Christmas as Missions

There are things that just naturally go together: like pepperoni and pizza (or ham and pineapple if you are a monster), peanut butter and jelly (jam), or beans and toast (of course, depending on which side of the Pond you are reading this, some of those pairings will likely sound good, and the others, horrendous). Perhaps we don’t always think of missions and Christmas as fitting together like the final two puzzle pieces in a grand mosaic.

But maybe we should. Because at the core of Christmas is this wonderful theme of God’s mission. Christmas is really the culminating work of this great grand plan of redemption (the core and theme of mission!). It is in John's Gospel that we see this so clearly. Jesus, the eternal Word of God, is sent into this world. He is the light shining bright. He is the fulfilment of God's mission of salvation. This mission which was started in creation to bring glory to God culminates in the sending of Jesus, but it doesn’t end there. Jesus has a mission for us.

In John 20:19-23 the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples. He tells them as he was sent by the Father, so now he is sending them out into the world. As his earthly mission is accomplished, there are "greater works" (John 14:12) yet to be done. When Jesus ascends to his throne, he pours out the Holy Spirit and empowers his church to go forth.

This means Christmas isn’t merely about reflecting on the fact that Jesus has come (though that is important). Christmas should also be celebrated in a way that focuses on the doing of these 'greater works'. After Christ's first advent, he ascends to his throne having conquered sin, death, and the devil. He sends the Holy Spirit, and then he sends his church out. Read Acts 1-2 and reflect on the enormous change that takes place in the disciples after Pentecost. This same power is in all of Christ’s followers, and the same mission is ours.

It is good to enjoy the advent season, as we wait for Jesus's second return. However, we might do well to dwell more on what Jesus is doing currently. Currently he is guiding and ruling over his church. Currently he is seeing his Gospel go forth into new lands, reaching new peoples. As I write this, Christmas services are being celebrated all across the world.

This Christmas, let us invite friends, family, and neighbours to our Christmas services. But let us not stop there. Let us reflect (as cheesy as it may sound) on the fact that Christmas is about gift giving because it reminds us of the greatest gift ever given - Jesus Christ. Let that us then be about that good work - ambassadors who go forth bringing the greatest gift mankind has ever known.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)