Tuesday, December 25, 2012
First Christmas Day
1 Corinthians 15:24-26 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
FORTH TODAY THE CONQUEROR GOETH!
Christmas Day! All of the carols, hymns, candles, decorations, trumpets, drums, voices, services, feasts, games and rejoicing culminate today. For many, the reveling will end today, and tomorrow they will go back to their daily labor, perhaps looking forward to the New Year's celebration. For some the Christmas season will continue about twelve days until Epiphany, and a few will observe it until Ash Wednesday. But for many Americans it pretty much ends today.
Of course, for the Guest of Honor, the Christ-child, this was just the beginning. He was yet to be named, circumcised under the law, presented at the temple. He would spend years growing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. He would live the perfect life we have all failed to live. He would die a death He did not deserve, but we did. And by that living and dying He would pry the vice-like grip of Sin and Death from us, one stiff finger at a time, and take our place in the prisoner's dock and under the pangs of hell.
We remember the birthdays of loved ones, both family and friends, but nations remember those who have been of benefit to the whole country. Jesus' birth is celebrated around the globe, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Forth today the Conqueror goeth,
Who the foe, Sin and woe,
Death and hell, o'erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
His dear Son Now is one
With our blood forever.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 77:2)
