Christmas Thoughts

This is a sort of random post of things I've been considering the past few weeks leading up to Christmas. May it turn your thoughts in thankfulness to the Savior, the reason for the season.

The sermon two weeks ago gave me an appreciation for His sacrifice in coming to earth. "Why did Jesus go away to pray?" he asked. After dismissing the possibility of Him needing power, he asked, "Do you know what it is to hunger for a Father?"

If you have, imagine a perfect love between Father and Son and then, the giving up of it. Think of your closest, most wonderful relationship. Now, imagine leaving that person for a lifetime. It's not much time in eternity, but you understand. "Christ is praying because He is separated from His Father and He must speak with His Father and His God. ...If our hearts do not hunger to cry out to God, then our hearts are saying, 'You are not my Father.'" He then read Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane and it struck me powerfully. This Son, perfectly beloved of the Father, gave up His perfect communion, His fellowship, for us.

This quote is taken kind of out of its original context, but it is thought-provoking: "There was only One who was dumb as a sheep before her shearers, who answered not a word; and He was silent because the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and to be made of “no reputation” was one part of the penalty He was enduring."

Isaiah 53:4-5

4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

"The chastisement for our peace was upon Him." You could ponder that for a long time.

The words of Christmas carols, so familiar, often slip past our lips without any thought to the words. Have you ever considered the words in We Three Kings?

Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.

That second line impressed me powerfully as we sang it last Sunday. Arise, King-ruler, sovereign, Lord of the earth-and God-divine, all-powerful Creator of the universe and...sacrifice? Bloody, unpleasant, smelly, humiliating...just the sounds of the words tell the difference. The Glorious King and God of the earth and skies arose from becoming the sacrifice for sins! Alleluia, indeed.

A recording which sort of summarizes my Christmas thoughts, a seldom heard Christmas song.

Generally I don't have favorites, especially in something there are so many that I like such as Christmas carols. But if I had to pick one, I would probably say the following rather neglected hymn, with a similar message to what we have been considering, is my favorite. Of course, then there's O Come, O Come Emmanuel, which at least people have the sense to sing-in fact, just about everyone does-and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and...you can see why I can't pick favorites.

(Since this is already a randomish post, here's a link to a Straight No Chaser-reminiscent version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel which I'm putting on just because I mentioned the song and like a cappella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4vmP9IX5Ss&feature=related. And I realize randomish isn't a word, but it makes sense to me and I like it.)

Now, if you've forgotten why I'm putting this up, you'll have to review the previous paragraph, or just enjoy the song if you don't care. (I don't know if it's because I'm so used to writing photography or not, but above I typed "paragraphy". Now that is not a word and it doesn't make sense.)

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

Merry Christmas, everyone!