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Growing up, I was no stranger to Christmas. My family and I would gather for lots of fun and presents and talk about Jesus being born. The thought of Jesus being born as in innocent child brought joy to the hearts of everyone. To know that the Savior of the world was born in human form is such a fascinating event that everyone can't help but be in awe of it.
What I've realized, however, is that most humans love children and Christmas is simply a time for our love for babies to be masked by our love for Jesus. We see that everyone all over the world celebrates Christmas, but we see Jesus, Himself, say that only a few people will actually get a chance to go to heaven and see Him.
I guess if we are being honest, if the celebration was truly about Jesus we would stock up on crosses and not Christmas trees. Thus, a question comes to mind. Do we actually celebrate the birth of Jesus or do we celebrate the time in Jesus's life when He wasn't old enough to speak His standard?
"46 Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you? 47 For everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words [in order to heed their teaching] and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; and when a flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake or move it, because it had been securely built or founded on a rock. 49 But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49 AMPC
We have overlooked the standard that Jesus set with His life and death by focusing on His birth. Perhaps, the reason we feel compelled to celebrate His birth is because we can't find many other similarities between His life and ours.
"20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." - Galatians 2:20 AMPC
The truth is that almost everyone loves the thought of a newborn baby, but opinions tend to change as a child grows older and learns how to speak what's on their mind. We don't see the disciples in the bible celebrating the birth of Jesus, but we see them celebrating the life of Jesus each day by following Him and in many cases dying because of it.
"18 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, when you were young you girded yourself [put on your own belt or girdle] and you walked about wherever you pleased to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will put a girdle around you and carry you where you do not wish to go. 19 He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. And after this, He said to him, Follow Me!" - John 21:18-19 AMPC
As this holiday season approaches, I can't help but think of the Christians in North Korea who have given up their life to follow Jesus and are behind bars for it. Is this how to truly celebrate Jesus? By rejecting our comforts and laying down our desires and goals? Or by gathering and singing and playing games with our families?
"24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. 25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." - Matthew 16:24-25 AMPC
Is it possible to celebrate the birth of Jesus and simultaneously never pick up the cross that He was murdered on?
"23 And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]." - Luke 9:23 AMPC
Isn't it odd that the people who followed Jesus in the bible had to give up their comfort in order to carry their cross but now we celebrate Jesus by indulging in comfort and wearing a cross?
"24 But woe to (alas for) you who are rich (abounding in material resources), for you already are receiving your consolation (the solace and sense of strengthening and cheer that come from prosperity) and have taken and enjoyed your comfort in full [having nothing left to be awarded you]. 25 Woe to (alas for) you who are full now (completely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated), for you shall hunger and suffer want! Woe to (alas for) you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep and wail! 26 Woe to (alas for) you when everyone speaks fairly and handsomely of you and praises you, for even so their forefathers did to the false prophets." - Luke 6:24-26 AMPC
The birth of Jesus changed the course of history. Unfortunately, without actually following Him and laying down your life, you are not a part of the change He brought.
Question of the Day: Is it possible to truly celebrate the birth of Jesus without conforming our life to His?