December 2001

Each year consumers in the UK spend more and more billions of pounds to make their Christmas better than before. For many people the cold and bleakness of winter would be unbearable without the cheer and colour of Christmas. But the ‘Christmas’ which the world has made for itself is a kind of monster - a huge, grotesque parody of the real Christmas. It creates unrealistic expectations which it cannot fulfil.

Tragically, it loads heavy burdens on many people. It insists that certain things are essential for a ‘good’ Christmas. Consulting ‘Radio Times’ as far as possible in advance will determine for some what quality their Christmas will have. Everything must be just right – the house cleaned and tidied, the food all planned and prepared, new clothes bought etc. etc. Woe betide anyone who is less than jovial at Christmas! And the children had better not be ill…

Even as Christians, the setting we strive to create for our Christmas celebrations may be far removed from the circumstances of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

At what is called the ‘first Christmas’ things were far from good for Joseph and Mary. Their homeland was being occupied by a foreign power and ruled from Rome by Caesar Augustus. To comply with the demand for an imperial census the couple had a difficult journey to make in order to be registered at Bethlehem. Mary was heavily pregnant and today the medical advice would be not to travel long distances. It was hardly ideal for the prospective mother to be so far from home for the birth of her first child. Things didn’t improve when they had to share accommodation with the animals. What a time to have a baby! The animals’ feeding basket, probably perched on the wall, was Jesus’ first resting-place.

But none of these things was accidental.  Indeed, the fact of the baby lying in the manger would be a sign to the shepherds that this was the Saviour, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11-12). The fact that God arranged the timing and circumstances of the birth of his Son in precisely this way highlights his glorious condescension and his willingness to identify with sinners in the disorder, trouble and sheer fallen-ness of their life in this world. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor…
(2 Corinthians 8:9).

This aspect of the doctrine of the incarnation should cause us to reflect on what we expect of Christmas, and by what criteria we would reckon to have had a ‘good’ Christmas. For many people, including Christians, this time of year can be particularly difficult to cope with. Widows and widowers, divorcees, single people, childless couples – all these folk in our churches may have their joy somewhat tempered. Countless others who are mainly outside the household of faith will be homeless this Christmas, or in prison, or hospital.

Things don’t stop going wrong for people just because it’s Christmas. There can be heartaches and disappointments, redundancy, serious illness. In some cases Christmas may serve only to exacerbate certain long-standing problems - in family relationships for example.  Then there are financial burdens: the average household will spend over £600 on Christmas items and many will fall into debt, or further into debt. So many goods are being marketed with the promise (explicit or implicit) that you really can’t have Christmas without it or them. The key words for a ‘good’ Christmas in the world’s eyes are SPEND and GET, closely followed by DRINK.

There is no inherent spiritual value in renouncing festive food etc. and traditions which can be legitimately enjoyed. Nor should we necessarily abandon social gatherings and the giving and receiving of presents. But it would be a monstrous contradiction for Christians to let Christmas become a burden!

Perhaps at Christmas more than at other times we need reminding that Jesus Christ invites us to come to him to find rest: Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

What is the rest of which Jesus speaks? Amongst other things it is the enjoyment of God, now and forever. The Lord Jesus makes us free to enjoy God by undertaking to bear our burdens – primarily our sin but also burdens of anxiety and the pressures of life. We are encouraged to come to him and to be yoked together with him, so that he is alongside us. We go on with him shouldering the weight. We can turn to him because he is gentle.  We are not inclined to unburden ourselves with people who are full of self-importance. Having submitted himself to the humiliation of the cross in obedience to the Father, Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest. He can sympathise with our weaknesses. He understands the pressures and troubles and disappointments of this life.

The world is a harsh taskmaster. At Christmas it dangles the prospect of happiness in front of us: Eat, drink and be merry!  But apart from Christ all we find is emptiness. Jesus is the good Master. His commands are not burdensome. Focus upon him and his Word. Whatever else you enjoy this Christmas, enjoy your God!

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