Thank God for Christmas, thank God for Jesus

To the editor:

As I prepared to send a letter today to the young adults of our congregation, I heard news reports of the school shooting in Connecticut.

What a shock and what a tragic act of evil.

Some people would like to say there is no such thing as evil in our world. Some would like to say that it is acceptable for everyone to do whatever they want to do. Then this senseless killing of young children is perpetrated and we sadly again see that there is indeed evil in the world. No amount of school security stopped the killing. No laws to protect the children will bring them back to life. We live in a world of sin and evil and rebellion against our good and loving Creator. That sin and rebellion hurts us, and even kills our children.

That is why I say, “Thank God for Jesus!” Jesus is God who loves us despite the evil in the world. Jesus is God who loves us despite our own sin. Jesus is God, who broke into this evil world to bring love and righteousness, to bring peace and justice, to bring comfort and joy. Christmas is not just a “feel-good holiday” where we forget the world is evil. Christmas is a time that we admit our own sin and we admit our own need for a savior. Christmas is a time that God comes to us and we receive help and hope from the only one who can really help us, God.

That is why I again say this Christmas, “Thank God for Jesus!” We truly need a savior, and that is what Jesus is. May Jesus bring peace and joy to your Christmas, even while there is horrible evil in the world around us.

Jonathan Rockey

Senior Pastor, St. John Lutheran Church

Palmer