httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ2NCDZ6ZH8
I love many things. One of them is Christmas. Another one of them is The Muppets. The above song is from Muppets Christmas Carol. As of this writing, we have two more sleeps than Kermit and company, but I wanted to write a post with the song nonetheless.
I believe that One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas is a wonderful Advent song. Advent is the 4-week long Christian season of anticipation of Christmas. During these four weeks, we get ready for Christmas by reflecting on and praying about his three “comings.” 1.Jesus’ coming into this world when he was born of Mary in Bethlehem, 2. Jesus’ second coming in glory at the end of time, and 3. the ways he comes to us everyday in our lives. (More about Jesus’ three comings)
“The promise of excitement is one the night will keep
After all, there’s only one more sleep til Christmas.”
One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas is all about the joyful anticipation of Christmas. So is Advent!
Kermit sings some very good things about Christmas. Some beautiful Christmas truths from the mouths of Muppets! Let’s check ’em out:
The world is at her best, you know
When people love and care
Very true, Kermit. And wasn’t that one of Jesus’ favorite things tell us? Check it:
From Matthew 22:34-40:
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There’s no such thing as strangers when
A stranger says hello
And everyone is family,
Jesus’ coming and his sacrifice on the cross opened wide the family of God. No longer was God’s saving covenant limited to the people of Israel. Jesus opened up the family of God to include everybody. Like Kermit says, “everyone is family!”
It’s the season when the saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive
Is Kermit talking about the communion of saints? (wikipedia article) The saints in heaven praying for us and asking God for blessings and grace so we can fulfill the Great Commission? (“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you… – Matthew 28:19-20) It sure sounds like it to me!
There’s something in the wind today
That’s good for everyone
Yes, faith is in our hearts today
We’re shining like the sun
And everyone can feel it, the feeling’s running deep
After all, there’s only one more sleep til Christmas
After all, there’s only one more sleep til Christmas day
This may be a bold statement: (Or a statement made in desperation to pull a post together): This last verse sums up (however generically) the general feeling and idea of living Christianity. Jesus (and Christianity) are good for everyone. Jesus came for everybody, no matter what you’ve done or where you came from. And when we hold faith in Jesus in the deepest part of our hearts, we are the most alive we can be, we are, as Kermit puts it, “shining like the sun.” And if we Christians are doing our best to truly live out our faith, if we are really letting our relationship with Jesus change the way we live, then everyone will feel it. And it all started in a little town, in a dingy stable in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. It all started with Christmas. No wonder Kermit (and we) are so excited to celebrate.
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