The Grinch, of course, is an ugly green-bodied, red-eyed sort-of-cat creature who lives in a cave on the top of Mt. Crumpit. He’s bitter, hateful, jealous and lonely. From his humble dwelling place he can hear the happy sounds of Christmas from the residents far below in Whoville – and he’s not happy about it.
So The Grinch makes plans to steal their presents, their decorations and even their Christmas hams, and does so successfully under the guise of Santa himself, hoping to keep Christmas from coming. Indeed, “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.”
But no matter how mean he’s been or what evil he’s done, The Grinch can’t stop Christmas. He soon realizes that there’s more to Christmas than lights and presents. In the end, his heart which began “two sizes too small” grows three sizes, and he returns the stolen goods and is welcomed into the Whoville community warmly.
I know the Christmas season can very easily become a joyless burden for some. Maybe you wish you could hibernate all December and come back out when it’s over. Maybe the happy sounds of others just rubs you the wrong way. Perhaps the inglorious over-commercialization of Christmas and all the office parties and family get-togethers and crowded malls and over-done Christmas song remixes on the radio are nearly enough to make you wish that Christmas would just go away.
In some ways, I agree. Who can argue that our culture has certainly created a commercial event that greatly distracts from the very reason Christmas is celebrated?
My family and I went to Carmi last weekend to see “Bethlehem Revisited.” It’s a re-enactment of the village life of Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. You see the Jewish people buying and selling goods at the market, baking bread, weaving blankets, building stuff, tending sheep and goats and otherwise engaged in their daily activities. The Romans, who controlled the region, enlist their soldiers to enforce the law and keep the peace. There’s quite a lot of “hustle and bustle” going on in this little village.
As you’re walking out, however, you pass by a small stable where the animals would be kept. On this night a young couple occupies the stall. It’s quiet. And you notice the woman holding a baby. He looks like a newborn child. No doctors, no bright lights, no crib except a manger. It feels reverent. Like a holy night. The young woman cradles her baby and seems to radiate with an inner joy. The young man stands silently nearby and marvels at this sight. It was a moment of worship. Our youngest son, Toby, said that was his favorite part. It was mine, too.
And there’s the Christmas joy you’re looking for, Mr. Grinch. His name is Jesus. He is called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” He came as a gift of love to mankind from the Father above. “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” He came so that we who are sinners by nature and by choice might be forgiven and made clean in the sight of Almighty God. He came so that we who were hostile to God through our sinful natures might become His beloved adopted children. He came so that we who are unable to do anything to earn our own salvation from the wages of our sin (which is death and hell), might receive the mercy and grace of our God through faith in Christ Jesus His Son.
This baby, Jesus, who existed with God from the beginning, and indeed was God in the Trinity, became flesh and dwelt among us. He lived a perfectly obedient life to the Father on earth and became the perfect sinless atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world when He suffered and bled and died upon the cross of Calvary. And He became the victor over death by His resurrection victory on the third day, when He conquered sin and death forevermore. His appearing means peace with God, abundant and eternal life, and unspeakable joy to all who receive Him as Savior and Lord by faith.
If you’re feeling more Grinch-like than you’d care for this Christmas, take your focus off the hustle and bustle of the season and be captivated by the simple truth of Jesus. And come worship with us this Sunday, Dec. 19, at 10:40 a.m. for a special Christmas music worship celebration. We’d love to see you there.
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