Celebrating Christmas

Chuckle: A child's comment on the Bible: "Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption."

Quote:  “There were only a few shepherds at the first Bethlehem. The ox and the ass understood more of the first Christmas than the high priests in Jerusalem. And it is the same today” –Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

(4) "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (children of God)" (Galatians 4:4-5 NIV). (15) "He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created in him and for him. (17) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. (19) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, . . . by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:15-20 NIV).

If we are serious in wanting to see Christmas from God's perspective this year, these passages ought to do it. Yes, we should celebrate the miraculous birth of baby Jesus in an animal stall, but our celebration should include much more.

We should celebrate the birth of Immanuel (God Himself with us) (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

We should celebrate the birth of God's supreme revelation of Himself to the world. "If you really knew me, you would know the Father . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:7, 9b; Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV).

We should celebrate the birth of the Creator of all things. His omnipotence is clearly demonstrated by His role as the Creator. "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made" (vs.16; John 1:3 NIV).

We should celebrate the birth of the One who holds all creation together (vs. 17).

We should celebrate the birth of the supreme head of His body, the church (vs. 18)

We should celebrate the birth of our Savior through whom God demonstrated His amazing love, grace, and mercy. "But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV).

We should celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace who brings peace through the shedding of His blood on the cross (vs. 20, Isaiah 9:6 NIV).

We should celebrate the birth of the One whom "God exalted to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11 NIV). Amen.

Love, Jerry & Dotse