CHRISTmas

I was doing some research about Christmas. But I am not satisfied with what I have read. Google and Yahoo offered a shallow meaning of Christmas. Needless to say, they talk about Santa Claus and gifts, and foods and other preparation for the season. They view Christmas as something to celebrate but never really know why. Oh yeah, everybody knows why. It is because Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day. The sad part was that, it ends with it.

What do the Bible says about Christmas?

Matthew 1: 18-25 says:

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

but it doesn't end there. after His birth, according to the Bible He died on the cross to save us from our sins.

according to Mark 13: 39:

At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachtani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down." he said.

With loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in tow from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "surely this man was the Son of God!"

and His death is not the end, because after three days, Jesus risen. Mark 16:1-8 says,

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after the sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb, and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

But go, tell His disciples and Peter, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.

may this season reminds us not only the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ but also how God give up His son to save us from our sins. may we be reminded that it not just the season for gifts and celebration but it is the season to express our love and gratitude to the Most High by serving and loving Him with all our hearts, with all our soul and with all our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)