In the hustle and bustle of the season where we are surrounded by stuff: too busy browsing stuff, buying stuff, wrapping stuff, making stuff, and eating stuff, we rarely have time to relax and breathe. Stuff- what an appropriate word for fluff that consumes space. A dear friend shared with me that, for this year, she wants to see Christmas in a brand-new way. Is the same old hustle and overspending losing its luster for you? Do you long for the true joy and magic of the season?
Matthew 5:1 “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him". This verse is Matthew’s introduction to the Sermon on the Mount and it shows us that the light of Christmas, given to us by the Father, is present and available. In the Sermon, Jesus shares God’s heart. Thanks to Matthew’s introduction, we see that the hearts of Father and Son look the same, hearts that long for their people. Jesus draws near to us and we can draw near to him.
It was in the quiet of night that Jesus came. No fanfare, except the invitation to the shepherds to behold the heavenly host proclaiming him and an invitation for them to meet this baby Messiah. In his death, we witness quiet once again. He remained silent as a lamb being led to the slaughter. The Light of the World’s nature seems to be bold proclamation through his word, but quiet revelation to the heart. Often quietly, Jesus invites us to sit at the table with him. Too often, our attention is focused on the lesser, albeit louder priorities. He doesn’t scream over the noise. He gently calls. How desperately do you need a quiet morning or a silent night in the presence of our savior? Jesus had a far more important task to carry out than our to-do lists at Christmas, yet he stopped and sat with the people. He had the task of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and ensuring their eternity. His eyes were focused on the people, his delight was in sharing God’s heart with man and on knowing the hearts of man. Surely, there is nothing of such pressing importance that we can’t come to him today.
What is our response to this magnificent King who was boldly proclaimed as the one who would conquer and make everything right, yet who makes time for his people, seeing them, speaking to them, sharing his heart with them. For the disciples, it was to draw near. They learned from him. They learned to model his ways. Matthew proves that by mirroring Jesus in this verse. He shares the heart of his savior by sharing how Jesus shared the heart of His Father. Just like Jesus lived to proclaim the Father, Matthew lived to proclaim Jesus.
What a great resolution for the year to come, to come to the Lord who sees us and sits with us simply to know him more. To approach the bold proclamations in the scriptures, even just one verse, with a question to God in our hearts to prayerfully consider throughout the day, “God what do you want to teach me about your heart?”, followed by, “what is my response to knowing you more?”. What a difference really spending time with Jesus this Christmas season would make, not making him part of the Christmas story, or just part of our own story, but making Him everything, modeling our story, our lives around him. He is Immanuel, the God who has come to dwell with us. Dear friend, just as on that mountain, he sees you and he is sitting and waiting for you today.
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