Christmas

It is noteworthy that the Christmas message does not begin with verse 7, “And she brought forth her firstborn son.” We must understand that we must place the Christmas message in the light of history, and may not change it to our liking. The Holy Ghost has placed it among all the events of the world. From this viewpoint the Babe in the manger receives the proper meaning. Today Christmas is reduced to a humanistic matter, a family feast. Imperceivably, we do the same.

Inspired by the Holy Ghost, Luke positions the events of Christmas in the light of political circumstances. The manger is set in the center of a great world struggle. The Christmas gospel commences with the portrayal of the world power of the Caesar of Rome. Augustus is at the peak of his power; his name means “venerable, revered.” Did not the Jews later cry out, “We have no king but Caesar”? Caesar was honored as a savior, a deliverer. The entire world lay at his feet; it looked up to him and expected deliverance from him.

Men attempt to recover their lost peace, joy, righteousness, and knowledge by their own power. This attempt at self-redemption by man finds its zenith in Caesar. Even today this activity is not cut off, but continues with ever-increasing intensity. The whole world is filled with activity for gaining its own redemption. Our modern times are filled with “Caesar,” the glorifying of power, reaching out for world dominion—things great and powerful. It involves the same concept—Caesar, human power, self-redemption. The entire world cries for peace and justice; men fight and strive for the rights of men and in the meantime the world ripens for destruction.

All the striving of Caesar has not brought peace or redemption. On the contrary, the world becomes increasingly more oppressive and sin becomes increasingly bolder and is more openly committed. The truth is fallen in the street, and that which is straight is called crooked. Throughout the entire world the use of drugs increases alarmingly; all norms are cast overboard, and man lives on in his own acquired liberty, which is nothing else than lawlessness.

Dear readers, let us not only look outside our doors, but also examine our own hearts and lives. What is the principle of our life? Are you (still) serving this Caesar? Are you still walking in the way of self-redemption? Have you found a way which issues forth from man unto God, the way of “touch not, taste not, and handle not”? Is it the way of self-righteousness and self-satisfaction? Oh, consider that also in our lives it is one of the two—either the Caesar of Rome or the King of Bethlehem. There cannot be a blessed Christmas unless the Caesar of Rome is dethroned.

The way of self-redemption is a deadend road. Have we learned to know this by experience? Have we obtained knowledge of our sin, misery, and un-worthiness? Have we learned by the discovering ministration of the Holy Ghost that we are lying under the righteous judgment of God, and that from our side there is not the slightest possibility to save ourselves? Then we have learned to pray, “Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there yet a way to escape that well-deserved punishment, and again be received into favor?” Then we cry out, “Oh, woe is me now, that I have sinned so grievously.” We look for the consolation of Israel and beg for the grace of God in Christ Jesus. There is then no longer a possibility for self-redemption, but we seek for a possibility to be saved.

This possibility is proclaimed unto us by the Babe in the manger. He is the King of Bethlehem. He is the exalted Son of David, the Immanuel, which is God with us. Christmas proclaims to us: Not man becoming a god, but God made in the likeness of man. The way of salvation is revealed from above, to us below, as God’s gracious and sovereign gift. It is a work of God, of God alone. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem is the eternal, praiseworthy wonder of God. The King of Bethlehem is essentially different from the Caesar of Rome. Jesus shall save His people from their sins. As the King of His Church, He is the anointed servant of the Father.

And what is the work of this King? By His loving power He draws all those who are given Him from under the power of Caesar. He breaks the bands of sin, the devil, and death, and brings them under His banner. How irresistible is His power! No sinner has been too long under the power of Caesar. No sinner is too old, too hard, too unwilling, or too unworthy. He draws with an irresistible power from the service of sin. Caesar cannot do it, but Christ can do it and shall do it—until all whom the Father has given Him are gathered into the congregation of those who shall be saved.

We live in such dark and dangerous times. In political and religious realms, everything concerns only man and self-redemption. Who in truth is still asking for the King of Bethlehem? Alas, we know it well; everyone talks about Jesus. In all our hearts there lives that desire to do something for Jesus, but who has learned to know his own inability and unwillingness as a poor and depraved sinner? Is there place in your heart for Him? He came to save sinners. Do you need Him to deliver you from your sins? Have you learned by grace that you cannot do it? The experience of the soul concerns the kingship of Jesus in our heart. Then our crown will have fallen from our head, and we will have learned to bow in the dust before this King. We must come to the actual embracing of this King by faith. Deliverance is outside of us, in Him alone.

We read of the shepherds, how they came with haste. There was a need in their hearts. They had heard the message and there was no time to lose. Going in the way of faith, they were not put to shame. They came and found the Babe. Oh, what a wonder! What a depth of joy! Amazement and adoration will fill our hearts if we may find Him. Then He takes all that is ours. We see in Him the Savior and may confess and bewail all our sins at His feet. He takes all our righteousness that we may receive His righteousness. It is accounted to us only by grace. That is the fulfillment of Christmas by the experience of faith.

Who are the subjects of this King? Poor, despised shepherds. Not many rich, not many noble, not many mighty, but the base and despised hath Cod chosen. They are poor in spirit, hungry, thirsty, lame, blind, foolish; they are bruised reeds and smoking flax, publicans and sinners. They are those who are in debt, and distressed in heart.

Friends, whom do you serve—the Caesar of Rome or the King of Bethlehem? In which way are you travellings— the way of self-redemption or the way of being saved? By nature we are all under the Caesar of Rome. Perhaps you have already advanced far in the way of self-redemption. Perhaps you are already so far that you say, “All these things have I kept from my youth up.” Alas, poor man, you will come out deceived. Your crown must fall. Remember that the nominal Christian grasps after great things, but the true Christian bows before the King of Bethlehem. Perhaps someone asks, “Is it for me?” You see Him as so great, so glorious, so worthy, and yourself so poor, so insignificant, and so unworthy. You see the magnitude of all your sin and guilt, and you do not dare to think that there is grace for such an evil one as you are. Look then to the manger in Bethlehem. He does not lie there in regal dignity and splendor, but poor and insignificant: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

Best Wishes for Christmas and the Exchange of Tears

Dear friends,

On behalf of the Banner of Truth, we desire to wish you and your loved ones a blessed holiday season. The word “holiday” is a shortened version of “holy-day.” Would to God that Christmas, Old and New Years’ days this season might be holy days for us in Christ Jesus!

By nature, we are far from such divine, Christ-centered holiness. To properly end 1989 and commence 1990, we need Christ put back into Christmas for our needy souls which naturally reject the anointed Messiah. We have stained every day of 1989 with our sins and move with rapid strides to the inevitableness of death, judgment, and eternity. Only the blood of Christ can serve to remove those stains and enable us to end this year and our very lives in quiet rest and peace between Cod and our souls.

How fitting it is that this year closes on the Sabbath! Oh, that the Christ-child of Bethlehem may be revealed to our souls at the close of this year, enabling us to experience that 1989’s last Sabbath and last day may become a day of divine rest! Only then shall we enter the new year in Christ’s strength with that precious peace flowing out of Bethlehem’s manger, Calvary’s cross, and the Father’s right hand which surpasses all understanding.

What shall we render to the Lord for all His benefits bestowed upon us in 1989? “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23). Surely, we have deserved to be consumed—not only because of Paradise’s sin and all the sins of our yesterdays, but also because of our ongoing transgressions in the face of a merciful Cod who deserves so much better treatment at our hands. As the curtain of 1989 descends, may it become a wonder to us that the Lord has borne with us for another year! Who can comprehend the patience and longsuffer-ingness of His mercy?

Dear friends, as certainly as this year draws to a close, so the curtain that separates time from eternity shall soon descend upon us. Sooner than we think we must meet the holy Judge of heaven and earth in final judgment. In whose righteousness shall we be clothed when He appears? In the Adamic “fig-leaf righteousness” of our natural self-justification? In our religious “filthy-rag righteousness” of spiritual self-works? Or in the meritorious “white-robe righteousness” of the triune God’s exclusive salvation in Christ Jesus?

Our heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones in 1989 or who have been compelled to carry multiple and heavy afflictions. May all our crosses be sanctified in 1989’s waning days. They then shall be laid in holy submission at the feet of the born Babe and be treated by God as gifts akin to gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Lord delights in the submission and surrender of poor, begging sinners unto Him. How often God’s people must learn that through the surrender of all that is of self lies victory in all that is of Christ! If Scripture says of the spotless, precious Mediator, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?” (Lk. 24:26), ought not you, dear child of God, expect suffering also as you are trained by the Master to walk in His footsteps, pursuing the narrow pathway of fellowship with Him?

May God bless us denominationally in 1990—granting conversions in many congregations; causing His people to grow in grace; preserving us in the precious doctrines of free grace; blessing and enlarging the number of His servants; strengthening our students, consistories, mission workers, and school teachers—all to the glory of His worthy Name. May 1990 be a year in which many souls— near and far which are lying under the seal of gracious election— must be saved under the means of grace, be it under preaching or reading services; catechism and confession of faith teaching; family or pastoral visitation; reading of orthodox books or periodicals, including our Banner of Truth. In us there is no expectation, but we believe in “God the Father, Almighty.” May David’s confession in Psalm 39:7 become our cry for the first time or by renewal, “And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in Thee.” May the efforts of church, school, and home in 1990 be graced with divine favor.

The times are dark; sin is rampant; need is great; judgment is ripe. Oh, may God send forth His indispensable Spirit and revive us before the candlestick of the established churches is removed exclusively to the heathen! May man and self be crucified in the church, the world be despised, Satan be ashamed, God’s people be rightly grounded for eternity, interceders at the throne of grace be multiplied—yes, that God Himself may receive His rightful place among us: He—all in all; we—nothing at all.

We wish you and your families a blessed exchange of years in

Christ Jesus, who exchanges Himself for Barabbases who deserve the center cross.

With pastoral warmth,

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Sioux Center, Iowa.

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