"A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices"

The song “O Holy Night” is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I read a helpful that shares that this song was originally written by in 1843 as a French poem.  In 1855, it was translated to English by a minister named John Sullivan Dwight (https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/11/19/brief-history-o-holy-night-christmas-hymn-review).  The rest is history. 

I wonder if you’ve stopped to think about these words from the famous tune: “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.  A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices.  For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!”  Humanity was enslaved to sin, waiting to be delivered.  And when they saw the truth of this special day – Christmas – there was “a thrill of hope” because it was a glorious new day.  Jesus the Lord is born! 

When I was putting all of this together, I heard a song on the radio that I’ve never heard before.  I could hardly believe the correlation to the content I was preparing for this blog.  Brandon Heath sings, “Outside everything is falling; the leaves, the light, the snow.  But inside every heart is longing for a thrill of hope…Come find the peace that passes understanding; come see the reason the angels sing.  Come all ye hopeless and all ye faithful: lying in a manger is the King of kings…it’s more than just another story.”  Later on in the song, he says, “Come find the wonder of a new beginning.  Come see the One who changes everything” (from his song titled “King of kings”).

One of my Christmas gifts was an animated film of “Pilgrim’s Progress”.  It’s a 2019 film that is based on John Bunyan’s work.  There is a powerful moment when Christian and his companion Hopeful are taken captive in the castle of Despair.  In this version, the very walls seem to whisper statements of misery and even suggestions of suicide (a fact that you wouldn’t catch without subtitles on).  The two pilgrims are completely overwhelmed, until they realize that they don’t have to give in to the feelings of despair.  They reason that the opposite of despair is hope.  I think Christian even says, “I have hope.”  As he does, a golden key appears.  With it, they manage to escape.

2020 has been a difficult year for all of us.  I could make my own list of frustrating circumstances, just as you can.  It can be easy to feel trapped in hopelessness and despair, just as Christian was.  What can be done about this?  How can you find hope in a distressing world?  The answer comes to us from the Bible.  On a very special night, the angel announced, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10).  Hope came to mankind “wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger” (verse 11). 

When Jesus arrived, there was “a thrill of hope” because it was a new day.  Hope doesn’t come from possessions, pleasure, or power; it comes in a Person – Jesus the Christ.  Yes, life can hurt.  There are still distressing circumstances, pain, broken dreams, and sorrow, but there is always hope.  Because of Christmas, or better said, because of Christ.

Kevin

Words from a Christmas gone by

A few blogs back, I mentioned that next month will mark 10 years since this blog first began.  In light of this, I decided to commemorate this today by sharing portions of the first Christmas blog I ever wrote.  In 2011, on Christmas Day, I wrote a blog that I titled “The most wonderful message of all.”  Here’s what I wrote:

‘I’ve noticed that during this time of the year there are some who will bring up the fact that Jesus was born, but they don’t like to focus on how this same Jesus didn’t stay a baby; He actually grew up.  The reality is Jesus lived the greatest life that anyone has ever lived.  According to the Bible, He lived a perfect and sinless life that you and I could never live (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-22).  He preached the most remarkable sermons (Matthew 5-7 is devoted exclusively to one of His sermons), He performed amazing miracles, He loved people even if they were social outcasts, and on and on we could go.  Ultimately Jesus died a bloody, torturous death by crucifixion, and three days later He literally and bodily rose from the grave, victorious over death itself!

Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).  When John says “believe” he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement.  It’s not like if someone were to ask you “do you believe the sky is blue?”  The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon. 

You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance to Heaven.  We needed someone to atone for our sins.  Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins.  On the cross, He actually cried out, “it is finished” (John 19:30), meaning, “the price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”  After all this, Jesus confirmed that His death wasn’t just any other death by rising from the dead!  He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example).  He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.  Therefore, all anyone has to do is put their faith and trust in Jesus – to believe on Him. 

I invite you to read these familiar words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word “believe”) in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16)…So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you?  If not, don’t delay; please do it now.  You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.’

My life has changed so much since I wrote that first Christmas blog.  In many ways I’m not even the same person I was when I first penned those words.  I thought about detailing some of the differences from Christmas back then to Christmas now.  Maybe I will do so down the road; but for today, my point is, even with all of the contrasts, one thing remains the same: I am still passionate about people beginning a life-giving relationship with God.  I would still consider it a privilege if someone said yes to the Lord’s salvation invitation today.

Kevin

"What's this holiday about?"

I recently watched the film “A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish” on Netflix.  I’m not necessarily endorsing it.  Actually, I found it difficult to watch.  The main reason is because the stepfamily of Kat Decker – the main character of the movie – were so incredibly cruel and toxic to Kat.  The viewer has to wade through so much of their venomous betrayal, hate, and deceit before you get to Kat’s happy ending.  I bring it up now because I was struck by a song Kat sings titled “Everybody loves Christmas”.  Here’s a sampling of the lyrics:

“It’s that time of year again; a time that I don’t understand…What’s this holiday about?  All this time I’ve been hiding out, wondering if I’ll ever know.  Tell me now, because I don’t understand.  Help me out, because I don’t get it… I want to know what Christmas really means; all the love and joy I want to see; because it’s always lost on me.  So tell me, why does everyone love Christmas?”   

Can you relate to Kat’s song?  Do you wonder why there’s such bliss regarding Christmas?  Why do we run around and buy gifts (or, to put it more accurately for this year: why do we spend hours and hours shopping online)?  Why do we adorn trees, and string our houses with lights every year?  After the ridiculousness that is 2020 why do we still anxiously await December the 25th? 

I submit that it’s not about the gifts, mistletoe, Santa Claus, music, or all of the pomp and circumstance of the day; it’s about the celebration of Jesus Christ.  My father, Jerry, once wrote a song on what Christmas means.  One line states, “Two thousand years ago, because the Father loved us so, He sent His Holy Son down to a manger, to die on Mount Calvary to save men’s souls and set them free.”  Though he wrote these words in the 1970’s, my dad’s words ring true, even today.

For 10 years, the theme song for the TV show “Smallville” pleaded, “Somebody save me.  I don’t care how you do it, just save, save.  Come on.” Humanity is saying that.  Deep down, we know we are broken, sinful, and in need of salvation and forgiveness.  Some have spent decades and decades to try to clean the stench of sin by works.  But that’s an exercise in futility; we can’t save ourselves, no matter how hard we try.  We need someone to save us.  The good news of Christmas is Jesus is the One who came to do just that.  The angel even told Joseph to name the child “Jesus” because He will save people from sin (Matthew 1:21). 

Jesus – God in human flesh – lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death for man’s sin, and ultimately got up and walked out of a borrowed tomb, victorious over death!  He offers the gift of forgiveness of sins, and an intimate relationship with God.  Once again, it’s not about trying to work off our sin, but rather it is to realize, to quote the old hymn, “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe.”  Consequently, if we are willing, the sin that “left a crimson stain” He can “wash it white as snow.”  That’s why we celebrate Christmas!

The song “Everybody loves Christmas” is sung again at the end of the film.  Kat realizes that she now understands Christmas.  “My Christmas spirit almost gone,” she states melodiously, “suddenly you came along.  That’s when I finally understood.  Even when I feel alone, I’m with you and then I’m home.  Finally feels like Christmas should.”  I understand her happiness to be whisked away from her horrible stepfamily, and to begin a promising new romantic relationship.  I celebrated these happy developments with tears as I watched.  But her explanation of Christmas is inaccurate.  Ultimate peace, joy, and satisfaction come from a genuine relationship with the God of the universe, through faith and trust in His Son, Jesus.   

Kevin