WHY CHRISTMAS (Contextualize)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the ‘Word’ was God. He was with God in the beginning” John 1: 1-2. God created everything. He also made man in His own image, male and female (Adam & Eve). They lived along with God in paradise (Garden of Eden) and were allowed to eat fruit from all the trees, except one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die Gen 2: 15-17.
They were disobedient, however, and ate from this tree. In this way, sin entered the world. Sin is anything you say, do or think that does not honor God or is against God’s will. Sin cause that you cannot become what God would like you to become: “God’s first intention for man was not to die, but to live with God for eternal fellowship. Man chose to follow their own will rather than God’s” Gen 3: 22. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom 6: 23.
Three reasons why God created man are – “to Serve Him, to Worship Him and to Love and have Fellowship with Him.” But the relationship between God and man was broken after man sinned against God. Sin always brings a separation between God and man, because God hates sin!
People begin to think the looks and the ways of God; trying to build a bridge across this gap in different ways, believing in nature as god, idol worship and god made by hands etc. That’s how the religions begin to take shape in the world. While others try to do good works, giving money to poor and needy, and offering of sacrifices to please God; but none of this can bridge the gap to reach the heart-beat of God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23.
God’s heart broke to see men worshipping idol gods made by their own hands. God grief and reminds men that He is their God; the God of your fathers, and the creator of heaven and earth. But men continue to live a sinful life. God knew that people would not be able to cross the gap by themselves, so He made a plan to become like man. Christ came as mediator between men and God. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life John 3: 16.
The prophets have portrayed a magnificent picture of the promised Messiah, but the book Isaiah is more complete, given from His birth to the resurrection with Glory. Because he was especially ‘commission’ to proclaim about the coming Messiah. “God desires salvation, instead of condemnation”. As a matter of fact, the entire book of Isaiah is a testament to God’s salvation. Isaiah means “The Lord Saves”. In Isaiah there is no better news that the prophet’s prediction of the future birth of “Immanuel” – means - “God with us” [Isaiah 7: 14, Matt 1: 23]. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” John 1: 14.
The good news of Isaiah is that God will be sending a Messiah to establish His Kingdom on earth. He will bring with Him three things every person needs: “Peace, Good Tidings and Salvation”. Messiah means “God’s Anointed One, to come as King” Isaiah 52: 7. It was not just the prophet Isaiah but most of the prophetic books in the Old Testament were some-what connected to tell about the coming Kingdom (Jesus)-the future glory of Israel. Jesus is somewhere on every page of the entire Bible. God’s promised in Micah 5: 2, the coming of the ruler over Israel from the smallest tribe of Judah.
The last prophetic book was Malachi, means- “My Messenger” he was most-likely the last prophet of the Old Testament era. After which there was a complete silence called “Period of Silence” for about 400 years.
Christ is here! The promised One has come! The one whom all the prophets have foretold Jesus Christ the Lord. Every prophet in the Old Testament assured God’s chosen people again and again that a Messiah should come who would be the King of the Jews. They therefore looked forward with passionate longing and patriotism to the coming of that King in pomp and power.
Mary fined favors in the sight of God Luke 1: 27. The People who heard the proclamation thinks that if that Messiah be to my family or the Hebrew women’s thought, if that lucky woman be me. But God choose the least and a humble women to become the mother of Jesus.
And the Messiah was born 2008 years ago on this earth; “His name is “JESUS CHRIST the SON of GOD” and His birthday is called “Christmas”. The word Christmas comes from “Cristes Maesse”, an early English phrase which means, “Mass of Christ” or translated “Christ for the people.” The name “Jesus” means “The Lord Saves” because He would save His people from their sin. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14: 6.
Isaiah 9: 6 “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.”  “Peace on earth and Good-will towards all mankind” Luke 2: 14.
“Wonderful Counselors”- who has an answer for everything (i.e. Life after death)
“Mighty God”- the most powerful for spiritual battles in our life (King of kings and Lord of lords)
“Everlasting Father”-Christ came to restore the broken relationship between man and God the Father, and nothing can separate us from our Everlasting Father.
“Prince of Peace”-God has forgiven our sins through His Son Jesus Christ. We ‘Must’ also forgive one-another, so that, Peace will prevail on earth. Forgiveness is the first step to follow Christ and first step to bring peace among men. No-forgiveness, no peace!
If you go around and ask who was the famous child in history? Our minds go back to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, God in human form. That was the first Christmas, and since then millions of people on earth have celebrated His birth every-year. Christmas is celebrated but without knowing its true meaning!  Most people remember Christmas as a time of feasting, partying, meeting friends and families; a season to give and to receive. Most people especially the children remember Christmas as a time to wear new cloths. There is nothing wrong with it, but Jesus must be the center of the celebration. Christmas is all about ‘Jesus Christ’ so; the objective of Christmas is “to celebrate Jesus” and nothing else.
It’s unusual nowadays that millions of people “Celebrate” Christmas without thinking of Jesus at all. There’s no place for Him in their lives, and that’s why they live in failure. The world can never be just if there’s no place for God. No-one can have peace in their life, if there’s no room there for Jesus!
When Joseph and Mary entered the town of Bethlehem, the business capital of that time, looking for a room to stay; but they can’t find a room. Every room was occupied.
To be Continued tommorrow...

    In today’s context everyone is supper busy in their own way, doing different kinds of work to meet their living, to earn money, name and fame; all hearts are occupied by the worldly things. There is no place for Jesus in their heart. No one opens the door of their heart for Christ to rule their life. If you truly believe in Jesus, open the door of your heart and let Jesus in. He is knocking! “Christmas is the massage of how Christ’s birth changed us!”

You know, the Bible and history tells us that Jesus, the King of Universe, didn’t have an earthly home to come to, just a humble manger in a village inn. When He grew up and began His public ministry He didn’t have a place to sleep; He often slept out in the open air. When He was unfairly condemned, only one place was found for Him: the cross. We sent that Holy child to the cross, and the shadow of that cross fell at the moment of His birth.

    During the 1930s/40s Christmas was a time for families and friends to go for picnic in the countryside to celebrate Christmas-Day in Europe. While the Government (soldiers) prepares for the war, on planes and tanks; hundreds of war planes flew overhead in big noise and sound.  
    A little boy surprisingly asked his father “How could men climbed up the sky to get into the plane? His father replied, “Man need not to climb up the sky, but the planes comes down for a man to board.” This conversation has a unique moral for clearer understanding as to why Christ was born?” Man need not to confuse who God is, because God Himself came down to show us the way to God the Father.
    
    If a child is born in the family joy fills the family environment; it is good news for the family, friends and relatives. We keep the news pass on until it reaches everyone. If a child is born to the Royal family in England the entire royal family rejoices. The news didn’t stop there; it keeps on spreading to all the British people and the world; because the child is important for the English people.

    Christ was born for the “World” not only for the Christians, or for some particular people or nations but for “All People” and yet “Unto you”. The birth of Jesus is Good News for all mankind. The angels said to them do not be afraid. “I bring you Good News of “Great Joy” that will be for all people” Luke 2: 10. It is for “ALL PEOPLE” we shouldn’t just keep the Good News to ourselves but to tell the whole world. “Good News” means “Gospel”, the word ‘Gospel’ means “Good Tidings” or bringer of good tidings.


REASONS WHY CHRISTMAS IS GOOD NEWS

The birth of Jesus is Good News according to four Gospels [Luke 2: 10, 11, 13, 14]. The four gospels portrayed Jesus in their own ways but the message was all the same: “In Matthew He was a King, but He was the Perfect Servant in Mark. He was the Son of Man Luke, but we must not forget that He was the Son of God in John”.

REASON ONE: it is Good News because it, ‘Banishes Fear’. The first word the angels said was, “Fear Not”, because the shepherds were afraid. (V-10) Psalms 23: 4, Isaiah 41: 10, Heb 13: 5-6.
REASON TWO: it is Good News because it brings ‘Great Joy’; fear is the greatest enemy of joy. The hearts of man was filled with fear before Jesus came, but fear went away when the glorious God live.

REASON THREE: it is Good News because it is for ‘All People’, for all mankind or for desire of all nations [Haggai 2: 7]. There is no poor, rich, intellectual, gentiles or young and old.

REASON FOUR: it is Good News because it emphasizes ‘Human Values’. Gospel is for all people, yet it is “Unto You”-(v-11). Everyone is important with its purposes and values unto the Lord.

REASON FIVE: it is Good News because it ‘Saves Sinners’- a Savior who is Christ Jesus the Lord [1Tim.1:14], redeems by the New Covenant or the relationship with God His Father.

REASON SIX: it is Good News because it ‘Glorifies God’ (v-13, 14) Glory to God in the highest. The Gospel of salvation is the Central Theme of the Bible, and proves the power of God without a single flaw.

REASON SEVEN: it is Good News because it gives ‘Real and Lasting Peace’ on earth (v-14).

    Goodwill-Gospel of peace (Isaiah 9: 6), Jesus defeated Satan (Eph 2: 14, Rom 16: 20). “The gospel is not a religion but a Revelation from God; eternal life assurance given and overcome by Christ Jesus the Lord” (Rom 5:1).

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME TO GIVE

A friend of mine who is the Executive Director of Bangkok Christian College in Thailand has two son, one is six and the other is due to celebrate his forth birthday. He invited relatives and some friends. His son was so happy to receive many gifts. He asked his father, when is my next birthday? Why did he ask this question? So that he’ll receive more gifts. Birthday is a time to receive gifts, and also a time to give-in celebration. Its two ways-to give and to receive!
    Christmas is the birthday of Jesus; what will you give to Him? Well, if you give those (poor and needy, orphanage, widows etc.) it’ll be a Christmas joy for them. Jesus will surely be happy, for making others smile on His birthday.

    God give us His Son Jesus as gift to us, not an ordinary one, but one of the most expensive gifts, so that we may live! As He gave us He expect gift from us too, because it’s two way to give and also to receive. You may give so much, but He needs you as a gift. If you give only material gifts without giving yourself, it’ll be incomplete. “Can you give your heart as a gift to Jesus?” The worshippers like the Magi’s and the Shepherds too give their life, along with their valuable gifts to baby Jesus on His birthday.

In Gospel Matthew, the fulfillment of what the Lord has said through His prophets has been recorded. The Magi’s from the East were confused where to find the child; even though these people are recorded as scholars and wise men. But the worldly intellectuals can’t take them to Jesus; it was the star that took them to Jesus. “One cannot see, serve, meet, and please God by his worldly information, but only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit”.

    As Christian, we should be the star of today to lead others who are confuse, so that they’ll find Jesus and be overjoyed like the Magi’s. Every home that put star signifies that “Christ is born to our family, and we know the way to Christ”. The star represents Jesus Christ that He can be easily recognized because He happens to be very different. In the present context, men represent the star; we should live an exemplary life so that, we can take our followers to Jesus.
The Magi’s enjoy their stay at king’s palace in Bethlehem. Ate the best food and drank the best wine. As they journeyed their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him, and they opened their treasures and presented to the child Matt. 2: 9-11.
The Magi’s after meeting Jesus didn’t become the same old Magi’s. They didn’t take the same old routes after having been warned in a dream. They didn’t eat and drink like before, and their life was completely changed. Have you meet Jesus yet? Jesus was worshipped by the earth’s wisest philosophers. The magi’s scholars, student of the stars, they didn’t come to enquire but to seek a new born King of the Jews. “Even all the Priests knew where Jesus was to be born, but they did not know Christ when He was born”.

In the Gospel Luke, the angels appeared to the shepherds. The shepherds are very ordinary men, living out in the field to watch over the flocks. They are ordinary people but very busy shepherding day and night. The angels after they proclaimed the Good News went up to heaven. The shepherds said to one another “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that had happened which the Lord has told us about” Luke 2: 14-18. “Though they are very busy people they know how important it is for them to go and worship the Messiah”.

For some people there was a place for Jesus, a very important place. The shepherds left everything they owned to worship the new-born King. Wise men from the East followed the stat for thousands of miles to bow before Jesus. They opened their treasures and offered Him the best they had. What about you?
    Today the world is growing so fast, people are supper busy in their own way to earn money, name, fame and popularity etc. People didn’t have time for Jesus. If we are the true followers of Jesus, the, we should have time for Jesus.

CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“What Jesus was to the world of His time, He wants us to be to the world of our time”. ‘We must be the beam of light in the midst of darkness and the ray of hope in the midst of despair’. Many centuries ago, a 66 year old white man climbed the Table Mountain in Cape Town of South Africa. He reached the Mountain-top, sat comfortably and watched the view of the beautiful Cape city. During that time electricity hadn’t been discover, and all the city streets were lit at night by gas lamp. A man has to light the lamp one after the other with a flaming torch.
He came back after 15 years to the same mountain top. He was sitting on the same spot and watches the Cape City at night, but he couldn’t see the lamp lighter. What he could see was only the torch and the trails of the lights. He went back and told his family and friends “People may never have seen Him or known Him, but He passed through the world by the trail of Lights and He left lit behind Him, so that, the world can see it and felt it”.
“Christmas is an invitation for each one of us to be for the world what Jesus was for the world”. ‘A beam of light in the midst of darkness, and a ray of hope in the midst of despair’; if Jesus is to be born in today’s world, it must be through you and me. To the extent that we heed the invitation of Christmas; will the world receive the gift of Christmas?
Christmas Day is approaching. To many people, Jesus is the most important thing in their life. What can we give Him on that day? What gift is worthy of the Master of the Universe? What can we offer to the one who has everything, the King of kings and Lord of lords? What can we offer to the Almighty God?
    There’s one thing that God wants from you on a Christmas Day: “Your heart, your very life”. Christmas: God made human, born on earth. Christmas: God born into your own life. “Jesus’ special place and favorite gifts are your heart and your life”.

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ came and died for us Rom 5: 8.

Christmas is the time to ‘renew’ our “Hope” of God’s promises. He said He’ll return back- to keep trusting!

“Knowing Jesus came to earth and died for you is just like knowing the history, but Believing and Accepting His birth and death is Salvation”. Author!

WISHING ALL THE READERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS FILLED WITH JOY AND HAPPINESS!

Dr. Thamsing Lamkang
[One can contact the Author through this ID: lamkang@sify.com]