With Christmas just two days away, I thought I’d encourage you with some Christmas Cheer.
First, a joke. Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates entering into Heaven. “In honor of this Holy season,” Saint Peter said, “You must each offer something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.” The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. “It represents a Christmas candle,” he said. “You may pass through the pearly gates,” Saint Peter said. The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, “They’re Christmas bells.” Saint Peter said, “You may pass through the pearly gates.” The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women’s glasses. St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, “And just what do those symbolize?” The man replied, “It’s like the Christmas songs, they’re Carol’s”.
Second, some good news from the angels. “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:9-14 ESV)
Hopefully you can use one or both of these to spread some joy this Christmas, but the real Joy to the World lies in telling how God’s Story played out with the birth of a baby in a manger. That baby was Emmanuel, God with us, the Savior of the World. Merry Christmas.
