression, occupation and war They are still looking today.

But Jesus did not grow up to be the war General many wanted him to be. Over thirty years later, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a burro, people once again hailed Him as the Messiah expecting Him to raise a powerful army and drive the Romans out of the region and take the seat power from the corrupt King Harod. But instead, Christ taught peace, tolerance and salvation.

The same people that hailed Him as the messiah one day, turned on Him the next and called for his blood. His arrest, torture and execution is a matter of history. At that time His followers did not fully understand why he died. To many, his death was senseless and all for nothing. People did not see the direct benefit of Christ’s death on the cross for their nation, their family or themselves.

That was just the point. Christ died for what appeared to many to be a worthless cause. He died for people that did not know Him. He died for a war that was started by others. He died for actions that were so unforgivable that no man, king or army could turn the other cheek. He died for the shame that each person heaps on their soul. A shame that eats away at the very fabric of man and changes people in ways that hurt others. He died so that this life here on earth has true meaning. He died to save and give people hope.

For those 103 Canadian soldiers who fought and died and to those who will die, they do so for people that do not know them They do that for people they owe nothing to. They died to free those people who carry shame, who live in despair, who turn against them in actions that are truly unforgivable by man. They died to save and give those people hope.

This Christmas when we remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus, we remember that the baby wrapped in swaddling would one day die for the sinful actions of others. He frees the burdens for those would seek an understanding of Him and see who He really is. To sacrifice is not only brave but demonstrates love beyond simple understanding. This Christmas set out an empty plate for a soldier who through the love for mankind has died so others can live.