One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I love the message of this movie. The best part of the movie is after the Grinch stole all of the Whos Christmas, he stood on top of Mount Crumpet and looked down on Whoville, waiting to hear their cries because all their stuff was gone. Surprisingly, they were not upset like the Grinch had hoped, but they gathered in the square, they held hands, and with hearts full of joy they began to sing. “And he did hear a sound rising over the snow. It started in low, then it started to grow.” and the Grinch was perplexed. As I watch it, I see them as worshipping God celebrating the birth of Jesus.
And it says, “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” And as the star rose up from the midst of the Whos the Grinch understood the true meaning of Christmas.
Dr. Seuss doesn’t go into detail, and you know what, I think that it is the same for most folks out there, they miss the true meaning of Christmas, they miss the one critical detail, Jesus. This is a season where many people sense that there is something more to this holiday than tinsel and lights and presents under the tree. It’s a time where that missing piece in their heart is most evident to them and they are looking to fill it in somehow. And most importantly, it’s a time when they are the most open to hearing the good news of Jesus.
In Acts 20:35 Paul the Apostle’s speaks his final words to the Ephesian Elders. Here he echoes the words of Jesus. He said, “It is more blessed to give then to receive”. And today, Jesus is speaking these same words to us. We have a tremendous window of opportunity to share His gift with those we bump into along the way this season. We have, right before us, the ability to not only be blessed but be more blessed by giving someone something they can hold onto forever, Eternal life through Jesus Christ.
As God opens the door, just like the Whos, with hearts full of joy, let’s share the true meaning of Christmas….. Jesus Christ our Lord!
May God richly bless you with His presence and His peace,
Pastor David