The reason for the season

This Sunday is Christmas (in case you missed that). Although you’ve probably heard or read the accounts of Jesus’ birth multiple times recently, read them again because you might learn something new with each reading (Matthew 1:1-25; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-23; Galatians 4:4; John 1:1-18). You’ll certainly be encouraged by the hope that the reason for the season brings.

Learning about hope and having that hope leads to rejoicing on many fronts. When the angels shared the good news of Jesus’ birth with the shepherds, both the angels and the shepherds rejoiced because they now knew at least part of the mystery of God’s plan that had been concealed from them and everyone else since their creation (1 Peter 1:10-13; Colossians 1:24-27; Matthew 13:17).

Hope is enhanced when a prophecy is fulfilled that is a step in God’s plant. Jesus’ birth, death, burial and resurrection and that God would place his Spirit (the hope of glory) in his people were all foretold with specific details long before they came about (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; 53:1-13; Zechariah 9:9-11; Joel 2:28-32).

With the fulfillment of those prophecies, Jesus has established his kingdom on earth, which is the church (Daniel 2:36-45; Matthew 16:13-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26; Hebrews 2:14-18; 12:22-28; Colossians 1:13-14).

Also, since Jesus himself made prophecies that came true, as with any prophecy that comes true, we can trust that prophet as long as they continue in the truth (Matthew 12:39-41; 27:62-66; 28:1-15; Deuteronomy 18:18-22; Joshua 23:14; Ezekiel 12:26-28: Hebrews 6:13-18; John 14:6). On the night before his death, Jesus foretold the single-most future event in which we should rejoice — that he was going to prepare a place for each of his followers and come back to take us to be with him there forever (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Romans 6:3-5).

Because Jesus overcame the world (our sinful nature) for us so we could live with him for eternity, we can rejoice in this life, despite its troubles, as we look forward to our eternal life upon his return (John 16:33, which is how Jesus ended the discourse he began in John 14:1 with the promise of his return; Philippians 4:4-6; Romans 5:1-11). Those who don’t have this hope have no hope at all (Ephesians 2:12).

Do you have the hope-filled future that was celebrated by the angels and the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth? If not, you can cause a great celebration in heaven by becoming Jesus’ follower according to God’s plan for salvation that’s available to all people, including you, as a limited time offer for which God only knows the expiration date (Luke 15:1-32; Acts 3:15-22; 2:38-39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Acts 17:30-31; Matthew 24:36-51). Now is the best time to start that celebration and the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper (communion with Jesus himself) is God’s means of reminding us of our future hope (2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Matthew 26:26-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Acts 20:7). Let the rejoicing begin!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].