In celebration of the holiday, The JP Hub asked two pastors at neigbhorhood churches to reflect on Christmas 2009. One responded.
Here is the question:
“People are concerned about the economy, about the safety of their own jobs. Here in Jefferson Park, home values have dropped. The country is in the midst of two wars. Under this situation, what is the meaning of Christmas? What does the child in the manger say to us in 2010?
Pastor Darwin A. Caldwell of the Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church replied:
In any situation the meaning of Christmas is the same which is “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that all who believe in Him will receive eternal life.” (John 3:16 Caldwell paraphrase). The meaning becomes most clear to us when we accept, by faith, the Child’s birth, life, death, and resurrection as fact and surrender to His will for our lives.
The message from the Child in the manger is different for each of us. To some it is, “I love you,” to some it is, “I will provide for you,” to some it is, “I am still in control”, but to all of us the Child when grown said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT) and it comes with God’s love and brings hope to all who believe.
