the [keeper of the] promise

Christmas. We've but a few days before our anticipation becomes actualization.

Indeed, the "Christmas season" is almost entirely a season of anticipation and preparation. The tradition of Advent serves as a realigning of that anticipation back toward the coming of the Promise, as most seasonal expectation is geared toward one another's Christmas wish-list. Christmas, after all, is not merely a historical event, but a reaffirmation of the promise-keeping character of God.

More than any year recently, I have been drawn into the seasonal music of Michael Card. His album, "The Promise", is Card's abbreviated attempt to unwrap and illustrate both the prophetic significance and immediate response of those caught up in the Christmas narrative.

One song, in particular, has assisted me in reforming my understanding of Christmas' contemporary relevance.

[ Thou the Promise ]

Thou the Promise / and Keeper of the promise / our Salvation / and our only Savior / our Redemption / our Redeemer / Thou art ours / and we are Thine.

Savior, Servant / Deliverer, Messiah / our great King / Desire of all nations / tired eyes at last can see You / longing lips can speak Your name.

Jesus Christ / Jesus Christ / Jesus Christ

Thou the Lamb / and yet the Shepherd / Thou the Lamb / and yet the Lion / Thou great Judge / and selfsame Savior / in wonder we cry out to Thee.

Jesus Christ / Jesus Christ / Jesus Christ

Thou the Promise / and Keeper of the promise / our Salvation / and our only Savior / our Redemption / our Redeemer / Thou art ours / and we are Thine.

Card wrote an accompanying devotional to his Christmas record, and throughout his devotional to this song, he notes that the God of scripture is One who keeps His promises. Indeed, Jesus' birth marked both the inception of God's imminent redemption as well as the consummation of a host of prophetic promises.

Consider the Hebrews: a people waiting, watching, and hoping for a Messiah that would right the wrongs of a broken world. Generation after generation witnessed the incomplete state of things, the state of disruption between God and his people. As the Messiah was birthed in Bethlehem, his people desperately longed for his arrival.

The church, too, eagerly anticipates Christ's return. Yet, Christmas is often compartmentalized away from that eschatological anticipation, and is instead viewed as mere historical happening. Consider the common rhetoric: Christ came. He was born. He then lived, died, and rose. He ascended. Each truth is accurate, powerful, and founds the very essence of Christ-following. And yet, Christ's birth means far more.

His arrival signifies the promise-keeping nature of God our Father. He, the same God who promises the return of His Son. The same God who shall deal justly with all. The same God who will reconcile the world to himself. Consequently, Christ's birth cannot be reduced to an event of past significance only, but must be recognized as an affirmation of God's promise-keeping nature. Indeed, Jesus will return, for He keeps His word.

The author of Hebrews speaks of the "great cloud of witnesses" that surrounds contemporary believers and urges them onward in their proverbial race. They have witnessed the glory of God's great work. They celebrate the imminent return of Jesus. They themselves evince God's promise-keeping nature.

May we be motivated by the eschatological significance of Christ's birth, even as we carry our crosses, knowing one day all will come to pass.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

[JSD]