Bah, Humbug!
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Are you having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit? It is still November after all. But no. It’s not that. It’s something else, isn’t it?
It’s the feeling of missing out. Something’s happened to you over the past year or years, and you won’t be able to celebrate the holidays like you used to. While everyone’s making merry, your decorations won’t go up, you won’t see your friends or family, you won’t get to see the lights.
It’s the feeling of a hard year. Your kids’ Christmas list is a mile long, but you can only afford a few inches. The cheer of the Christmas season won’t erase the debt you’ve built up in the last twelve months. The bill collector might take Christmas Day off, but he’s right back to work on December 26th.
It’s the feeling of who’s missing. Maybe this is the first year you’re celebrating Christmas without someone. Maybe it’s been several years, and it’s still hard to look at their seat at Christmas dinner and find it empty.
It’s the feeling of “Bah, humbug!” You just can’t get in the mood.
“In this world you will have trouble,” says Jesus. Even in this awful prophecy, our Lord speaks truth. You do have trouble. The world gladly robs you of Christmas cheer. This is because our world, corrupted by and mired in sin, looks at the little baby in the manger and every year still says, “Bah, humbug! Who needs him?”
You need him. The world offers you no hope. As soon as Christmas comes, it passes. The world goes back to its routine. But Jesus remains.
“Take heart! I have overcome the world,” says Jesus. He replaces our “Bah, humbugs” with “Joy to the worlds.” The Light of the world shines in your gloomy darkness. He promises you life regardless of whether the world wants you to live. He spreads his Christmas cheer from Bethlehem to Calvary to Texas.
If you need this Christmas cheer, come to the manger. If you need this year-round joy, come to see the Savior who has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.