I was thinking today! About the Christ of Christmas! About whom St Paul wrote, in simple but all-encompassing words in Rom 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”  He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega!

The Holy Communion service from the 2^nd Order for Holy Communion in the APBA [A Prayer Book for Australia] also has majestic encompassing words. They are to be affirmed by every person present at the service. They are,

“Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again”

I personally love affirming them with all who are present at a Communion service.

However wouldn’t it be helpful and ‘nice’ if we added some additional words so that the affirmation became the following, [even if only as an addition in the Advent-Christmas season.]

“Christ was promised

Christ was born

Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again”

This would give a more meaningful narrative about the Person of Jesus, His promised role as The Christ [Messiah, Anointed One] and would tie in the truths about

• all the promises regarding His coming at that first Christmas [as seen in Old and New Testament passages]
• His Birth in humility as a human
• His Death as a human
• His Resurrection, Ascension and Session [His sitting down at the right hand of God] and the subsequent pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the people of God
• His coming again in glory.

Anyway, I thought it would be a helpful thing to do! Do I expect the Liturgical Commission in Australia to suggest shredding all the existing copies of the ABPA prayer books in order to include my suggestion? Oh, me of little faith! NO!

Perhaps I might just think about the words when I am present at Communion services in the future, whilst “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. Joy for Him was fulfilling the Father’s purpose for Him! Our joy, because of all Jesus has done for us, is to live for Him and to endeavour, by the grace of God, to fulfil the Father’s purpose for us! What an exciting prospect! To be doing what God wants us to do!

The Promised Christ who was born at that First Christmas is worthy to be praised, all the time! By all His people! To His everlasting glory!

May you know the Lord’s richest blessings in this Christmas-New Year season.

Blog No.337 posted on http://www.jimholbeck.blog on Monday 23^rd December 2019.