Hello everybody, and welcome to the Ten Days of Christmas blog party! I'm very excited to be participating in this. This blog event will be posted every two days. Specifically, December 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and 22nd. On each day but the last one, the theme will be associated with a certain letter of "Christmas." At the end of the event (the 22nd), the winner of the giveaway will be announced.
With that brief overview out of the way, let's get started!
Today's letter from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S is "S" for
According to the dictionary:
scripture |'skripture|
noun
(often Scripture or Scriptures) the sacred writings of Christianity contained in the Bible
I just wanted to start this off with that description of this word. Alright, so how does Christmas relate to scripture? What does the Bible have to do with a holiday about gifts and trees and red and green? Well, it has everything to do with Christmas, it turns out. In fact, those other things --gifts, red, green, etc.-- are the things that were added by man to what many see as the "meaning" of Christmas. But if we look into the true meaning of Christmas, which is a holiday technically made by God, not man, we will see that Scripture holds the story of the foundation for Christmas.
Luke 2:1-3
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.
Pause! Now, why am I putting in this seemingly random fact into the story? Well, because it's crucial to what happened; that's why. If God had not put the Roman Empire into place, this decree never would have been sent out! And if the decree hadn't gone out, the entire Christmas story, in a sense, would be for naught, because . . . well, let's keep on, and you'll see.
Luke 2:4-7
Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Wow! Besides being beautifully written (by the way, who else agrees that God has got to be the most amazing writer ever???), that was loaded with some interesting facts! Did you catch them? Okay, let's review what we have so far:
(1) As I mentioned before, it's crucial that the decree be passed. Why? Because it made it necessary for Joseph to travel to Bethlehem with Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus. Why is it so important that he go to Bethlehem? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
In Micah 5:2, it says: "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."
This means that when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he fulfilled the prophecy about it from many, many years before!
(2) This made Jesus, through Joseph, from the lineage of David! Why is this fact so significant? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be in David's lineage.
In Acts 13:22-23, it says: "After He [God] had removed him [King Saul], He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.' From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus . . ."
As I said, this means that when Jesus's earthly father was Joseph, He became of David's line and thus fulfilled an old prophecy! How could men from years before Jesus's time know this . . . unless God had revealed it to them because He already knew it was going to happen?
(3) Joseph was from Nazareth, and later, Jesus spent a his childhood in that place, too! Why is it so important that Jesus be from there? Because it fulfilled the prophecy that Jesus would be a Nazarene.
In Matthew 2:23, it says: " . . . And [Joseph] came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: 'He will be called a Nazarene.'"
Again, "what was spoken through the prophets" was spoken a while before Jesus came. What amazing wisdom and foresight God had!
Okay, let's keep going with the story. I'm going to skip over to Matthew for a moment, because all the gospels fit so beautifully together and tie the story of Jesus's birth together so well. This is actually kind of a "preface" to what we just read in Luke.
Matthew 2:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
And look carefully at the next part. Isn't it astounding how perfectly God laid out His plan even before it came to pass?
(Continued from verse 22)
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Who here is continually amazed by how p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y God wove Jesus's birth, His ministry, and the prophecies about Him together? *raises my hand* As an aspiring writer, I've got to say: that is the best plot I've ever read in my life; it corresponds so well. Also, the word "behold" is such a perfect touch. Just . . . beautiful.
Okay, let's keep going. I'm jumping back to the Gospel of Luke now.
Luke 2:8-14
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
Okay, a few things here. Um, first, I definitely would be TERRIFIED if an angel suddenly stood right in front of me on a dark night! It's no wonder that, time and time again, we see angels in the Bible saying "Do not be afraid" to the people they appear to.
Secondly, did you notice it said "which will be for all the people?" That means anyone, no matter their state, background, or former religion, can still come to Christ. I mean, God saved Saul (better known as Paul, the author of most of the New Testament epistles), and Saul had been a fervid persecutor of the Christian church. Read Acts 22 for the story of his conversion.
I'd keep going, and read through the whole continuing story of the shepherds, Kind Herod, the Magi (or wise men, as they're also called), and the flight to Egypt. But that would literally take probably the rest of the day, so I'll leave you with this and urge you to read the first few chapters of Luke and Matthew for the rest of the Christmas story.
Just remember: it isn't about good food. It isn't about giving and receiving earthly gifts. It isn't about shopping. It's ultimately about the birth of Jesus, the Son of God Who came to earth and took on the body of mortal man so He could eventually die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins upon Himself.
That's what CHRISTmas is really all about. This is not to say that giving gifts to others, spending time with friends and family, eating a delicious Christmas meal, and decorating in reds and greens is bad, because it isn't. Just so long as we keep the focus on Christ and not on ourselves or even each other. This holiday is called CHRISTmas, not "me-mas" or "others-mas." :)
As someone said just today: the Gospel is the only gift that "keeps on giving."
It won't wear out, break down, become irrelevant, or cease to exist. It's not like our earthly gifts --though those aren't bad in and of themselves. But they don't last. They don't bring about ultimate salvation.
But the gift of God does. It does last, stays sound, remains relevant, doesn't disappear, and does bring about salvation for those who would receive it.
So as you go about your business these few days before Christmas, keep the Greatest Gift in mind. The gift God Himself gave to us in love.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Visit Little Blossoms for Jesus, Culinary Scribbles, and Rebekah's Reading Room to see the coordinating posts from the other participants, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!
Amen!!! This is so good <33
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DeleteSuch a beautiful message, Martha!
ReplyDeleteYour writing is so beautiful! :)
Have a merry Christmas!
Aw, thank you, Scotia! Merry Christmas to you, as well!
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