When it comes to this time of the year, the famous event is at the nearby Orchard Road, which is Singapore’s glamorous shopping belt, which also has posh hotels and restaurants and night-clubs.
That big event is of course the Orchard Road Christmas light up, stretching from Tanglin to Somerset.
Walking down that stretch of road, we will be dazzled by the display of lights and decorations. Or we might take an easier way by going to the computer and look at the photos and the videos of the lights.
Whatever we might want to say about it, there is no doubt that it is big budget for the bright lights and the dazzling decorations.
Although we are very nearby Orchard Road, this little church along Clemenceau Avenue won’t be featured as part of the Orchard Road Christmas light up.
We are small budget and the decorations have been repaired, reused and recycled.
So obviously we are no match for the nearby bright lights and dazzling decorations. But is that so? Are we just a little humble church with lights that are no match for the big and bright lights nearby?
The Christmas story is set along the background of a census that was taken of the whole world. Caesar Augustus issued a decree for the census, and Quirinius was governor of Syria at the time.
Those two were big names at that time, and they wielded power and control. Then came along two insignificant persons, Joseph and Mary, who had to come to Bethlehem for the census and Mary was heavy with child.
And then the time came for Mary to give birth, but with no room at the inn, her Child had to rest in a manger.
With the census happening in the background, that Child born of insignificant parents would seem to be an insignificant event.
When babies are born, one of the things to do is to weigh them, so as to know how well developed and how healthy they are.
So now, what do we think is the weight of the baby Jesus? Sounds like a weird question isn’t it, what is the weight of the baby Jesus. Is that significant at all?
The prophecy of Isaiah says that a child is born for us, a son given to us, and dominion is laid on his shoulders.
So the Child that was born of Mary is a King, with authority and power.
And the Child sleeping in the manger is the Saviour of the world. On Him rest the salvation of the world, on His shoulders are the burdens of the sins of the world.
So now we know what is the weight of the baby Jesus, the Saviour of the world. On Him is the weight of the world, the weight of all the sins of the world.
The world longs for the coming of the Saviour, but the world must also know that Jesus is the Saviour.
All the bright lights and the dazzling decorations cannot take away the sins of the world.
But if the world were to walk a bit further down from Somerset Road to Clemenceau Avenue, and stop to look at the simple and humble lights of the Nativity scene outside the church, then they will know the reason for the season.
And if they were to come into the church, then we must show them who the Saviour is, the Emmanuel, the God-is-with-us, the Word-made-flesh, the Saviour who takes away the sins of the world, for He came to seek and save what was lost.
So the lights and decorations of the church are simple and humble, compared to the bright lights and the dazzling decorations nearby.
Yes, simple and humble, but certainly not insignificant, because they announce the birth of the Saviour, who took on the weight of the sins of the world.
May we who believe that Jesus is our Saviour and celebrate His birth, announce to all peoples the Good News of salvation, so that glory will be given to God in the highest heaven, and may Jesus grant peace to all who seek forgiveness and salvation.