Christmas is the feast of the celebration of the birth or Nativity of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World, the greatest event in mankind announced by Angels to the shepherds, the poorest of the poor, the Three kings of the east, which symbolizes the Saviour’s coming for all mankind. Our hearts should be filled with the divine joy of the Christ child. He is born in our hearts and homes.
The word Christmas derives from the combination of Christ and Mass. Christmas is celebrated by many and it is the most important of Christian feasts. Hanging festive lights, decorated Christmas trees and colourfully wrapped presents fill the house. This special Christian holiday is a time of celebration. It’s a time of giving and a time of receiving. It’s a time when families gather together again. Friendships are rekindled anew. It’s a long anticipated season of joy, celebration and life. Most of all, it’s a celebration of the coming of the Saviour of the world, who would save the world.
The birth of Jesus Christ is the good news of great joy for all people, because He brought good news and peace to the poor. First of all, let us receive Jesus who was born to save mankind from human sins. The truth is that Jesus was born into the world to save us. He was born of a Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus who took birth in a Manger should be our ideal and we should follow him, only then our lives have meaning. Thus God became a human being so that He could reveal and share his love for us. So he is called Emmanuel, i.e., God lives with us always.
Lord Jesus became an ideal human being without any sin. During this Christmas, meditating on this truth will help change imperfect persons into perfect persons. As we enter into this Christmas season, the worries and the wear and tear of life remind us of how much we need God. Christmas reveals to us again the closeness of God for us.
The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His birth, which we commemorate during this season, is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, and our Joy and Salvation. This Christmas season will have greater meaning as we seek to follow His example and live His teachings.
With the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, there emerged a great endowment – a power stronger than weapons, a wealth more lasting than the coins of Caesar. This child was to become the King of kings and Lord of Lords, the promised Messiah – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Scripture says:
1) “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins” (Mt1:21)
2) “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31)
3) “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35)
The Joyous Birth of the Messiah
The miraculous birth of Jesus was a time of joyous celebration. When the Messiah was born, shepherds tending their flocks were visited by an angel who told them, Scripture says 1) “Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Then a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 2) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men…” (Luke 2:13, 14). And God made a bright star to shine in the night sky. 3) “Wise men from the East saw the star and they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (Mathew 10:20). 4) “They followed the star until they found the baby and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him” (Matthew 2:11).
The Meaning of Giving and Receiving of Gifts at Christmas :
The part of Christmas that most people think about is the giving and receiving of gifts. Certainly that is the favourite part of Christmas for children! But the exchanging of gifts has lost most of its meaning in our modern and commercial world.
We give and receive gifts to represent what God did for the world. God gave the world His only Son, Jesus. All He asked is that we receive His gift. He is ours to keep forever. He asks for nothing in return. He solely wants us to believe. Scripture says “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Jesus Was God’s Gift to the World :
God’s precious gift of salvation is found in Jesus, our Lord. He was that special baby born in a manger in Bethlehem so many centuries ago. This was the precious and costly gift God laid at the feet of men. We did nothing to deserve Him. But because God loved us, He sent Jesus to save us: Scripture says “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke19:10). Accept God’s great Gift for us this Christmas.
At the end, let our lives be changed this Christmas season. There is a precious gift waiting for us. It is a gift from the hand of God. All you have to do is reach-out and believe. Repent from your sin of unbelief. Ask the Saviour, to forgive you. Ask Him to live within your heart. Believe, the Saviour paid the price for our sins upon the cross. He has promised to cleanse you of all unrighteousness. He will do it! Then you will have new life. Let us believe Him in faith and give a chance for peace to the world.
Wish everyone a Merry Christmas 2015