Christmas is About Christ: Or Is It?

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT CHRIST: OR IS IT?

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH
"For unto us a Child is born."  Isaiah 9:6
Luke 1 and 2 prophesy the births of both Jesus and John the Baptist.  The holiday, or rather, holy day, of Christmas is based solely on the story of Jesus’ birth, not the story of Santa and his elves.  Santa Claus was based on a man, Saint Nicholas.  But you ask what about Jesus? Wasn’t He a man?  Wasn’t He a great Teacher?  The Truth is, Jesus is God born of a flesh.  He became a man to relate to us.  His sole purpose was, and still is, to be Lord and Savior of mankind.  He ministered to, healed, and set free multitudes of people.  Jesus was more than a man.  He was God Himself.  He was not only the Son of Mary.  He was, and is the Son of the Living God, born of a virgin.

Luke 2:1-7 says, “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with Child.  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Christmas is not just about Jesus’ birth, it is about Jesus and what He has done for us.  It is also about what He is doing for us now.  Jesus’ first coming has been prophesied hundreds of years before, as written in the books of Psalms and Isaiah.  After all, Santa Claus is based on a man named Saint Nicholas of Mora, which is in Lycea.



THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTION
Do you think there is anything wrong with celebrating Christmas if one professes to be a Christian?

OUR KING, JESUS CHRIST
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;  yet He esteemed Him sticken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chatisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."  Isaiah 53:4-5

YOU CAN’T HAVE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHRIST
"Behold, he virgin shall be with Child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us’."  Matthew 1:23

Jesus Christ was born at the time of the Roman Empire, which also included Israel.  Rome was not a godly city by any means.  This is where we get most of our holiday customs from including Christmas.  It has also been said that Jesus was born on December 25.  There is also a pagan origin.  December 25 was a day of celebrating the sun god.  Many historians have said that Jesus was probably born between April and November.  

Many things associated with Christmas, such as the mistletoe and the holly are associated with pagan custom.  Many pagans worshipped gods of wood, stone, even trees.  However, most of what is modern Christmas dated back to only a few hundred years with Christian customs, and people, such as Santa Claus.

Christmas is not about, worshipping anything pagan, nor should it ever be.  Christmas is not about businesses making money off the latest toy or gismo.  It is not about trees, turkeys, or cakes.  It is not even about staying up late at night to watch TV or wondering if your child has been naughty or nice.  Christmas has gone too commercialized.  If Christmas is Christian, then why did it become so commercialized?  Also,if we can’t have Christmas without Christ, then why all of the Pagan origins?

It is possible to have a good Christmas without a tree, a mistletoe, and even Santa Claus.  Santa Claus after all, is based on a man and not on God. No one said that you have to put up a tree,  or kiss someone under a mistletoe. No one even said that you have to celebrate Christimas.  We don’t have to worship the Lord  on just Christimas or other days.  In fact, we should do that daily.    Christmas is supposed to be, that is within the last  century or so, about Jesus.  After all,  if Christmas is supposed to be a Christian holiday, then Jesus should be the reason for the season, right?  On Christmas, we can take the time to fellowship and worship.  On a day that celebrates the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, it should be about reverencing a King who did not spare His own life for us.  Yes,  It is amazing that a holiday that started out with pagan origins can have so many Christian themes such as love, giving, thankfulness, and family.

It is true that family does play a role,  but Christmas is also about giving, kindness, helping those and praying for those less fortunate, leading others to Christ, love, joy, and peace.  That is how Christmas is to be celebrated if it is really a Christian holiday.  Nothing Christian should be unequally yoked or compromise with the world.

In fact, Luke 2:14 says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.!”  We need to learn to love one another and be prepared for His Return.  Christmas is, after all, about hope.  What is so wrong with celebrating a day that is about hope? Nothing, unless that hope is compromised.

Life is too short and the time for salvation is now.  If Christmas is really a Christian holiday, we should take the time to celebrate Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection on a daily basis.  After all, we are to live holy, and the Christian walk is a daily walk.  All that other stuff about pagan customs and what not are things we need not to be hung up on.  In fact, we have no business celebrating Christmas as the world celebrates it anyway.  

We as Christians need to fulfill the Great Commission as written in Matthew 28.  Our world is full of deceit and godlessness.  Many in the church are being persecuted while others are being deceived by false prophets.  But we are to remind ourselves not to get so caught up in things of this world and be godly influences for those around us by living holy, godly lives.

WISE MEN COME BEARING GIFTS
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?  For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:1-2

The Wise Men, or Magi, were MIddle Eastern or Central Asian men who were probably (or probably not) followers of Zoroaster.  Zoroastrism is the philosophy or religion which originated out of Iran.  They came to to bear gifts (gold, frankinsence, and myrrh).  They also came to worship the King.  Recall that this King was only a Baby born in a manger.  The significance to this is the fact that Jesus, who many of us learn later that He is the King of Kings, was in the flesh born poor, a little lower than the angels.  

Things would be entirely different if He were born into a rich family born in a mansion. Why is that?  One of the purposes is humility, which is what Jesus taught us.  Don’t get me wrong, Jesus will still be the same.  He will still be perfect, compassionate, etc.  But I wonder how people would react in those circumstances.
The point that I am trying to make is that people, particularly in this country, love stories about people who come from humble beginnings.  You know, the underdog.  Jesus in this case is the ultimate Underdog.  The Son of God was born in a manger of poor parents in a small town in Israel during the Roman Empire.  Later, He was hated of the religious order of His day, betrayed and denied by His friends, and died on the cross.