Christmas

It is Christmas Day as I am writing this, so here are a few thoughts about Christmas. First of all, it isn't found in the Bible as a religious observance. Much is said about remembering the death of Jesus (Matt. 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, 1 Cor. 10 & 11) and His resurrection. But while His birth is detailed in the book of Luke, there isn't any sign of a birthday celebration in the early church. Nor do we know the time of Jesus' birth; it doesn't appear to have been in December, however, by the fact that shepherds were in the fields, which they likely wouldn't have been in December. The timing is all conjecture.

Still, the Bible makes quite an event of the birth of Christ. And it is a beautiful and true story of the birth of a king. You've heard the expression, "Wise men still seek Him." It is true; they sought Him at His birth and they seek Him now.

There has always been confusion over the person of Jesus, however. At the time of Jesus' birth, there were Jews who had been anticipating the birth of a king. But they were expecting an earthly king, one like King David from their history, one who would rule the earth, and overpower the oppressive Roman government. Even the governors were nervous when they heard a king had been born, thinking wrongly that Jesus would rule on earth. And Herod went so far as to order the death of all boy babies 2 years old and under, hoping to kill the king.

But Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this earth." We know that it is a spiritual kingdom, and that He rules from heaven. And the prophet Daniel said in Daniel 2:44, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." The spiritual kingdom of Jesus will have no end.

What a great king is our Jesus! Let us be sure and worship Him!