HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-12-17, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2015. PAGE 17.
By Pastor Andrew Versteeg
Brussels Community Bible
Chapel
Is there any doubt in our minds
that the Christmas account given to
us in the Scriptures is truly an
exciting and riveting read? There is
surprise and suspense, suspicion and
reconciliation, intrigue, lying and
near escapes, and some very
unlikely characters involved. These
are the ingredients of a great story if
we wanted to call it a story.
But this is not just a story; this is
the true historical account about how
God Himself made His appearance
on Earth as the baby Jesus. This is
the beginning of His life on Earth
and it is shrouded in secrecy and
clandestine meetings and suspense.
What is the picture that the Bible
gives to us of the Saviour’s birth? It
is the picture of a King, a warrior
King, who is coming to rescue His
people from a cruel enemy who is
holding them in captivity. This King
is coming by stealth right into the
enemies’ camp where He will
prepare Himself to do battle with the
forces of darkness who have taken
His people captive, and He will set
His captives free.
Generally we don’t think about
Christmas like this, and we usually
don’t think about Jesus like this. But
we should, because this is the picture
that God’s word gives to us about the
baby Jesus. When the angel
appeared to Joseph to reassure him
that his fiancée Mary had not been
unfaithful, but that she had become
pregnant by the Spirit of God and
that she had retained her virginity for
Joseph, the angel instructed Joseph
to name the baby ‘Jesus’ because He
is a rescuer, a Saviour who had come
to “save His people from their sins”
(Matthew 1:21).
The book of Matthew also gives us
the account of the ‘Wisemen’ from
the east coming to pay homage to the
King who had been born in
Bethlehem. When Herod, the present
ruling king, heard about this he was
afraid and enraged and planned to
have Jesus put to death. Joseph and
Mary had to flee by night for safety
and Revelation 12 tells us that it was
Satan who was behind this evil plot
to kill Jesus. The battle was on and
though Satan tried a number of times
to destroy Jesus he never succeeded
and Jesus gained the victory for His
people.
What we see in the Christmas
story as well is that Jesus slipped
right into the enemy camp largely
unnoticed. He was born into a very
average and less than distinguished
family. Joseph and Mary were not
rich or famous, and when they went
back to Nazareth they just fit in there
like ordinary citizens. When the
angels announced the birth of Jesus,
they appeared to a few lowly
shepherds in the fields who went to
Bethlehem and found Joseph and
Mary alone with the baby Jesus in a
stable. Jesus was there and hardly
anyone knew about it.
The people in Jesus’ day were not
talking about His birth; for the most
part it happened unnoticed. So why
do we make such an occasion out of
Christmas? It is mostly because of
what He accomplished later in His
life when He went about doing
miracles and preaching, and when
He died and rose again.
It was at the cross where the
decisive battle took place, where
Jesus accomplished salvation/
rescue for His people (Luke 1:68). It
was at the cross that Satan, the
enemy of God was dealt a fatal blow
and God’s people were delivered.
That is the place where we can be
delivered from our sins, and be
delivered from Satan the author of
sin. It is also at the cross where we
can enter into the glorious kingdom
of God and come under the peaceful
rule of King Jesus.
A short time after Jesus was born
Joseph and Mary brought the baby
Jesus up to the temple in Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord and to
offer a sacrifice to for Him. There
they met Simeon, a man to whom
God had spoken saying that Simeon
would not die until he had seen
Jesus. Simeon was overjoyed to see
the Saviour. Simeon knew why Jesus
had come and he knew that the
eternal destiny of everyone hinged
on Jesus. He said to Mary, “behold,
this Child is appointed for the fall
and rise of many in Israel, and for a
sign to be opposed” (Luke 2:34).
If we receive Jesus as our Saviour
and willingly and joyfully come
under His authority, we will rise
with Him and rise up to eternal life
and live with Him forever in His
kingdom. If we reject Him we will
fall forever under His judgment.
Jesus is the Saviour and He is the
victorious King. I trust we will
recognize Him and receive Him this
way this Christmas.
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph’s
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Sunday, December 20
Christmas Through God’s Eyes: The Ewe View
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve, Family Friendly Rudolf Experience 7:30 p.m.
and Traditional Candle Lighting Service 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, December 27
Christmas Through God’s Eyes: the Gift
Blyth United Church
Est. 1875
MINISTER: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
All Welcome
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, December 20
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
Everyone Welcome!
ONE NIGHT
CHANGED ETERNITY
HURON CHAPEL
Sunday @ 10:30am - Christmas Eve @ 7:00pm
huronchapel.com
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Sunday School Program 7:30 pm
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am
All Welcome
United Church
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Luke 1:39-55
Evangelical Missionary Church
“No Need for
a Selfie:
Mary’s
God-focus”
4th Sunday in Advent: Love
Christmas Eve Service/Pageant -
December 24, 7:00 p.m.
From the Minister’s Study
Christmas is more than just a story: Versteeg
See histories and
historic photographs
on the Huron History
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca
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