Photo: Studio Kominis |
In Greece they have a Christmas tradition called Karavachia where they decorate boats instead of trees. It is said that they do this in anticipation of the men returning from fishing ahead of Christmas. Some will even decorate toy boats near the fireplace and point the bow towards the fire to indicate that the sailors should be on their way home.
Coming Near
In my home country, the United States, we have this same idea of coming home that shows up throughout our Christmas songs and traditions. I immediately think of the 1943 song, “I’ll be home for Christmas,” which was written from the perspective of a World War II soldier longing for home. This sentiment resonates at Christmas because distance and nearness is embedded into the Gospel narrative. The original Christmas story is also full of comings and goings. Mary and Joseph are on the move, the wise men take their big trip and Jesus is whisked away to Egypt when Herod tries to kill him. But on a larger scale Christmas is all about God coming near to us as a baby born in Bethlehem.
This message of God drawing near has embedded itself into our traditions in the 2000 years since Jesus’ birth. Every effort to come close, be together and connect at the holidays is in part an artifact of God’s proactive effort to come near.
Near for What?
Have you ever stopped to question the narrative? Why did God come near? What is the purpose of us gathering together at Christmas? Why is proximity an important part of God’s plan? For insight, I went back to Greece for one of the most compelling Christmas messages in the Bible. This talk predates the Karavachia as it goes back to the first testimony of God’s nearness to the Greek seat of power . . . Athens.
It likely wasn’t given at the time we celebrate Christmas, but it is one of the most compelling cases for God drawing near that I can find in the Bible. Many of you know the story. Paul is shuttled out of Berea to avoid the angry crowds and is hidden in Athens. But Paul isn’t great at hiding! As he walks the streets, the lostness of the people burdens his soul and he must speak. He first goes to the Jews and then ends up speaking to a wider audience. Finally he is invited to speak to the leaders of Athens.
As he is speaking, he brings the Christmas message home in a way that Athenians could relate to and consider. He starts out by establishing who their Unknown God was and then he makes the true God’s case. Listen as he sets the record straight in Acts 17:24-29 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message,
“The God who made the world and everything in it, this Master of sky and land, doesn’t live in custom-made shrines or need the human race to run errands for him, as if he couldn’t take care of himself. He makes the creatures; the creatures don’t make him. Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. We live and move in him, can’t get away from him! One of your poets said it well: ‘We’re the God-created.’ Well, if we are the God-created, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to think we could hire a sculptor to chisel a god out of stone for us, does it?”
Paul eloquently explains that the God who made everything is near so that we will find Him and know Him. But God’s nearness is not terrifying or humiliating to His creation. Instead God, “...made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God…” God is near so that we will be restored to a relationship with Him.
The Birth of an Idea
Appealing to the thoughtful minds of the Athenians, he shared with them about a generous God who had drawn near and still given His creation plenty of room to learn, discuss, explore and ultimately find Truth. God didn’t come to stifle and limit their creativity. He came to fulfill and explore every true idea and thought to its ultimate completion in Him. To the people of Athens, their introduction to Jesus was not a baby in a manger but an idea birthed among the pillars and statues; then given room to be discussed and explored. But either way, God drew near that day.
How is God drawing near to you this Christmas?
What is he making room for you to consider?
How will you respond to the idea hospitality that God extends to you as he comes close?
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