By Rev. Robert Wurst Jr

Editor's Note: The author is the pastor of St. Paul’s  Lutheran Church, Good Harbor.

Merry Christmas!

What does this mean?

For many people, the focus is on the word “merry.” This is a glad and happy time of year. We visit family and attend parties. We buy gifts and exchange them. There is much fun in these things.

Some people’s thoughts turn to others. For many, Christmas is a time for social concern. Money is put into red buckets. Many meals are made available for the poor. We become more charitable thinking that the baby in the manger reminds us of the less fortunate.

Is this the meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is the fulfillment of a promise that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, made to His beloved creation. The birth of Jesus Christ fulfills the promises made through the prophets. God would become Man and save us from sin, death, and the devil.

The Old Testament is full of the promise of Christ from beginning to end. The Word of John the Apostle tells us of the fulfillment, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us …
These are magnificent words. They are words full of mystery and promise.

The very Word of God, by which He called the heavens and the earth into being, comes into our world as a man of flesh. The Word of God, which contains all the promises that God has made to His people, takes on our human flesh.

The Word of God, life-giving, full of truth, powerful, and eternal, this Word becomes flesh and is born of a woman. The Word of God, eternal, having neither beginning nor end, is born of the virgin Mary at just the right time.

That God would take on our flesh is an amazing thought and fact. This word “flesh” is a strong word. It denotes bones and blood, skin and sweat. This flesh has a face and dirt under its fingernails. This flesh is who we are and it is what God's own Son took upon Himself to save us.

That the Christ would set aside glory and honor, power and might to rescue us sinners from the dirt, filth, and darkness of our sin is a miracle and a wonder. Our Lord became one with us so that He could take our sin, guilt, and shame onto Himself and take our punishment away from us.

This is a holy mystery. That is why angels sing, shepherds marvel, and wise men come from the East.

This same Jesus Christ, only begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, is the very same who gives us His Body to eat in the Lord's Supper. This is where the word Christmas has its root and origin: Christ plus Mass.

Christ Jesus comes to us in the Lord’s Supper to give us the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. From Him and Him alone, we receive the peace promised by God's angels the night Jesus was born as they sang, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . . What splendid words these are for you and me. Our Christmas joy is not just for this life. Christmas is not just about being merry for a day. That would be shallow and sad. Christmas is about your redemption, salvation, and heavenly joy. It is the peace of God come to us in our own flesh.

Enjoy the holidays. They are God’s gifts to you. He has remembered you and sent salvation to you. All the things we do: giving gifts, enjoying the company of family, eating dinner, and doing charitable deeds for others have their root and meaning in the gift of God in His Son Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas indeed!