Pure Life Church pastor no angel; still he brings good news of glad tidings

by Pastor Arron Wells – 

Fun fact. For 10 years I was known as the tall guy with the taller hair. That’s because my Mohawk hairdo was nearly a foot tall. Believe it or not, my presence in a Midwest Walmart about 20 years ago, was captured in a photograph and landed my image on peopleofwalmart.com. They thought I looked like a 7 and 1/2 foot tall Christmas tree!

I played drums in a three-piece Christian punk rock band. We toured regionally and recorded five albums together. In all the memories and travels during that time what I enjoyed the most was writing songs. We even did a cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” for a punk rock Christmas album. I love Christmas and Christmas songs.

In the first chapter of Luke we have a record of the first two Christmas songs.

Zachariah the high priest received news from the angel Gabriel that in his old age he would be the father of John the Baptist. He did not believe at first. When God fulfilled the promise and he saw the face of his child, he responded in song. Luke 1:67-79 records the song.

Mary, a young woman who was preparing to be married, was also visited by the angel Gabriel. She was told that she would be the virgin that would bear a son who would be “God with us.” This would be the son of God that would save his people from their sins. The prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 would be fulfilled and Mary was part of it. She also responds in song. Her song is known as the Magnificat and is found in Luke 1:46-56.

One of the most well-known Christmas verses is actually John 3:16. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life.

I am no angel. But I do have good news of glad tidings. God loved you so much that he sent Jesus. To live a sinless life, to die on a cross as a sacrifice that paid the price for your sin, and then be raised to life. God sent Jesus out of love for you…