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<\/p>\n12-28-20<\/p>\n
It is sad and tragic \u2013 it \u201cstinks\u201d is the word I am searching for \u2013 that people who are alone on Christmas feel alone on Christmas. Yes, we know the associations of the holiday, and they must be real because we read the gruesome statistics every year about melancholy and even increased cases of suicides. Other words are \u201cuseless\u201d and \u201cironic.\u201d<\/p>\n
If anyone pays attention to the meaning of the Incarnation \u2013 Jehovah, Messiah, Emmanuel, \u201cGod with us\u201d \u2013 they should be reassured to know that Jesus is the Friend of all. When the world fails, Jesus is true. He is loyal, an ever-present help in time of trouble, and Someone Who clings to us closer than a shadow.<\/p>\n
More, He came to minister to the lost and lonely. In fact nearly every aspect of His life as a human was\u2026 lonely. His parents were rejected all over the city, and my guess is that it was not really a challenge of overbooked inns. Do you doubt the Christmas story? King Herod didn\u2019t: he had all young boys in his realm slaughtered to prevent a Savior\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n
Seven hundred years earlier the Prophet Isaiah (Chapter 53) predicted in astonishing detail the facts of Christ\u2019s birth, ministry, death\u2026 and loneliness. He was not handsome\u2026 He was called a Man who had no place to lay His head\u2026 He was \u201crejected, despised\u201d\u2026 At the end of His life \u2013 after wise teaching, miracles, and uncountable healings \u2013 He was alone again. Unjustly accused, imprisoned, tortured, and put to painful death. I have always thought the worst hurts were the abandonment, betrayal, and disappearance of his friends and followers.<\/p>\n
Jesus knew these things were coming, not just the days before, but as per Isaiah\u2019s prophesies, just as others could have connected the dots.<\/p>\n
He came into the world naked and alone; He left this world naked and alone. For those who feel alone at Christmastime, take a moment to imagine that the Holy Child looking up from the lowly manger \u2013 or the Man of Sorrows hanging from the cross \u2013 might have been looking for YOU\u2026 and looking AT you.<\/p>\n
Are you there, looking at Him? Were you looking for a friend when you felt friendless? Others left Him, but He will never leave you.<\/p>\n
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