Dear Middle School Parents,

Earlier this week, I spoke to the Middle School students in chapel. Our last chapel of each semester is dedicated to celebrating Christmas and recentering ourselves on the hope we are reminded of at this time of year. 

The Hope of a Promise Fulfilled

The Old Testament is filled with prophecies and promises that God gave His people. In Isaiah 7 and 9, we see verses like: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel,” and “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These verses show us that Jesus coming in the way He did was not an accident or a last minute decision. This was God’s rescue plan for us once sin entered the world. We can live with this hope, knowing that God fulfills His promises.

The Hope of God With Us

The most famous retelling of the Christmas story is found in Luke 2. This portion of Scripture is familiar and tells the story of God coming to earth as a little baby, born in a manger to dwell among us. We see in verses 8-12: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” It is truly amazing that the first people told were shepherds, not kings or important people, just lowly shepherds. I believe this was a very intentional design by God to signal that Jesus was truly here for “all the people,” not just those who hold important titles. Jesus is truly Emmanuel.

The Hope of a Life with Him

The hope of the Christmas story continues beyond just the birth of Jesus and beyond the fulfillment of specific Old Testament prophecies. It is a hope that extends to us now. John 1:9-14 says: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory.” These verses show us that Jesus came not just to be a good teacher or to help us be better people. He came so that we might become sons and daughters of the living God. He came as the rescuer, as the hope of all nations, as the only one who can truly save us. Ultimately, the picture of the manger points us to the cross, which points us to the empty tomb. This was all part of God’s rescue plan.