Matthew 4:16 The people living in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen.
Halftime is the short period of time between the two parts of a sporting event such as a football, rugby, or basketball game, when the players have a short break. It is normally less than 15 minutes when the players get back to the locker room to rest, stretch, and refresh themselves with some fruit or juice and also to get a quick massage. The conversation that goes on in the locker room about strategies, playing positions, tactics are crucial for winning the game in the second half. Coaches also talk about the mistakes and the corrections to the team and boost them emotionally to win the game.
The birth of Jesus was like halftime. It marked history and divided it into two – BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, the year of our Lord). The year of the Lord is the year of Jubilee or the Year of Freedom. “‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee” (Leviticus 25:54). History marks the birth of Jesus as “Anno Domini” the year of redemption, freedom and liberty. Historians have marked the birth of Jesus as halftime for us to reset our lives back to God. Jesus came to reestablish justice, jubilee and joy.
Anno Domini is when the Light of the World (Jesus) dissipated darkness, dread and the shadow of darkness.
The birth of Jesus is Anno Domini – Divided History into two:
1. Re-calibrate: In the year of the Lord or the Year of Jubilee, is the year of freedom to those who were enslaved. The birth of Jesus has recalibrated the world from slavery to sin and from the cruelty of curses. The arrival of Jesus into our hearts recalibrates our lifestyle. The sports teams recalibrate their strategies to win the game. Christmas celebrates Christ who recalibrates us to win the battle of sin.
2. Refresh: In the year of the Lord, slaves were released, pledged land and people were set-free and debts were cancelled. Similarly, ‘Anno Domini’ is the new beginning of a refreshed and liberated era. Christmas is also a time of refreshing our relationship with God with priorities and people.
3. Rest: The year of Jubilee was a time of rest not only for the people but also to the land. God supplied them food and fodder from the previous year to feed the people during the year of rest (Leviticus 25:6). The halftime rest helps the team to rebound to win the game. Likewise it is important to revisit the goodness of God and rest to rejuvenate to win over the darkness in our lives.
The birth of Jesus marks the halftime of the world – It is a time to reset our strategies, rest, refresh and recalibrate to win the race.
Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Prayer: Welcome Dearest Lord Jesus, help me to reset this season to recalibrate winning strategies over sin, sickness and the schemes of the kingdom of darkness. Amen.
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