Days of feasting & gladness

They weren’t expecting an average day where the highs barely peak and the lows barely break below the surface; they expected to be slaughtered. 

But the most unlikely opposite occurred, and the Jewish people were exuberant! To celebrate, Mordecai and Esther established a yearly holiday for their nation called Purim (find details about it in Esther chapter 9). It was to be a time filled with tasty food, gift-giving, and joy, because their worst nightmare was surprisingly averted, completely contrary to the outcome they had imagined.  

Looking ahead to our own holiday season - a time of tasty food, gift-giving, and joy - I’m setting my heart to celebrate Christmas as a shocking reversal of expectations. Humanity’s worst nightmare was averted through the most unlikely beginning: 

The eternal Son of God became a human embryo. 

A barn became a royal birthplace. 

A virgin became a mother. 

Dirty shepherds became the first witnesses of the King. 

Jesus would live a life of expectations turned on their heads, and this pattern of reversal would continue into His death and culminate in His resurrection. It’s because of Him that we, who were doomed to everlasting death, can instead experience eternal life. Could we ever imagine anything like this outcome?

During Advent, let’s remember Purim: There is no reversal we’ve been longing for that’s too drastic for our God; in fact, it seems He’s attracted to doing the opposite of what we’d naturally expect. 

May your celebration of Christ prompt days of feasting and gladness this season! I’ll be signing off until after the New Year, but I’ll be back in 2024:)