Even when I was in Kmart the other day, a parent was collecting lay-bys for their children for Christmas.
While it is a time to spend with family and share joy, it is also a time which tells us a great truth, that Jesus came to die for the “whosoever”.
While this is an old English term it means anyone, Jesus came to die for anyone who would believe in him.
It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past, your political beliefs or where you were born — Jesus came for you.
How do we know this, through the Christmas story, which is in a way the starting bookend of Christ’s life?
Let me ask another question: Who were visited by angels who talked first about the birth of Christ?
It was shepherds who were watching their flocks by night, as the song goes.
While they were the first witness, they were seen by society as the lowest of the low. It was seen as a job for robbers or thieves.
They couldn’t even give evidence in court, yet Christ came for them, the whosoever, the first witnesses.
So we have, as I said, the start of the bookend of Christ’s life, but what about the other bookend, something we usually celebrate in April?
At Christ’s resurrection, Easter, who were the first witnesses?
It was women.
Now once again during the time of Jesus women had very little rights and just like shepherds could not give evidence in court.
Once again, the first witnesses were the whosoever.
At the start of Christ’s life, Christmas, during his life and at his resurrection, God showed love for all.
A love for everyone, and at this Christmas you are the “whosoever” who can accept his love and gift of life that he came into the world to give.
That is the miracle of Christmas, accept and open this gift now.
— Greg Turnbull, Salvation Army Campaspe branch major
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