PRESENCE OF CHRIST
One of the many blessings of the Christmas season is gathering with family and friends. The family party’s blind draw gift exchange is an event that brings laughter and joy and also brings folks together. Another gathering that brings grins and chuckles is a tacky Christmas sweater party. This has been featured in a TV commercial recently and shows people going through garage sales and thrift stores to procure the tackiest and most ridiculous Christmas sweaters they can find. Prizes are given, joy is shared and everybody has a good time.
For us, gathering in our church for worship on Christmas Eve is always a marvelous experience. The sanctuary is filled with family, friends and members and the warmth of the candlelight fills the space during the candlelight part of the service. We gather on this evening as one; we gather as a family of faith. We know and enjoy the hymns of “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” We see people we haven’t seen for a while and we have our hearts filled with the presence of Christ.
Yet there are times, even in the holiday season, that it feels like God is absent. The pains and cares of this life are still with us and can have a tendency to dim our festive spirit. Bills still need to be paid, automobiles repaired, those in poor health must still be cared for and like it or not folks are taken from us. Even in the midst of a festive season, life still moves forward and God may somehow seem far away. It must have seemed that way for Isaiah.
It had been a long time since God was present with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was but a distant memory since God had sat face to face with Moses on Mount Sinai. Even King David’s dynasty had come and gone. God’s people were now assimilated into their countries of exile, losing their distinction and following a God that now is only speaking through a very few chosen prophets. It seemed that God had become silent and His presence was no longer among His people. Everyday life was a struggle and hope seemed far away.
We too wrestle with the same issues in our lives. Sometimes it seems God is silent. We would love for Him to sit with us in a room and lay out, in a PowerPoint presentation, the absolute decisions we need to make for every bit of our lives. How should we handle the treatments? How should we handle this conflict? Should we take a new job? How do we reconcile our relationships? When will I feel loved again? Why am I lonely? So many times we would love for God to sit with us like He did with Abraham and Moses, but that doesn’t seem to happen.
Isaiah prophesies that we will behold our God! John says it this way: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling with us” (John 1:14). God is present with His people. God is present with us. He comes to be present in the same way we all did. He was born of His mother Mary. He was wrapped in cloths. He was laid in a manger. He is the Messiah who was born to be with His people. He is present with us, even during those times when it may not seem that way.
Our Lord isn’t some angry parent coming home to punish His children. Rather, Jesus comes to be God’s gracious presence among us. He came to be present in preaching, teaching and healing among the people. He came to be present at the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. He came to rise to new life and be present with His disciples on a shore, eating breakfast and loving them. He was truly present with them in every way. And His presence is with us now.
The Spirit of the living Christ is among us in our church. He gathers us around the Baptismal Font and with the water and the Word, He delivers forgiveness and new life. He is present. He also gathers us around the altar to accept Him in His Holy Supper, to receive forgiveness of our sins and strengthen our faith. He is present to forgive sins and speak words of grace to us. He is Emmanuel, God is with us.
He is present with us now in His Word. The Words of Isaiah speak to us. The words of John speak to us. The words of Jesus speak to us and they remind us of a present truth. God is with us in His Son Jesus. Jesus’ words speak a present word of grace to us. God is with us in His Word to instruct us. God is with us. His word is His presence among us still.
Advent is a season of great anticipation. Brightly wrapped gifts provide anticipation for children. They shake, they tear, they stay awake wide-eyed at night wondering what the gift will be. Part of the joy of Christmas is the purchasing of gifts and knowing that little hearts beat faster as gifts are gathered under the tree. Anticipation and waiting are both great blessings this time of the year.
As Christians, we live in anticipation. The present Lord will return. While we don’t have a clue when He will come back, He has sealed His promise in the blood of His Son Jesus. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He was present in creation, He was the baby lying in a manger, and He is the one who will return and take us to heaven to be with Him in eternity. This is the present truth and a present reality. But more than that, it is our future hope!
Amen.