The Christmas holiday is recognized by both the world and Christian as a season of giving. Many folks in society look for opportunities to do good at this time of year. Merry bells are rung for donations, bright red boxes are filled with toys, parcels are mailed, and society finds satisfaction in deeds done for others. All these noble works of men are faint echoes compared to the heavenly chorus that rang out with the glorious news of a holy God’s good will to all! Jesus came to earth as a babe in the manger to do good to sinners! Titus 3:4-7 reads, “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
And yet, as I was reading the Gospel of John last week, I saw the response of our sinful hearts to God’s good plan for man. The account is found in John 10 of the Jews having entered into conflict with Jesus and taken up stones (again!) to stone Him. Jesus says, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” The incarnate Jesus did much good for His people. He fed the hungry, showed compassion for the hurting, healed the blind and lame, welcomed the little children, educated the common man in the truths of Scripture, and more. We are told in the book of Acts that He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Jesus is our example of good works. But listen to the answer given by the people in John 10:33: “The Jews answered Him, saying, ‘For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God’.” The Jews were willing to accept the good that benefited them but not the God that gave the greatest good and perfect gift of all.
Let us do good to many this Christmas season, but may we especially do good to sinners. I have been appreciating Hebrews 13:20-21 this month, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” The “peace on earth” and “good will to men” of which the angels sang is the peace with God that was bought by the precious blood of Christ. Hallelujah! (V.K.S.)
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