The secular world is always attacking Christmas. Oh, how the economy would suffer if we ever STOPPED celebrating this holiday! There's no denying that there are many who would prefer that Christ had nothing to do with Christmas.
Before we Christians get our lederhosen in a twist in defense of our beloved holiday, let's consider a few things about this celebration of "the night of our dear Savior's birth." We may be surprised to find that Christ - and many Christian traditions - had little to do with Christmas as we know it.
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When it comes to Christmas Pageants and Nativity scenes, let's acknowledge how erroneous they are. Invariably, they combine the visit of the Shepherds (found in Luke’s Gospel) with the visit of the Magi (from Matthew’s Gospel) into one harmonized birthday celebration.
See, in Luke’s Gospel, the account goes something like this: Shepherd’s are in the field and an angel appears to them and directs them to visit Bethlehem where the baby has been born (Luke 2). Verse 16 declares, " So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger." Let's not overlook that point: a BABY in the manger. The Greek word used there means clearly refers to a newborn baby. Nowhere does Luke mentions “wise men” or “magi."
Then, as we examine Matthew, we read nothing about shepherds or a manger. Here’s how Matthew tells his story (Chapter 2): “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, etc." After Jesus was born, these Magi showed up in Jerusalem and asked where a king would be born in this particular kingdom. They are told, in Bethlehem. So, off they go. The story picks up in verse 11: “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Did you catch that? When the Magi arrive, they enter a HOUSE and find, not an infant - as in Luke - but a toddler, older than an infant, according to the Greek definition.
These facts demonstrate two things for us:
1) The Shepherds arrived immediately after Jesus’ birth and visited him while he was still in the manger.
2) The Magi arrived about two years later and visited the toddler in his parent's house in Bethlehem.
Matthew and Luke are telling two different stories that we have somehow attempted to blend together. The birth accounts need NOT be combined because they describe different phases in the childhood of Jesus. The fact that Herod killed all Bethlehem boys age 2 and under could be evidence that Jesus was about that age.
Hence, when Christmas Pageants and Nativity Scenes include both Shepherds and Wise Men, they do so against Biblical testimony and contrary to the Gospels themselves. In short, they telescope two separate, distinct events into one. Does this mean such pageants are evil? No, but it does mean they are inaccurate.
THE MEANINGFUL GIFTS OF THE MAGI
The gifts were given to the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men (Magi) from the East. Were there REALLY three? Probably not but there were at least two. Let's look at what those gifts were and what they represent. The three gifts we read of in Matthew 2 are a BIG part of the Gospel story for they are symbolic of the reason that Jesus was born in a human body; they are an expression of His ministry on earth.
Matthew 2:10-11 "...After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him... they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
First, the Gold is telling of His royalty, that He is the true King of kings.
Second, the Frankincense tells of His true reason for leaving the glory of Heaven and becoming man...His priesthood. We read in Hebrews 2:17 that He became like us that He might be our "faithful high priest in things pertaining to God."
And, third, the Myrrh represents His death on the cross "to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).
After Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, had been granted the right to remove Jesus from the cross and lay Him in the tomb built for Joseph himself; Nicodemus came, bringing embalming materials, to help with the burial of Jesus. We are told in John 19:39: "Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight." Myrrh was used as an embalming ointment. Myrrh was also an incense frequently used in perfumes. You will recall, in John 12:1-7, that Mary, sister of Lazarus, took a jar of costly perfume of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. When Judas Iscariot chastised her for this, Jesus told him, ". . . Let her alone, in order that she may keep it for the joy of My burial."
On the web site, Bible Fragrances --- http://www.biblefragrances.net/nard.html --- we read:
In the Old Testament, nard is referred to in the Song of Songs, as a symbol of the intimate nature of the Bride’s love. This is the point at which relations with her beloved are initiated. When the perfume of nard is named, the bride recognizes her beloved as such.
With that in mind, we see that Mary was representing what ALL Christians have been down through the ages, i.e., the Bride of Christ, recognizing, worshipping, and adoring the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
So, we see the Gold representing His royalty; the Frankincense representing His priesthood; and the Myrrh representing His death. That is the true meaning of gifts at Christmas as they tell the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ all by themselves. If you want to really give your family, especially your children and grandchildren, the very best gift possible for Christmas, share with them the story of Jesus' birth and why He came to earth, as the Mediator between God and man.
Don't go broke buying gifts. Instead, give your family the most precious gift, Jesus Christ.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS?
I know that many will say that Christmas is not really the true time of Jesus' birth. That's true, for no one really knows the true date of His birth. We DO know that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus, that all must go to their own city to be registered and counted. Now, since the Roman government heavily taxed the Jews, they would certainly have waited until AFTER the fall harvest to call them to leave their fields Otherwise, the harvest to be taxed would be smaller. The Romans wanted more bang for their buck, one might say.
Also, I've read that it was most likely the early Fall when the shepherds were still in the fields with their flocks. In December, it would be too cold for them to have their sheep in the fields.
It is also true that December 25th was chosen because it was a pagan holiday, Saturnalia, a Roman festival and holiday, and it has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Put yourself in the place of the Christians during that time. They were seeing all the revelry of the Roman Saturnalia festival; they were seeing many of their friends and family being lured toward the good times of that festival. What could they do? Just as today many Christians offer Halloween "alternative parties" for their children to keep them from the pagan rituals of Halloween, the Christians in that day decided to celebrate an alternative to Saturnalia. What better thing to celebrate than the birth of Jesus Christ? The natural thing to do was to give the Christians a holy event to celebrate while their neighbors were busy celebrating their pagan holiday. That is why we celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus Christ.
If you think about it, we should be celebrating His birth every day for there is no greater gift than that free gift given to us by God, the birth of His Son who came to be our be our King of kings, to be our High Priest, and, to die in our place, that we might have an opportunity to be born again, free from sin.
Share this priceless gift with your family. Tell them the TRUE story of Christmas.
Have an incredible Christmas! Uh...by the way, the word "Christmas" comes from the Middle English "Cristemas" and from the Old English "Cristes Messe," or Christ's festival....in case you were interested.
Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
[http://www.YourTown4Jesus.org]
The True Christmas Story - It's Worth Telling