CELEBRATING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS
In a social media post, a prominent
Christian radio station in Melbourne asked their morning radio listeners to
vote on their "must do" Christmas traditions. Then they posted the
top 8, calling it their "Ultimate Christmas Traditions List":
1.
Picking
out a tree from the Christmas Tree farm.
2.
Taking
the family to a Christmas movie.
3.
Buying
one special ornament every year.
4.
Giving
Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.
5.
Taking
a photo by the Christmas tree every year.
6.
Making
homemade eggnog.
7.
Wrapping
presents and watching Carols by Candlelight.
8.
Watching
Polar Express on Christmas Eve and leaving a bell by my daughter's bed when she's
asleep.
Reading
such a list is a little heartbreaking. To think, these eight activities were
the top "must do" Christmas traditions for a radio audience that primarily
identifies as Christian. Eggnog and The Polar Express, but not one mention of
anything focused on the actual reason for the season. To their credit, the
radio station at least included this question on their Facebook post: "Have
they missed anything???"[1] What is in your
"Ultimate Christmas Traditions List"?
Let's not blame the radio audience
in Melbourne, Australia. In the USA, many people, including professing
Christians, also miss out on the real reason for this season. This Advent
season allows us to pause from busyness and refocus on what truly matters. My
message will help you discover what you might be missing this Christmas and
Celebrate it with Joy.
I.
Biblical Significance of Celebrations
Many people tend
to think God is a joy killer and that the devil offers all the fun and
happiness in life. That view of God is not accurate. In fact, God is the giver
of Joy, and there is unlimited Joy in His presence. God wants all of us to
celebrate and enjoy all aspects of life.
Celebration is a recurring theme in
the Bible. They happened frequently during birthdays, weddings, victories, holidays, at the end of
completing a specific task, religious feasts, etc. Celebration centers around a
feast or festival, where families and communities come together to enjoy good
food, sing and play instruments, exchange gifts, and offer sacrifices to God.
God commanded
Israelites to observe each year the three pilgrimage feasts- the Passover, the
Feast of First Fruits, and the Feast of Tabernacles- and other special events
in the life of Israel. The celebration of the Passover was for a perpetual
remembrance, to keep alive for future generations what God had done for the
Israelites in redeeming them from bondage in Egypt and guaranteeing freedom for
subsequent generations. Exodus 12:24-30.
This celebration has been passed on
from generation to generation. It is a constant reminder of what God has done
for his people. Celebrations bond people to God and each other. In Luke, we
read, "Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover
Festival.
God is not against
parties; He wants us to celebrate for the right reasons and in the right ways.
Here is what displeases God: Amid celebrations, there is a danger of
forgetting, cursing God, and sinning against Him. God had something to say
about Israel's celebrations.
Isaiah 5:11-14, "Woe to those
who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at
night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their
banquets, pipes and timbrels and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of
the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands. Therefore, my people will go
into exile."
For Christians, Christmas is very
significant because it commemorates the birth of our Lord and Savior. As we
gather on Christmas Eve service in the Church or at home with our families on
Christmas Day, let's remember and celebrate the real reason for Christmas. God
wants us to enjoy His greatest gift for us, but what hinders you from that joy
this Christmas?
II.
Busyness Kills The Joy Of Christmas
The Italians have a legend about a
woman named Befana who lived along the dusty road that led to Bethlehem. She
was her village's best housekeeper—meticulous, which was no small task with all
that dust. Late one night, there was a knock at the door, and she opened it to
find three kings searching for the baby born to be King of the Jews, the Prince
of Peace.
Frankly, she also saw all the dust
that blew in and the dirt on their boots and clothes. They asked to rest awhile
and invited her to join them on their journey. She said she'd love to do that,
but she had to get the house back in order after they left, and there was a
load of laundry to be done. "Let me finish up," she said, "then
I'll be right behind you."
And they told her all she had to do
was follow the Star. She worked all night, and finally, near dawn, she put on
her heavy cloak. She took a little straw doll she wanted to give to the baby
and left her house spic and span. But the sky had clouded, and she couldn't see
the Star. It began to rain, and her little doll was ruined. Finally, she gave
up and went home. "I'm a foolish old woman," she said to herself. "I
missed my chance to worship the newborn Prince of Peace. Perhaps I will find
him someday." So, the legend is that she
sets out with a bag of toys each year, leaving some at every house with a
child, hoping one of them might be the Child she missed.[2]
Are
you too busy for Christmas? Busyness kills the joy of Christmas. Work will
always be there, and so is the last gift to buy or the greeting card to write.
But don't miss out on what truly matters. Christmas is not about the Christmas
Tree, Santa Claus, Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, or gift exchange. It is coming together with our
family and friends in our Church community to celebrate the Prince of Peace. It
is about receiving, celebrating, and sharing God's perfect gift to humanity
with others. That perfect gift is Mary's Child, Jesus Christ our Lord.
III.
Celebrating Christ In Christmas
These days, the festival of
Christmas has lost its true meaning. Some people don't even call it Christmas; it's
a Holiday. The word for Christmas in late Old English is the Mass of Christ.
Christmas in the Roman Catholic Church includes a celebration of the Eucharist,
or as Protestants would call it, Communion.
Christmas would not be Christmas without Christ in it. It will be like another holiday
that comes and goes each year—celebrating Christ in Christmas, which makes this
festival more significant. We must celebrate Christ for the following reasons.
1. We celebrate Christ because he
was born to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy. "For to us a child is born, to us a
son is given, and
the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace. Isa
9:6-7 As per the prophecy, Jesus is that promised Messiah, who will establish
God's Kingdom on the Earth.
2. We
celebrate Christ because, as the angel said, the birth of Jesus Christ is the
"Good News." Good news is meant
to be celebrated. The angel said the news of Jesus' birth would cause "great
joy" and would be "for all the people." For this reason,
Christians worldwide joyfully celebrate Christmas so that people will be glad
for this occasion.
3.
We celebrate Christ by worshipping Him, as the wise men worshiped Him. They
brought gifts of Gold, frankincense, and Myrrh as a form of Worship. God doesn't
need gifts. He wants true worshippers who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
John 4:23.
4.
We celebrate Christ by singing carols and choirs because they express joy
following the examples of Mary, Zacharias, Simeon, and the angels who praised
God by singing. 5. We celebrate Christ by
giving one another gifts as our gratitude for God's gift for us. 2 Cor 9:15. As we gather with our families on Christmas Day, before
opening any gifts, let us bow down in adoration before Jesus Christ, our
Savior, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
