John then related a true story that he had read and that he had also read many eye witness accounts of. The events go as follows (a shortened version): Over 100 years ago an extraordinary event occurred. The German, English, and French armies were bogged down in a horrible trench warfare that lasted for years. The battle lines were only 300 feet apart. The men all lived in horrible conditions in the trenches: cold, wet, little food, dead bodies with many being used to help hold up the walls and provide insulation, rats as big as cats running around and eating the dead bodies, and other horrible things. Neither side could move or they would be shot by sniper fire. On Christmas eve 1914, The French and English troops saw that the German trenches were lit up with Christmas tress that had lit candles on them. The Germans began to sing Silent Night. The English countered with their own hymn. Soon the English and the German soldiers were singing the same hymns in their own languages. Following is a quote from from the soldiers who were there, eye witnesses. "I was gazing towards the German lines when suddenly lights began to appear along the top of German trenches. They were Christmas trees adorned with lighted candles burning steadily in the still frosty air. When we finished singing, the Germans began clapping. A German soldier shouted in English "No shooting tonight. Sing tonight, sing tonight. A sign was put up that said, English soldiers, Merry Christmas. Another sign said, Come out English soldiers and hear us sing. Finally a German officer came out of the trenches and walked towards the English trenches, shouting in English. I am a lieutenant. Gentlemen, my life is in your hands. I am alone and unarmed. Will not one of you come out and meet me? Gentlemen, I am waiting." Soon the unthinkable happened. German and English soldiers were getting out of their trenches. At any other time, this would have been suicide. They shook hand, wished each other Merry Christmas and were soon conversing as if they had known each other for years. Where they couldn't speak the language of the other, they made themselves understood by signs. They were laughing and chatting with men who a few hours ago they were trying to kill. They exchanged cigarettes and chocolates. For a while they were not enemies, but friends under the influence of a super power. An estimated 100,000 troops experienced the Christmas truce which spanned a hundred miles along the trenches of the Western Front. The Spirit of Christmas, which is the spirit of Christ brought peace, love, and joy for a short while in the midst of the atrocities of war. The next day the shelling and the killing started again and the war was back on. Constant shell bombardment from both sides and sniper fire spread death everywhere and hope was nowhere.
And so, a wondrous little babe was born to Mary in Bethlehem. The greatest of all was born in the humblest of all circumstances and because of Him death has lost its sting and the grave its victory. Because of Him we can be forgiven and we will live forever. Because of Jesus Christ we can have the greatest gift of all life eternal. And we can express our love toward one another and toward God by giving of ourselves, by serving others, and by following Him in all that we do.
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