Image Commercially Licensed From: Unsplash
In the opulent setting of Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, a seven-star hotel boasts a lavish week-long package priced at $1 million, complete with a private butler, a chauffeur-driven Maybach, and a private jet for regional trips. This winter, the hotel showcased the world’s most expensive Christmas tree, valued at $11 million, adorned with precious jewelry including diamonds, pearls, and sapphires.
Yet, Pastor Tony Jones of Trinity Central Church in Lansdale juxtaposes this extravagance with the profound simplicity of the Christmas story. The comparison underscores that even the $11 million tree pales in significance to the immeasurable value of what Jesus brought to the world during Christmas.
Pastor Jones elaborates on Luke 2, where the nativity story unfolds. He suggests that our familiarity with the story often leads us to overlook its raw intensity and drama. The narrative begins on a Palestinian hillside with shepherds witnessing an extraordinary event – an angel appearing amidst a blinding light, bringing a message from heaven.
The appearance of the angel, typically associated in the Old Testament with judgment and destruction, initially terrifies the shepherds. They expect divine retribution, but instead, the angel brings a message of comfort and peace – the essence of the Gospel and the mission of Jesus. This announcement is not just for the shepherds but is universal and eternal: good news of great joy for all people.
The good news, or ‘gospel’, is about ‘mega grace’ – a savior has been born to rescue humanity from itself and from the judgment of a holy God. This is the core of the Christmas message, one of redemption and peace, not punishment.
Pastor Jones draws a parallel to a contemporary event where a magistrate, Nigel Allcoat, paid a fine for an asylum seeker in a UK court. This act of humanity and sacrifice echoes the essence of Christmas – Jesus being born into the world to ultimately die for it, standing in for humanity. Jesus, referred to as “Christ the Lord” – a title of the highest honor – came to reclaim his kingdom, starting with his birth and culminating in his death on the cross.
Christmas, Pastor Jones emphasizes, is a pivotal event that divides history. Despite skepticism in the modern age, the biblical account of the shepherds’ encounter with the angel and the heavenly host is presented as a credible, transformative revelation.
The message of Christmas, according to Pastor Jones, is clear: “Do not be afraid.” This message was not only for the shepherds but is relevant to everyone, addressing the various fears that plague humanity. Through the story of Linus in the Christmas movie “Snoopy’s Christmas,” Pastor Jones illustrates how we all have our security blankets, coping mechanisms to deal with fear. However, the true comfort and safety lie in understanding and trusting in the message of Christmas and the salvation offered by Christ the Lord.
Pastor Tony Jones invites everyone to reflect on the nativity scene, seeing not just the crib but also the cross and beyond it, the crown. By trusting in Christ, we can experience his love and peace, regardless of what the future holds. This Christmas and beyond, he urges us to remember: “Do not be afraid.”
