Our experience of Christmas can go beyond our physical senses

By Dean Collins

Decorating for Christmas is usually a sensory experience.

The first step usually involves climbing ladders to the attic or walking steps to the garage or wherever your Christmas decorations are stored.

Then comes the unpacking of ornaments, lights, and other decorations. If there are children around, then you must manage crowd control as little fingers can’t wait to help, even when some of their help may be not entirely helpful!

The children and the child inside each of us enjoy viewing the lights and the ornaments hanging on the tree. And you likely have some scented candles or fresh wreaths displayed that bring the smells of Christmas into your home and office. Add some Christmas music or movies playing in the background, and soon all of our senses are engaged in the magic of Christmas.

All the senses

Christ’s first coming touched all the senses, too. Reading 1 John 1:1-10, we find the apostle John reminding believers that he and other apostles have testified to what they have seen, heard, touched, and experienced concerning the Word of life, the life that was manifest in Christ Jesus.

So much of John’s Gospel and this first chapter of 1 John run in parallel.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you. . . . This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:1-3, 5).

The opening verses to both books refer to what was from the beginning. Both tell us that God is light and that in Christ there is no darkness. And while neither John nor the other apostles experienced the nativity, they did experience Jesus personally as they lived and traveled with him for nearly three years. They testified to what they saw, touched, heard, and likely smelled as they traveled dusty roads, slept under the stars, and ate together frequently.

When we get out the decorations and bake Christmas treats and enjoy the ambiance of Christmas, it is easy to miss the realness of that first Christmas that involved sweat, the smell of animals, the chill of stables, the arrival of shepherds telling stories of angel choirs, and the fatigue that follows the birth of a baby.

Real joy

In John 15 and in these first few verses of 1 John we also read that John wrote his testimony that our joy might be made complete. Looking at John 15, we remember that Jesus talked to John and the apostles concerning the importance of abiding in Christ. As we live and walk in Christ, we experience real joy. The lights and sounds of our Christmas celebrations may bring pleasant feelings, but joy is far more than just feelings.

We may experience many pleasant and fun experiences throughout the season of Advent, but true and full joy comes from the realization of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. This amazing gift of God that came wrapped in swaddling clothes paid the price of our sins. John reminds us that when we walk in fellowship with each other, we come to realize that this fellowship is possible only because Jesus shed his blood so that our sins could be forgiven and we would be able to love each other the way he loves us.

As we wait to celebrate the gift of a Savior this year, I pray we will look past the lights of the season and experience the true light of God made visible by our Savior and Lord, Jesus.

Your time with God’s Word
1 John 1:1-10; John 15:11 ESV

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash
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