Christmas is a favorite time of year for many people. I love it myself. Celebrations of Christmas can be seen in the many and varied trappings of this holiday. All kinds of traditions have been mixed together to create an eclectic holiday that sparks all kinds of reactions in our culture. And, all this Christmas lore can be seen in an endless collection of artwork that has been produced over the years. From snowmen to reindeer and Santa Clause images of every imagine-able shape and style, to the quiet landscapes covered in snow and decorated trees and nativity scenes – all invoking a particular feeling or emotion in the viewer, both good and bad.
One of my favorite Christmas images is an old painting by the American icon, Norman Rockwell. The painting is called Christmas Homecoming.
Norman Rockwell’s painting – Christmas Homecoming, painted in 1948
There are some unique things about this “Christmas” painting. One is that we see none of the Christmas trappings you would expect; That is except the little hint of a Christmas tree in the upper left corner. Another is that the people in the painting are Norman Rockwell’s friends and neighbors, and include his three sons. The eldest son is the focal point of the painting – he is the one with his back to us, the one who is coming home. The artist’s wife is also there, as is the artist himself- he’s smoking the pipe. This sheds a little light on Norman Rockwell’s priorities…family.
When friends and family are together, when sad hearts are rejoicing at the homecoming of those who have been separated by the hardships and issues of this life, this gets closer to the true “fruit” of Christmas than probably anything else.
This illustration reminds me of what God had in mind the first Christmas. His desire was to end the “separation”. The separation of man in his fallen state to a Holy God. Ephesians 2:17 and 18 says it like this:
“AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
This is why I like to keep Christmas simple. Even though I enjoy all the sights and sounds of this Holiday, I try to keep my focus on the celebration of His birth, which was the first step in the redemption process. He came to die for us.
That’s what is alluded to in Luke chapter 2, where it says that the Child who came would be a Savior. Luke 2:10 and 11 says this:
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
And one of the unique things about this coming of a Redeemer, a Savior was that God foretold of the event hundreds of years in advance – to help us know that it was in fact His plans and His doings. We see this in Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”
And also in Isaiah 9:6 it give some particulars of this One who would be coming, what He would be like:
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
That’s Christmas. The word “Immanuel” means “God with us”. God did the unthinkable, the most unexpected thing and stepped down to man, died in our place so we could be a part of the family. He describes Himself as A Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, Savior. To quote a bit of pop culture, “It’s a beautiful thing”.
This Christmas, come in out of the cold. Embrace this One who came to Bethlehem a couple thousand years ago and died to give us life. Believe.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…John 1:12
