Dakota Beacon

The joy of Christmas returns. Things to do. Places to go. Gifts to buy. Few are immune from the Christmas rush as the season marches forward with an unrelenting cadence.

Amid the hustle and bustle it is well to take time, to make time, to pause and reflect on the depth of the celebration. A story, a poem, a song with meaning inspires the Christmas spirit.

In our post-modern era as Christianity slowly fades, a Biblical meaning to Christmas begs to be told. Recently, while browsing through some old Christmas sermons, one in particular registered as representative of times past when people embraced their Christianity far more seriously. An old volume (1903) titled “Holy-days and Holidays” contained the succinct sermon written by David Gregg, DD, in the late 1800s.

His quest? Where was Christ before Christmas?

First, Gregg points to the obvious. God planned the arrival of Christ at an appropriate time. From the beginning Christ was in the genealogies. He descended from the first family in the Garden of Eden and was in the covenant line forward until his physical birth in Bethlehem. Regarded as the Messiah, He was the unifying principle of the Old Testament.

Events and people of the Old Testament pointed to the coming of Christ. Even unpleasant episodes served a purpose. The Old Testament chronicles some of humanity’s darkest deeds. Rape, lust, perversion, murder, greed, theft and a host of attitudinal offenses comprise an unending list of transgressions. As Gregg emphasizes, these dark incidents are recorded to reveal the counterpoint, the mercy of God, and thus create hope for despairing offenders in every era.

Gregg’s second point illustrates that Christ existed through the Old Testament as the ideal man. Christ, the Messiah, embodied sublime perfection. His anticipated arrival made Him real to the Hebrews over hundreds of years. As an ideal man who would someday arrive, Christ was emulated by and inspired the heroes of the Old Testament. Moses the lawgiver, for example, was inspired by the predicted coming of the Messiah. He edified the people. He molded the people. He inspired and encouraged the people.

Gregg makes a final point. Christ was in the Godhead before the existence of space and time. Many people are familiar with the opening of John’s Gospel. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John identified Christ as the Word. By this witness, He was co-eternal with the Father. His existence predates time and creation. As the active person of the Godhead, revelation, both general and special, came through Christ. He was the Word.

Gregg presses his case. Throughout Old Testament history Christ communed with men and women. It was He who walked with Adam in the Garden. He had special friends in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the Old Testament He cared for His people just as in the New Testament He watched over the new Church. He appeared as a guest, as a nameless person, and as a wrestling angel. He spoke to his people enveloped in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

Reading through Dr. Gregg’s sermon gives context and imparts a fresh understanding of what Christmas is all about. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season may be found a quiet reassurance that beyond form there is substance.

With Bethlehem as the focal point, the past and future stretch of time affords comprehension to the believer. With a deeper understanding the Christian may embrace Christmas with the significance it deserves. Christ not only came to earth, He enters every person who acknowledges need of Him and welcomes Him. Christ, as God incarnate, in His mercy, came to reconcile to Himself a twisted world, a creation gone astray. That is truly something to celebrate!

Let all doubters garner at least some respect for why Christians celebrate the season. In our post-modern era where political correctness demands equal time for all beliefs, Christianity is unique for the belief it maintains that God went the extra mile by reaching down to reconcile his creation to Himself. All other beliefs require endless striving by adherents to justify themselves before their God.

Where was Christ before Christmas? He was present through the ages. He has been here all along.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!