Keeping Christ in Christmas

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name (Saviour) JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:18-23 NKJV.

How many times over this season I wonder, will the words about the birth of Jesus be spoken, acted out in end-of-year children’s plays, portrayed in ornate settings with pageantry and ceremony, or simply thought about in people’s minds as they hear, see or read of the Messiah’s birth.

Walt Disney once said, Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.

And one picture you will hopefully see a lot of over this Christmas season, is the Nativity Scene. Christmas decorations appear and Nativity scenes are popping up here and there. In backyards, in windows, on doors, on cars, wherever there is a space the message of Christmas is presented by these nativity scenes.

(Note: check out Dave Mann’s excellent 25 ideas for returning Christ to Christmas, at https://alltogether.co.nz/25ideasforchristmas/).

Many nativity scenes include an angel. The birth of Jesus all those years ago, was such an event that angels couldn’t hold back from declaring the glory of God at the birth of Jesus who was born to be the Saviour. It was a moment in history that had never been before, and it will never be again. It was a moment when the Divine took on humanity.

Let’s be bold and unashamed to keep the Christ in Christmas this year. Many people including businesses conclude a reference to Christmas by using the word Xmas. Let’s not do that.

Christmas is about Christ. It’s the greatest message, about the greatest birth, about the greatest life, about the greatest death, the greatest hope, the greatest future. No other religion of offers anything near the Christmas story.

No other religion offers anything as Divine as the incarnation. Christ coming to the earth, the miraculous nature of His birth, His life and resurrection. No other religion offers freely a confidence and hope of the future. A future where there is no more crying, no more tears, no sorrow, no more pain and suffering, no more injustice, but living in a place where we are forgiven, free, justified, and privileged to be forever in the presence of our Father, the Almighty God, Creator and Master of the Universe.

So let’s put the Christ back in Christmas. Let’s take every opportunity to speak, to write, to communicate, to display nativity scenes everywhere we can. Let’s encourage our children and young people to draw nativity scenes of their own. Let’s put nativity scenes in all our communications and emails, on front yard of our house, on road-side signs and billboards. Let’s decorate our Christmas functions with nativity scenes.

My father used to say, every picture tells a thousand words. How true that is.

The greatest giving and receiving about the Christmas season was when heaven gave its best, so that we could exchange our worst and receive something that would last forever.

It’s a gift that we could never be good enough to deserve. Eternal life. Christmas is about Jesus coming to earth to live, die, and rise again. He came to take our sin and qualify us because of who He is, to be in the presence of God the Father for eternity.

No wonder the angels couldn’t hold back their excitement.

Wendy and I have had a very interesting year; (more about that to come). There’s been some ups and downs, and some challenges, and some great blessings. As I’m sure there has for you too.

My friend, thank you for being part of the Brief Word family. Wherever you are, whoever you are with, and however you mark the occasion of Christ coming to earth, we pray God’s blessing, His presence and peace upon you in this Christmas season.

Lots of Love and blessings,

Stephen & Wendy Whitwell.
Tauranga, New Zealand

Image by Vincent Ciro from Pixabay