By Sunitha Sahayam

So, it is Christmas – 2000 years have rolled on since the day Christ entered this world.

We go over the nativity scenes over and over again each year – but the time has come for us to really come to terms with what Christmas means in relation to what was foretold by the prophets . We know for sure that the prophecies concerning Christmas by prophet Isaiah, Jeremiah (to mention a couple of prophets ) and the Psalms have all been fulfilled, where the birth of Jesus is concerned. Let us go over the times the scriptures cover during this period to get the background of this whole incident.

400 years of silence- the Jews were in captivity They had been for some time. Their rulers – The Romans. A very well organized Government. Their life unlike the time of the exodus, when Moses was around to remind them of God and His mercy and the fact that they were the chosen populace was fast dissolving from leading a separated life into one of worldliness, like everyone else

Although God had raised up leaders and kings and prophets in the past, to remind His people that they were the apple of His eye, it all seemed to cease.

For 400 years now there had been a dead silence from God – No prophets spoke – not even a prophet of doom!

The Jewish mentality was such, as we see from the Scriptures, that unless God kept constantly reminding them of what He had done , they easily forgot Him and slid back into worldly ways.

God had done many miracles, as He led them from Egypt to the Promised Land He led them as a Pillar of Light during the night and a Pillar of Cloud during the day shielding them from the intense heat of the desert. He looked after them and revealed Himself to them as much as their limitations as a human being could take. Some times even exceeding it!

God was very much aware of their forgetful nature and therefore had passed a decree that they sanctify the first born to Himself, and kept up the Feast of the unleavened Bread to remind the new generations to come, of His actions.

Exodus 13-16 (please read)

Ex 13:3-10

And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

The main topic of discussion at this time was ‘when is the Messiah coming to take us out of captivity?’ As they stopped reading the scriptures and started focusing on their situation, their faith dwindled, so much so that even the scriptures were misinterpreted

Although they awaited the Messiah, they expected him to be a mighty King, arriving in pomp and glory to match that of the Roman Caesars!

In such a situation, there were a few who did wait on the Lord and followed and meditated on the scriptures.( At that time the scriptures were not distributed and bound so beautifully, as now), and God chooses to send His messenger, the Angel Gabriel, the highest ranking angel from His angelic force to a handful of these people to inform and prepare them for the advent of His Son Jesus Christ.

The main point that I am trying to get across to you, , in my Christmas Message is that the majority of the Jews missed out on the birth of Christ as they took away their focus from God to their situation. They busied themselves with their day to day life, not heeding to the scriptures or even trying to understand them as they had become so worldly, living with a lustful race – In fact, they missed the whole concept of their Messiah and therefore were not considered by God to receive the impending glad tidings of great joy and goodwill towards men, unlike the humble few who were ready for Him.

The Christmas message for the few who awaited God revealed that the Messiah is Arriving in humility, and the handmaiden selected in the line of David was from a poor family.

As I mentioned above we are familiar with the scenes where people had an encounter with The Angel Gabriel and his hosts. The important message we miss out is that, many were ignored by the Angels. The Sadducees, Pharisees, Jewish Leaders and the like were not visited. There is a great message of Christmas here. Only a few were selected by God to convey the glory of His son’s arrival.

Many people today too are making the same mistake and are missing out on the message of Christ’s birth during Christmas. Most people go spending money partying, buying new clothes, feasting and some times drinking and misbehaving!! Christmas day, if it is set apart to celebrate Christ’s birth on the other hand should be a spiritual exercise of meditation and being in God’s presence with the Word of God and attending the church to show respect to the Son of God for the great sacrifice He made on the cross to save the world . If you want to spend money it should be spent sacrificially on the poor and needy and not in self-indulgence.

So are we doing the right thing, especially in a land that needs love and affection poured out? If our thinking has been wrong, let us humble ourselves, and put it right so that the real meaning and purpose for our Lord’s birth and time on this earth is reflected. John 3: 16 says that

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’

The mission has been accomplished, so let us seriously search for the truth and find it.

A similar scene will soon be experienced by the people living on the earth. Jesus Himself foretold of this time creeping on us as a thief. He also warned us to be alert and waiting for His second coming. Many signs have already taken place, and even as Jesus warned us , as in the times of Noah we continue to carry on regardless. I think the time has come, that even as we celebrate and meditate on the Christmas message during this season of festivity, we must also be alert as to what the Scriptures speak to us about Jesus’ Second Advent, and pray we are not caught napping during this important, glorious event, as many did during Christ’s first advent.

Have a peaceful and meaningful Christmas and the blessings of Christ direct your pathway to finding eternal life.

Prayer

My Father, who art in heaven, I want to bless your name for the mighty, joyful act you performed in sending your Son Jesus Christ to save the world. Help me to understand the true meaning of Christmas and meditate on your word, the Bible , and truly seek to find you Your word assures me that if I truly search for you I will find you. Please Lord, reveal yourself to me so that I can follow you and not miss out on the many eternal blessings you have for me .Help me to celebrate Christmas respecting your name and not just enjoy it in a worldly way, not understanding that it was a great sacrifice on your part to come to this world . Help me to grasp the true peace of Jesus’ birth given as a gift to the whole world. I submit my requests unto you my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.