I was listening to Bill Turnbull and Louise Minchin the other morning as they interviewed Annie Lennox, the singer. Apparently Annie’s birthday is on Christmas day and she was bemoaning the fact that she is “always eclipsed by Jesus Christ.” I thought to myself that if I had been there, I would have suggested that she is not the only one to be eclipsed by Jesus! In fact I would suggest that He eclipses every person who has ever lived! As we approach Christmas – again, if we can see beyond all the trappings and commercialism of the season, we will be celebrating the birth of a man whose effect on the world, not only during his lifetime but in the 2000 or so years since, has been little short of astonishing.
The words of those who met Him speak volumes; as he calms the storm on the Sea of Gallilee with a word, they exclaim, “What sort of man is this that even the wind and waves obey him?” As he taught the crowds they say, “No man ever spoke the way this man does!” The bible records “They were amazed at his teaching.” When a major earthquake hit Jerusalem as he was crucified, a hardened Roman centurion exclaimed, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
But most exciting of all, having taken upon himself God’s judgement for our sin and in doing so, dying a horrific death, he proclaims after his resurrection “Because I live, you will live also!”- his promise to his followers of eternal life! This greatest man of all time, the Son of God, eclipses everyone!
Tim Porter
King’s Lynn Christian Fellowship