How do you get ready for Christmas?

Advent is a time of preparation. We wait and prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. But how do we get ready? I found a list online which suggests how to get ready for Christmas (with pictures!):[1]

• Part 1 — Plan gifts: (a) Brainstorm gift ideas. (b) Prepare a gift list. (c) Shop online to avoid the crowds.
• Part 2 — Set the scene: (a) Use an aroma pot. (b) Create a festive playlist. (c) Decorate your home, office, yourself. (d) Watch a Christmas movie. (e) Get your Christmas tree and decorate it.
• Part 3 — Eat your holidays away: (a) Build a gingerbread house. (b) Bake Christmas goodies ahead of time.
• Part 4 — Plan Christmas events: (a) Organise a family party. (b) Get away for the holidays. (c) Find a place to worship (optional!!?).

How do you get ready for the coming Christ?

Who’s coming?

In order to answer the question “How do we get ready?” we better sort out who’s coming. In our gospel reading we heard a story about some people getting reading for the coming Christ. An angel appears to Zechariah and tells him that he’s going to have a son — John — who will “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17).

The message from the angel picks up an Old Testament prophecy. The prophet Malachi wrote: ‘“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.’ (Malachi 3:1). So firstly there’s a messenger to prepare the way (that’s John). Then the Lord himself will come (that’s Jesus).

Jesus’ coming is sometimes called ‘The Day of the Lord.’ If we think about this day as Jesus’ birth,[2] then we often picture a stable with fresh hay, Mary and Joseph with arms wrapped around each other gazing lovingly at baby Jesus as he goos and gaahs. ‘The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.’

But this is not the Day of the Lord that Malachi writes about — we’ve skipped some of the details. Let’s get the full picture. ‘“Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire … Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. … Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.’ (Malachi 3:2, 4:1–3). Whoa! A burning furnace, fire, trampling, ash. It’s no wonder Malachi calls it ‘the dreadful day of the Lord’s coming’ (Malachi 4:5). This day is dreadful, fearful, and distressing. What child is this? This doesn’t sound like cute baby Jesus!

The angel brings news

It’s no wonder Zechariah is ‘gripped by fear’ when the angel Gabriel appears to him in the temple! The angel brings this message: the people of Israel have turned their back on God. The hearts of parents are against their children, and children against their parents. Watch out! Not a root or branch will be left, but everything thrown into the furnace. The wicked will be burnt to ash, which will then be trampled underfoot.

This is not the feel good Christmas message we want to hear. So are you ready for Christmas? Is your back turned from God? Is your back turned away from your neighbour? Is there tension and discord in your family, parent against child? I know for me the stress and busyness of Christmas tends to increases the tension in my family. There’s extra things to plan, shopping, cooking, a calendar chock full of events. Are you ready to for the coming Day of the Lord? Are you ready to meet this baby Jesus? He seems more like a lion than a baby lying sweetly in a manger! Is he safe?

The angel brings good news

The angel Gabriel also brings good news. He starts his message saying, “Do not be afraid!” He goes on to say that John will bring many people back to God. And, by the spirit and power of Elijah, God is going to turn people back toward him and each other. So the good news is that God is going to prepare you for the coming Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit is going to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

This phrase ‘make ready’ is used in lots of different places in Scripture. To ‘make ready’ is to wipe clean a glass in preparation for a banquet — God is cleaning you before the coming Christ hosts his great heavenly banquet. To ‘make ready’ is to build a city ready to greet its king — God is building you (his church) into the New Jerusalem ready for the coming Christ. To ‘make ready’ is to beautifully dress a bride for her husband — God is dressing you in the white robes of righteousness that Jesus has won for you on the cross (Revelation 21:2). You are being made ready for the coming Christ.

How do you get ready for Christmas?

Is your focus this Advent on the coming Christ, or the coming roast chook? Is your back turned away from God? Is God trying to turn you toward himself? How might he be doing this?

God promises to turn you to himself through his Word, his spirit, and through serving others. Here are a few ways he might do this:

• Instead of preparing a gift list, why not also prepare a list of people in need. You can pray for those on your list, and even provide material help where possible.[3]
• Create a festive music playlist, but also ensure you have some music/carols which tell the Christ story.[4]
• As well as watching a Christmas movie, why not read (or watch) the Christmas story.
• As you organise your family party or Christmas event, consider if there’s a family member or friend you have your back turned away from. Is this Advent the time to confess your sin or talk through an awkward issue? How might you seek forgiveness, or offer forgiveness? (Remember you are a worker whose master has forgiven a great debt!)
• Finally, is there someone you know who needs to hear the good news of Christmas? Could God use you this Advent to turn one of his lost children back toward himself? For example: we’ve produced flyers for our Christmas services — why not put one in the letter box with a little note, or invite a friend/family member in person?

Blessing

This Advent, God is making you ready for the coming Christ. The coming Day of the Lord is not something to fear. Because of what Jesus has done for you, you are like a glass being wiped clean ready for a banquet. You are new city being built for the king. You are a bride being dressed for her husband. May God turn you toward himself. May you be turned toward each other. May you joyfully wait for the coming Christ. And when he comes, may he surprise you with his power. Amen.

[1] https://www.wikihow.com/Get-Ready-for-Christmas

[2] ‘The Day of the Lord’ can refer to Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and coming again.

[3] ALWS is a great resource: https://www.alws.org.au/gifts-of-grace/

[4] The following artists have great Christmas albums: Ordinary Time (“Good News”), Rend Collective (“Campfire Christmas”), Page CXVI (“Advent to Christmas”), Hillsong Worship (“The Peace Project”).

---