Ah, Christmas! Sleigh bells, snow covered trees and houses, lighted decorations all over town, Christmas carols singing and playing, Jolly St Nick, Christmas trees lighted with silver and decorated with fancy balls and homemade ornaments, little toddlers lined up to sit on Santa's lap, shoppers rushing to purchase the latest gifts, parties in every neighborhood. December is a busy, frantic month as we all plan and schedule Christmas festivities.
What is Christmas? Is it just a time for extravagance or does it have meaning? How did Christmas become such a huge event when we spend too much money, eat too much fattening food, create a busy frantic schedule, collapse on December 26 and then wish we hadn't bought and baked so many goodies.
I love Christmas. I always have. And I'm guilty of all the above. But I know why we celebrate Christmas. Luke 1: 26 "the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he (the angel Gabriel) came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!'.....'do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.'" Luke 2: 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
Yes, God brought forth His Son as a tiny baby, born not in a palace like a prince, but in a humble stable so that all would know that Jesus, our Savior, was God's gift to every one of us.
Isn't it amazing that we have added so much more to Christmas with lavish spending, traditions, and entertainment that we squeeze in the celebration of Jesus' birth. When you study the Scripture rendition of the birth of Jesus you have to be astonished at what God accomplished. As Mary said, Luke 1: 37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."
First of all, Mary conceived in her womb a baby without any male contact. Science today would say that's impossible and Mary must have been lying. But when you study the Scripture you see that Joseph himself states, Luke 2: 5 "to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child." Joseph was an honorable man and when he said 'betrothed' he meant, engaged, with no sexual activity, until a formal marriage. In our modern day we forget or ignore Good's incredible presence and power. God created our world and is still present with us today.
Mary was only about 14 years old and had probably just experienced one menstrual cycle which made her physically able to become pregnant. Just think......14 years old and here she was unwed and pregnant in the small town of Nazareth bursting with gossip about this 'naughty Mary who must have had sex with someone in the neighborhood'. A lot to put on her shoulders, but she believed and trusted God to care for her.
And then, the census or 'registration' initiated by Caesar Augustus, the new god-king of Rome, which required Mary and Joseph to travel 90 miles, avoiding Samaria, over dusty, hilly roads with no mass transit or interstates. Imagine how Mary felt sitting on a donkey for over a week and nearing her due date.
Think of young Mary, birthing a baby on hay surrounded by animals and filth, her first delivery, possibly alone. And then the sudden arrival of simple shepherds, lowest class of people, but first to hear the news by heavenly angels, Luke 2: 11 "For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Mary was a simple girl, not wealthy, not a princess, not from a prestigious family, but a young girl who loved, believed and trusted God.
Christmas means one thing. Jesus Christ is born! Let us hear thousands of angels praising God and saying Luke 2: 14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." This is why we celebrate Christmas. This is why, no matter how much commercialism and fanciful tradition swirl around our Christmas celebrations, God is here pouring out His love on us with His gift of a tiny baby who is our Savior. AMEN!
Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year!
LOVE, Janet
