Every Christmas season, I dig out my nativity scene. It’s much like yours, I’m sure. In the shadows of the stable kneel the lowly shepherds. Hovering protectively over Mary, Joseph stands tall, his hand on her shoulder. Spreading his majestic wings, an angel proclaims the glorious news. The focus of all their praise and adoration rests on the Holy Infant in the arms of His sweet mother. Perhaps a donkey or two rest alongside the cattle whose manger has been repurposed. This scene is repeated every year and reproduced in every card, storybook, and Christmas play.
It seems so peaceful. Perfect. Silent. Calm. Sweet. Fake. Unrelatable. Unrealistic.
A few years ago, I entered a difficult season that made it nearly impossible to embrace any Christmas spirit. I found myself dreading the upcoming season. Nothing in my world seemed joyful or peaceful, and I wanted nothing more than to fast forward the entire holiday. It was difficult enough to make it through each day, never mind trying to pretend all was well.
One morning, as I sat down to read my Bible, I came across these verses in Revelation.
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, “who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. Revelation 12:1-5 (NIV)
She was pregnant and cried out in pain! An enormous red dragon appeared in heaven! What?! How had I never read this before? Perhaps because Revelation is not where one would expect to read the Christmas story, and yet, here it was.
“Revelation is not where one would expect to read the Christmas story”
I felt as if I was seeing the Christmas story for the very first time. When Jesus was born to the young woman, an enormous red dragon was also present. The dragon’s aim was to destroy the Holy Infant and retain his grip as the dark prince of this world. His future depended on this victory. He stood, ready and waiting, so that he could devour her child the moment He was born.
God, in His sovereign supremacy, did not allow this to happen. The Babe was kept safe from the evil one. One day, in God’s perfect plan and timing, the dark prince of this world will be destroyed forever. But might these details explain why Christmas never seems to be as peaceful, sweet, or joyful as we imagine?
We sing ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’, but Scripture tells us there was a war being waged in the heavens.
We hum ‘Peace on Earth’, yet there is no peace in the spiritual realm.
We sing ‘O Holy Night’, not recognizing that this Babe did not come to bring peace, but rather a sword. He came to defeat and destroy Satan, to rescue the perishing, and to heal the broken-hearted.
We would do well to remember that the war still rages on. Until the day God calls us home, we are in a battle ‘against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Many of us are struggling through difficult circumstances—broken relationships, financial difficulties, and health challenges. Finding joy in the Christmas season is an immense challenge. Almost impossible.
Almost, but not quite.
The joy is still there, but you won’t find it in your circumstances. It’s not hidden in the multiple festivities, parties, banquets, and Christmas treats and definitely not in the eggnog!
Rather it is found in our deepest, most profound gratitude as we give thanks for the coming of our Savior. His birth paved the way for our redemption. Without it, we lose the hope of salvation, and we experience the loss of our Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and the expectancy of eternity.
When all is stripped away, we are left to find our joy in Christ Himself. You will find He is enough.
Your Christmas might look a bit more like a war zone than a Christmas card but take heart! Know that the original nativity was not entirely different. The shepherds were social outcasts. Joseph agreed to father a child that was not his own. Mary narrowly escaped the stigma and punishment of being an unwed pregnant teenager, and there was an enormous red dragon, with seven heads, who wanted to kill their Baby!
“Your Christmas might look a bit more like a war zone than a Christmas card but take heart! Know that the original nativity was not entirely different. ”
This is a Christmas scene I can relate to. Not the slumbering village of Bethlehem wrapped in the glow of the bright starlight, but rather a raging battle and a clashing of swords in the heavens. Baby Jesus against the Red Dragon.
And I know who wins.
Book of Revelation