Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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6 December
Passage: Zechariah 13
Focus: "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” Zechariah 13:1.

Let’s open with a song. The FOCUS VERSE has to be the source of inspiration for this one, written by William Cowper in the late 1700s—THERE IS A FOUNTAIN:

Obviously, Mr. Cowper recognized that this little obscure verse of prophecy in Zechariah had huge overtones—referencing the amazing achievement of Christ on the cross as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

Surrounding this tradition we call “the Christmas season,” I wonder how many really and truly recognize the connection that it originally has with this central Gospel reality. Let’s take a moment to review the special angelic message given to Joseph who, for good reason, was not just a little irritated and confused over the fact that his fiancé Mary was found pregnant. After all, he knew enough about this stuff to know what causes pregnancy. “But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins’” (Matthew 1:20-21). I’ve underlined that last phrase because I’ve come to regard it as so absolutely essential to our understanding and recognition of what the Biblical story is all about. Those who miss this core foundational diagnosis and solution miss everything.

In this regard, I cannot hide my contempt for the course I see our culture taking with “the Christmas season.” I like the decorations, the songs, the sentimental family-centered nostalgia, but I despise seeing all that stuff function like an opiate or anesthesia that masks the painful universal fact that MAN IS A SINNER IN NEED OF A SAVIOR. Besides, my little family not only dreams of “a white Christmas”—we also dream of one like we’ve celebrated many times where white snow never happens—where the coconut trees sway in a tropical island environment with more greens and blues than white—where chestnuts, holly, mistletoe, Christmas trees, and turkeys have to be imported.

In view of the infinite importance of God’s solution for our SIN problem, I hope you can also resonate with the fourth stanza of William Cowper’s song:

Think about it. If this theme is removed from Christmas, it doesn’t really make any sense to me.