In the “Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Mr. Tumnus tells Lucy, “There is a curse in Narnia. It is always winter. Never Christmas.” Maybe you look at your life, and you feel that it is always winter but never Christmas. Maybe you are simply in a season of your life where you feel that it is always winter but never Christmas.
When Aslan came back to Narnia, the curse of the White Witch that had frozen the land began to be broken. When Edmund, one of the characters in the book, began to realize that Aslan has broken the curse, C.S. Lewis writes: All around them, though out of sight, there were streams chattering, bubbling, splashing and even (in the distance) roaring. And his heart gave a great leap (though he hardly knew why) when he realized that the frost was over. And much nearer there was a drip-drip-drip from the branches of all the trees.
Remember friend, this wounded world, this very broken world, is not the last word. Christmas is coming. In fact, Jesus has come. And Jesus will come back. He is our hope today, and He will be our hope then. Jesus is the hope of Christmas. And because He is, we can long for His blessings to flow, far as the curse is found.
Why is Jesus’ virgin birth so important? We will consider this but also two related facts about the names given to Jesus:
- The fact that Jesus was named “Jesus” reminds us of His mission: to save His people from their sins! (v. 21)
- The fact that Jesus was also named “Immanuel” reminds us of His presence: God is with His people! (v. 23)