THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS
There are so many things can be said of the significance of Christmas, I
have decided to focus my discussion on three important things based on the
scripture. Christmas means different things to different people. Normally, it
would be a time of busy schedule. People who are away from home would be busy
making traveling arrangements to come home and return. Parents busy buying new
clothes for children and tailors busy in stitching new clothes day and night
and the shops and business centers would be overflowing with people. Those who
cannot afford to do the above things would strive to have money sufficient at
least to have a good lunch on that day. The churches also are busy with carol
singing and arranging other Christmas programs.
1. CHRISTMAS IS A FESTIVAL OF JOY.
To the shepherds in the fields who were guarding their sheep in the
fields, the angels proclaimed the good news of joy at the birth of Jesus (Luke
2:10). Some people send their greetings wishing ‘Merry Christmas’ which is not
right. There is no merry making for Christians. Happiness of Christmas is
there, joy of Christmas is there, but there is no room for merry making. The
one who is born is the Saviour, who is the Messiah or the anointed one of God,
the Lord. The news of Jesus’ birth was first given to the shepherds who were
despised and held in low estimation among the Jews of this period.
The very humble lowly order was taken as a practical illustration as a
basis of future Christianity. The Pharisees book of “Oral law” called the Talmud
stated that they were not to be allowed in the courts for witnesses. More than
that they said no help must be given to the heathen and to the shepherds. Also
it is stated that the sheep intended for the daily sacrifices in the temple
were fed in the Bethlehem pastures. Thus their occupation was semi sacred one
and had its impact on them and fitted them to be recipients of the glad
tidings. Though their position was such in the community, they too were aware
of the fact that the long awaited Messiah was soon to appear in their own
Bethlehem and they got the privilege of witnessing the wonderful event.
But when the angels had left them, the shepherds decided to go and see
what the Lord had made known to them. They did not stop
there, they went and saw and became the first witnesses to what the Lord had
done (Luke 2: 17, 18). The wise men were drifted away from the path the
star had led due to their reasoning and earthly standards. But when they
returned to the guidance of the star, the star stopped over the place where the
child was. “When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy”
(Mat. 2: 10). They worshipped the child Jesus and offered their valuable gifts.
The very first Christmas tells of the joy of the different groups of people who
saw Jesus and accepted what the Lord had told them. This is the same even today
for all who take pain to meet Him and accept His lordship and enjoy the same
privilege in their lives.
Examples abound. Zacchaeus, who was labeled as a sinner and ostracized
by the so called religious community, when he wanted to see Jesus and met Him,
got the privilege to be one of Abraham’s sons (Luke 19: 9). The same Jesus does
to all who wish to meet Him! The contrast of joy is fear and when Herod heard of Jesus’ birth, he and
all Jerusalem with him were frightened. When the wise men warned of God did not
return to him, he was furious and massacred infants below two years of old.
This is an example of a selfish man always doubting others and striving to keep
his position and power at the risk of others and is a very dangerous character.
Herod was such and did not fear God or respect His plans. The word of God says,
‘…the desire of the treacherous is violence’ (wrong doing) (Prov. 13: 2) and
Herod is no exemption. What is your condition? Now is the time to consider your
ways in the presence of God. Accept Jesus’ Lordship without doubting anything.
Have you ever been with Jesus? If not you may do it right now and acquire the
privilege of becoming Jesus’ son/daughter.
2. CHRISTMAS IS A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT.
In the Christmas season wherever we go we find the Christian homes and
churches are decorated with stars and lights. When Jesus was presented in the
temple on the day of their purification, Simeon, ‘a righteous and devout,
looking forward to the consolation of Israel” a person with full of Holy
Spirit, took Jesus in his arms and declared Jesus as ‘a light for revelation to
the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel’ (Luke 2: 32). John 1: 4
tells, “In him was life, and the life was light of all people”. Moreover, He is
‘the true light, which enlightens everyone…’ Isaiah 9: 2 reads, “The people who
walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep
darkness – on them light has shined.” Isaiah 9:1 reads, “But there will be no
gloom for those who were in anguish.” Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were two
tribes belonging to Israel and they were the ones who went to captivity first
and thus they were brought unto contempt. But it tells of the latter time, that
is the time of Jesus, it was in the area of Galilee where the gospel was
preached by Jesus first (Luke 4: 14-21).
The contrast to light is darkness. John 3:19 tells, ‘And this is the
judgment that the light has come into the world and people loved darkness
rather than light because their deeds were evil.’ As per John 3:18, the
condemnation is because of the rejection of the Son of God who is the light of
the world. On the great day of the Feast of the Tabernacles, Jesus said to the
people that He is the light of the world in the context of the sudden ablaze in
the temple court (kindling of the golden candelabra brilliant illumination)
which was seen over the city and surrounding hills (John 8: 12; 9:5; 11: 9). It
was done as a reminder of the fiery pillar in the wilderness on the Israelites
journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. What we find here is there is the
possibility of rejection of Jesus, the light of the world. Part of the
celebrations of Christmas is illumination which shows Christ as the light of
the world.
3. CHRISTMAS IS A FESTIVAL OF A SAVIOR’S BIRTH.
The angel of the Lord when appeared to Joseph told him, ‘She (Mary) will
bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from
their sins’ (Mat. 1: 21). When the angel appeared to Mary, he told her, ‘And
now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him
Jesus’ (Luke 1: 31). The name Jesus has its origin in the Old Testament and is
known as ‘Yeshua’ or ‘Joshua’ which means salvation. When the child Jesus was
brought to the temple, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and blessed them and to
Mary he said, ‘a sword will pierce your own soul too’ signifying the death of
Jesus.
There is no forgiveness apart from the finished work of salvation by
Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The cause of our joy is not of the external
things such as wearing of new clothes, having delicious dishes and drinks or
fun and crackers, it is the joy of salvation Jesus the child has wrought in the
life of the perishing sinner. The Bible says the righteousness of man is like
filthy rags (Isaiah 64: 6). ‘No human being will be justified in God’s sight by
one’s deeds (Romans 3: 20) and are accountable to God.
The lost state of man apart from Christ is clearly shown in the Bible.
The universality of sin and its consequences are clearly stated in the
Scripture (Romans 3: 23). Apart from God’s grace, no one could be justified
before God and are under condemnation. But regarding those who have been saved,
the scripture says ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Let this Christmas celebrations be an occasion of
realizing this joy, the light and recognizing the saving act of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ. On the night He was born, there was no room in the inn for
Him and had only a manger to lay. But on this Christmas let Him find room in
our hearts and that we may have real fellowship with Him. May God grant this
grace to all who read this message!
(The Sermon Was Originally Written By: Dr. Dharmaraj Nathaneal,
Pastor/Teacher of God’s Word at L. M. Congregational Church, Marthandam)
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