Christmas

Below is an article I recently wrote for our church's MOPS newsletter:
Christmas means a lot of different things to different people. Some enjoy the wonder of Santa Claus, as he soars through the sky in a sleigh pulled by reindeer giving gifts to children around the world. Others treasure the picture of Jesus laying in a manger with cows and sheep surrounding him, while a bright star shines in the sky above. People love the Christmas music that plays in the malls while they shop for the perfect gift for everyone on their list. And the beauty of holiday lights brightening the winter sky. There are decorated trees, family gatherings, parties, gifts, special foods, and favorite holiday movies. No matter what it is that moves you, most people find something or everything truly special about this season.
But what is Christmas really about? Is it about Santa, gifts, lights, music, the Nativity? The answer is yes all of the above. All of the trappings and traditions that have grown over the years are part of what Christmas is about. Christmas is a man-made holiday—since that is the case, Christmas is what you desire it to be. It is about a man named Santa Claus who gives gifts to good little boys and girls, it is about exchanging gifts with friends and family, and it is about a scene with Mary and Joseph looking down over their baby in a manger, while an angel looks lovingly toward the new family.
Christmas is a celebration filled with romanticized stories and customs created to commemorate Christ’s birth. But in reality Christmas has little to do with any of these festive traditions. Even the story of Jesus’ birth that is told in songs and children’s books is full of man-made interjections. The story most people come to know is the one where “2000 years ago on the evening of December 25, Mary rides into Bethlehem on a donkey, urgently needing to deliver her baby. Although it's an emergency, all the innkeepers turn them away and they have to deliver baby Jesus in a stable. Afterwards, they all join three kings with camels in worshiping the quiet, newborn baby”.
Truth be told Jesus was probably not born in December, though anything is possible, shepherds usually would have brought their flocks home in the fall. Mary may have ridden into Bethlehem on a donkey but the Bible doesn't actually say how she got there. The bible also does not suggest that Mary gave birth upon her arrival into the city, she could have arrived weeks earlier. God's Word simply states, "while they were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she should be delivered" (Luke 2:6). Arriving in town well before her due date would have made much more sense. And Joseph probably never spoke to any innkeepers. Although innkeepers play a prominent part in many Christmas plays, no innkeeper is mentioned in the biblical record of Christ's birth. Most likely Mary and Joseph actually stayed in a house with relatives. Some researchers suggest that Jesus was born in or around the home of a family member but not in a place that would normally be considered guest quarters. It was common for animals to be brought into a home for the evening and therefore a manger would be present. The bible does not specify how many Magi or wise men came to offer Jesus gifts, and they most likely would have arrived to see Jesus as a toddler rather than a quiet baby in a manger.
If you believe God’s word to be factual, and you accept His account of that first “Christmas” night, then the only thing we know to be true is that a baby was born in Bethlehem, he was named Jesus, the Savior, Christ our Lord. Just as prophesied his mother was a virgin and Jesus was conceived by the holy spirit and his father was named Joseph and was a descendant of David. Following his birth angels appeared to shepherds in the fields and declared that Christ was born in Bethlehem and could be found laying in a manger.
When you strip away the glamour of Christmas you are left with one thing and that is Jesus. His story doesn’t have much to offer in the way of a play or a song but the healing, power, and majesty that can be found in that one simple name will change your life, if you let it. The son of God became human flesh so that he could one day walk the road to Calvary and take on the sins of the world to set us free.
It isn’t really about how you celebrate Christmas, what your family traditions are and what you include in your telling of the Christmas story— Christmas is just a day of joyous celebration that changes and evolves as time passes. But Jesus is our source of hope, life and love—take time this season to thank God for His gift to us.

Comments

Unknown said…
Another great job of writing and a great point.
Sylvia said…
Wow, I so enjoyed your letter you put in the MOP paper. God has truely blessed you with a wonderful talent, I copied and pasted it to an email and sent it to my friends, I knew they would appreciate reading it. I love the family picture, I am going to print that out when I get ready to organize my frames with recent pictures.
I am glad your Christmas was a good one, the greatest joy of just being all together.

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