A Celebrity Christmas

Celebrity surrounds us.  We are bombarded by fame from every corner.  There was a time, perhaps 100 years ago, when fame was reserved for a select few.  Presidents and a few actors earned notoriety, but even their fame was probably limited by a lack of media exposure.  The advent of radio, and particularly television, created the opportunity for greater saturation of fame.  Presidents and actors are now more recognizable because they occupy such a prominent place in our everyday lives.  Although President Taft probably could have walked the streets of rural America without recognition (presuming his enormity did not betray him), President Obama's options for normalcy in this country are limited.  Today, not only are actors and politicians famous, it seems everyone is entitled to a share of the spotlight.  There are innumerable celebrity athletes, musicians, scientists, authors, pastors, and atheists.

The holiday season is no different.  From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, we see sharply dressed celebrities surrounded by shiny decorations headlining the many network programs.  Christmas even has its own celebrity--jolly St Nick, the man in red, Santa Claus--who seems seems omnipresent for a few weeks. 

However, Biblical descriptions of God reveal that He alone is worthy of celebration.  He spoke to Job out of a whirlwind (Job 38).  When Isaiah (Isaiah 6) saw God, he said that the "foundations of the threshold" shook when He spoke and the "train of his robe filled the temple" and "the house was filled with smoke."  Psalm 97 paints a majestic picture of God Almighty. 

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O LORD.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the lives of his saints;
he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!


A great irony of Christmas, however is that its true celebrity, Jesus the Christ, came as a man of no reputation. The omnipotent, sovereign creator and sustainer of the universe came to earth as a helpless, defenseless baby. He was born of a woman who painfully labored to bring him forth.  His tiny form was swaddled in strips of cloth to keep him warm.  He was laid in a feeding trough because no one was willing to give up their lodging.  Isaiah 53:2 prophesied that he "had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him."  He was the creator unknown by His creatures.  He was "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14) who came to "take away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). 

This baby of no apparent consequence changed the world.  John 1:10 says "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him."  We celebrate Christmas because of that baby, though many do not know him.  More books and songs have been written about him than anyone else in history yet many people do not know why.  In that manger, he was the only light for a dark world.  Today, as he reigns in glory, he remains the only light.