THE DEEPER MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

(Post by: Michelle Hobbs – Blogmas Day Fifteen 2023)

Christmas, it is said, is a magical time. A time when the world is told to “believe”, but believe in what?

The world wants us to believe in Santa Claus, believe that miracles happen at this time of year, that human kindness is at its peak during the holidays.

The lights are magical to look at. The decorations leave us inspired. The modern Christmas pop songs lighten our moods. The Hallmark movies make us think their version of love is what true love looks like.

However, I have been contemplating the Deeper Magic of Christmas, and I invite you to explore this theme with me.

My musings about the Deeper Magic began with The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lewis introduces us to several characters. Aslan, the lion, who is a type of Christ in the story. The White Witch, who is a type of Satan, and the Pevensie children, who represent mankind.

The White Witch lays claim to Edmund Pevensie, who has committed several sins, and made many wrong decisions. By the law of the Deep Magic, she is entitled to his life because of this.

The law stated that the White Witch was entitled to kill every traitor, and if she was denied the traitor’s blood, all of Narnia would be punished.

However, unknown to the White Witch, an even Deeper Magic, created before the dawn of time existed!

Aslan had a greater plan! The Deeper Magic stated that if a willing victim, who had committed no treachery, was killed in the traitor’s place, the Stone Table (the place of sacrifice) would crack, and death itself would start working backwards. I have another post about the Stone Table which you can read HERE.

Aslan willingly sacrifices his own life, as a substitute, so that Edmund can live, and death can be defeated.

That, my friends, is the Deeper Magic of Christmas! God had a plan to save His created image bearers from before the beginning of time. Christmas is the beginning of that plan set in motion.

Jesus had to come to our world to sacrifice Himself, in our stead, so that death itself could be defeated once and for all for those who believe!

It is time that we truly understand that our version of Christmas looks nothing like the stories we read in Matthew and Luke. The Biblical account of Christmas is more magical, more fantastical, than any modern author or Hollywood studio can imagine!

There are angels that talk to people, infertility and shame that is overcome by a miracle, unwed pregnancy and ridicule, a true love story between man and woman, and between God and humankind.

There is an opening of Heaven, allowing lowly shepherds to glimpse the great joy of our future, if we believe!

I invite you, again, to contemplate the Deeper Magic of Christmas this year and in all the years to come.

Encounter afresh the awe, hardship, pain, loss, and ultimate victory of Jesus coming in the flesh to our world.

It is our task to come and behold Him!

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:18-23)