"In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:1-5 (NLT)
The Word of God is nothing less than Jesus Christ, The Creator, The Son Of God, God Himself. Long before Jesus came down to offer Himself in our place, the law was given so that we could see for ourselves how sinful we truly are in the sight of God - as if seeing ourselves in God's eyes, if we cared to look. The law showed us how we were truly in desperate need of some miraculous rescue from God's wrath because of our sin and sinful nature, but how? And who could possibly save us? Who would care to?
"The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." John 1:9-14 (NLT)
"Christmas" it seems is different things to different people. Christ's Mass has become convoluted in the minds of many to represent and include so much secular perifery that even the core of the Christian celebration is often infected with it. Some in the world celebrate the day without any living, deep, meaning or purpose - relegating it to nothing more than a winter celebration or a family holiday. To my own mind that's a tradgedy and a sadly missed opportunity if that's all that they allow it to be. Those closest to me know that Christmas is something far more humbling and yet awesomely precious to me at the same time. The outward expressions of my celebration of "Christ's Mass" are far less intense than the inward, heart impacting, observance and celebration of Christ's birth in commemoration. signifying Jesus' willingness to come to our rescue knowing full well the cost that He - God Himself, would pay out in terms of pain, suffering, humiliation and physical death, for our redemption.
"And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir." Galatians 4:3-7 (NLT)
We didn't deserve this meciful act of grace. We did not deserve rescue from the sentence we ourselves have earned, both as lineage of the humanity of Adam and because of our own crimes against the very God who created us...
... But God...
...suffered Himself to save us. And those who hold "Christ's Mass" in proper recognition and perspective celebrate the arrival of our own Eternal King Jesus, The Christ, come to save us - God humbling Himself to come in the lowliness of flesh to suffer what must come to be paid, in our place. True Christ followers honor His coming with hearts of awe, gratitude and joy because for them these things are what Christmas represents.
"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”" Luke 2:8-14
What's the cause of your celebration? I hold without reservation that those who're not truly celebrating the birth of Christ Jesus - God come down to rescue us, as the core and cause, are celebrating something other than Christ's Mass. For them, the opportunity to celebrate the truth of God's mercy and grace is being replaced by something hollow and devoid of living, eternal value. It becomes a sadly missed opportunity to thank God for His loving kindness and grace and to find one's celebration wrapped in Christ's spirit.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (NKJ)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it." Deuteronomy 10:12-14 (NKJ)
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