What is Christmas really about? What is the timeless message and purpose behind the long holidays, tasty food and festivities? Does Christmas have anything to say to our media saturated and in many ways deeply suffering world in the 21st century?
Writing 700 years before the arrival of the Jewish Messiah, the prophet Isaiah spoke into a situation of deep distress and gloom. You can read part of that from Isaiah 9:1-7 here.
There is darkness and a deep sense of pain, oppression and gloom. Yet into what seems to be a hopeless situation for the Hebrew people who because of their rebellion and stubbornness are facing judgement, there is the promise of a glorious light, overflowing joy and wonderful celebration. The passage talks of political freedom, justice and the overthrow of enemies (Assyria was the superpower of the time that had over-run and taken over the places of Zebulun and Napthali), but also goes much further than that. The language almost seems to be going over the top with a government and peace that will be without end.
But what is even more surprising is the strategy and plan to do away with all the darkness and gloom – not weapons of war to wipe out the enemy, but a baby! From chapter 9 verse 6 of Isaiah’s prophecy:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This child is full of wisdom, is the all powerful God in human form, the timeless eternal loving and dependable Father and bringer of eternal peace. This child is described with a mixture of kingly and godly names. He is the solution to the mess of the world and our own lives. Yet he was born in the most humble of circumstances in a backward country and the son of a peasant family.
Writing 2,500 years after Isaiah, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), the greatest military general of his time, was able to say:
I know men and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of people would die for Him.
What would make Napoleon say such a thing?
What is the message behind Christmas?
It is God has understood our greatest need and done something about it in sending His Son. The message of Christmas is about lasting power not through strength but amazingly through weakness and vulnerability.
First the weakness and vulnerability of a baby, but then 33 years later the weakness and vulnerability of death on a cross.
Max Lucado has written:
“If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.
If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.
If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.
If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.
But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Saviour!
May you know the true joy and peace of Christmas not just today, but everyday!
Is this a message you have heard before or is it new to you?
It would be great to have your thoughts and comments.
Comments
Our greatest need is the abolition of all religion, then the advancement of science which could eventually solve all our resource needs; then the advancement of science would bring technological advances, which could enhance the lives of poor people (reducing lack and making sure there’s enough of everything for everyone), off-shoots of this would be increased education, so people are better informed and more likely to believe in science rather than religion, overall this would increase happiness because they would have enough and not wish to be greedy, and thus would be less likely to envy their neighbour, which overall would reduce war.
Thanks for your honest comments, Karl.
On the one hand i can agree with your disquiet about religion. If by religion you mean meaningless ritual and superstition then yes that can be dangerous – indeed it was religious people (the Pharisees) who conspired to crucify Jesus. i write more about that in my post on spiritual maturity.
However, I think you are also, from the way you have written, given science religious like attributes as you unquestioningly seem to embrace it (science that is). The history of science and education is not as neutral and necessarily as simple as you make out. For example, we already produce way enough food for the world’s needs. The problem is that there is not enough commitment and will to deal with poverty – and that per se is not the fault of religion, rather more an issue of laziness on the part of us who are wealthy.
Also what you are advocating has already been tried by Communism – abolish religion and embrace science to solve our problems is basically what they advocate. However,the track record of the former Soviet Union, China and North Korea (to give some examples) leaves a lot to be desired.
Your suggestion of increased eduction leading to a dying out of religion is what was thought by sociologists and academics at the beginning of the 20th century. However, to the surprise of many since that time rather than dying out religious belief has continued to grow.
It was Nietzsche who famously said at the end of the 19th Century, “God is dead and we killed him.” However, he also added that because God was being removed from the public arena, so was moral restraint and he correctly predicted that because of that the 20th century would be the bloodiest and most violent period in history.
You could also argue that by taking faith out of the picture you will also lead to a decrease in human happiness as you give no greater purpose to live for than this life because an atheistic world view ultimately says we come from nothing and are going to nothing. Everything then becomes meaningless. I think that is also a contributing factor for the increased depression and negativity in the modern world.
Finally, some questions to ponder are how did the birth of a baby so long ago in such humble circumstances who then died so brutally 33 years later come to have such a profound impact on the history on the world? Why did many of the early disciples in the first 3 centuries willingly give their lives for their faith and nurse and care for those who were dying around them (especially those who did not believe like them), even at the risk of their own lives?