Tim White and Cassie Dixon, Acting Principals
What a unique celebration we had on Tuesday night as part of our end-of-year celebrations. The limelight was on Jesus! What joy was expressed by our performers and contributors! It was so indicative of what this season holds and what knowing Jesus and celebrating him is all about.
When focussed on Jesus, we don’t want anybody else to ‘steal the limelight!’ This is actually a well-known expression. It means to get more attention than anyone or anything else in a situation.
So what is limelight? Hundreds of years ago, lime was burnt to light up the stage area for performances at night. The expression ‘stealing the limelight’ was said of actors who perhaps had a minor part in a production but wanted to draw all the attention to themselves. They stole the limelight, the attention that rightly should have been on others.
When Jesus came to earth, he did not live a life seeking attention. He wasn’t born into a privileged family. He was born to a young unmarried mother and step-father fiancée. He was born in a stable. He was born in a smallish country town, not the nation’s capital city. His was a humble birth celebrated by local tradies, not the rich and famous. Yet, he was the King over all kings.
Jesus lived a humble life too. He served people’s best interests. He didn’t look for servants or even an adoring crowd. The Bible tells us that Jesus humbled himself, even to death on a cross. Jesus did not come to steal the limelight; he came to serve, to show mercy and kindness, and he said, ‘Follow Me.’ He was humble and meek, yet today, millions of people value his teaching, appreciate his forgiveness, pursue salvation in his name and want to walk in his footsteps. After all, he is King over square inch of all creation.
This Christmas, I hope your light and attention will be on the birth and life of Jesus. I hope at your place there will be celebration at the birth of that Saviour – King. I hope the Grinch or Santa do not steal the limelight. As you hear and perhaps join in on Christmas Carols that celebrate Jesus, may he shine in your hearts. May we all celebrate the good news of God’s gift to us. Might we listen in silence, despite the noise of consumerism, and realise that a Silent Night can be a Holy Night. Let’s keep the light, the attention on the King.
Thank you God, for your indescribable gift of love that we see in a small, vulnerable, humble baby. Shine, Jesus, shine.
Have a safe and blessed break.