The Gift of Waiting, The Joy of Receiving
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. Share on X
Isaiah 9:6
As Christmas draws near, we’re surrounded by the noise of shopping lists, holiday decor, and an endless stream of advertisements inviting us to purchase more. While the excitement of the season can be wonderful, it can also distract us from the profound beauty of the story we are meant to celebrate. Isaiah 9:6 gives us a glimpse of the promise God delivered to His people – the arrival of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Christmas is more than a holiday; it’s the reminder of God’s greatest gift. Let’s rediscover Christmas through the perspectives of those who were a part of this story long before it became tradition.
For further insight on this scripture, listen to this verses Spiritual Kick Off episode here.
The Gift of Waiting: Mary, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist
Our story begins with anticipation, with a waiting that could only be sustained by hope and faith. Imagine Mary, a young woman whose life was forever changed when she received the angel’s message that she would carry the Savior. Her response wasn’t one of doubt or hesitation, but rather, “I am the Lord’s servant” (Luke 1:38). Mary’s heart was filled with awe, and she embraced the wonder of the promise she would bear. In Mary’s waiting, we see faith and trust in God’s perfect timing, even when the path was unknown.
Then we meet Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, who also carried a child of promise. Elizabeth’s child, John the Baptist, would go before the Messiah to prepare the way. Elizabeth had known the ache of waiting, having prayed for years to have a child. In her later years, she might have thought the time for this hope had passed, yet God’s timing brought her son, John, into the world exactly when he was needed most. Her story reminds us that God’s promises don’t operate on our schedule. Christmas is a season of rediscovering the beauty of waiting and trusting that God’s timing is always right.
Through John the Baptist, we see the fulfillment of God’s promise in action. As John grew, he took on the call of preparing others for Jesus. He heralded the Messiah’s coming and pointed the way to the one who was greater than himself. The waiting in Advent isn’t just about marking days on a calendar; it’s about living in anticipation, preparing our hearts, and looking to the Savior with the same hope and longing as John.
The Joy of Receiving: The Shepherds and the Magi
When the Messiah finally arrived, He wasn’t announced in a palace or heralded by trumpets to the elite. Instead, the birth of Jesus was proclaimed to humble shepherds in the quiet fields outside Bethlehem. In Luke 2:8-20, we read about the shepherds, who were simple, everyday people with little social status. Yet God chose them to receive the good news first. Imagine the awe and wonder they felt as angels filled the night sky, singing praises and declaring, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). The shepherds responded with excitement, leaving their sheep to find the newborn Savior. Their joy in receiving the good news of Jesus was genuine, untainted by pretense or pride.
The shepherds teach us that Christmas is about receiving the news of Jesus with pure hearts, with a joy that isn’t dependent on worldly gifts or treasures. They remind us to approach the season with simplicity, stripping away the commercial layers to find the Savior lying in a manger.
Then there were the magi, wise men from the East who followed the star to find the newborn King. Unlike the shepherds, the magi were scholars and traveled great distances, bringing gifts that signified Jesus’s kingship and divinity. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were symbols of honor and recognition. Despite their wealth and status, the magi were willing to journey humbly, seeking out the Savior and worshiping Him. They demonstrate the gift of reverence, showing us that Christmas invites us to bow before our King in worship and thanksgiving, offering our hearts as gifts.
Rediscovering Christmas
As we prepare for Christmas, let’s reflect on Isaiah’s prophecy and celebrate the gifts of waiting and receiving. In a world that often emphasizes material gifts, it’s easy to lose sight of the spiritual gifts that Christmas brings. By looking to Mary, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, the shepherds, and the magi, we are reminded of what truly matters: the wonder of God’s perfect timing, the joy of hearing and receiving His good news, and the humble act of worship.
Instead of rushing from one holiday task to another, take a moment each day to remember why we celebrate. Let’s encourage one another to get excited about the right things this season – not the commercial gifts under the tree, but the eternal gift of Jesus Christ. The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace has come, and with Him, He brings hope, joy, and salvation.
This Christmas, may we rediscover the joy of waiting, the wonder of receiving, and the beauty of worshiping our Savior, born to us on that holy night. Let our hearts prepare Him room, and let every moment of this season point us back to the true gift – Emmanuel, God with us.