The following is from a friend and teacher (Richard Loper) regarding the 12 days of Christmas. I hope you enjoy this thought provoking piece.
Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
These days, for purely commercial reasons, we celebrate Christmas backwards. Decorations go up in homes and towns right after Thanksgiving and we spend a month shopping, listening to carols, entertaining, and watching Hallmark movies. The decorations come down just days after December 25th and everyone relaxes.
You have heard the song the twelve days of Christmas…
Christmas was traditionally the two week long, joyful celebration, of the central event in the entire history of the world; the Creator, Jesus, came to earth. The idea behind the celebration of Christmas is that hopeless people, rebels against God, facing, ultimately, death, and fruitlessly searching for meaning, purpose, joy, and peace in their lives have been visited by their Creator offering to set them free from futility; sin and its consequences. So Christmas was a great celebration with gift giving and feasting, commemorating God’s great gift to mankind.
For the past, almost, 2,000 years the Christian world has celebrated the culmination of the Twelve Days of Christmas on January 6th. The celebration is called Epiphany, which literally means “unveiling”, and commemorates the day the Wise Men from the East, following the star to Bethlehem, honored the long awaited Savior of the world, the newborn baby Jesus.
As the Prophet Isaiah had foretold almost 1,000 years earlier…
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
“These prophets kept dreaming of a time when God would put things right again. They dreamed of a new age in which human crookedness would be straightened out, rough places made plain. The foolish would be made wise, and the wise, humble. They dreamed of a time when deserts would flower, the mountains would run with wine, weeping would cease, and people could go to sleep without weapons in their laps. People would work in peace and work to fruitful effect… All nature would be fruitful, benign, and filled with wonder upon wonder; all humans would be knit together in brotherhood and sisterhood; and all nature and all humans would look to God, walk with God, lean toward God, and delight in God. Shouts of joy and recognition would well up from valleys and seas, from women in streets and from men on ships.
The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight – a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied and natural gifts fruitfully employed, a state of affairs that inspires joyful wonder as its Creator and Savior opens doors and welcomes the creatures in whom He delights… The way things ought to be…” Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
Or as the Apostle John explained it:
Christ came that you may have life and have it more abundantly… 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.
“Christmas was a rescue mission… Love came down to restore what was broken… God loved us enough to humble Himself to plead for us to know Him… The gift of eternal Life is unlike anything anyone else could ever possibly offer. It came with a painful price.” Ryan Bomberger
As this Good News; Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, offering us rescue, quickly spread to every corner of the world, men and women, embracing Christ, were rescued from lives of futility and the fear of death and given meaning, purpose, value and joy. Lives were changed, communities were changed, nations were changed. As the “Good King” Wenceslaus of Bohemia (present day Czech Republic), known for his generosity, charity, reforming the penal system, criminalizing the abuse of children, and showing compassion for the poor, taught over 1,100 years ago:
“The happy appearance of Christ in the world has made for a new dispensation of civic virtue. Because The Lord abides forever, He has established His throne for judgment, and he will judge the world in righteousness. He will surely execute judgment for the people’s with equity. The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. As a consequence, a royal regent must needs be a bastion of both justice and mercy.”
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all of life… Everyone to whom God has given wealth and possessions are to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and rejoice in their work – this is the gift of God…You will not much remember the hard days of your life because God will keep you occupied with joy in your heart. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
Or as Martin Luther taught, Christians should all embrace “this great joy which has been given us.”
So after these days of riotous celebration, twelve days of Christmas and Epiphany…. What comes next, on January 7th? Back to work blues? No…
Distaffs Day. The world goes back to work, but not really… They goof off at work!
“Partly work and partly play,
You must on St. Distaffs Day:
From the plough soon free your team;
Then cane home and fother them:
If the maids a-spinning go,
Burn the flax and fire the tow.
Bring in pails of water then,
Let the maids bewash the men.
Give St. Distaff’ all the right:
Then bid Christmas sport good night,
And next morrow every one,
To his own vocation.” Robert Herrick 1600
The men don’t really work, they light the flax that the women are trying to spin. And the women don’t really try to put out the fire. Instead they toss the water at the men. Everyone goofs off. They get back to work on January 8th.
Why such joy? The Creator came to earth, sins are forgiven, life has meaning and work is no longer futile!
So when all is said and done, I don’t know which Christmas celebration I prefer, the present 30 days of carols, decorations, and entertaining, honoring the birth of the Messiah. Or the 12 days of old, when the tree and decorations went up Christmas Eve, followed by two weeks of celebration… ending today.
Merry Christmas!