Christmas is a spiritual event for meditation but we have turned it into a worldly funfair. This has however not changed the biblical position as God intended for us. We would reflect on a few scripture to remind ourselves of why the Christmas season.
A season of God’s presence is with us
The angels said in Matthew 1: 23, “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which mean, “God is with us.” We celebrate Christmas with joy that God is with us through Christ Jesus. If God is with us, then we must be holy. John 4: 24 says God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Christmas is a period of holiness with God.
A season of salvation in Jesus
The angels said in Luke 2: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Jesus came to the world to save us from sin and eternal death. Luke 19: 10 says for the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. Christmas season is the time of salvation by Christ the Messiah. Paul wrote in Hebrews 3: 8, 15; 4: 7 “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden not your hearts.” This is the season to welcome Christ Jesus into our hearts.
A season to accept God as our provider
We read from Luke 2: 7, and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Read Luke 2: 12). When Jesus was due to be born, there was no accommodation for Mary in the inn but God provided the manger for Jesus’ birth. This is a season of hope in God against all odds. Paul wrote in Romans 15: 12 “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope. Jesus started humbly from a manger yet rose to be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Jesus is our hope this season.
A season to diligently seek Jesus
It is written in Luke 2: 15-16 when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. The shepherds were diligent to act on God’s message through the angels about Jesus. This is the season to be diligent on God’s word. Hebrews 11: 6 says he rewards those who seek him.
A season to read Jesus’ signs
We read from Matthew 2: 1-2 … the wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star rising, and we have come to pay him homage.” Jesus’ star keeps rising above all stars because he is the first and greatest of all born of God. God keeps showing his signs everywhere for us to come to Christ Jesus. This season is Jesus’ sign that he will come again not as a savior but a judge. Jesus said in Matthew 12: 38-39… no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. What are the signs of Jesus’ birth to us?
A season to offer our gifts to Jesus
Concerning the wise men who visited Jesus at his birth, Matthew 2:11 says… Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They appreciated God’s presence with us in Christ Jesus with gold to symbolize his value to mortals; with frankincense to signify his sweet unfailing love for us; and the myrrh to signify his eternity in glory and power. Wise men appreciate Jesus whilst the foolish deride him. Are we wise or foolish in the sight of God? Luke 12: 8 says and I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God. God will acknowledge our rebirth and obedience to his commandment through Christ Jesus.
A season to be obedient to God
We read in Matthew 2: 13… the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him.” Herod plotted to kill Jesus when he was born. He tricked the wise men to show him where Jesus was born but they did not return with an answer. God warns against danger and the wise must obey. God can use anybody or anyplace to fulfill his purpose just as he used Egypt. 1 Samuel 15: 22 says to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. In this season, we must obey God rather than men.
A season to be wise in the Lord
In Matthew 2: 16 when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Herod foolishly forgot that he was talking to wise men. James 1:5 says if any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. Christmas is a season to seek counsel from the Lord Jesus for divine direction. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says trust in the LORD always with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.
A season to know who Jesus is
Jesus is best described in John 1: 1-18 (paraphrased) in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God… He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not receive him. But all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. Christmas is a season to know and to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
We read from Philippians 2: 6-8… though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself (Jesus), taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even–the death on a cross. This is the humble Jesus whom we celebrate at Christmas. We cannot celebrate Jesus in truth without having a personal relationship with him this season.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, as we humbly reflect on your coming to earth in this season, let us open our hearts to your Holy Spirit to show us your will for mankind so we may not perish but have eternal life in you. we pray in your holy name, Amen!!
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