For The Citizen “From the Minister’s Study” – Jan. 3 2025 Issue
At a workplace Christmas party recently, our host put
on in the background the movie Home Alone
(1990), now a Christmas classic, in which 8-year-old Kevin McAllister (played
by Macaulay Culkin) discovers he has accidentally been left as the sole
occupant of the home when his family rushes off on a holiday vacation. At first
he has fun entertaining himself with all sorts of activities he couldn’t
normally get away with; but it becomes a challenge when two burglars appear and
the young lad ingeniously defends himself.
However, it’s not so much fun to be home alone and
without support, especially when there’s a threat. Our society suffers from a
sort of “epidemic of loneliness” that is especially keenly felt around
Christmastime when we see various other families reconnecting. Perhaps there’s
been a tiff and some relatives aren’t on speaking terms. Perhaps illness and
death have snatched away a beloved spouse. A snowstorm makes impossible a
planned family reunion. Or, we simply find other people have moved away so
we’ve gradually lost contact.
In the 2023 report of the U.S. Surgeon General, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and
Isolation”, it’s observed that the mortality impact of being socially
disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day! “Loneliness
and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29%
respectively…. In addition, poor or insufficient social connection is
associated with increased risk of disease, including a 29% increased risk of
heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.” Clearly, loneliness can have
detrimental effects upon an individual’s health and longevity!
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada notes that loneliness can be a significant factor (47%) in people choosing
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) even when they have a disease or disability
but are not dying. “The latest MAID statistics tell us that almost half of
those who had their lives ended by MAiD but who weren't dying identified
loneliness and feeling like a burden as sources of their suffering.”
In the context of this “epidemic” of loneliness, the
title associated with the coming of a Saviour / Messiah at Christmas is
especially significant: that is “Emmanuel” which means “God-with-us”. Isaiah
prophesied several centuries before the birth at Bethlehem, “The virgin will be
with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah
7:14) When the angel explains to Joseph the origin of Mary’s unexpected yet
miraculous pregnancy, this very promise is quoted as receiving its fulfilment.
(Matthew 1:23)
The Gospel according to John lacks a nativity story
(unlike Matthew and Luke), yet John’s prologue nonetheless highlights the
significance of Jesus’ life on earth in terms of God’s making Himself known to
us. John states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us… No one
has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has
made him known.” (John 1:14,18) The phrase “made his dwelling” in the original
language is akin to “tabernacled among us”, reminiscent of the sanctuary in
Israel’s wanderings housing the Ark of the Covenant which was associated with
God’s presence and where people gathered to worship and present their
offerings.
When Jesus chooses those who would be most closely
associated with Him in His earthly ministry, it is described this way: “He
appointed twelve -- designating them apostles -- that they might be with him and that he might send them out to
preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mark 3:14, emphasis added)
Clearly to be “with” Jesus, enjoying intimate fellowship with Him 24/7, would
be a significant aspect of their formation as Jesus-followers.
The transformative impact of this is hinted at when,
following Jesus’ death and ascension, a crippled beggar is healed through
Peter’s intervention. They are called to account before the Jewish rulers.
Peter boldly asserts it is by Jesus’ name that the healing occurred. Luke
points out, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they
were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts
4:13, emphasis added)
Not many days before, Peter and John had heard from
their Resurrected Lord at the time of His ascension one of Scripture’s most precious
promises. He commissioned His followers to make disciples – baptizing and
teaching people from all nations – and ended with these words: “And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
It’s as if the Lord knows one of our deepest needs as
humans is companionship with Him… As if He has designed us for fellowship and
relationship with Himself, and our hearts ache or yearn for that when we’re
missing it.
Broadly viewed, it is hard to imagine an infinite,
eternal, perfectly good and holy God having fellowship with us imperfect,
flawed, temptation-prone mortals. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God,” Paul observes; yet He goes on to add, “and are justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a
sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.” (Romans 3:23f)
This is the heart of what Christmas is really all
about: atonement, “at-one-ment” – Jesus coming in the flesh so we who were
alienated from God by sin could be put right through Jesus’ sinless offering of
Himself on our behalf. So we could well and truly be “with” God and experience
Him as our Heavenly Father.
Jesus knew He would one day be taken from physically
accompanying the disciples and tried to prepare them for that, promising that
instead of His being there, they would receive another Counselor, the Holy
Spirit. “He lives with you and will be in you… If anyone loves me, he will obey
my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home
with him.” (John 14:17,23)
This Christmas season and throughout the New Year, may
you know this divine Presence as you receive Jesus into the ‘manger’ of your
heart – and never be utterly “Home Alone” again!
