One Extraordinary Life

Dave Gobbett | 10:15, 15 Nov 2022

With the exception of just one year in the past seventy, Queen Elizabeth II has addressed the nation in her Christmas broadcast. It’s an annual tradition in our home, as we pause the washing up or the festive party games and sit down in front of the Queen’s Speech. But this year’s speech will be given by His Majesty King Charles III.

I’m not sure how you reacted to the death of the Queen. I felt quite disorientated. Someone who had been a constant in all the ups and downs of our national life, not to mention the enormous cultural changes of the last seven decades, had finally gone.

And then there was the pomp and ceremony of the Queen’s funeral. Preceded by 10 days of national mourning, including 6 days of lying in state, where a quarter of a million formed ‘The Queue’ to pay their respects, the funeral itself was likely watched by billions. Presidents, prime ministers, kings and queens were all in attendance, as the world paused in the midst of the chaos of war in Ukraine, or the cost-of-living crisis, political upheaval, and fear over climate change, to reflect on one extraordinary life: Elizabeth II.

At Christmas, we have the opportunity to pause in the midst of our own personal chaos too -whether financial, medical, or relational - to reflect on the most extraordinary life: that of Jesus Christ. The wonder of the Christmas story is that, in Jesus, God drew near to us in our chaos. He didn’t stay remote and removed in the royalty of heaven, but entered into our broken world to save it.

For countless millions, including us at Highfields Church, Jesus continues to prove himself the constant we need in the ups and downs of our lives. We’d love to tell you more at one of our carol services this year.

Merry Christmas!

Dave Gobbett Lead Pastor Highfields Church