Christmas is about Jesus. Duh!

I once heard a story about a person who called tech support because his computer would not turn on.  Tech support walked the man through several steps to try to fix the problem.  He was urged to try “Control-Alt-Delete.”  It didn’t work.  He was instructed to press and hold the power button for fifteen seconds and then release it, wait a minute, then press it again.  Nothing.  Tech support asked the man to check to see if the computer was plugged in.  It was, but would still not turn on.  Finally the technician asked the man to check the cable connecting the screen to the processing unit.  The man said, “I’ll try, but it’s really hard to see in here.”  The tech asked why it was hard to see.  The man replied, “Well, the power is out in the whole building, so we don’t have any lights.”  Technical support replied, “I think I’ve found the problem.” 

It may seem obvious, but if the power is not on your computer will not work. 

It may seem obvious, but Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. 

That fact, which may be so obvious to us, seems to be lost in our world.  And as we live in the world and experience its influence in our lives we must take care to not lose sight of the truth, nor let our children buy into the world’s agenda for the holidays. 

If you will allow the analogy, it is essential to our faith to remain “plugged in” during the Christmas season.  While some would have us plug into festivities and sentimentality – both of which can be quite nice and good – we are urged to plug into Christ.  Advent gives us exactly that opportunity as we dig into God’s promises, remember the prophecies regarding Jesus’ birth, and reflect on our need for the savior who was born in a stable. 

Advent also brings us to the beginning of a new church year.  You will notice that our Gospel Lessons will come to us primarily from the Book of Luke.  Last night at our midweek Advent service I commented that Luke 1 is one of the most overlooked sections of the New Testament.  I’d like to encourage you to look it over to see what God did to prepare for the first Christmas, and to draw from there what we can do to prepare for our Christmas celebration and to get ready for Jesus’ second coming. 

Luke is also the book that we will begin with if you join me in the challenge to read the New Testament next year.  It just seems right since we’ll be reading from it almost every Sunday this year. 

So, let me state a couple of things that are obvious: 

1.       Christmas is about Jesus.  Look for ways to remember and remind people about him in your celebrations, as you listen to Christmas music, and as you prepare. 

2.       You have to have power to live the Christian life.  That power comes through the presence of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, through the Word and Sacraments.  Reading God’s Word, hearing it, singing it, etc. are like plugging in.  God gives us great gifts in His Word and through the Sacraments – including forgiveness, life, hope, peace, joy, love, salvation, and so much more. 

God bless you as you prepare for Christmas!