Text: Luke 2:1-11
Topic: The real message of the Christmas celebration
This will be done with the following sub-headings:
When was Christ born precisely
How Christmas is celebrated today
The real message of Christmas
When was Christ born precisely?
There are lots of scholarly efforts and postulations about the exact date of birth of Jesus Christ as to whether it is the 25th of December as celebrated largely in the world today while some debate this stance and even the manger birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, little wonder some religious folks avoid celebrating Christmas on December 25th of every year because of these amongst other arguments.
Some scholars argued for the date example of such is Saint Augustine, Most Scholars of Catholic origin also follow the same route, other scholars use Astronomical, astrological and other methods to counter the 25th assertion reasoning that:
( a ) calculating from the decree by Augustus Ceaser in Luke 2:1 which states that all should go back to their nativity for a census, kings have records which are passed down from generation to generation, and according to them from available records, it doesn’t show or add up that He was born 25th December
( b ) Luke 2:9 states that while Shepherds watch their sheep by night a messenger from heaven visited them, they asserted that it was not possible to keep sheep in the deep winter around that time, shepherds themselves would rather be under their duvet with heaters in the room.
( c )The priestly duty ascribed to Zechariah in Luke 1:5 which can be traced didn’t connote the possibility of a December 25th birth. Etc.
What should our reaction as Christians be?
( a )It is divine wisdom to be silent where and when the bible is Silent, as no exact date was stated in the scriptures, we should rather be more bothered about obeying/keeping the word/commandments of God as detailed in the scriptures.
( b )We are not particular about the date what we are celebrating is the Person, Purpose and Impart of our Lord Jesus on a general date taken as His birth. If a decree comes today and counters the third-century decree that enforced 25th December we will still celebrate with the same understanding, vigour and funfair currently associated with 25th December.
How Christmas is celebrated today
Below is a list of how Christmas is celebrated in most parts of the world:
l Going to church
l Donation to charity(ies)
l Concerts, Carols, Clubbing, watching movies
l Gift exchanges
l Food drinks and special meals
l Santa Claus
l Decorations, lights, Christmas trees
These are very good as far as it does not lead to sin or is sin in itself but Christmas is so MUCH MORE.
The real message of Christmas
1. God keep His promises: God has promised saviour for/to humankind from Gen.3:15, Is.9:6 although from the latter scripture to its eventual fulfilment was about 700 years according to theologians, but gladly this prophecy was fulfilled. If it is God who has spoken to you concerning a thing just maintain your purity and alignment he will surely bring it to pass. Num. 23:17
2. His lowly birth: Luke 2:6-7,God in man born in a lowly place like a manger is full of lessons in itself, A message that great things don’t start great and that where we were born/raised isn't a benchmark for where God can take us to in as much as we remain in Him.
3. The greatest gift/giver and hope for the future: John 3:16 describes Jesus as a gift to save the world making Him the greatest gift ( a gift for the whole world not only that a gift to save the whole world) and God's greatest giver, with the rekindled hope that if He could give us His son, He will give us all that we ask according to His will Rom.8:32
4. A period of sincere assessment: If He left His glory, identity and personality for us Phil.2:7, He emptied himself, then the big question which we all need to answer is, what have I done, am I doing with and for Him?
Shalom
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