When I was a little girl, New Year’s Eve was a time to celebrate the ending of one year and the beginning of a new one.  We’d be around family and friends, and we’d have some sort of family gathering/party.  Many in the neighborhood would be shooting fireworks, and my dad would pull out his rifle and give us each a chance to shoot it off the back balcony into the sky.  Mom would make us all eat a bite of black-eyed peas…for luck.  We’d go to sleep at some point and reawaken into a brand new day in a brand new year!  As time went on, and as my mother began to heed God’s call on her life, our family traditions began to change.  Praise God!  Nowadays, the thought of missing New Year’s Eve Watch Night service at New Cedar Grove doesn’t even feel right on any level.  Gratefully, my own children understand the significance of our Watch Night service.  It’s not just being in church, though.  It’s the idea of focusing on God that is important.  With gratitude for the old year’s experiences and a healthy reverence of God as we enter into the new year, it’s just a very good way to start the year.  This got me to thinking:  How would Jesus spend New Year’s Eve?

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

Jesus’ purpose was to fulfill the will of God.  Everything Jesus did was in obedience to God.  With that in mind, this is most likely how Jesus would spend his New Year’s Eve:

1) Interceding for us:  “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus…” –1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

Jesus prayed for people.  Jesus healed the sick.  Jesus set things back in right order.  Jesus wouldn’t ignore these needs on New Year’s Eve to focus on celebrating the start of a new year.  Jesus always prays for us and always intercedes for us. 

2) Preaching the Good News:  After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” –Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)

Yes, Jesus would most likely remind us of God’s love for us that carried us throughout the past year.  Jesus would call for genuine repentance, and urge us to do so quickly. 

3) Reaching out to the unloved:  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. –Matthew 8:3 (NIV)

Jesus would spend time with those less fortunate.  Jesus would reach out to those most people would turn their noses up around.  He would visit the unwanted.  He would be open to all those nobody wanted to engage, even those privileged people who had earthly riches but needed a savior.  Jesus would reach out and extend to grace to every one of them—even those who simply got off track and left the church for no good reason.

4) Making disciples of all nations:  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Jesus always does what God commands.  The Great Commission is surely something Jesus might be found doing on New Year’s Eve! Oh, but wait!  That’s what WE are supposed to be doing!  WE are the ones who should be doing God’s Will here on earth!

Jesus Christ is now seated at the right of God the Father in heaven, and on this New Year’s Eve, He will be sitting on the throne as we worship at our Watch Night service.  Jesus Christ will be continue to draw men unto himself, but it will continue to be our job to lift Him up! 

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