They have begun to show the annual Christmas love stories on TV. (As if falling in Love is the goal of Christmas. But maybe it is. Just not in the ways suggested in these movies.) Within several minutes you can tell who will end up with whom. Throw the Fairy tale out the window! They go straight to the Predictable. They always seem to follow the same pattern and plot. A guy. A girl. They’re gonna end up together. Sure, there may be twists and turns that always lead to them falling in love. Throw in a disapproving mother-in-law, an antagonist, or villain to the whole love story and try to keep them apart. Maybe it's time for a different formula?
I mean, most of us who have ever fell in love or had a romantic notion know that love is anything but predictable. We seldom know who we are going to end up with. There are endless possibilities and combinations. You may like someone who has no interest in you at all. It seems to me that the one we choose is usually someone within our immediate proximity. When Love comes close, we may not recognize it at first, but it can peak through the slightest of cracks and then, when we least expect it, burst through the door.
I would like to tell you of a Love that came close one night many years ago. An unlikely love story. A story of anguish and heartbreak. For a mother to lose her son. A group of friends to lose their leader, teacher, and friend. A love betrayed and denied. A love that was, for some, too good to be true. For others, it was all that they had ever dared to dream and imagine that it could be. A Love that would be broken and fall to the ground, in order to produce more Life. A Love that Died, but then Miraculously, rose to Live Again and offer that Resurrection Life to all who would believe.
It begins in a place where livestock was kept. The only place that a husband could find for his wife and himself to stay. Like many young couples who have not traveled much, they arrived to town later than they wanted to and now had no place to go. With no online booking and no calling ahead, the inns and rooms to rent were booked solid. Tired and weary from the road, they bunked in what may have been the closest and most immediate place to get out of the night air. Lying on straw and just giving in to the exhaustion from the long journey. A journey, made more difficult because the route was not easy, and further complicated by this young mother who was great with child. As the night watches passed, it was clear that she would soon deliver. An experience to be sure. No birthing room, possibly no midwife, just a husband and wife trying to figure it all out. The joyous moment comes and they are now parents to a King who set aside His throne, to come and be born of a virgin betrothed to a most honorable man.
The boy would grow and perhaps learn His father’s trade, helping His dad with construction work and helping His mother set the table. As younger brothers and sisters came along, He would become the best big brother anyone could ever have. He grew up healthy and strong, full of wisdom and the favor of God rested on Him.
He came to the river to hear His cousin preach and to identify Himself with us as sinners. John would baptize Him and the Holy Spirit would descend like a dove upon Him. A voice from Heaven spoke saying, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” He then began His ministry of Healing the blind, lame, deaf and dumb and bringing Salvation to many individuals, households and those outside of the Jewish faith.
As Love does, it often requires sacrifice. This is why Love came—to die. A body broken, the shedding of blood for the removal of sins. A Lamb without spot or blemish. The ultimate and perfect sacrifice. A bowed head, the end of His work. Accomplished. An open tomb. Joy on that morning. A Savior Friend, dead but now alive, to offer Salvation from sin and an eternal home. A Creator, intimately involved in His creation’s lives. To comfort and guide, to heal and help. A Love like no other. One that no man or woman has ever found elsewhere.
Love sits now at the right hand of His Father. To intercede for us as we confess our sins. The Best Defense Attorney Ever. For those who place their faith and trust in Him, He offers forgiveness and a home eternal. This is Love. Love has sacrificed. Love has come down. Love knows all of the thoughts and intents of our hearts and loves us anyway.
At this time of year when we rush to get things for others, presents for all those we love, let us not forget that one night so long ago. When a birth was announced to the meek and lowly. When wise men traveled for over a year to find this Special One. When the world kept turning, even as its Creator lay helpless in His mother’s arms. No other Love story has all of this. Not even close. Love came and got messy. Love came and took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. Past, Present and Future. He died once for all time and for all sins. I invite you to consider this Love story. A fairy tale that is nothing but Truth. Consider accepting this Love and what He has done to reclaim you.
I mean, most of us who have ever fell in love or had a romantic notion know that love is anything but predictable. We seldom know who we are going to end up with. There are endless possibilities and combinations. You may like someone who has no interest in you at all. It seems to me that the one we choose is usually someone within our immediate proximity. When Love comes close, we may not recognize it at first, but it can peak through the slightest of cracks and then, when we least expect it, burst through the door.
I would like to tell you of a Love that came close one night many years ago. An unlikely love story. A story of anguish and heartbreak. For a mother to lose her son. A group of friends to lose their leader, teacher, and friend. A love betrayed and denied. A love that was, for some, too good to be true. For others, it was all that they had ever dared to dream and imagine that it could be. A Love that would be broken and fall to the ground, in order to produce more Life. A Love that Died, but then Miraculously, rose to Live Again and offer that Resurrection Life to all who would believe.
It begins in a place where livestock was kept. The only place that a husband could find for his wife and himself to stay. Like many young couples who have not traveled much, they arrived to town later than they wanted to and now had no place to go. With no online booking and no calling ahead, the inns and rooms to rent were booked solid. Tired and weary from the road, they bunked in what may have been the closest and most immediate place to get out of the night air. Lying on straw and just giving in to the exhaustion from the long journey. A journey, made more difficult because the route was not easy, and further complicated by this young mother who was great with child. As the night watches passed, it was clear that she would soon deliver. An experience to be sure. No birthing room, possibly no midwife, just a husband and wife trying to figure it all out. The joyous moment comes and they are now parents to a King who set aside His throne, to come and be born of a virgin betrothed to a most honorable man.
The boy would grow and perhaps learn His father’s trade, helping His dad with construction work and helping His mother set the table. As younger brothers and sisters came along, He would become the best big brother anyone could ever have. He grew up healthy and strong, full of wisdom and the favor of God rested on Him.
He came to the river to hear His cousin preach and to identify Himself with us as sinners. John would baptize Him and the Holy Spirit would descend like a dove upon Him. A voice from Heaven spoke saying, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” He then began His ministry of Healing the blind, lame, deaf and dumb and bringing Salvation to many individuals, households and those outside of the Jewish faith.
As Love does, it often requires sacrifice. This is why Love came—to die. A body broken, the shedding of blood for the removal of sins. A Lamb without spot or blemish. The ultimate and perfect sacrifice. A bowed head, the end of His work. Accomplished. An open tomb. Joy on that morning. A Savior Friend, dead but now alive, to offer Salvation from sin and an eternal home. A Creator, intimately involved in His creation’s lives. To comfort and guide, to heal and help. A Love like no other. One that no man or woman has ever found elsewhere.
Love sits now at the right hand of His Father. To intercede for us as we confess our sins. The Best Defense Attorney Ever. For those who place their faith and trust in Him, He offers forgiveness and a home eternal. This is Love. Love has sacrificed. Love has come down. Love knows all of the thoughts and intents of our hearts and loves us anyway.
At this time of year when we rush to get things for others, presents for all those we love, let us not forget that one night so long ago. When a birth was announced to the meek and lowly. When wise men traveled for over a year to find this Special One. When the world kept turning, even as its Creator lay helpless in His mother’s arms. No other Love story has all of this. Not even close. Love came and got messy. Love came and took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. Past, Present and Future. He died once for all time and for all sins. I invite you to consider this Love story. A fairy tale that is nothing but Truth. Consider accepting this Love and what He has done to reclaim you.
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