I’m still thinking about Christmas, so I’m posting what I think is the best thing my dad has ever written..
The Bethlehem Preposition
As we approach the Christmas season, I am reminded of the “reason for this season.” While I love the decorations, good food, time off from school, and all the festivities, there is a more eternal purpose in the Christmas story.
God has a plan to effectively deal with human weakness and error. His plan is to maintain a just and righteous standard by meting out justice for sin while demonstrating mercy by loving the sinner.
This plan was birthed in Bethlehem.
Now this is about to get religious (remember Holiday = the Middle English Holy Day), so if you plan to be offended, stop reading and Happy Holidays to you. Having read the requisite disclaimer, if you read on, it is your own fault.
I am an English professor by trade. I like words. I teach about words. You know, grammar stuff. Dangling modifiers and split infinitives. Fragments (like I’m writing now), and parts of speech. Which brings me back to the title of this column – The Bethlehem Preposition.
One of our parts of speech is called a preposition. It is a word that shows positional relationship. For example, if you ask directions for travel, someone might tell you to get “on Interstate 20.” The preposition involved in that instruction is the word “on.” Your positional relationship to the interstate when you drive is that you are “on” the highway (we hope).
What does all of that have to do with Christmas?
Almost 700 years before the first Christmas, the prophet Isaiah gave us these words: “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel” (7:14). Seven centuries later, on a clear Bethlehem night, an angel announced to the shepherds,
“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” . . .
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:10 – 14)
Did you notice the Bethlehem prepositions? Remember, they show relationship.
Scripture is clear that man’s natural position in relation to God is one of separation (Isaiah 59:2). Words like “away,” and “from,” are often used. What miracle would allow such a shift of relationship? I was “away” from God. God was distant “from” me, separated from me by my lawless nature.
But the Bethlehem preposition was God’s great invitation to remove that obstruction and to make it possible for me to be “with” Him. God’s plan envisioned such a miracle – a birth whose end was to be death, but a death whose end was to be resurrection.
The process of this great prepositional shift from “away” to “with” is explained in the names given to the Babe whose birth in Bethlehem led to the empty tomb. The Bible calls Him,
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Immanuel – God “with” us
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Jesus – Savior “from” sin
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Prince “of” Peace
Sometimes, an illustration is better than an explanation:
One dark and stormy night, a child wandered lost on the streets of a large city. A policeman found him crying and gathered enough information to give him directions.
“Just go down this street half a mile, turn and cross the big iron bridge, then turn to your right and follow the river until you know where you are.”
The poor child, only half understanding and bewildered by the storm and the darkness, turned about blindly and walked away.
Then another voice spoke in a gentle tone: “Son, just come with me.
A little hand was clasped in a stronger hand. The corner of a warm coat was thrown over the shoulders of the shivering child, and the way home was made easy.
The first man had told the way; the second man became the way.
One Bethlehem night, God came to be “with” us that He might give Himself “for” us. He offers a covering with His robe of righteousness.
His outstretched hand beckons us: “Abide with me. I’ll show you the way.
Billy Tucker
Copyright 2010 by Tammi Mossman.
