A Christmas Truth Celebration
Here we are on the brink of another opportunity to celebrate Christmas.
As Christians, we place a lot of importance on these days in December. I enjoyed Dr. Brown’s column last week and appreciate the points that he made.
This word Christmas originated as a compound meaning “Christ’s Mass.” It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.
[8] “Cristes” is from Greek Christos and “mæsse” is from Latin missa (the holy mass). It is, though the calendar timing is off, the day in which we choose to celebrate the day of Jesus’ birth.
And what a special day that was. In the moment of His birth, and within the first two years of His life, more than five of the major Messianic prophesies had been fulfilled as they were written hundreds, and even thousands of years before Mary delivered.
Upon His birth, something happened that rings a profound truth to me at this time, and in my personal life.
Luke, chapter 2, verse 9 says: 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
First, the announcement “there is born to you a savior”; the truth is that Jesus was born to you, where you sit today, that child was a gift to you and to your life. I never really saw it this way until just recently, but the truth is so profound that you must think on it. He, Jesus, was born unto you.
Next, as it has always been a part of the Christmas story, I fear that we have become a bit calloused to a subtle point in this text. I first thought on it with severity when my son was born; the swaddling clothes. Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. This was to be the sign that He was the savior.
When Christian was born they taught us how to swaddle our new little boy in order to comfort him. There is one proper way to do the wrapping in order to assure a tightness that makes the infant feel like he is in the womb; and to comfort the child.
The realization that this savior child was fully God, and fully human; evident in the fact that he needed to be comforted by way of swaddling clothes is profound for me. He came in a state of frailty, vulnerability, and humility born witness to by His very baby bed, the manger. I find here that not only was Jesus my gift, but He gets me as well. He understands me, my fears, my weaknesses, my frailty, my insecurities, and He has the ability to help me when I need Him the most.
He did not come with an entourage, riches, airs, prestige, influence, or assumption. He came as a new born child, and he lived this life successfully, and without sin. He is my hope.
These realizations about this Christmas story propel me to action. They drive me to celebrate the holiday season, yes, but they also cause me to live out that celebration every day of my life. When you fully understand the truth of this thing we call Christmas…then it will completely define your very life; and as John said so well, “they” can never take it away from you.