The True Meaning Of Christmas

Intro: What would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Let's read Isaiah 1:10-18: "10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 "The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?" says the Lord. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

A birthday has a special meaning for many people, so they like to celebrate it. We are glad and thankful when our families and friends celebrate our birthday because it means that they care for us. Every December, hundreds of millions of people and even billions of people worldwide celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus. By the way, was Jesus born on December 25th?

Based on his study on the records of early fathers' writings (from the first to fourth century) and the Bible, Dr. Bambang Norseno claimed that Jesus was born on December 25th. Here is what he found. A document known as the Coptic Didaskalia Apostolorum, from 189, mentioned celebrating the birth of our Lord on the 29th of the fourth Egyptian month, or the month of Kiyah, or the 25th of the ninth Hebrew month. The ninth Hebrew month is the month of Kislev or December on the Gregorian calendar. In Luke 1, it is said that Zechariah was burning incense; at that time, he got the mark of mute. At that time, Zakaria was in Abiya's group. Abijah's company, according to 1 Chronicles 24:7-19, was the eighth group. Zakaria represents the Abiya group burning incense at the Yom Kippur celebration around September.

Then, in Luke 1:26, six months after the Angel, Gabriel, met Zechariah at the Yom Kippur celebration, he met Mary in Nazareth. Six months after the month of Tisri is the month of Nisan, and the month of Nisan is roughly March. The writings of Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and the Church Fathers from the third generation also said that the celebration of Mary receiving the Good News from the Angel was on the 15th of Nisan or March 25th. Nine months after Mary gave birth to Angel's announcement on March 25th was December 25th. So the claim that Christmas is a celebration of the sun god is not valid.

But with so many people celebrating His birthday, is Jesus happy with it? Not necessarily. I'm afraid that instead of being happy, He is sad and disappointed. Why? Christmas is celebrated by believers who receive Christ as their Lord and Savior and by those who don't know anything about Jesus. And these people celebrate Christmas just for fun or for their business's sake.

Today, Christmas is identical to parties, shopping, Santa Claus, and holidays. Therefore, even at nightclubs or casinos, you will see Christmas trees and hear Christmas songs. W.C. Fields says, "Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven."

Here's another tragic Santa headline: a new ad for the Norwegian postal service depicts a man falling in love with Santa Claus. Yahoo Entertainment reports that the ad is called "When Harry Met Santa" and shows Santa falling for "a man who looks forward to seeing him every year." Harry, in turn, is "heartbroken that he must wait such long in-between visits." At the end of the ad, Santa tells Harry, "Well, I arranged some help this year so that I can be with you," and then the two men kiss. Yahoo Entertainment calls the ad "heartwarming."