Welcome to the Christmas season, says the air around us. Festive spirit everywhere, commercial exploitation of the season on one side, joyful carols, Christmas trees, stars, lights, snow in western countries on the other side, we are just left perplexed with so many wonderful thoughts.
The first Christmas was a very different one, than what we see now. I would like to take you two thousand years back to a small insignificant village called Bethlehem, which is in Israel, where a baby boy was born in a very unusual situation and in an unusual place. Could anybody think of a baby being born in a cowshed in a biting cold winter night? Would any couple subject themselves to such a situation to give birth to their first child?. In the eyes of the world, these things may look stupid, but God had a marvelous plan for us, which he chose to reveal on that cold winter night.
The following things amaze me about Christmas
1. The nature of the birth : The Bible says that Jesus was born to a "virgin". Is it? Can I believe this? How come a virgin give birth to a child? Is it scientifically possible? would have been the questions asked if Jesus were to be born like that today. In this age of scientific advancement, with all the social media, and the great scientists among us, I am sure this birth would have been researched left, right and center. But, God is smarter than the smartest of the minds and he chose to keep certain things far out of the reach of scientific research. We have to "believe" that Jesus was born to a virgin, and this has to be definitely supernatural, if at all mankind should have some respect and fear of God. This has been scientifically researched too for generations, and nothing could refute this so far, and never will it be so.
2. The announcement of the birth : Do you know to whom the birth of Jesus was announced first? It was to the shepherds who were watching their flocks in their fields. It was also announced in a super natural way by an angel of God. I am again amazed by the way God chooses people to share the good news. If it was announced to somebody else, they would have applied their mind, got confused and would not have rushed to see the baby. But, the Bible says that the shepherds ran out to see and worship the child. This is a demonstration to the fact that God chooses the ordinary, downtrodden, hopeless people who live in despair and subjected to all sorts of harassment to reveal Himself more than all the learned and wise people who think they can achieve anything by their mind.
Another interesting thing is the reaction which the birth of Jesus prompted on different people. While the shepherds considered it as joyful, it brought fear, anxiety and insecurity to the King Herod, who was ruling the country at that time. He was so afraid that he would be dethroned, and he ordered all the children below two years to be executed. Wicked hearts do wicked things out of insecurity and fear. The same happens even today across the world.
There was another group to whom the birth was announced: The wise men. These were the learned scholars and scientists of those days. You know how they were led to meet the child? through a star. They had to be handheld throughout their journey towards that manger to see and worship the child, and were led away in a different direction to thwart the evil plan of Herod to kill the child. You see, God chooses to deal with the wise in a different way than the ordinary. If you see yourself to be very wise, you need to first put down that thought first, and follow God step by step if you have to meet Him. You can never find God through your mind, and it is always the heart that is near to God. The heart of the shepherds were very near to God. They had child like faith in the written word of God.
3. The purpose of the birth : The child that was born two thousand years ago had only one purpose in life, and that is to "Die for our sins". Does anyone like such a purpose? God knew that no human being can do that, and hence He had to send down His only Son to die for us. It only because of the death of this child 33 years later on the cross of Calvary, that you and me have this wonderful privilege to connect with the almighty God.
4. What is the significance today? :What is even wonderful is that the death could not stop Him. He rose again, and still lives in the hearts of his earnest seekers even today. Today, the real meaning of Christmas is not found in the Santa or the Christmas trees, or not even in the carols. It is found in the very simple fact of inviting Jesus into our hearts to set us free from the clutches of sin, and the bondage of the devil. It is a wonderful feeling to be ridden of the burden of sin and be united with God, and that is possible only by allowing the birth of Jesus in our hearts. May this Christmas reveal God's wonderful purpose in each of our lives. God bless you! Merry Christmas!
