The Real Twelve Days of Christmas – Jesus

Merry Christmas Dear Reader,

Today is the day when we intentionally venerate the name of Jesus.  This is one of those things that amaze me.  The name is derived from the Hebrew word that means “Jehovah is salvation”.  Is that not what all this celebration is supposed to be concerned with?  God came to “be with us” so that he could redeem us. 

He came as a child.  That child, given to us is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  It seems more and more in our culture that you can do all the good you wish as long as you do not do it in the name of Jesus.  It is this name that is to set us apart.  It is this name that is to be a Scandalon (stone of stumbling) for those who both accept and reject him.

It still saddens me when the name Jesus is used as an epithet.  It saddens me further that those who follow

Christ have made it easy to do so by their failure to be the salt and light that they should. 

As I celebrate the tenth day of Christmas I must be aware that it is Jesus who must be emulated and central.  I must make my life such that his name is one that gives pause to others.  I must not take the name for foolish or selfish purposes.  I must not treat Jesus either lightly so as to diminish my respect for him as God.  Neither can I treat him with such austerity that I neglect his humanity.

It is no accident that Jesus causes division.  I must live in such a way that the division is only the result of people who resist Christ and not by poor attention to love, kindness, and holiness.  I cannot live as though every moment must be wrapped in my devotion to this name, but I must do it in such a way that others benefit from my actions not pontification.   

Scandalon – Michael Card

The seers and the prophets had foretold it long ago

That the long awaited one would make men stumble

But they were looking for a king to conquer and to kill

Who'd have ever thought He'd be so meek and humble

He will be the truth that will offend them one and all

A stone that makes men stumble

And a rock that makes them fall

Many will be broken so that He can make them whole

And many will be crushed and lose their own soul

Along the path of life there lies a stubborn Scandalon

And all who come this way must be offended

To some He is a barrier, To others He's the way

For all should know the scandal of believing

He will be the truth that will offend them one and all

A stone that makes men stumble

And a rock that makes them fall

Many will be broken so that He can make them whole

And many will be crushed and lose their own soul

It seems today the Scandalon offends no one at all

The image we present can be stepped over

Could it be that we are like the others long ago

Will we ever learn that all who come must stumble

He will be the truth that will offend them one and all

A stone that makes men stumble

And a rock that makes them fall

Many will be broken so that He can make them whole

And many will be crushed and lose their own soul

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."