So . . . What’s New?
The new year doesn’t seem quite so new anymore, does it? It’s all of a week old, and already the Christmas and New Year holidays are slipping into the past, as more immediate matters demand our attention. A little time in which to savor those moments of joy, and to reflect on our experiences would be a wonderful luxury. However, it’s time to get back to work, to school, to the everyday routines and responsibilities from which we’ve had a respite. By now the new year pretty much involves getting our financial information together so we can do our taxes, or remembering to make appointments and take care of other business that we do annually. In other words, it’s not exactly the most fun time of the year!
Have you ever noticed what great value we put on newness, and how we use expressions that cast newness in a favorable light? New possessions, whether a home, a car, furniture – even clothing – are enjoyed with enthusiasm. What delight we take in bringing home a new baby, making a new friend, or starting a new job. There is even cause for a little celebration in something “new to us” when we find a great bargain in an antique shop, thrift store, or on a car lot.
If you search in the Bible for phrases including “new”, you’ll find numerous times in which it’s used as a descriptive term for change, or as a positive condition. Psalm 96 tells us to “sing a new song unto the Lord, for he has done marvelous things.” Jesus tells his disciples that he is making a new covenant with them as he institutes the Lord’s Supper, he brings them new teachings and a new spirit, and gives them a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
In these and many other passages, we learn of the source of this newness: Christ himself. His arrival as an infant, born in the humblest of surroundings, was a powerful indication of the great changes to come. No one expected the child of ordinary people, who grew to adulthood in a quiet village, to be the Messiah promised to God’s people in ancient times.
As Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching and healing began and grew, his listeners found themselves wondering, questioning, and feeling conflicted. To no longer be under the harsh judgment of the Law was a radical concept, and accepting it required a major change in the mindset of those hearing the message. After all, turning away from centuries of religious and cultural beliefs cannot help but create conflict. As he answered questions and challenges, Jesus explained that he had come not to abolish the law, but as a fulfillment of it. This new understanding of God’s will for his people gives us the strength to fulfill our calling, and we are blessed that we have both a history and a future, gifts from our generous and loving heavenly Father. Our foundation is solid, and our horizons are unlimited. Thanks be to God for every new year!
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers