Lent is…

Lent is the solemn liturgical season prior to Easter on the Christian liturgical calendar. It lasts forty days to remind us of the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness prior to being tempted by Satan before beginning his public ministry. The purpose of Lent is to draw near to God and make progress in the Christian faith. Lent is observed by many denominations. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter morning. (However, technically it ends on Maundy Thursday.) This year, Ash Wednesday is February 18 and Easter is April 5. It has been said, Lent is a time to go into the wilderness with the Lord.

In this blog, I what to give you three principles you need to remember during this sacred season. Each one is illustrated in John 1:43-51, the calling of Nathanael. These thoughts are not original. They came from United Methodist clergyman James W. Moore (1938-2019). This is principle number one.

Lent is a time to be honest. Our reading is early in Jesus’ earthly ministry. As a matter of fact, he only has three disciples. They are Simon, Andrew and Philip. It is Philip who told Nathanael about Jesus. Verse forty-five says, “Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” That fact is not surprising. Studies tell us 90% of all people who accept Christ are introduced to him by an acquaintance. Nathanael’s response with brutally honest, it exposes his humanity. It is filled with human pride and arrogance. Verse forty-six says, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Still today, every community has a stigma. Lent is a time to be honest. It is a time to be honest with the people in your life, honest with God and honest with yourself. Self-honesty is challenging.

Self-honesty looks past personal biases, defenses and illusions to confront uncomfortable truths, ultimately fostering growth, better relationships and mental health. In the fourth century monastic monks lived in the Egyptian desert and practiced self-honesty. They would bring their shortcomings back to the Abby and share them with their brothers. The entire community supported one another. They illustrate for us the Christian faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. We need one another when we deal with self-honesty. Lent is a time to be honest. This is the second principle.

History tells us one night the founder of the great Methodist movement John Wesley (1703-1791) was once robbed. The thief was disappointed in his small take and turned to run away. Wesley told him to stop and said to him, “I have something more to give you.” The surprised robber paused. “My friend,” said Wesley, “you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here’s something to remember: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'” The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit. Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. That stranger was the one-time robber. He had been transformed. Now a believer in Christ, he was a successful businessman. He said, “I owe it all to you.” Wesley responded, “Oh no, my friend, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!” This is principle number two.

Lent is a time to experience Jesus for yourself. Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, but he was not impressed. He tries to dismiss Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Philip doesn’t argue with him, but he does encourage him to experience Jesus for himself. In verse forty-six Philip says, “come and see.” Once Nathanael experienced Jesus for himself everything changed. God has no grandchildren, only children. Lent is a time to experience Jesus for yourself.

One of the greatest names in world history is Michelangelo (1475-1564). He is remembered for his great works of art. When he was ordered to paint the Sistine Chapel, he refused. He didn’t consider himself a great painter; he saw himself primarily as a sculptor. He was told his refusal would not be accepted. When he discovered that there was no alternative without unpleasant consequences, he mixed his colors and went to work, creating one of the world’s finest murals. No one was more surprised than Michelangelo. Like Michelangelo, few realize their full potential, but Jesus recognizes our full potential. Jesus is more interested in what we can become, than what we are. This is principle number three.

Lent is a time of redemption. Go back to the text with me. Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, but he wasn’t impressed. He wasn’t impressed until he met Jesus for himself. Jesus knew more about him then was humanly possible. However, what was more important was that Jesus was impressed with Nathanael because he saw him standing under the fig tree. Why is that important? Jews stood under the fig tree for two reasons. First, they went for shade. Second, they went under the fig tree to meditate on God’s word and pray. Jesus was impressed with Nathanael and saw his full potential. Jesus sees our full potential. Lent is a time of redemption. Let me ask you the question again.

Are you going to be any closer to Jesus in forty days then you are right now? Lent is a journey. It is a journey that will take forty days to complete. If you want to be closer to Jesus in forty days, then remember these three things. First, Lent is a time to be honest. Be honest with yourself. Second, Lent is a time experience Jesus for yourself. No one can experience Jesus for you. Third, Lent is a time of redemption. Hiding inside of you is the person God intended from the very beginning. Are you going to be any closer to Jesus in forty days then you are right now? The answer all depends on you.

Our Unchanging God

Located just off the Marblehead Peninsula in Ottawa County, Ohio is Johnson’s Island. Over the past few decades the island has been developing, but for many years it remained rustic. On the north coast of the island is a Civil War cemetery. At one time it was the site of a Confederate Civil War prisoner of war camp, but now the cemetery is all that remains. It is the final resting spot for 206 former Confederate officers who never returned home. History tells us no prisoner ever escaped from the camp because the island was so remote. Today, the cemetery is maintained by the Daughters of the Confederacy.

I have been to the cemetery on Johnson’s Island numerous times. It is a short walk from the cemetery to the shore of Lake Erie. If you look out across the water, you can see Cedar Point Amusement Park, the home of eighteen world-class roller coasters. Every time I visited Johnson’s Island, I was moved by the contrast. If you looked toward Lake Erie, you saw the amusement park; if you looked away from Lake Erie you saw the Civil War graves. The contrast is shocking. Let me state the obvious. Our world has completely changed since the Civil War. Our world is always changing, but God remains the same. That takes us to our reading, Malachi 3:1-6.

Many years ago, before man walked on the moon, before a civil war threatened to divide America, or before Columbus discovered a New World, there was a man who spoke for God. His name meant “my messenger,” but we just call him Malachi. He lived in approximately the year 400 BC. According to the Bible, by that time the temple had been reconstructed, but God’s chosen people were stuck in a spiritual funk. The book of Malachi echoes their spiritual condition. Our reading is a dialogue between God and His chosen people. Malachi acts as the go-between. God is concerned about the people’s unfaithfulness, yet God does not give up on them. The book ends with a word of hope. Someday the Messiah will come, and a great spiritual revolution will begin. Jesus led that revolution four hundred years later. The background is interesting, but one verse stands above the rest. Malachi 3:6, “I the Lord do not change. So, you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” That verse grabbed both my attention and imagination. Most consider it the most important verse in the entire book. In a world that is constantly changing, it is refreshing to find something that remains the same. How much has the world changed in your lifetime?

I was born in 1957. The world has changed completely in my lifetime. My parents bought their first home in northeast Ohio in 1950. They paid $5,400. When I was very young my parents only had one car. I remember my mother riding the city bus when she shopped. My family’s black and white television set only got three stations. When we finally got a color television set the whole family celebrated. There was a nob to adjust the color from red to green. The first movie we watched in color was Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. At some point, we got an antenna that moved so we could watch Cleveland or Pittsburgh television. We were so excited! I was in the first grade when John Kennedy (1917-1963) was assassinated. My school’s principal made the announcement over the school’s public address system; my teacher, Mrs. Fuller, cried. I remember the day Martin Luther King (1929-1968) was shot and my parents wondered how the world could get any worse. It did. I remember the milk man coming to the house. He left the milk in a small silver box on the front porch. His name was Gilbert. He sold popsicles on the side for a nickel. Do I have to go on or do you get the point? The world has changed quite a bit during my life. How much has the world changed in your lifetime? Only a fool would think our world has not changed!

Our world has been changing for a long time, but God remains the same. This blog could have been called “Our Changing World,” but I have decided to call this blog “Our Unchanging God.” This message is not about volatility; it is about stability. We hear it in the Malachi reading, “I the Lord do not change.” Psalm 90:2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting, you are God.” This is not a new concept or discovery. It should be a foundational piece of your understanding of God.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you should always be trying to expand your understanding of God. That is one of the primary functions of the church. Churches teach about God in a variety of ways – sometimes from the pulpit, sometimes in the classroom, sometimes in our music. Hymns are not just a collection of pleasing notes. Hymns teach us theology. They teach us about the basic elements of the Christian faith. Let me give you an example. In 1867, a new hymn came out. It was called Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise. It was written by Walter C. Smith (1824-1908). It is a beloved hymn in traditional worship. My churches sang it many times over the years. There is a stanza in that hymn about the unchanging character of God. Do you remember it? It goes:

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish – but naught changeth Thee!

In other words, we change regularly, but God remains the same. God is God and God does not change. Whatever God is, God always has been, and God always will be. That is important to remember in our changing world.

Theologians call it immutability. The word is not about God’s physical appearance. It deals with God’s character. Immutability is defined as: unchanging over time, or unable to be changed. Our reading for today, Malachi 3:6, is one of several verses which attests to the immutability of God. So, in what ways does God not change? This is the list.

God is:

Always wise

Always powerful

Always holy

Always just

Always good

Always true

Always gracious

Always present

Always knowledgeable

Always sovereign

Always loving

Those things have been part of God’s nature from the very beginning and they always will be.

In 2020, my wife Kathryn and I traveled to Yellowstone National Park. I was really looking forward to seeing Old Faithful. It has always fascinated me. It was named by explorers in September 1870. In the early days of the park, it was used as a laundry because of the ample hot water. It erupts approximately every ninety minutes and shoots up to 8,400 gallons of hot water into the air some 150 feet. Historians tell us there are records of Old Faithful erupting 500 years ago. Old Faithful has erupted more than 1,000,000 times. It is safe to say it is as old as the earth itself.

I found Old Faithful to be impressive, but not as impressive as God. Our unchanging God transcends time. Malachi said it best four hundred years before the birth of Christ, “I the Lord do not change.”

John’s Greatest Priority

Our reading is Matthew 14:1-12. The scene is Herod Antipas’s (72 BC- 4 BCE) birthday party. He was a powerful man, the Herodian ruler of Galilee and Perea. The entertainment for the evening was Herodias’s (15 BC-39 AD) daughter. The first century Jewish historian Josephus (AD 37-100) gives us her name, Salome (AD 14-71). Herod’s life was complicated. It sounds like a country song; Salome was Herod’s stepdaughter and niece. Salome’s dance pleases Herod. It was not the dance of an innocent child, it was an erotic dance. Herod was pleased with her performance, he says she can have anything she desires. She, with encouragement from her mother, requests “The head of John the Baptist on a platter.” There is no easy way to say it. By the end of the evening John’s head was delivered, never to speak again.

I have always found this story to be shocking. It is so shocking that it blinds us from the divine truth. The divine truth is found in John’s priorities. Look at the story with me one more time. The life of John the Baptist and the life of Herod Antipas stand in complete contrast. John was preoccupied with the eternal, trying to please God. Herod Antipas was preoccupied with the temporary, trying to please himself. John the Baptist’s priorities and Herod Antipas’s priorities are opposites. This story challenges us to examine our own priorities. How much time do you spend worrying about the temporary? How much time do you spend worrying about the eternal?

Years ago, I called my good friend Bill Johnson. (No, not the former Congressman, now President of Youngstown State University, the preacher.) This was not unusual, I called Bill regularly. Normally, he spoke in a clear voice, but on that day, he was whispering. I asked him why he was whispering and he responded, “I am at the Genesee of the Abbey near Rochester, New York.I am only to use electronic devices in case of an emergency. I am supposed to be focused on God.” I said, “Bill, I am not an emergency.” He said, “No. However, you are a priority.” I asked, “Do you answer when the wife calls.” He said, “Yes! I talked to her this morning.” He added, “I think I am in trouble. They caught me using my iPad to see if the Guardians won last night.”

Bill illustrates for us the simple point that good things can take our attention away from the best thing, God. He is supposed to be our greatest priority, because only God is eternal. That is what Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” God expects total and unconditional commitment from us. There is nothing wrong with friends and family. There is nothing wrong with our favorite professional sports team. However, none of those things should be our greatest priority because they are temporary. God is supposed to be our greatest priority because only God is eternal. How many good things in your life are distracting you from God? Consider these three good things that can distract us from God.

It would be easy to make patriotism your greatest priority. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859) was a French political thinker and writer. In 1831 he came to America and found what makes America great. According to him, our greatness is not found in our natural resources, our educational system, our form of government, or our economic success. He said, “America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!” I cannot disagree with him.

I have been to some amazing places in this world but there is no place like America. I always feel a sense of relief when I am flying home and enter U.S. air space. I am both proud and thankful to be an America. It would be easy to make America your greatest priority, but don’t do it. America is not God. America is a country. God must be your greatest priority!

It would be easy to make your local church your greatest priority. Your local church is more than a building. Some of life’s most significant experiences happen in your local church. For example, your grandmother sold pies to buy the pews. Your grandfather helped roof the church on the hottest day one summer. In the sanctuary you buried your brother who left too soon. You married the love of your life in church. You baptized your children at church. Years later, you can still point to the place at the kneeing rail where you accepted Jesus at church. You still remember how the whole church prayed just for you before your big medical test. The fellowship hall is filled with memories of past church gatherings and heated church debates. It would be easy to make your local church your top priority, but don’t do it. The church is not God. The church is an organization to teach you about God. God must be your greatest priority!

It would be easy to make family your greatest priority. There is so much to love about being in a family. They are the ones we call during life’s greatest, and saddest, experiences. They are the ones that give us the greatest since of satisfaction. They are the ones we sacrifice for and the ones who will sacrifice for us. Everything we have would mean nothing without family. It would be easy to make family your greatest priority, but don’t do it. Your family is not God. God must be your greatest priority. There is nothing wrong with making patriotism, your local church, or your family a priority in your life, but they can’t be your greatest priority, because they are not God. John teaches us, we must make God our greatest priority because only God is eternal. What is your greatest priority?

As I write this blog, we are hours away from the XXV Olympic Winter Games. They are being held in Milan and Cortina, Italy. NBC will have 7,000 hours of total coverage over their various networks, featuring all 329 events. We will learn about the various events and the story of some of the athletes. We will not hear much about the Duomo di Milan, the symbol of the city of Milan. I had the great privilege of visiting there years ago. It is a wonderful place.

The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. Construction began in 1386 and was not completed until 1965. The cathedral has five huge doors to welcome visitors. The center three doors grab our attention. Over the first side door is a sculptured wreath of roses, and underneath it are the words, “All which pleases is just for a moment.” Over the second side door is sculptured a cross, and the words, “All that troubles is just for a moment.” But underneath the giant central entrance leading to the main aisle is the inscription, “Only the eternal is important.” That is what John is telling us in our reading. That is why God must be your greatest priority. Only God is eternal. What is your greatest priority?

John’s Question

Born in Eastern Europe, Isidor I. Rabi (1898-1988) moved to America as an infant. In time, he would study physics at MIT, Columbia and Cornell. In 1942, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics “for his resonance method for recording the magnetic properties of atomic nuclei.” (Whatever that is.) He credited his mother for his success. He said that every day after school his mother would talk to him about his school day. She wasn’t interested in his daily schedule. She was more interested in the questions he asked. Daily, she asked him, “Did you ask any good questions today?” “Asking good questions,” Rabi said, “made me become a better scientist.” In our reading, Matthew 11:1-6, John the Baptist had his disciples ask Jesus an excellent question, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

There is nothing innocent about this story. John the Baptist had been imprisoned because he had made an enemy of a powerful man, Herod Antipas (72 BC- 4 BCE). He was the son of Herod the Great (BC 72-BC 4) and the grandson of Antipater the Idumaean (BCE 114-BCE 43). He was appointed by the Romans as Herodian ruler of Galilee and Perea in 4 BCE. His political connections do not impress John. He called all to repent, including Herod Antipas. His story was well known and filled with immorality – it sounds like the storyline from a contemporary soap opera. Herod went to Rome to visit his brother, and became infatuated with his sister-in-law, Herodias (15 BC- 39 AD). He seduced her, took her home for himself and divorced his wife. While many stayed silent, John proclaimed it as morally wrong. John’s protests came to the attention of Herod Antipas, who imprisoned John near the Dead Sea.

Like Jesus, all teachers had students or disciples who believed in them, including John. John sent his disciples to Jesus with our question, are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else? This question is not unique to Matthew, it is also found in Luke 7:19-23. It is a great question. The issue that haunts the entire text is why John had his disciples ask the question. John knew Jesus’s identity. He knew it from within his mother’s womb (Luke 1:44) and he heard Jesus’s identity proclaimed by God at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:15). There is no sign that John doubted or became frustrated with Jesus. So why did John have his disciples ask the question, “Are you the one who has come, or should we expect another?”

The key to understanding John’s question is evangelism. We understand evangelism to be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, calling individuals to repentance and faith in Him as their Lord and Savior. John knew Jesus was the Messiah and he wanted to make sure his disciples understood Jesus to be the Messiah. He knew the benefits of discipleship, and he wanted his disciples to experience those benefits too. Consider it the pastoral side of John. He sends them to Jesus to ask the question, “are you the one who has come, or should we expect another,” because he wanted them to have the right answer too. He wanted the best for his disciples. The best we have to offer someone is Jesus. No one can accept Jesus for you, you must do it for yourself. There is a world of difference between learning about Jesus and experiencing Jesus! That reminds me of a parishioner I met years ago.

Her name was Nancy and she lived in a Cleveland, Ohio suburb. She visited my church one Sunday, and I arranged to meet her several days later. We connected in the first few minutes and she told me her story. She had just been honorably discharged from the United States Navy and moved back home to attend college. She was studying nursing and confessed it was hard for her to be living at home with her mother. She went as far as to tell me her mother was mad at her for visiting my church, because she had been raised Roman Catholic. She felt disconnected from the Roman Catholic Church during her military service. During those years, she tried various Christian traditions and had read the Bible cover to cover. Near the end of our discussion, she looked at me and said, “I know everything there is to know about Jesus, but I’m still not sure I am going to heaven when I die.” I looked at Nancy and said, “There is a world of difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus.” I asked her if she knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She did not, so I led her to salvation. She thanked me and walked out of my church a different person.

Can you relate to Nancy’s story? You know everything there is to know about Jesus. You go to church and read the Bible. You pray for the sick and read your devotional. However, you still aren’t sure about your own salvation. John the Baptist knew it from the very beginning. You can know everything about Jesus and still not know Jesus. He sent his disciples to Jesus with the question, “are you the one who has come, or should we expect another,” so they could experience Jesus for themselves. Do you know Jesus, or do you just know about Jesus? Until you know Jesus, you know nothing at all!

Moments of Self-Doubt

Our reading is Matthew 27:20-26. Normally, we hear these words during Holy Week. However, that does not mean it doesn’t have something for us today. The scene is powerful. Jesus is on his way to the cross and is standing next to Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. The crowd must choose who they will release, the notorious rebel and murderer Barabbas, or Jesus. The crowd chooses Barabbas. Think about that scene for a moment. Jesus and Pilate made a strange pair. Pilate has everything this world has to offer – fame, power, and influence. Jesus has nothing this world has to offer. However, the man with nothing is filled with self-confidence. The man with everything is rattled with self-doubt. What does Jesus have that Pilate lacked?

In this blog I want to help restore your self-confidence. It is Satan who puts self-doubt into your life because he doesn’t want you to maximize your full potential. He wants you to live in a shell, afraid to come out. God, on the other hand, wants you to live up to your full potential because he wants you to have the greatest impact on your little corner of the world. As a disciple of Jesus, you are His ambassador and that changes everything. So let me ask you three questions. These questions are not original. They came from United Methodist clergyman James W. Moore (1938-20019).

First, how secure are you? Jesus was secure because Jesus knew who he was. The scriptures tell us very little about Jesus’s childhood. We are told that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived in Egypt for a short time as an infant. Jesus called Nazareth home, and at twelve years old, he went to the temple and amazed the elders. He stayed near his mother until he was thirty. We know very little about Jesus’ life, but I am comfortable saying Jesus knew who he was from the very beginning. Jesus knew he was the son of God. Jesus knew being the son of God brought unique opportunities, but it also brought unique challenges. Jesus was not arrogant; Jesus was secure. Jesus knew who he was. How many secure people do you know? Do you consider yourself a secure person? Do you know yourself?

In a few months I will turn sixty-nine years old. My age does not bother me, because I have had all this time to learn about myself. When I was young, I tried to act like I knew everything. The truth is, I am ignorant about many things. I know nothing about plumbing, auto repair, foreign policy, sewing, crafts, and the finer details of physics. I can’t speak a word of Portuguese. It is extremely difficult to know everything. Then, somewhere along the way I learned three little words that liberated me, “I don’t know!” It doesn’t mean I don’t know anything. It only means I don’t know about certain things. I don’t know anything about cardiology, but I know something about God, preaching, the Bible, church growth, and group dynamics. I like being my age because I have had all these years to learn about myself. I consider myself a secure person. Do you consider yourself a secure person? Jesus knew who he was. Self-confident people know themselves. How secure are you?

Second, do you know whose you are? Our reading happened over two thousand years ago, so you know how the story ends.Pilate permits Jesus to be crucified, and Jesus was buried in a cave-like tomb. Jesus spent his earthly ministry surrounded by people, but when the end came, he was alone. The crowds of Palm Sunday disappeared and, except for God, he was alone. Jesus had self-confidence because he knew he was loved by God. You can have self-confidence because you are loved by God.

One of the great preachers of yesteryear was Philip Brooks (1835-1893). He was extremely confident and optimistic. A close friend asked him what the source of his attitude about life was. He replied, “It is quite simple. I am a Christian.” Once you discover God’s love for you, everything changes. Being a disciple of Jesus means you know you are loved by God. In the end, God will be victorious and He wants to share the spoils of that victory with you! It really doesn’t matter what the world says about you, the only thing that really matters is that God loves you! Jesus was self-confident because he knew whose he was. You can be self-confident because God loves you. You belong to God. Do you know whose you are?

Third, do you know where you are going? Jesus’s final destination is not a secret. It is found in the Apostle’s Creed: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Jesus knew he was going to heaven when it was all over. All he had to do was hang on. The same is true for us – the trials and challenges of this world are temporary, all we must do is endure them. Heaven is going to last for eternity. Do you know where you are going?

History tells us Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was fatally shot at Washington DC’s Ford Theater on April 14, 1865. Much has been written about the shooting and the political climate of America on that day. Very little has been written about the contents found inside of the pockets of our sixteenth president. It was reported in President Lincoln’s pockets were found:

1. A handkerchief, embroidered “A. Lincoln”
            2. A country boy’s pen knife
            3. A spectacles case repaired with string
            4. A purse containing a $5 Confederate bill
            5. Some old and worn newspaper clippings

One of the clippings was an article written by John Bright (1811-1877). He called Lincoln, “one of the greatest minds of all times.” Today, that is common knowledge but that wasn’t the case in Lincoln’s time. In 1865, millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President’s critics were fierce. The country was in turmoil and was ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war. Lincoln kept Bright’s words because he couldn’t believe anyone would say he had a great mind. All these years later, we can confess Lincoln suffered from depression. He was crippled with self-doubt and haunted by a poor self-image. Do you know of anyone who is crippled with self-doubt and haunted by a poor self-image? Maybe that person is you?

I do not have an article saying you are brilliant, but if you are reading this then you have something better. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and that fact changes everything. Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know who you are. Discover your own strengths and weaknesses. Never be afraid to say those three liberating words, “I don’t know.” Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know whose you are. Never forget, God loves you! Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know where you are going. The challenges of this world are only temporary. Someday we are going to be in heaven together!

Why was Jesus Baptized?

The story of the baptism of Jesus is found in all four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Our reading, Matthew 3:13-17, is Matthew’s version. According to the text, Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. The Baptizer was a charismatic character who came with one message. Everything he ate, wore, and said communicated one message, repent! It was the perfect message for his audience. Herod the Great had been cruel and the Roman miliary had been harsh to the people of Israel. Most of the people longed for a religious solution to their intolerable political situation. The people flocked to the desert region to hear John’s message of repentance. He offered them a sinner’s baptism as a sign of their repentance. One of the faces in the crowd was Jesus.

One of our core understandings about Jesus is that he was sinless. That is what made him the perfect sacrifice on the cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

1 Peter 2:22 says, “He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth.” 1 John 3:5 says, “You know he appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.” I could go on, but I won’t. You get the point. Jesus was sinless. So, why would the sinless Jesus require a sinner’s baptism? Consider these four things with me.

First, Jesus’s baptism exposed his identity. The people had been waiting for the Messiah a long time. Some hoped John was the Messiah (Luke 3:15). Matthew 3:17 tells us Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah,“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” In other words, God is identifying Jesus as the Messiah. Several years later, he would be the suffering servant mentioned in Isaiah 53. On that horrible day, “Jesus was rejected by mankind. He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him.” Matthew 3:17 eliminated all questions. From that point on, no one questioned Jesus’s identity. He was the Messiah. Never underestimate the importance of correct identification. Jesus’s baptism exposed his identity.

Second, Jesus’s baptism fulfilled all righteousness. In other words, Jesus’s baptism was all part of the divine plan. To underscore that point, Jesus was consecrated by God when the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. This was not the first time John had seen Jesus. They were related on their mother’s side, however their family relations are not clear. Some say they were cousins. Some say Elizabeth was Mary’s aunt. Some say they were related in other ways. Regardless of their connection, John believed in Jesus from the very beginning. John understood his role and was uncomfortable baptizing Jesus. Verses 14 and 15 says, “But John tried to deter him, saying I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteous.” John and Jesus were obedient to God’s will. Jesus’s baptism fulfilled all righteousness.

Third, Jesus’s baptism ignited his earthy ministry and marked the beginning of the end of John’s ministry. Students of America’s Civil War will tell you July 4, 1863, is a key date. It was the beginning of the end of the Confederacy – Vicksburg fell along the Mississippi River, the day after the Union claimed victory at Gettysburg. Sadly, the war dragged on for another two years. Jesus’s baptism was the being of the end of John’s ministry. John 3:30 quotes John, who said, “He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.” John was an excellent forerunner, but Jesus was the Messiah. In the next three years Jesus would transform the world and set into motion something new. Christianity is the world’s largest region, approximate 2.3 billion followers. Jesus is the most influential life that ever lived. No followers of John exist today. Jesus’s baptism ignited his earthy ministry and ended John’s contribution.

Fourth, Jesus’s baptism shows us that he completely identified with the sins of mankind. If you use your sanctified imagination, you can picture the crowds coming to John to receive a sinner’s baptism. They needed that baptism because they needed to repent. Jesus was in the crowd not to repent but to relate to the commoners. John 1:14 says,”The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The incarnation is beyond human understanding, but Jesus’s humility and solidarity cannot be questioned. Jesus’s baptism shows us that he completely identified with the sins of mankind. Let me end with this old preaching story.

A church received a new minister, and the sanctuary was full for his first Sunday where he preached a wonderful sermon about Jesus. The second Sunday came and he preached another wonderful sermon about Jesus. His third sermon was about Jesus. Each week the congregation heard a wonderful sermon about Jesus. This went on for months. Everyone should have been happy, but this was a church. Someone had to complain about all those wonderful sermons about Jesus. One man did and pulled the minister to the side after worship one Sunday. In the corner of the narthex, he confronted the minister. He began by saying, “Your sermons about Jesus are very good. However, you have been here for months and all we have heard about is Jesus. Our world is a complex place and there are many social ills. There are people starving to death. There are diseases that have no cure. There are people who can’t read. There are children lost in slavery and lives being lost in wars. We don’t hear about any of those things. All we hear about is Jesus! Don’t any of those things matter?” The pastor listened patiently and responded, “No! Once the world knows Jesus all those other issues will go away.” I couldn’t agree more. After all, Jesus is the son of God. Our only hope of salvation. In the life of the church, what really matters to you? I hope your answer is Jesus. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said, “Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all.”

Twelve Years Old

Our reading is Luke 2:41-52. According to the scriptures, it was time for the Passover, a holy festival when the Jews remembered how God had liberated their ancestors from Egypt. The law required all Jewish men to go to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, but legislation was not necessary. People wanted to go to Jerusalem; Passover served as a great reunion. Entire communities would travel together because there is safety in numbers. The women and younger children would travel in the front of the caravan. The men and older boys would travel in the rear of the caravan. That is how Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem.

According to the scriptures, Jesus was twelve-years-old at the time of the Passover. Do you remember being twelve years old? It is an awkward age. You are no longer a child, yet you are not an adult. Being twelve years old is hard. Does Jesus travel in front of the caravan with his mother and the other women, or does Jesus travel in the rear of the caravan with his father and the other men? It is not surprising that Mary and Joseph lost track of Jesus. Mary thinks Jesus is with Joseph and Joseph thinks Jesus is with Mary. It is at the end of a long day they discover Jesus is missing. Mary and Joseph must have panicked. Yet, it is in this family crisis we learn three divine truths about being twelve years old. Let me explore each one.

This is divine truth number one: Every twelve-year-old needs a foundation.

According to the scriptures, it took Mary and Joseph three days to find the twelve-year-old Jesus. According to verse 46, they found him in the temple courts with the teachers of the law. He was listening and asking questions. Jesus was not lecturing, Jesus was learning. Jesus had a few questions, because Jesus had a few spiritual hunger pains. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” When you are twelve years old you discover your own mortality. Death is uncomfortable for mortals. I have never met a person who didn’t want to go to heaven.

In the nineteenth century Scottish preacher Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) asked 253 Christian friends, “at what age were you converted?” Here’s what he

discovered:

Under 20 years of age – 138

Between 20 and 30 – 85

Between 30 and 40 – 22

Between 40 and 50 – 4

Between 50 and 60 – 3

Between 60 and 70 – 1

Over 70 – 0

Those numbers are revealing. Most converts accept Christ when they are young. The older a person grows, the less likely they will be converted. In the results he found that fifty-five percent of his study group were converted at twenty years of age or under. Ninety-seven per cent of his study group accepted Christ under forty years of age. This study was done in the nineteenth century, but those figures hold true today.

Today, twelve-year-olds have many options. I love to see children participating in wholesome activities. I love to see them playing pee-wee football. I love to see them in the band. I love to see them at the YMCA. I love to see them playing baseball and basketball. Those are great things, but where I really want to see them is in heaven! Twelve-year-olds have spiritual hunger pains. Wholesome activities are not enough, they need a spiritual foundation. Twelve-year-olds need Jesus!

Divine Truth Number Two: Twelve-year-olds need family and friends. According to verse 44, when Mary and Joseph discover that the boy Jesus was missing, they start to look for him among family and friends. This is not surprising because they understood what we often forget – it takes an entire community to raise a child.

When I served a church, I always viewed baptizing a baby as a great privilege. There are many things to love about infant baptism. The baby is always precious. The parents are always proud. Numerous family members and friends come to witness the event. It is easy to overlook the part the church plays in infant baptism. In traditional Methodist baptism, the church promises to create an atmosphere where the child can learn about Jesus, so that some day those babies can accept Jesus for themselves. Through the eyes of God, we are not just church members. We support and encourage one another in the Christian faith. Twelve-year-olds need family and friends.

Divine Truth Number Three: Every twelve-year-old needs a father. According to the scriptures, when Mary and Joseph discovered Jesus sitting in the temple courts being instructed by the teacher, they were upset. Mary reprimands the boy and Jesus responds by saying his first recorded words. In verse 49 Jesus says, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” The Greek word Luke uses for “Father” is not the one used to describe a relative. The Greek word Luke uses can also be translated “Daddy.” The twelve-year-old Jesus took God out of the cold formal structure of the temple and placed him at our point of need. I have never met a person who wasn’t interested in God when life was hard.

When I was twelve years old my Uncle Carlisle had a fatal heart attack. He was forty-four years old. He was my father’s younger brother and my father’s only brother. I remember going to the funeral. I sat between my parents. It was at the funeral that I saw something I had never seen before. My father cried uncontrollably. I never saw my father cry again, but I will never forget his grief. Life is hard! From time to time, we all need help. It was my mother who held my hand until the service was over. However, there are times when we need God, our daddy, to hold our hands when life is hard. Twelve-year-olds need a father.

I was twelve years old in 1969. Richard Nixon (1913-1974) was president of the United States. Joe Namath (born 1943) was quarterback of the World Champion New York Jets, and America was at war in Vietnam. It is hard being twelve years old! I wasn’t a child, but I wasn’t a man! I will admit it. Like all twelve-year-olds, I needed a few things. First, I needed a foundation. I wouldn’t accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior for another five years! Second, I needed family and friends. I needed a group of people to support and guide me. I needed a group of people to love me. Third, I needed a heavenly Father to help me when life was hard. Do you remember being twelve years old? Perhaps you needed those things too? Maybe you still do?

Modeling Discipleship

According to the liturgical calendar, Christmastide lasts twelve days – between December 25 and January 5. The liturgical season of Epiphany begins on January 6 and ends on Ash Wednesday. Epiphany means “manifestation.” It is the season we celebrate the fact that Christ came to save all people from their sins, both Jews and Gentiles. Our reading, Matthew 2:1-12, is the traditional reading on Epiphany Sunday. The story of the Magi is one of the most known and loved stories in the Bible; they complete the Christmas narrative. Yet, hiding in the tradition of their story is a fact we cannot ignore – the Magi give us the perfect model for discipleship. Consider these three things with me.

First, the Magi bowed down. The Magi were Babylonian astrologers or priests, who had seen a star that announced the birth of a newborn king. The Magi assumed the newborn king was born in the insecure palace of Herod the Great in Jerusalem. The chief priests and the teachers of the law corrected the Magi’s mistake. The newborn king would be born a few miles south of Jerusalem in Bethlehem. A short time later, the Magi found the infant Jesus in a house. When they arrived, they bowed down and worshipped Jesus. (Verse 11) What does it mean to bow down? It means the Magi, with all their worldly influence, knowledge and power, humbled themselves before Jesus. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you must humble yourself before him too. How humble are you?

I love this story: Shortly after Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at that moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him, and she later revealed his identity to the lady. The next morning, the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” he replied. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating large sums of money to the Tuskegee Institute. Isn’t it amazing how God can use a humble person? Do the people in your life consider you humble? The Magi bowed down.

Second, the Magi opened up. The Magi didn’t just bow down. They also offered him gifts. You know the gifts, they gave gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each one of the gifts reveals something about the life that Jesus is going to live. The gold was a gift for a king. The frankincense was a gift for a priest. The myrrh was a gift for one who was going to die. The Magi’s gifts reveal the generosity of the Magi. The Magi gave their best. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you must give him your best as well. One of the characteristics of the Christian faith is generosity. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” I have seen that verse played out within the life of the church many times.

Annually, my wife Kathryn and I travel to Estonia to help with Christian Camp Gideon. Normally, we travel alone, but last year we met a couple from Iowa at camp, who had heard about the camp but had never traveled to Estonia. Like us, they were moved by the people and the mission of the camp. Giving of their time was not enough, so they inquired about what the camp needed. It turned out the camp needed a riding lawn mower costing approximately $12,000. In the end, they bought that lawn mower and demonstrated their faith. One of the characteristics of the Christian faith is generosity. Do the people in your life consider you generous? The Magi opened up.

Third, the Magi changed. Once the Magi had worshipped Jesus and gave their gifts, they long to return home. They planned returning by the same route from which they came. There is no reason to believe they would have changed their itinerary, however they had a dream that warned them to go home a different way. Verse 12 says, “They returned home by another route.” Jesus had changed their normal way, and they tried a new way. How much is Jesus changing your life? Are you willing to try something new for Jesus or do you like yourself as you are? That leads us to an interesting question.

How has the Christian Faith changed your life? The Christian Faith should completely transform you, because the Christian Faith offers us hope and a purpose. The Christian Faith should change your behavior, because you are to be more like Jesus, making you more empathetic and resilient. The Christian Faith should be changing your identity, because Jesus offers us spiritual renewal. The Magi changed. Have you?

According to recent polls, approximately 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Some resolutions revolve around personal health: exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight. Some resolutions revolve around finances: save money, pay off debt, follow a budget. Some resolutions revolve around personal well-being: being happier or learning something new. I hope you make a resolution to be more like the Magi, who took their discipleship seriously. They bowed down and humbled themselves. They opened up and gave generously. They changed and followed God’s direction. German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoffer (1906-1945) once said, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”

The Rest of the Story

Our reading is Luke 2:21-40. It gives us the rest of the Christmas narrative. Never forget, Joseph and Mary were a Jewish couple who practiced the customs of their faith. Our reading records two such practices. The first came when Jesus was eight days old. For it was on that day that Jesus was formally named and circumcised. The second came when Jesus was forty days old. The Old Testament law, Leviticus 12:2-8, required all women who gave birth to a boy to go to the temple to offer a sacrifice of purification. Mary went and sacrificed something as small as two doves or pigeons. Both practices were scripted. The only thing that makes these stories noteworthy are the characters they meet at the temple. In the end, they both praised God for two different reasons. Let me look at each one.

The first person Mary and Joseph encountered was Simeon. He is described as righteous and devout. He had been waiting for years for the consolation of Israel. What does that mean? It means that he had been waiting for years for comfort. Annually, he sat at the Seder and remembered the great things that God had done for His people. It was God who sent the plagues. It was God who parted the sea. It was God who provided for his people in the wilderness. God did some mighty things for them, but that seemed like ancient history. God hadn’t done anything for his generation. Those great days with God had been replaced by foreign domination. There must have been days when the Jews felt forgotten. Have you ever felt forgotten by God? When Simeon looked at the infant Jesus he was comforted because he knew God was still with them. When we think of the infant Jesus, we feel comforted too. Jesus reminds us that God is still with us!

The second person Mary and Joseph encountered was Anna. She is described as an eighty-four-year-old old prophetess. It was never difficult to find her because she was always in the temple. She had been there since the death of her husband. She knew there was something special about Jesus and spoke about the redemption of Israel. What does that mean? A large part of redemption is forgiveness. When Anna looked at the face of the infant Jesus, she knew that forgiveness was possible. After all, thirty-three years later Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of our world, so we can experience forgiveness. Simeon and Anna remind us we are not forgotten and forgiveness is possible. The infant Jesus changed everything. Let me end with this old preaching story.

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who shared a passion for art collecting along with his son. They owned priceless works by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) and Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) which adorned the walls of their family estate. As winter approached, war engulfed their nation, and the man’s son left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, the father received a telegram, his son had died. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season had vanished with the death of his son. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands. The visitor said, “I was a friend of your son. He died rescuing me. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” The soldier mentioned that he was an artist and then gave the old man the package. The paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man hung the portrait over the fireplace, pushing aside millions of dollars’ worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing the masterpieces he owned.

The following spring, the old man died. The art world waited with anticipation for the upcoming auction. According to the will of the old man, all the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. The auction began with a painting that was not on anyone’s museum wish list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” No one spoke. Finally, someone said, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s move on to the good stuff.” The auctioneer responded, “No, we must sell this one first. Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a neighbor of the old man offered $10 dollars. “That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.” The auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice…gone.” Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can bid on the real treasures!” The auctioneer looked at the room filled with people and announced that the auction was over. Everyone was stunned. Someone spoke up and said, “What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of someone’s son. There is priceless art here! What’s going on?” The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the father’s will, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”

It is the story of Christmas. Whoever gets the son gets it all. Simeon reminds us – God has not forgotten us – He came into the world to be with us. Anna reminds us, Jesus came into the world to offer us forgiveness and salvation. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) once said, “God loves each of us as if there was one of us.” Merry Christmas!

The Newborn Jesus

Our reading is Luke 2:1-20, the traditional Gospel reading for Christmas. You know the story. There was a young woman by the name of Mary. In her world life began young because life ended early. Biblical scholars tell us she could have been as young as fourteen or fifteen years old. Her world saw her as a nice and respectable young girl. However, God saw more. I have no clue how many women have ever lived in the history of the world, but God chose Mary to be the mother of His son. Sexually innocent, the Holy Spirit came upon her and she conceived. Her pregnancy changed and complicated her life. She would need some help raising her baby and that help came in the name of Joseph. When he married Mary, he didn’t just sign up to help raise another man’s son – he signed up to help raise the son of God. The baby was born in Joseph’s hometown of Bethlehem. As directed, they named the baby Jesus, which means “Savior.”

According to the Centers of Disease Control, approximately 9,800 babies are born each day in America, 3,577,000 annually. According to the United Nations, approximately 385,000 babies are born each day in the world, 140,525,000 annually. That is a lot of babies, but Mary’s baby was different. Jesus was the only baby of divine origin. Jesus was the incarnation of God. In other words, Jesus was God! Just ponder that fact for a moment. God left the perfection of heaven to enter this imperfect world. It is more than the human mind can grasp. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) said, “The incarnation of God is beyond all human understanding.” The newborn Jesus changed everything. Consider three things with me.

First, the newborn Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love for us. In other words, Jesus exposed the heart of God. He wasn’t satisfied studying us from heaven. God chose to enter this world and become one of us. John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” God came into the world to tell us that He loves us!

Danish theologian and philosopher Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) told the story of a prince who was running an errand for his father one day in the local village. As he did so, he passed through a very poor section of the village. Looking through the window of his carriage, he saw a beautiful young peasant girl walking along the street. It was love at first sight. He could not forget her. He returned to the village, day after day, just to see her. His heart yearned for her, but there was a problem – how could he develop a relationship with her? He was the prince and she was a peasant. He could order her to marry him. It was within his power to do so, but he wanted this girl to love him from her heart, willingly. He could put on his royal garments and impress her with his regal entourage, drive up to her front door with soldiers and a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this, he would never be certain that the girl loved him or was simply overwhelmed with his power, position and wealth. The prince came up with another solution – he moved into the village dressed only as a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time, the young peasant grew to know him, and then to love him. In time, they married. That is the story of Christmas! The newborn Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love for us.

Second, the newborn Jesus revealed our greatest human need. Many believe our greatest human need is money. Some believe our greatest human need is to be loved and accepted. God knows our greatest human need is to be forgiven. Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Someone once wrote these memorable words:

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;

If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist;

If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

You cannot earn your salvation by your good deeds. Our only hope of salvation is with Jesus. Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? The newborn Jesus exposed our greatest human need.

The purpose of your life is a fundamental human question. Some of the greatest minds in human history have tried to answer it, Socrates (470-300 BC), Aristotle (384-322 BC), Soren Kierkegaard, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) and Albert Cumus (1913-1960). American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) said, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” The Westminster Confession of faith says that the purpose of life is to glorify God.

Third, the newborn Jesus is the origin of our divine purpose. 1 Timothy 3:16 says, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” That verse tells us the difference Jesus has made in our world. The question is how much of a difference has Jesus made in your life?

As a disciple of Jesus Christ, the newborn Jesus is the origin of your purpose. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you know two things. First, you know you are going to heaven. Thirty-three years after his birth, Jesus died on the cross for your sins. He was the perfect sacrifice. Jesus did all the work. Your salvation is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Second, as a person of integrity, you are going to find a new way every day to thank God for saving your soul. Your purpose is not your vocation. Your purpose is not your testimony. Your purpose is to glorify God. What have you done lately to thank God for saving your soul? We are to be practicing today what we are going to do in heaven for eternity. The newborn Jesus is the origin of your purpose.

The newborn Jesus changed everything! First, the baby Jesus exposed the heart of God. His love is so deep he became one of us. Second, the birth and mission of Jesus revealed our greatest human need, forgiveness; He is our only hope of salvation. Third and finally, the newborn Jesus is the origin of our divine purpose which is to glorify God! English writer Charles Dickens (1812-1870) once wrote, “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child himself.”