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Discover the real wonder of Christmas

In Jesus Christ we see the unveiling of God in human form, writes the Rev Mark Elvin, minister at Bowthorpe Church near Norwich.

 
ChristmasSceneA large department store was getting itself ready for the Christmas season, and the staff selected for Santa’s grotto were being trained. Among them was a student called Sam, who was trying to earn some money over the Christmas break. The manager reminded the staff, “Whatever you do, smile, and don’t frighten the children.”

Remembering what he was told, Sam began his first day. He put on the red Santa outfit and the white beard and then waited for the first child to arrive. It wasn’t long before parents came into the grotto with a little boy in tow. The boy screamed with fright as soon as he saw Sam. “It’s Santa, dear. Don’t be afraid,” the parents said as they tried to comfort the child. But that didn’t help. Sam tried to console him too, but that didn’t help either.

Eventually, in desperation, Sam had an idea. He slowly peeled off his long white beard and removed the red and white hood. The child instantly stopped crying.

Before him was a young, fresh-faced Santa without wrinkles but with youthful blue eyes. Sam took off the rest of the costume and gave the little boy a smile. Now all the little boy could see was a young man in ordinary clothes. Rather than screaming or bursting into floods of tears, the child smiled back.

Sam then put his Santa costume back on again. As he did so, he told the little boy of a story of how, long, long ago, God himself came to live on earth with us so that no one would be frightened of him. God had come in ordinary clothes and lived like other ordinary children to show us just how much we are loved by him. The little boy listened intently.

The parents, however, were furious with the young Santa, and fumed, “How dare you! You’ve spoiled all the magic of Christmas!” Sam quietly replied, “Maybe it’s the end of the magic, but it’s the beginning of the wonder.”

In Jesus Christ we see the unveiling of God in human form. The Bible tells us, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Will you receive Jesus? Will you believe in his name? The way to experience the wonder of Christmas is to invite Jesus into your life. It’s that simple. So, why not invite him in to your life and discover the wonder of Christmas for yourself.
 
MarkElvin350The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Norwich and Norfolk, and are intended to stimulate constructive debate between website users. 
 
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