John 19: 33--34 But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. --NIV
In the name of the One From Whose side the blood and water flow, amen.
During Advent we meditate on how Jesus comes to us. We consider how He came as a child in Bethlehem, how He will come again in judgment, and how He comes to us now in the word and sacraments. This week we consider how He comes to us now.
It was no accident that blood and water poured from our Savior's side when He died. It was no accident that Holy Scripture records that fact for us. There is great importance in that fact. The water and blood that flood from His body are the water of baptism, and the blood of the Holy Supper from the body that we eat. These sacraments only have power because they are connected with Jesus' death and resurrection. These sacraments connect us with the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, because they come from our Savior's holy Body.
As you race toward the celebration of the birth of Christ, there will be times when things don't go the way they should. There will be people with hurt feelings, and angry words will be said. We find ourselves becoming resentful or jealous of others. Stop for just a moment! Confess your sins to God, and apologize to the people you hurt. Then remember that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the One Who gave Himself into death for your sins, and rose again for your justification. Christmas means peace--peace with God because our punishment was taken by Christ, and peace with each other because we can forgive as Christ forgave us. Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men on whom His favor rests! Amen.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we get so distracted from what is important. Forgive us for focusing on the things of this world, rather than on the things of heaven. Help us to pause and consider what Christmas is all about. Help us to remember that it is not a distant holiday with no meaning for us today, but that it marks the beginning of Christ's holy life--our holy life because of Baptism, amen.
Copyright 1999 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org