Page 2 - Winter 2016 Contact Issue 40

Norman’s Viewpoint
A World Saviour
This year, in our Advent Sundays, we will be
reflecting with the children on the fact that Jesus
is a world saviour. Every December, Christmas is
celebrated throughout our world, from Argentina
to Zimbabwe, from north to south, east to west,
among rich and poor, old and young, adult and
child.
In the increasingly cynical and secularised West,
the Christian faith is deemed to be a minority
interest and the overtly Christian elements
of Christmas continue to be side-lined and
suppressed. But the wonderful thing about the
gospel is that the more it has been suppressed in
history, the more it has flourished. The massive
growth of the church in China recently bears
witness to this.
In the midst of our society’s political correctness
and media cynicism even about the existence of
God, it is good to remind ourselves of the growing
world-wide church of which we are a part. We join
with our brothers and sisters across the world in
proclaiming with the angels “good news of great
joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). John also
reminds us that in Jesus we have one who “takes
away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He is not a
“All nations
parochial or provincial god, He is “the atoning
sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but
also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2).
will come and worship
before you”
Jesus is the Saviour of all in our world who see
in him God’s remedy for our sin and frailty.
As Ballymena has become more international in
flavour and as we have had the privilege in High
Kirk over recent years of teaching English to
people from other countries, we are reminded
again that God is God of the nations and His desire
is that people of all the nations will surrender to
Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. When this
happens they will be present around the throne of
heaven because they have recognised that Jesus
was born for a purpose – “with your blood you
purchased people for God, from every tribe and
language, people and nation.” Rev.5:9
As we proclaim ‘joy to the world, the Lord is come’
let us do so boldly, confidently and lovingly as we
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; the most
special baby ever born. He is saviour of the
world, for the whole world.
Wesolych Swiat, (Happy Christmas in Polish)
Norman
(Rev.15:4)