The Truth is the Light
By Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Columnist
Based on Biblical Texts: Matthew 2: 2, Luke 2:11: Asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.”
Joys, bells ringing, Angels singing, All because a child was born. A time of sharing, People caring, All because a child was born.
There has been no other event in the history of the world that has changed the world, like the birth of Jesus. This event caused a whirlwind of activity.
This event caused a few far-eastern Magi to leave their luxurious mansions and travel miles across a barren desert by camel. The Wise Men traveled without navigational aid except for a low-hanging star in the east. Although they questioned the star’s appearance among themselves, they concluded that it was God’s method of directing them to the place where His only begotten Son had been born. An agreement seemed to have been made to sleep by day and travel by night so that the star could be their guide. These three Kings, with countries to run, traveled a great distance to find the King of Kings.
This event captured the attention of a group of shepherds (apparently working the third shift) while all the other people in the area were enjoying the comfort of their beds. However, their apparent misfortune turned into good fortune as they looked up, and suddenly, an angel came out of the sky and stood right in their midst. The angel, noticing that they were startled, said to them. “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:” (Luke 2:10).
The shepherd’s fortune turned for the better when just as suddenly as this one angel had appeared, they looked up, and a mass choir of angels joined the angel, saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors! (Luke 2:14) This event caused the shepherds to forget about their sheep and, without anyone’s permission, leave their post to travel to Bethlehem.
Because of this event almost 2000 years ago, we still gather to share in that same celebration. All over the world, we plan special worship services all because of this event.
This event has moved thousands of missionaries, beginning with the Apostle Paul, to travel to the uttermost parts of the earth, proclaiming the message of Salvation. Missionaries have traveled, leaving all comforts behind, heading to uncivilized areas of the world, at great risk to their health and safety, inspired by this event.
Without a doubt, no other event in history has changed the course of civilization like the birth of Jesus Christ.
Who is this who has precipitated such a wave of change? He came through the lineage of David, springing from the root of Jesse through the house of Boaz. He is a conquering Lion from the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Jacob, an offspring of Isaac, and the Seed of Abraham. He is God’s only begotten Son, the only person conceived by the Holy Ghost. He was born of a Virgin and is the only Son to be born who was the same age as his Father and older than his mother.
Who is this who has precipitated such a wave of change? He is the blind man’s sight and the crippled man’s crutch. He is the sick man’s doctor, the troubled man’s lawyer, the hungry man’s bread, and the thirsty man’s water.
We are in line for a great celebration this Christmas morning, and all because there has been no other event in the history of the world that has changed the world like the birth of Jesus. So much of our world exists because of him.
None of us saw Jesus when He was born in a manger in Bethlehem. We did not see him while he was walking on the dusty roads of Galilee. We did not see him on that terrible Friday when he hung nailed to a cross, nor did we witness His empty tomb three days later on Sunday morning. All of those events took place centuries before we arrived on the scene. However, we know that if we keep on believing and trusting in him, one of these days, we are going to see him for ourselves.
I wonder: do you, like me, want to see him for yourself? Jesus has made a difference in so many lives; I want to see Him for myself.
Oh, I want to see Him, Look Upon His face; There to sing, forever, Of His saving Grace. On the streets of Glory, Let me lift my Voice, Cares all Past, Home at Last, Ever to rejoice!
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of James Chapel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
