President’s Christmas Message: Standing at the door

Jesus knocks, but occupants inside don’t always hear

by Robert Bugbee

The words appear in red letters in special editions of the Bible: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20 NIV). They are red because Jesus is speaking. Even though He had returned to heaven and was unseen by people, the words His Spirit moved St. John to write in the last book of the New Testament came straight from Him.

Sincere people sometimes misunderstood them, as though Jesus were saying this mostly to unbelievers. If you read the surrounding verses carefully, you see what’s really happening. Jesus speaks here to members of a church. These were men and women who had heard His message and believed it. They had been gathered into God’s family. It is not only unbelievers who need a “wake up call” from the Lord’s Christ. Sometimes those who consider themselves comfortable and well-situated must face the fact they are treating Him like a man they’ve left outside on the front steps. A closed door is in the way between them and Him. He doesn’t force them to open. He doesn’t kick the door in.

It is not only unbelievers who need a “wake up call” from the Lord’s Christ.

But He stands there, just the same. Calmly and firmly He knocks and knocks. The occupants inside don’t always hear. Picture them talking on and on for hours and days about many things, as people often do. See them fill their ears with the sound of other people’s chatter back to them. Noise fills the air, and they are oblivious to the One on their doorstep. He could choose to answer with threats. Worse yet, He could turn and walk away for good.

But He stands there, though a long time may have gone by. With a seeking, aching love He’s not letting up. He sticks it out on the steps. He knocks and knocks.

It’s a Christmas gift from God whenever you can ponder the words, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.” This is where Advent and Christmas want to take you. Christmas is not intended to be just an annual replay of old traditions, decorations and food, soothing as they may be. It’s not only the recitation of a touching story about a poor man and wife who stumbled into Bethlehem long ago as if it were a sweet, ancient fairy tale.

Bethlehem’s little Christ grew up. He trusted and preached and helped and cried; He invited and warned and welcomed. He died to carry your unpayable debt. He came alive in power. The Christmas good news and the Bible’s other messages of Him are there to show He has made His way to you again. He’s on the front steps. Even if you’ve been too busy to clue in to His presence there, calmly and firmly He knocks and knocks.

He’s not there primarily to scold you. To be sure, the words He spoke to His careless children are sobering. You and I ignore them at our peril. Still, the One who knocks is ready instead to bring love and help right in the door. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me,” He says. Sharing a meal was a deep thing in Bible times. This was not some business lunch where one person tries to sell something to another. It’s not a quick trip past the drive-through window. Sharing a meal was about giving honour and acceptance to a companion at the table. It was like giving something of your heart to the one seated across from you.

This is what Jesus yearns to do this Christmas with you, dear friend. He brings the honour and acceptance you don’t really deserve, but which He holds out to you as a priceless gift through the pardon He bought with His dying and rising. He offers you the love of His heart; An open ear that pays careful attention to your cries and troubles; eyes to see things going on around you for what they really are; strength to stand up to the forces that would grieve the Lord and wound other people.

He wants to come closer to you than you can possibly imagine.

“I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me,” He says. He wants to come closer to you than you can possibly imagine. He invites you to press in close to Him, too, perhaps closer than you have ever been before.

I ask God to give me such a Christmas. He knows I need it. I pray He gives such a Christmas to you also. Anything less wouldn’t really be Christmas at all.

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Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee is president of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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