CHRISTMAS

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

Surely, Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th. In fact, He was more than likely born around the Feast of Tabernacles, in September or October. If it was winter, not only would there not have been room at the inn, there wouldn’t have been any room in the manger because all of the flocks and herds would have been sheltered from the cold. The shepherds were watching the flocks in the field at night (Luke 2:8), so it was warm enough to do so. Other unbiblical traditions have crept in surrounding the birth of Christ, such as the magoi bringing gifts to the babe in a manger. An entourage from the east, perhaps an armed caravan of several hundred, arrived in Jerusalem— enough to terrify both Herod and all the city’s residents (Matt 2:3). Jesus was probably two years old when He was found of the easterners; for Jesus was a young child, not an infant, when “wise men” arrived at the house, not a manger (Matt 2:11). And Herod commanded children two years old and under to be executed, not merely infants (Matt 2:16). Okay, so Jesus wasn’t born at this time of year. The Bible is silent about the exact month. Probably, so we can celebrate the incarnation of Christ without guilt at this time of year… because we should be celebrating Christ’s incarnation with every breath in our nostrils all the days of our lives. The incarnation, God being born of a virgin, is an essential truth. That Jesus is both fully Man and fully God, as the Bible declares, is of necessary importance for our salvation. His crucifixion is meaningless if Jesus was merely spirit. Denying Christ’s humanity was a Gnostic heresy which John addressed; the Gnostics denied the incarnation and humanity of Christ (1 Jn 4:2-3). Jesus must represent mankind to die in our stead; and to make that atoning exchange, the Lord Jesus must be human. Jesus was certainly born of a virgin, and He was the only child begotten of God. The Lord Jesus was born to die, and our salvation has come because we did look on [God in human flesh], on Him whom [we] have pierced. There are those who would criticize Christmas because of the perverse views of an unsaved, unredeemed, reprobate world. Some genuine believers may do so as well, pointing to pagan origins of certain items such as Santa Claus and ornamental evergreen trees. Yet, when you think about it, aren’t we all of pagan origin since Adam’s fall? Is not our Lord and Messiah the great God whom John the Baptist preached would make the crooked straight? (Luke 3:5). Christ’s ministry through His beloved church is blessed with a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy because our Master “emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:7-8). Do you want to put up and trim a tree? Do so, and may it be a witness of Christ who hung accursed upon a tree (Gal 3:13). Do you want to exchange gifts? Do so, and may it exalt our heavenly Father who gave the greatest gift, “His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Do you want to sing Christmas carols? Do so, and may we make “a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth” (Psa 100:1). Do you want to abstain from these particulars? By all means, abstain while proclaiming the gospel truth of Christ, and Him crucified with all your being, all the time (1 Cor 2:2). Yes, we must honor the truth of Scripture with all our hearts; however, may we do so with a spirit of grace, extending grace with our behavior and attitude because we are thankful for the amazing and marvelous grace God has extended unto you and me in, by, and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

If you greet me: “Merry Christmas!”
I’ll smile and say the same;
For every time I hear it said
I think of Jesus’ name.

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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 12/25 - 2 Chr 30; Rev 16; Zech 12; John 15

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

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