by David Melton
This is the best time of year. Even in a society that is hesitant to say “Merry Christmas” any longer, deep down … it is obvious. Jesus made and makes all things better.
We all know that historically and chronologically the December 25 observance is nothing more than a guess, some might even say a synthesis. For me, that matters little. It’s an opportunity to focus on Jesus.
The Christmas season is “low season” for us in college work. Everything else gets hectic, but at Boston Baptist College not much happens. Students head to their homes for a couple of weeks. We even shut down the whole operation for a few days. It gives us a great chance to take time for Him. We will work to remind our college family to make the Christmas season His season.
Yet, in no way diminishing the Incarnate Lord, Christmas is the time for Him and for us. The Christmas story is replete with the community of Christmas. Mary could have that precious baby, with only Joseph there to assist (apparently). But in the heart of the Heavenly Father, Christmas, from its origin, was about a broader “us.” Shepherds, at the direction of those angels, leave their third shift to worship the newborn Savior. They seem to be the first converts of the hours-old Savior! The best guess is that one of those shepherds shares his home with Jesus and Joseph and Mary — so that when the Magi arrive some time later, they find the Child “in the house.” Those Magi add to the Christmas community, a lesson I see for all of us. Something so joyous as the gift of Christ is not for mere solitude. Worship Him personally, to be sure, but find in Him a common denominator to create an “us.”
I see “us” every day. When I walk the halls of our campus I try to remember that we come from all over the place. Sure there is Bobby, and Devonne, and David from Massachusetts. But “we” are also Jillian from Michigan, Mike from Kansas, Brent from Ohio, Drake from Virginia, Jeremiah from North Carolina, Carolina from Texas (that was too fun not to write!), Megan from New Hampshire, Rachel from Maine, Trisha from Florida, Keith from Missouri … and on and on it goes. Us. And what binds us together, and binds us to you is Him. We come from all different places, all different stories; we have all kinds of issues, and all sorts of dreams. We come in all shapes and sizes, all levels of GPAs, all unique interests. But the Christmas event is what takes us from our individual worlds and brings us together. He does it. It started in that manger and now it happens on our college campus, and in your church, and in our network of churches. He is the greatest gift of all. But He is the gift that really does keep on giving. He gave us “us.” Merry Christmas … God bless “us” every one!