Thrill of Hope

O holy night

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth

Long lay the world

In sin and error pining

‘Til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth

A thrill of hope

The weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks

A new and glorious morn

Holy night. This is my favorite Christmas hymn. Maybe the writer wasn’t there in the stable surrounded by cattle and their flies, maybe he didn’t hear the music of the angels, or the murmurs of the shepherds, maybe he didn’t know the full extent of what he was writing. But here’s the good news: Once we were apathetic ghosts wandering the planet in search of riches and pleasures and only finding problems. Once we were hopeless, halfway humans who only desired the pain we always knew instead of the promise we had heard whispers of. And then, bursting forth like the round red sun after a storm, comes a Savior, in the form of a child, the invasion of heaven to earth in the most unexpected strategy possible. He was born and raised like a sheep to be slaughtered, lived the perfect, stainless life so that all our stains would be washed white in His blood. This is Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Truly, a thrill of hope strikes this weary world with uncontainable joy. For to us, a child is born, and to us a son is given. (Isaiah 9)

You’d think that a reckless joy like that would change everything. But we are still human. We can still understand what Christ has done for us and meander around, resting in our weariness and finding comfort in dispassion. But I picture those who first witnessed the Holy Night: the shepherds that sprinted to the stable, the angels that sang and sang until the sky lit up with their praises, Mary and Joseph, who I assume were lost in wonder at the miracle child staring right back up at them. Did they see something we didn’t? Or are we not constantly in the presence of the One who came to save us? Are we not daily invited into the throne room where we can gaze upon Him and all His glory? Don’t we know who He is? 

This blog is going to be short, because I don’t want to tell you anymore about what Christ has done– I want you to read it for yourself. Whether it is your first time or your thousandth time, read Luke 1-2. Read about how our Savior snuck into our lives, and feel the thrill of hope you’ve been waiting for.