"I will go there," he said.
One of my current favorite writers is Alan Jacobs. I’ve recommended his books How To Think and The Book of Common Prayer: A Biography a number of times at COTC. In addition to his teaching at Baylor and writing of essays and books, Jacobs is also a prolific blogger and micro-blogger.
This December, Jacobs began a series of audio mediations simply titled “Jesus 1” and “Jesus 2” and, presumably, so on. You can listen to the first installment to get a sense of what he is hoping to do in the meditations, but the title is pretty self-explanatory. Jesus is the focus.
With our celebration of the incarnation and Christ’s nativity right around the corner, a focus on Jesus seems altogether appropriate. Yet the second installment of Jacobs' series, simply a reading ofthis poem, hits some surprising notes for Christmastide. Expectedly, the poem guides us to the wonder of the incarnation, but also into the risk, cost, and sadness of Jesus’ coming as well.
As we joyfully celebrate Christ’s coming as a lowly child, let us be open to the hints and reminders of the full extent that his coming entailed. The one we welcome as an infant was pierced and crucified for our transgressions. This is a solemn and sobering aspect to our celebration. Yet these sober notes, not often front and center in our Christmas celebration, point us toward a richer joy. In suffering and dying as he did, the one who came as a newborn vanquished the powers of hell and Satan, and now rules in the highest place in all the universe. The child in the manager is our self-giving Savior, who willingly entered into our peril that we might be saved. And he is our just and good Lord, come to reign and rule. That is the full picture of what we so joyfully catch a glimpse of at Christmas.
Whether you are here in town and participating in our services this weekend, or are with family and friends and out of town, may the fullness of all that God has accomplished in the Son’s coming be made joyfully real to you this Christmas.
In Him,
Peter+