Category Jesus

The difference between optimism and hope is – Easter!

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

DYING IS A VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE and yet despite the fact that we have the ‘assisted dying bill’ going through parliament, read about wars going on around the world and see so much death and destruction on our television screens, we are very bad about actually talking about it and especially what death might mean for us. Instead, we like to push it to the back of our minds or treat it as a ‘rainy day’ subject as if it doesn’t really matter or is of no real consequence. We’d much rather stand for a ‘minute’s applause’ than a ‘minute’s silence’ and speak in terms of a ‘celebration of life’ rather than speak of our ‘unspeakable sadness’.  All these things are understandable, but they perhaps highlight the fact that we are just not very good at speaking about death or the prospect of a life thereafter – if we believe in an afterlife at all!

Yet nearly three-quarters of the world’s population do believe in an afterlife and according to a YouGov poll (2021) one third of all British adults agree. Many people say that they are optimistic about life after death and consider themselves spiritual, even if they can’t fully articulate it.

However, optimism cannot deal with death, which is why the apostle Paul based his whole life upon the conviction that God had raised Jesus from the dead to new life, saying “‘I am convinced that neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8.38). This conviction was for him much more than optimistic wishful thinking, it was none other than a certain hope based upon his own personal experience of meeting with the risen Lord, and the amazing testimony of so many other disciples and followers of Jesus who had actually met with, spoken to, and touched the risen Lord (see list below). These were incredibly significant encounters which changed their lives and the lives of those around them forever more. It was not just their lives that were changed, but their perspective on life (and death) and what it meant for each of them personally. Of course, this is all very difficult to explain to a person who has ‘pushed things away’, closed their mind and not desired to take the time to consider these things before. This is why I would like to encourage you in the coming days to pause, reflect and think about the amazing story of Easter – and let God turn your natural optimism about life after death into a certain hope.

You are all warmly invited to join us as we celebrate Easter together.

With best wishes for Easter. Stephen Thorp

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen.” Luke 24.5-6

Mary Magdalene and other women: (Matthew 28.1-10, John 20.11-18). The disciples on the road to Emmaus: (Luke 24.13-35). Simon Peter (Cephas (Luke 24.34, 1 Corinthians 15.5). The apostles (without Thomas): (John 20.19-24). The apostles (including Thomas): (John 20.26-29). Over 500 believers at once: 1 Corinthians 15.6. James, the brother of Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15.7. The disciples at the Sea of Galilee: (John 21). The group at His ascension: (Acts 1.3-9).

In light of the release of Israeli & Palestian captives – a reflection

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

Today (15th February 2025), Hamas has released three more Israeli hostages; Sagui Dekel-Chen, Yair Horn and Alexander Troufanov, making a total of 19 Israeli hostages released so far this year under the ceasefire arrangements, with over 1000 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange. This most recent release was met with great relief as Hamas had previously said it would pause the release of hostages because Israel had violated the terms of the deal – a charge vigorously denied. This means that under the current arrangements another 14 hostages are due to be returned but since only 6 of them are thought to be alive, the mood will become increasingly dark and the situation increasingly fragile as bodies are finally returned to their loved ones. But then of course the whole thing has been terribly tragic since the terrible Hamas attack of 7th October 2023 when 1200 Israeli’s were savagely killed leading to the ruin of Gaza and the loss of many thousands of Palestinians through the Israeli military response. The physical pain, suffering and psychological trauma of those held captive on both sides has become clear with each subsequent release and we will all be thankful when the hostages have been released and as peace is established.

In recent times, the world in which we live has become increasingly dark, sinister and violent and there can be no doubt that many would describe the anger, hatred and violence that we see as evil. The Christian would equate this darkness with our human, natural capacity to sin which is a product of our fallen nature and our selfish desire to put ourselves first, often at the expense of others. Indeed, self-centred people seldom see, care or recognise the needs of others. Sin of this sort is self-perpetuating – one bad deed leads to another, either to satisfy a personal or collective greed or ambition, or to retaliate, seeking vengeance and getting one’s own back.  In a sense we are all held captive and chained to the dark side of our sinful nature which ruins both our lives and that of our society.

However, the Bible tells us that the love of God is greater and even more powerful than sin, as demonstrated in the life and person of Jesus Christ. His compassionate love and grace ‘for the fallen’ is clearly a model for us all to live our lives by. But it his willingness to literally ‘step into our place’ and to die upon the cross which highlights and demonstrates just how much his selfless sacrificial love drove him ‘to set the captives free’ (Isaiah 42.7). This is illustrated in the fact that upon his arrest, a notorious criminal called Barabas was released in Jesus’ place! It is neatly summarised in the 4th verse of that famous hymn, ‘And can it be’ by Charles Wesley:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray –
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

This is a wonderful freedom which is available to all who put their faith in Christ, so please embrace it.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61.1

Los Angeles – how do we go about ‘fire proofing’ our lives?

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

We have witnessed many devastating scenes during the past few years whether they be ‘man-made’ such as the wars between Russia and Ukraine, or the Middle East – or ‘natural’ such as the typhoons that recently swept across the Philippines, floods in Europe or extreme snow in the United States of America. But currently we are memorised by the devasting Californian fires of Los Angeles. The size of these swiftly spreading fires and their terrible destruction has been heightened in our mind’s eye by just how difficult it has been for firefighters to contain them and put them out. At one point it seemed as if there was nothing that fire crews could do other than simply watch properties burn due to the lack of sufficient water. Subsequently, we have heard some amazing stories of firefighters battling the flames alongside civilians and even convicts – and both the best and the worse of humanity has been on display, from those who have demonstrated great courage, care and generosity in support of their neighbours, to those despicable individuals who have looted their properties.  With at least 26 people killed, 12,000 properties damaged, and the cost estimated at being well over £200 billion, it’s clear that a long period of reflection will be needed to determine what happened and consider how it was managed. Was climate change a factor? Was there a problem with water distribution and how does one temporarily house so many displaced people?

Without diminishing the huge loss, heartache and suffering people have experienced, thoughts will inevitably turn to rebuilding and reconstruction. The process may take years, but it’s clear that a new community will one day rise from the ashes – but what sort of community will it be?

Well hopefully it will be a pleasant, prosperous and caring community suitable for everyone and not just the most affluent, with homes, buildings and workplaces built with materials less susceptible to fire.

The Christian will remember how the Apostle Paul encouraged the building up not just of strong physical communities, but also spiritual ones too.  Using the Temple in Israel as an analogy (1 Corinthians 3.12-17), he reminded his congregations how the Temple had throughout its history been frequently damaged by fire, and yet it was evident that certain materials (like gold, silver and precious stones) could all withstand the flames, whereas others (like wood, grass and straw ) did not. Bearing in mind that material possessions don’t last for ever and that we can never be sure about what trials or tribulations life might bring, he encouraged his hearers to value enduring eternal qualities (like faith, love, hope, strength and courage) that would not only sustain them during hard times but also enhance their relationships and community life when times were good – qualities that were epitomised in Jesus who was dead but through the power of the resurrection is now very much alive.

May these qualities not only strengthen and sustain the people of Los Angeles but all of us, in good times and bad.

3 “we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5.3-5

Knowing Christmas joy and peace in a world of uncertainty

Stephen Thorp 1 Comment

On the last Sunday of October, the clocks went backwards and the evenings became darker. For many, the world may also seem to have taken a step backward and be a darker place than it was. Not only do we have a war in Europe between Russia and Ukraine, but we also have the ongoing conflict between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours.  Global security seems to be increasingly fragile as we witness not only the election of a new American President but also growing concerns about a dominant China and the continent of Asia. Much has changed at home too – for now we have a new Labour government, trying out new things and implementing new policies. Many are left wondering, “What will all this mean for me? Will I have a better future or a poorer one?” Only time will tell!   Even much-loved institutions such as the Post Office and the Church have shown just how fragile they can be, prone to human vulnerability and corruption just like the rest of us. So, in a changing and uncertain world, where can we put our faith and trust – and where can we find peace?

Advent is a time not only for anticipating the joys of Christmas and time well spent with our families, friends and loved ones, but also time when we can reflect upon the love that God has for a broken world, and the incredible steps that he took upon himself to break into that world and demonstrate his love for it. For in the birth of Christ we see God taking upon himself our humanity, not so that he could succumb to its imperfections, but so that he might atone for them. The baby born at Christmas grew up to be the Saviour of the world, not only through his teaching, but also through his person, literally dying for it upon a cross – taking upon himself not only our humanity but our sin and its punishment (and yes I include you in that), so that when we put our faith and trust in him, we might receive not only forgiveness but also a genuinely new perspective which totally transforms our hearts and the way that we experience life – not just for the current moment, but for all eternity.

It is therefore no wonder that St John in his Gospel describes Jesus as a light which ‘shines in the darkness’ (John 1.5) and ‘the light that shines in the world’ (John 1.9). Although it may be true that ‘the darkness’ has not always ‘understood it’ (the light) neither has it overcome it. Therefore, the world is not quite as dark as it might have been if God had not stepped up and stepped forward into the world. This means that whenever a person recognises Christ to be their Lord and Saviour, then, step by step, person by person, heart by heart, the world is changed and transformed – and that’s the joy and peace of Christmas.

May I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ … ‘This is the verdict: Light has come into the world’. John 3.16,19

What does Crowdstrike’s ‘blue screen of death’ mean for you?

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

Did you escape the ‘blue screen of death’? If so you were lucky, for we have just witnessed the most serious IT outage ever – affecting the lives of millions of people and causing chaos and upheaval around the world. Initially, many wondered if this was a security or cyber-attack but very quickly George Kurtz, CrowdStrike’s chief executive apologised for the chaos caused, admitting that it was due to a bug in a software update rolled out by the cybersecurity firm affecting 8.5 million Windows PCs worldwide. The infamous ‘blue screen of death’ suddenly appeared as users were locked out of their systems requiring many to be rebooted manually, multiple times, before the updated fix could be applied. In the meantime, the damage and disruption caused was widespread, causing chaos to the lives of many innocent bystanders. More than 3,300 flights were cancelled globally. Railways were suddenly hit by major delays. More significantly hospitals couldn’t always access their systems, and neither could GPs access medical records or give patients the results of blood tests. Banking apps were suddenly taken offline and many large stores such as Morrisons and Waitrose couldn’t take payments, and Sky News was taken off the air.

Fortunately, it seems that no deaths have been caused by this IT outage, but the ripple effect and unintended consequences of this software ‘accident’ are plain for all to see, and the remedy is both time consuming and costly. The Christian will immediately see a parallel between this ‘Crowdstrike’ incident and the notion of original sin as depicted in the Bible, for as the Apostle Paul makes clear, ‘just as sin (and death) entered the world through one man … so death came to all people (the ‘crowd strike’) because all have sinned’ (Romans 5.12). Paul goes on to say that ‘the wages of sin is death’ (actual death and not just a ‘blue screen’) (Romans 6.23) which is much more severe. It seems that sometimes, despite our best intentions, sin has a way of distorting the good that we wish to do and making it less so – and of course deliberate and wilful sin often causes untold damage and chaos not only to ourselves but to the people around us. It also spoils our relationship with God!  Which is why we are so fortunate to have a friend and saviour like Jesus, because through him not only does God take upon himself all of the pain, punishment and guilt of our sinful behaviour as individuals and as communities, but he also takes it away, giving us the opportunity of a reboot – a fresh start when we put our faith and trust in him which is his free gift to all who believe.

For just as through the disobedience of one person many received the status of ‘sinner’, so through the obedience of one person many will receive the status of ‘in the right’. Romans 5.19 (The Bible for Everyone – N.T. Wright)

The miraculous joy of hearing!

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

Some of you may know that I have two deaf sons who were born with sensorineural hearing loss (I also have a father who has become extremely deaf through old age, which is something different) and so I am very aware of the problems associated with deafness and the frustrations of not being able to hear properly, whether you be young or old. So you can imagine my delight to hear about the fascinating story of Opal Sandy who was treated just before her first birthday with a ground breaking gene-therapy treatment, which has wonderfully restored the damaged hair cells that sit deep inside the cochlea of her inner ear. It is these hairs which are able to translate the vibrations caused by sound waves into messages and signals that the brain can understand. Prior to this ground breaking therapy treatment, the alternatives have always been digital hearing aids or a cochlea implant depending on the severity of the individual’s hearing loss. There is no doubt that this is wonderful science, generated by many years of painstaking research which will be considered by many as a modern day miracle. However, these are still early days, and the ‘window of opportunity’ seems to be very short and limited to the period where infant brains are still developing and considered to be in a state of elasticity. Let’s hope that this ‘window’ broadens so that this procedure or something like it may treat many more people, whatever their age.

Many of you will probably be familiar with the story of Jesus miraculously healing a deaf man who couldn’t speak (Mark 7.31-37). What really strikes me about this episode is the caring, considerate way in which the man is treated. Jesus took the man to one side, away from the noise of the crowds, and indicates through a series of signs and hand gestures what he proposes to do for the man. He places his fingers in the man’s ears (having probably just demonstrated it on himself) and takes some of his saliva and puts it on the man’s tongue (a practice not unknown amongst faith healers). He looks up to heaven to indicate that he is going to ask God to heal the man and makes a deep sigh indicating that like breath itself he is really going to rely on God for what happens next – all visual clues which will help the man understand what is about to happen. Then Jesus loudly declares ‘ephphatha’ which means ‘be opened’ and the man’s hearing is immediately restored along with his speech. It’s not surprising that everyone is amazed declaring, ‘He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak’. The love of God, demonstrated in the compassion of Christ, restores the man to health and wholeness.

Thankfully there is still a lot of love and compassion in the world, but there is also a lot of anger, hurt, bitterness and pain. Many people are very good at talking but not very good at listening. They hear the words but they don’t understand their significance or meaning because of their fixed ideas and perceptions. They are deaf to the needs of others and their point of view. Perhaps one of the greatest miracles of our age would be if we could each be pliable enough to offer the other a proper time and space to be seen and heard. That would demonstrate not only our compassion, but also our willingness to hear and to listen which is so often the first step towards healing.      

“The blind receive sight…the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor.” Luke 7.22

Russia and the United Kingdom – a tale of two elections!

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

As I write this month’s letter, there is a lot of political angst in the papers about the Prime Minister’s decision not to hold the general election on 2nd May as has been predicted by most papers and political pundits. Pat McFadden, Labour’s election co-ordinator said, “The British public have the right to expect an election to be called by the 26th March and held on the 2nd May. Rishi Sunak should stop squatting in Downing Street and give the country what it desperately needs – a chance for change with a Labour government”. Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, accused the Prime Minister of ‘running scared’. Whether we should agree with these sentiments or not is not for me to say, but surely Rishi  Sunak was right when he replied, “There won’t be a general election on that day but when there is a general election, what matters most is the choice.”

Which of course immediately made me think about the other enormously important election taking place at this time, which is the election of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s President for six more years. We are told by the media that the result is not in doubt because Mr Putin has no credible opponent, for not only has he changed the rules by forcing through an amendment which gives him personal exemption from the law which states that no Russian President is allowed to serve more than two terms in office, but he has taken every opportunity to crush meaningful opposition. Most opposition figures are either in prison, exile or, like the most charismatic figurehead Alexei Navalny met an untimely death. Despite the televised superficial veneer of running the election, the reality is that deep down there is no actual substance – no freedom, no democracy and no choice!  A point that has been made by a few brave individuals who have either spoilt their ballots, poured paint into election boxes or discretely demonstrated their discontent.

The Christian will be aware that the Bible tells us to pray for those who are in authority and this we do with sincerity, but we also do it in the knowledge that Jesus himself was not afraid to be critical of the political and religious authorities of his day, especially when he thought that they were taking advantage of the people and abusing their God given political positions. The Psalmist reminds us that “the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry: the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (Psalm 34.15-16), and in the previous verse “turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34.14). Ultimately, how we behave is a choice – a choice to stand up to tyranny, promote peace and seek the common good – or not. The much-quoted statement by Edmund Burke, recently restated by Alexei Navalny still holds true – “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.  It may appear that our general election is still some way off, but we all still have a choice as to how we wish to live and the society we wish to live in. Let’s use that choice wisely and cherish it!   

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6.8

Is it sensible to believe in the Resurrection?

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

‘How can you be a Vicar?’ someone once asked me. ‘You seem to be far too sensible to believe in all that mumbo-jumbo!’ On the one hand I was quite pleased to think that someone thought I was sensible, but on the other hand, I was quite perturbed to think that anyone might think that I wasn’t! So I enquired further, to which they replied, ‘Oh, I’m quite happy to believe that Jesus lived and was a good teacher and did a lot of good while he was alive – but raised from death? That’s just impossible!’ And of course, at first glance she was quite right! Normally speaking, people don’t come back to life after they have died. Anyone who has suffered a bereavement or been involved in a fatal car accident or fought in a war can tell you that! People die all the time and sadly with the state of the world in which we live, death is only too common an occurrence. But of course, it was just the same in Jesus’ day. If people didn’t die of poverty, sickness or malnutrition, they too could die in conflict or as in Jesus’ case, by painful execution. Indeed, the Romans were a master of their craft. They knew precisely how to murder people.

So how can we possibly believe in the resurrection?

Well firstly, because there were witnesses – people who knew Jesus well and saw him die; who also saw the empty tomb and he himself wonderfully alive. Firstly, to Mary Magdalene, and then to Mary the mother of James with Salome and Joanna – all of which is very strange, because if you wanted to ‘invent’ a resurrection story you wouldn’t use women as your principal voices who wouldn’t even be deemed as credible witnesses inside a court of law! So, were they mistaken? Had they hallucinated or simply suffered from grief stricken, over active imaginations? No, because the next witness to the living Lord was Peter, who had previously run to the empty tomb with his fellow disciple, John. They’d seen the empty tomb just as the women had described, with its huge entrance stone rolled away (the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb had to subsequently be bribed by the Pharisees to say that they had fallen asleep on duty). Yet it was not quite empty because the graves clothes which had monetary value were still inside, proving that the tomb hadn’t been struck by grave robbers. But this was not the end of the matter. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus reported that they had seen the risen Lord, and then he appeared to the disciples not once but twice (once without and then with Thomas). Thomas had declared that he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive until he’d touched the nail marks in his hands and placed his hand in the wound caused by the centurion’s spear in his side – and he was invited to do so with the admonishment, ‘Stop doubting and believe’. But even then, this was not the end of the story, because apart from joining the disciples once again for a fish breakfast on the side of the Sea of Galilee (proving that he was tangible and real and not a ghost), he also appeared to a group of 500 men all at once, as well as his own physical brother James (who subsequently became the leader of the church in Jerusalem), before finally appearing to a man call Saul who was so totally transformed by the experience that he ceased to be the great persecutor of Christians, and became its greatest advocate, the Apostle Paul.

All of this was topped by the simple truth, that not once did the Roman or Jewish authorities ever produce the body. That would have quashed the resurrection story once and for all, but they couldn’t because the tomb was empty, and Jesus was alive!

Yes, of course in the normal run of things, ordinary people live and die, but despite the fact that Jesus was fully human, that’s not all he was – he was also the Son of God, who lived, died and rose again. His resurrection proves it! This was a resurrection gospel that turned a rag-tag bunch of Jewish fishermen into fearless disciples, willing to live and die on the basis of what they had seen and heard for themselves and knew to be true. There is so much more that could be said about the resurrection that we don’t have time nor space to consider it here, other than to note the incredible growth of the church, and to rejoice in the wonderful transformation that it has brought to so many peoples’ lives with its huge implications for their future and the world in which we live – even for the creation.    

In the light of all this I simply don’t have the time, space or faith to be an atheist or even agnostic, for I delight in my rational understanding, and my joyful sense of identity and purpose – and my profoundly rewarding, satisfying and sensible Christian faith.

May I wish you all a very HAPPY EASTER!

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 3.10–11

What can ‘Mr Bates v The Post Office’ teach us about Lent?

Stephen Thorp 2 Comments

The recent ITV drama ‘Mr Bates v The Post Office’ has highlighted for many the dreadful plight that many subpostmasters found themselves in, following the installation of a faulty software accounting system called Horizon. The drama vividly portrayed the pain and anguish inflicted upon these sub-postmasters, who suddenly found their lives torn apart as the Horizon software frequently and falsely reported shortfalls for many thousands of pounds. This led the Post Office to accuse the subpostmasters of alleged theft, fraud and false accounting. The drama highlights the terrible burden, weight and consequences these accusations had on people lives and the enormous stress they were under. Between 1999 and 2015, 700 subpostmasters were prosecuted by the Post Office and 283 other cases were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service resulting in many people going to prison and many more receiving criminal convictions. Most lost their homes, livelihoods and savings and sadly four people committed suicide. The drama went on to portray the immense struggle that Alan Bates and his campaign group, the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, had over many years fighting for justice, culminating in their incredible victory at the High Court in 2019 when it was proved that the Horizon Post Office software had been at fault and that the sub-postmasters were innocent. The drama raised such public awareness and concern that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced in Parliament that all criminal convictions will be duly overturned and each person fairly compensated. This news has been warmly welcomed and received by all.

However, many people will find themselves reflecting upon the morals and ethics of this sordid episode. How can a trusted business and brand like The Post Office allow itself to treat so many innocent people so badly for so long? Why should it be more important to maintain the integrity of the Horizon software system than trust the integrity of their employees? Why was it so hard for the Post Office to admit the failings of its system and say sorry?

Christians will know that with Easter soon upon us, Lent is a great time for personal reflection and repentance, because it encourages us to consider our own lives and possible failings in the light of a God who loves us despite the fact that we are sinners. It encourages us to reflect upon how much we live up to the biblical command of loving God and ‘our neighbours as ourselves’ (Matthew 22.39), treating others with honesty and respect ‘as we ourselves would like to be treated’ (Luke 6.31). It also encourages us to reflect upon all those times when we have accidentally or deliberately fallen short, and sin has got the better of us, the consequences of which may be highly significant and impactful upon us and the lives of others. As we consider the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ upon the cross, this season of Lent gives us another chance to reassess our lives, repent of our sins and reset the clock when we sincerely put our faith and trust in him, knowing that Christ died so that we might be forgiven.

We may not be able to change the misfortunes or immoralities of the world (or even the Post Office), but we can make things better where we are as we take responsibility for our own lives – words, deeds and actions – and as always, genuine moral change always starts with repentance!    

“I tell you … there will be much rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15.7

Have you taken down your Christmas decorations too soon?

Stephen Thorp Leave a comment

One of the things that saddens and surprises me most about Christmas is how quickly some people seem to be pleased to see the back of it. With the help of their Advent calendars, children have been joyfully counting down the days to Christmas for weeks (and parents no doubt the shopping days as they struggle to get ready) but as soon as the big day has come and gone, they move on to the next ‘big thing’, usually the Boxing Day sales or the New Year celebrations. After all that sense of increasing anticipation, Christmas has come and gone in an instant; shops and supermarkets surgically remove any trace of Christmas and people swiftly take down their decorations and remove the lights from their houses.

And yet as the Christmas Carol helpfully reminds us, there are ‘twelve days of Christmas’, and the Christmas season theoretically continues until ‘twelfth night’ on the 6th January, when we move into Epiphany. This is the time when the church traditionally marks the arrival of the wise men or Magi (‘the three kings’) who bowed down and worshipped the infant Christ as they presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

There was nothing instantaneous about their journey, as travelling from Babylon (modern day Iraq) it would have taken them 4-5 months to travel by camel the long and arduous route to Bethlehem. Yet it was worth it – because they understood that this was a moment of huge and profound significance, because in keeping with ancient prophecy, the God who had created both the heavens and the earth was going to send a great king to rule over his people. This is why they turned up at Herod’s palace asking “where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2.2). The Nativity and Epiphany stories remind us that the child who was born at Christmas as the Son of God was warmly received by shepherds and kings alike; Jews and Gentiles coming together to worship and acknowledge the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, the one who would not only “save the people from their sins” (Matthew 1.21) but the one whose kingdom would last for ever.

At the start of a new year many people take stock of their lives and hopefully wish for a better future, but Christians know that Christmas and Epiphany are not only wonderful occasions to celebrate the birth of Christ, but great opportunities to reflect upon their own personal present and future lives ‘in him’. Knowing that God is prepared to step into human history on your behalf as your Lord and Saviour, dying upon the cross, really brings home how much he loves, cares and values you. It changes your perspective of who you are ‘in Christ’ and gives your life a greater sense of meaning and purpose, deepening the way you see yourself and your appreciation of others. In some parts of the world, love, joy and peace are in short supply and yet they lie at the heart of a Christian Christmas. Therefore, it seems to me that it’s certainly worth celebrating the ‘twelve days of Christmas’ and leaving the decorations up longer than we seem to, so that together we might pause and allow the season to nourish us a little longer.

For to us a child is born…and he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9.6