December 2002 chaplain's corner

The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.

Chaplain's Corner - December 2002

Rev. Rich Hines

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Christ as their own Lord and Savior, and are serving as correctional or rescue mission chaplains within the United States.

This month, I want to bring you a Christmas message. If we look in just about any modern English dictionary, it will still say something to the effect that "Christmas" is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

When Christmas is looked at Biblically, we realize that Christ's entry into this earth fulfilled years of prophetic promises. We see that God became a man in order to die to save men and women from the tyranny and the consequences of their sins. This is of utmost importance because the truth is: all human beings are sinners against an all-Holy God. So, the message of Christmas (Christ's entry into human history) is a message of HOPE for sinners.

Think of Christ's birth. It was an encouragement to those who looked forward to the fulfilling of God's ancient promises to send a Savior from their sins. Even today, it is new and great news to those that have never considered the truth of God's concern for a lost and dying humanity. Especially to those who realize they are in a desperate condition, totally unable to correct themselves morally.

My favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night" speaks about the HOPE that the Savior's birth brought. It has a line in the first verse that reads: "Long lay the world in sin and error pining till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of HOPE, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;"

The HOPE Christ's entry into world history brought, is even commented on geographically in the Bible. Scripture says "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." (Matt. 4:16 quoting Isaiah 9:2).

In its original setting, that verse is talking about the people of the ancient Israelite tribal region of Zebulun and Naphtali, in Northern Galilee. They were always the first to be overrun by invading the armies from the north. They were also looked down on by other Israelites, who considered them to be the equivalent of "country bumpkins." But they were also the first people to hear Christ as He began His public ministry "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,"(Mark 1:14).

In my chaplaincy ministry I used to apply this verse (Matt. 4:16) to inmates, because they too, like the ancient Galileans are downtrodden and depressed, not by invading armies, but by the consequences of their own sins. They are also the victims of the sins of others, and they are looked down upon, by our own culture.

So the point is Christ's entry into world history brought HOPE. It still does - even to today's prisoner or homeless person.

In Luke 2, we see the record of the reactions to Christ's birth by two godly people in Jerusalem, Simeon and Anna. The written record there supports the truth that there were those who eagerly looked forward to the birth of the Messiah and the relief from sin He alone would bring. It brought them new HOPE.

On the occasion of Jesus' presentation to God at the temple in Jerusalem, as a newborn human baby only eight days old, we read in Luke 2:25-32:

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just (or righteous) and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,

28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;

30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation

31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel."

To paraphrase Simeon, it was as if he was saying: "Bless You God, for you have brought great light into a world of darkness. For the pagan peoples and even for Your covenant people, there's now a light at the end of our tunnels of darkness. There's HOPE at last for those who grope in their darkness through this Child You have brought us! So now I can depart in peace, for You have kept Your promise to me."

Then, in Luke 2:36-38, we read:

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

(She was either 84 years old or 15 or so + 7 + 84, which equals 106 years. Either way, she was of "great age" and as this verse implies, had served and worshiped God many years. So she was close to the Lord.)

38 And coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him (meaning Jesus) to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Note that there were those in ancient religious Israel that were looking forward to being redeemed. So in effect, Anna, the Prophetess told as many of them as she could, "The Redeemer is here at last! Our HOPE is being realized!"

Without Christ as Savior and Redeemer in their lives, people are truly hopeless. The Apostle Paul, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, reflected on the former state of first century believers, before they came to know and trust Christ. Looking back to their unsaved and idolatrous condition he said: "...at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, HAVING NO HOPE and without God in the world. BUT NOW in Christ you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:12,13).

Without Christ things are hopeless. Why? Because all human beings are the slaves of sin and are under the curse of God. But Jesus Christ came into this world to break the bondage of the slavery to sin and set His people free. He also bore the curse of God against their sin, in their place.

Note this in Galatians 3:10, 13,14

10 ... it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law (meaning God's laws and commandments) to do them." ...

13 Christ has redeemed us (meaning true believers) from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

14 in order that the blessings of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, in order that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

So Christ's coming offers God's blessings to those who deserve His curse. What a HOPE!

Further, in Galatians 4:1-7 we read:

1 Now I say that the heir (meaning in a normal 1st century human family) as long as he is a child, does not differ from a slave, though he is (meaning to be) master of all,

2 but is under guardians and stewards (who were slaves) until the time appointed by the father.

3 Even so we, (meaning who have believed) when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out "Abba, Father!"

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

So Christ's coming offers sonship status to those who were the slaves of sin. What a HOPE!

The HOPE-FILLED message of Christ's first entry into this world then centers on the opportunity sinful men have to be forgiven by God. To have their slate forever wiped clean, as it were, by the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.

As a truly saved chaplain at Christmas time, you need to be giving people God's Christmas message of HOPE in and through Jesus Christ. Ask God in prayer to send you people that are conscious, or willing to be made conscious of their own sinful state before Him. Because there's true HOPE available for the humble sinner who is desperate to be made right with the all-holy God and that HOPE is only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Speaking of God's incarnation as the man Jesus, and what it means to believers, Colossians 1:19-22 reads:

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him (meaning in Jesus Christ) all the fullness (meaning, of Deity) should dwell,

20 and by (or through) Him to reconcile all things unto Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight .

Then Colossians 2:9,10,13,14 continues these thoughts -

9 For in Him (meaning in Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power, ...

13 and you, being dead in your trespasses... He (meaning God the Father) has made alive together with Him (meaning Christ, the Son) HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES,

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us (meaning God's laws that we have broken). And He (God) has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

What a great message of HOPE we have, first believe and follow ourselves, and then to give to others. Christ's entry into this world was to bring total forgiveness to believing sinners, to take away the judgment or curse against their sins, to break the tyrannical power of their slavery to sin, and to establish them as full-fledged sons and daughters, of God, or family members in God's forever family!

Dear Chaplain, make sure you give this kind of Christmas message now and throughout the coming year. Just like our November 2002 Chaplain's Corner stressed that it isn't enough to just be thankful, but that all thanks must be centered on God in and through Jesus, so all HOPE is only in Jesus Christ.

The HOPE you are to give inmates and residents is never to be placed in ourselves or in man's abilities. It is never to be in social science or human ability to re-establish ourselves as decent citizens. Without Jesus Christ we are not decent people but hopelessly lost in our trespasses and sins. Please make sure the inmates, residents and staff understand this message from the word of God.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom 15:13)

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us, and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work."

(2 Th 2:16,17)

Amen! May He do so, and may you truly be blessed - because Christ came!

Rev. Rich Hines, Minister To Chaplains - Aurora Ministries