You are asking yourself right now what does he mean when he says, we’re almost there? Wait for it, Christmas. We’re almost there it is only 6 days from today and we will all celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord. Certainly, depending on family dynamics and locations you might not all be together that day but we will all be experiencing Christmas. That is true for our family. Our grandson is an EMT and will be working both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Unfortunately, someone may need help that day and he and others who are working will be there to assist. That along with other extended family responsibilities required us to think outside the box this year.
So with that said, as a family we are getting together at our daughter’s on the 28th. Now personally it will be a twofer. Two for the price of one. I get to celebrate Christmas and my birthday which is on the 28th with all my family there. Some of you know how old I am or will be. For the rest of you let’s just say I have gotten up there in years. That said we’re almost there.
What does Christmas mean? Well, the birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy. The birth of Jesus was the ultimate expression of God’s love for the world. The birth of Jesus was the reality of God becoming a man and the story of Christmas is seen in Luke 2:15-19:
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
The birth of Jesus was something worth telling others about and it is something worth pondering in your heart every day.
An historical perspective on Christmas reveals that in the Middle Ages, Christmas celebrations were rowdy and raucous—a lot like today’s Mardi Gras parties.
From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings.
Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the United States on June 26, 1870.
Construction workers started the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree tradition in 1931.
Rudolph, “the most famous reindeer of all,” was the product of Robert L. May’s imagination in 1939. The copywriter wrote a poem about the reindeer to help lure customers into the Montgomery Ward department store.
But what is it about Christmas? The most common response is that it is to honor the birth of Jesus Christ. It does do that but its origins were in replacement of heathen events that occurred in the winter months. So the customs of those events found their way in to the typical society of the day as a part of Christmas and its observance.
An interesting note is that in the time of Christ and the beginning of the first churches it was not customary to celebrate the beginning. Recognizing a birth by yearly acknowledgement it was not something that was done. It was customary however to celebrate and acknowledge the end of life. So the early church tradition would have had more significance in noting His death and resurrection than His birth. We do that as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday in a few months.
You probably know this but in case you don’t or need to be reminded most pagan rituals were celebrated in the month of December and specifically December 25th was eventually selected because it coincided with the festival Saturnalia from the Romans.
Actually, by understanding the cultural and from Biblical accounts we could determine another time of year for His birth. Luke In Luke 2:8 we are told that-
“there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
Note that they were “abiding” in the field. This never happened in December. Both Ezra 10:9-13 and the Song of Solomon 2:11 show that winter was the rainy season and shepherds could not stay on cold, open fields at night.
The Adam Clarke Commentary, volume 5, page 370, New York edition tells us that-
“It was custom among Jews to send out their sheep to the deserts about the Passover [early spring] and bring them home at the commencement of the first rain.” The first rains began in early-to-mid fall.
In a very real way Christmas has changed much from its early inception. The reason for Christmas celebration was primarily to draw attention away from what were non-Christian influences in the world. To draw attention to good and peace, for people to see who God is through His Son Jesus Christ. It is exactly the reason that believers endeavored to use the birth of Christ as a means of replacing pagan rituals. Which is exactly what it and we want to do each year as we celebrate Christmas.
Although a season of the year in which most use as a time for presents, family, friends and vacations. Christmas is our time to celebrate and remember that our Savior was born. It wasn’t December 25th but it was a day when Emmanuel came into His world.
So as we enter this week leading us to Christmas Day the words of the prophet Isaiah ring loud and clear from Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Message for Christmas is about Jesus, to tell of His love and to tell it to the whole world.
We’re almost there. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
In God’s Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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