The WITH-ness of Christmas

 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!