We've all seen them . . . hundreds of them - Mary, Joseph and the Holy Infant in various configurations of nativity scenes. Maybe you've been wondering if the plastic baby Jesus in the manger was good for anything other than being a nice seasonal lawn ornament.
What does Christmas mean to you? Time with family and friends? Maybe carols, cards, hectic shopping, parties, and eating too much.
All these are part of North American Christmas. But what about the first Christmas? Why is the original story—the baby in a manger, shepherds, wise men, angels—so important, if at all?
May I invite you to consider three reasons why the original Christmas story matters, even to you? Perhaps they will stimulate your thinking and kindle some feelings that resonate with that famous story.1
The Christmas story is important because it is…
A Story of Peace and Goodwill
Christmas carolers sing of “peace on earth.” Greeting cards extol peace, families desire it and the news reminds us of its fleeting nature.
The Christmas angel announced to some shepherds, “Don’t be afraid! …I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David!”2 A crowd of angels then appeared praising God and proclaiming peace among people of good will.3
The Christmas story brings a message of peace, can soothe anxious hearts and calm interpersonal strife.
A Story of Family
Christmas family gatherings can bring great joy or great stress. Past conflicts can explode.
Joseph and Mary, Jesus’ parents, had their share of family challenges. The historical accounts indicate that Joseph’s fiancée became pregnant though she was a virgin. Mary believed an angel told her she was pregnant by God. How would you feel if your fiancé/fiancée exhibited apparent evidence of sexual activity with someone else during your engagement? Suppose your intended said God had sanctioned the whole thing. Would your trust and self-esteem plummet? Would you cancel the wedding?
Joseph, described as “a just man, decided to break the engagement quietly, so as not to disgrace…[Mary] publicly.”4 But an angel appeared to him in a dream, explaining that the child was conceived in her by God, and told Joseph to “name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”5 Joseph followed instructions and cared for his family. His continuing commitment to Mary and Jesus significantly influenced the boy’s birth and early childhood. With God’s help, the family overcame major obstacles. So can your family.
A Story of Love
Jesus’ followers taught that His conception and birth were part of a divine plan to bring us genuine peace, inner freedom and self-respect. They believed the biblical God wants us to enjoy friendship with Him, meaning, and purpose. Alas, our own self-centeredness separates us from Him. Left to our own, we would spend both time and eternity in this spiritually unplugged state.
Jesus came to help plug us into God. Mary’s baby was born to die, paying the penalty for our self-centeredness, which the biblical documents call “sin.” If I had a traffic fine I could not pay, you could offer to pay it for me. When the adult Jesus died on the cross, He carried the penalty due all our sins, then rose from the dead to give new life.
Jesus explained, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” 6 God can become your friend if you believe in Him, that is, if you trust Him to forgive you. He will never let you down.
Perhaps you are becoming aware of the importance of the Christmas story in your own life. Might you like to receive Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness and place your faith in Him? You can celebrate this Christmas knowing that you are a member of His family. Perhaps you’d like to talk to Him right now. You might want to tell Him something like this:
Jesus, thanks for dying for my sins and rising again. Please apply your death as the means of my forgiveness. I accept your pardon. Come and live in me and help me to become your close friend.
If you made that decision, He has entered your life, forgiven you and given you eternal life. Read the Bible to discover more about God and grow in faith. Begin with the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament, which is one of the easier ones to understand. Tell God what is on your heart and tell others about the discovery you’ve made, so they can know Him too.
Christmas is meant to celebrate peace and joy. Amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping, parties, presents, and fun, remember that the Prince of Peace came to spread peace and joy to all who believe in Him.
REFERENCES: 1) Details of the Christmas story are in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1:18-2:23. For more about Jesus, see www.WhoIsJesus-Really.com. 2) Luke 2:10-11 NLT. 3) Luke 2:13-14 NASB. 4) Matthew 1:19 NLT. 5) Matthew 1:21 NLT. 6) John 3:16 NLT.
Rusty Wright is an author and university lecturer with Probe.org who has spoken on six continents. He holds Bachelor of Science (psychology) and Master of Theology degrees from Duke and Oxford universities, respectively.
Adapted from Rusty Wright, “Christmas: More than a Story?” Advance magazine, December 2004, pp. 12-15. Copyright © 2004 Rusty Wright. Used by permission.
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