A Solitary Life

Sarah Magie, Student Supply Minister, Centenary Pastoral Charge | Jan 11, 2014

I have been asked to write in 600 words or less about the religious aspect of Christmas. My first reaction to this request was to smile at the irony of explaining the holy (read: non-secular) side of CHIRST-mas. My second reaction was to puzzle over the question – is there any side to Christmas other than a religious one? Let us review the story as presented by the Bible about this holiday that everyone gets to celebrate in this country, regardless of personal conviction (Christmas Day is a statutory holiday in Canada, whether you are Jewish, or Muslim or Christian).

Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.

This Man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family that we know of, nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big contemporary city nor traveled even 200 miles from his birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany our idea of greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.

While he was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth - the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.

But three days later this Man rose from the dead - living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of one of the largest religions of the world. On our calendars His birth still divides history in two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.

This one Man's life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of human history as much as this one solitary life.

Over the centuries millions have found a new life in the forgiveness from sins and peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. But it all started 2000 years ago, in the humble beginning of this one solitary life, in a lowly manger, half way around the world. I don’t have an answer to the question of what the religious aspect of Christmas is – simply because I cannot fathom a CHIRST-mas without the Christ child. I cannot separate the celebration of this season from the reason for it. So perhaps you can answer the question for me: is there any side to Christmas other than the religious one?