Does Christmas exist today because of a promise made nearly 4,000 years ago?
That’s the time when God promised Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” But it’s how Abraham understood that promise that’s remarkable, because according to Jesus, “Abraham looked down the corridors of history and saw my day coming. He saw it and cheered.”
Abraham, therefore, was given a glimpse into the life and ministry of Jesus 1900 years ahead of Jesus’ arrival. And what Abraham saw caused him to burst out with joy, because he could see how all nations on earth would be blessed through him. It would be through the birth of the human Jesus, a direct descendant of his, 42 generations later.
Because as angels explained at the time of Jesus’ birth, Jesus would bring peace on earth to all who trusted him. Jesus himself confirmed that later on too, when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” And that’s what Abraham saw coming in Jesus – all nations, worldwide, being blessed with peace.
And here’s hoping that’s true, because our attempts at peace aren’t working. At the time of writing this article there were 32 countries at war, and no solutions forthcoming. But as Jesus also pointed out, “I give you my peace which is nothing like the peace of this world.” He’s offering a peace, that unlike anything in this world, does work.
And at Christmas time it sounds like we believe it, because “Joy to the world” gets dusted off and given another round, and songs with lyrics like, “Glory to the newborn king,” and “fill the whole earth with heaven’s peace,” etc., are belted out over the air waves.
Is our valiant attempt at Christmas time to create “heaven’s peace,” then, reason to believe that Jesus really is in the process of fulfilling that ancient promise to Abraham? Admittedly it’s a fleeting glimpse for now, because the peace Jesus offers “transcends our human understanding.” It’s beyond anything we can create, in other words, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible, because according to Jesus it’s available to anyone who takes him up on his word.
And that’s what Abraham saw, that one day the whole world would be at peace – and he knew how too. It would begin in people who looked to Jesus to create his peace in them. Just what we need after Remembrance Day.
Buck To Basics 