Christmas: Borrowing Hope From the Future

I recently read a story that wonderfully helped me catch a glimpse of the joy that Jesus brought to the world at His first coming:

On June 6, 1944, in a German prisoner of war camp, one of the prisoners was secretly listening to the BBC. Hearing of the allied invasion of Normandy, he could hardly contain himself. He began whispering three simple words to other prisoners, “They have come.”

One prisoner was so overcome with joy that he threw reserve and restraint aside, ran into the barracks, and began shouting, “They have come. They have come.” Weak men jumped for joy. Strong men hugged each other and wept with excitement. Some stood on tables and shouted as others rolled on the floor in ecstasy.

Their German captors, not knowing about D-Day, thought they had gone crazy. For the prisoners, nothing had changed outwardly, but inwardly everything had changed. Their rescue was certain. “They had come.” *

Bethlehem was God’s Normandy Invasion

What a great example this is of the good news that was heralded by the angels at Christmas, and echoed by the shepherds. Bethlehem was God’s Normandy Invasion.

God invaded earth to defeat the enemy and set the prisoners (us) free. No wonder the angel said he brought “good news of great joy!” (Luke 2:10)

When I envision those soldiers rejoicing at their good news, it is easier for me to imagine the shepherds rejoicing at their good news. And then it becomes easier for me to actually rejoice as I should with the coming of Jesus. It reminds me that the story of Jesus’ birth is not a fairy tale to be enjoyed, but a historical event to be celebrated.

The soldiers borrowed hope from the future. They rejoiced even before they were delivered, in anticipation of their deliverance. We do the same. We borrow hope from the future and rejoice in anticipation of the spiritual deliverance that Jesus made certain with His birth 2,000 years ago.

This year, as we celebrate Christmas, let us remind ourselves that Christmas is not merely nostalgic tradition, but a historical event. We don’t merely revel in fond childhood memories. Rather we celebrate with true spiritual joy. Just as the soldiers celebrated their impending deliverance from physical prison, so we celebrate our impending deliverance from spiritual prison. This Christmas, in the spirit of the soldiers, we can joyfully proclaim, “He has come! He has come!”

If you have never received the gift of deliverance made possible by the birth of Jesus that Christians celebrate at Christmas, I invite you to experience this Christmas hope. Please visit www.peacewithgod.net.

*Dr. Mark Hitchcock, professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Seminary in DTS Christmas Devotionals (https://christmas.dts.edu/he-has-come/)