Recently whilst walking on Corton beach near Lowestoft, I saw
a sign saying this way to Britain’s most easterly point – 15
minutes. I decided to keep walking and literally reached the
spot (see photo below.) Reflecting on this later, I was reminded
that the wise men in the Christmas story also came from the east (Matthew
2:1) Like me, the rich and regal wise men had seen a sign – a star which
indicated the birth of the new king of the Jews and following the star they
embarked on a Journey west (somewhat longer than my 15 minutes) to
Jerusalem and onto Bethlehem where they joyfully found Jesus and wor-
shipped him. Jesus’ birth announced by the angels to the lowly, unloved, and
smelly shepherds was good news of great joy to all people.
They joyfully hurried off to Bethlehem, saw Jesus and then told
everyone they met about him. (Luke 2.) Jesus’ birth was the
ultimate step in God’s plan to forgive and reconcile all peoples
back to himself by removing the barrier between God and
humans caused by Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus was a
sign of God’s love which came down at Christmas. The psalmist foreshadows
the coming of Jesus when he says: He has taken our sins away from us as far
as the east is from west (Psalm 103:12 ICB.) The sharply contrasting eastern
and western lifestyles of the wise men and the shepherds and their part in
the Christmas story shows the good news message of Jesus Christ was and is
for all. In Christ there is no east or west, in Him no south or north. God’s love
and forgiveness through Jesus is for me, for you, and for everyone. It’s a free
unconditional gift of love that we can receive and share this Christmastime
and indeed all year round. Like the shepherds, being beacons for Jesus and
making him known through our loving words and actions is what it’s all about.
So, let’s do this joyfully during this Advent and Christmas season. May I wish
you and your loved ones a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Prayers, blessings and love,

Robert