CHRISTMAS AND THE POWER OF NEAR | Jesus, Christmas and Story, Part 2

By Jill Roberts and Michael Canalé

 

In a few days, we will celebrate the most important event that has ever occurred in human history – Jesus’ rescue mission to Earth. As set forth in the last blog, the goodbyes in Heaven had been said and the hour was at hand. In planning this Christmas blog, Michael and I discussed why it was that Jesus came to Earth. Michael said,

 

“Jesus was born to bring the keys to the Kingdom of God.”

 

In the process, Jesus, light itself, carried with him the light of that Kingdom into the dark recesses of a fallen land, a world lost without him.

 

In order to fully examine what Michael said so well, it is critical to, once again, recall that Jesus is recorded in Scripture as having spoken of the Kingdom of God or, synonymously, the Kingdom of Heaven, over one hundred times. It was, above all else, his priority, then as it is today. The Bible is replete with references to it. Because of the Christmas theme of this blog, we will focus on one essential and abiding aspect of that Kingdom – the NEARNESS of it as a result of Jesus’ coming to Earth. The words of Jesus say it all:

 

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come NEAR.”

(Matthew 4:17) NIV

 

“As you go, proclaim the message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come NEAR.”

(Matthew 10:7) NIV

 

“The Kingdom of God has come NEAR to you.”

(Luke 10:9) NIV

 

“The Kingdom of God has come NEAR.”

(Luke 10:11) NIV

 

“The Kingdom of God has come NEAR.”

(Luke 21:31) NIV

 

“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come NEAR.”

(Mark 1:14-15) NIV

 

Why has it come NEAR? Look to a manger in Bethlehem and the baby born there on Christmas Day. By coming to Earth, Jesus is now NEAR and carrying with him his primary agenda — the Kingdom of Heaven. (We are indebted to an article by Mark D. Roberts, “Jesus and the Kingdom of God. What You Need to Know,” for this concept). 

 

Jesus often explained the meaning of the Kingdom of God through parables. In so doing, he used story to illustrate a clearer view of this concept. In Mark 4:30-32, NIV, for example,

 

“Again, he said, ‘What shall we say the Kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on Earth. Yet, when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

 

So it is with Jesus and his arrival on Earth with the Kingdom of God as his primary agenda. He, part of the Godhead, planted as a human seed, an embryo, in Mary’s womb, a seed which brought with it, as Michael says, the keys to the Kingdom of God. It is a Kingdom that has grown to be so vast that it will never end!

 

Now, to turn to story and to Bethlehem on that cold Christmas night when warmth was born; light was born and the Kingdom of God drew NEAR. There is so much we could say in recounting the birth of God on Earth. Michael paints a beautiful picture in these words:

 

“Imagine, as Mary gave birth, how Joseph held a lantern given to him earlier in order to locate the frigid, dark manger where they were to stay. Can’t we picture that, as Jesus came into the world, the lantern light intensifying in a dimension we can only imagine.”

 

Here was the Light of God from Heaven, carrying with him the nucleus of the Kingdom of God, then so small, but destined to be vast beyond words. Think of the most radiant light you have ever seen. Maybe you took a picture of it. This lantern light was a million times more transcendent, more magical.

 

John, in writing his Gospel, describes this light, both physically and metaphorically. Speaking of Jesus, he wrote,

 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

(John 1:4-5, 9, 14) NIV

 

The Kingdom of God has come NEAR and the intensifying lantern light announced him.

 

We will close out this blog with story. It is an amazing analogy to what we have chronicled thus far. Appropriately, we will quote Donald Miller, a master of the concept of story, as he is quoted by Pastor Ger Jones in his Christmas sermon. What a illustration of how the Kingdom of God has drawn NEAR with the birth of Jesus into our world and how that nearness is the key to his lighting our paths so that we can enter the Kingdom of God:

 

Pastor Ger recounts Donald Miller’s story about his friend, a Navy Seal, and part of a team of Navy Seals who stormed a building in a hostile country in order to free American hostages who had been held there for months. They had been kept in darkness, sitting on a cold concrete floor. After the Seals breached the door, they quickly told the Americans that they were also Americans, soldiers sent there to free them. “Follow us, we’re here to rescue you,” they cried. But none of the hostages moved. Having given up all hope, they didn’t believe the Seals, fearing an enemy trick. Many minutes passed, but the Seals made no progress with them.

 

Finally, the Seal, who was Donald Miller’s friend, had an idea. He walked over and sat down next to one of the hostages, sitting so NEAR that he slightly brushed up against him. Some of the other Seals did the same. Their arms touching those of the hostages, one by one, the once-captured men began to stand and walk toward the door, following the Seals. After a few minutes, all of the hostages got up and walked outside. They were free.

 

Our friends, this is a perfect representation of Christmas and the journey Jesus ultimately took. Jesus, the Savior, came to Earth where he remained NEAR us; he “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14) NIV. He didn’t opt to orchestrate our deliverance from afar; he found us as hostages to a fallen world and worldview and drew close. We have been rescued from darkness and into the light because he would let no hindrance prevent him from physical and spiritual proximity.

 

Pastor Ger quoted a great theologian who said that the Bible had three distinct acts;

 

1) Home with God

2) Fallen

3) Home again

 

It is Christmas and Jesus was born on Earth. He drew NEAR.

 

Michael and I wish you a Christmas of great peace, knowing that, through the Prince of Peace, Jesus, we have been rescued and, at last, are home again.