The Christmas Story (Luke and Matthew)

In case you didn't know, it's Christmas eve today and everyone seems to be in a better mood then the rest of the year. (Everyone but people stuck in lines at a return counter!) As you get together with your families and spend time together, be it for Christmas or not, take in the joy that you have. That being said; this time of the year is not happy and joyful for everyone -- many people are going through tough times; today and tomorrow especially. Let us be thankful for the things we have, and the people that have been, and are here with us to enrich our lives. 

I used to love to receive gifts. I guess that I still do, we all do, but in a very different light then when I was little. Back in the day, I wanted new stuff for me. I wanted to have new toys to play with and eventually break, or lose to the dog. But this year, it's something very different. 

It's not that I don't want gifts, I greatly appreciate gifts from friends and family alike. But that is just it, I appreciate friends and family. The people in my life whom I get to slow down and fellowship with. But why gifts? Who decided that we should give gifts to each other to show our appreciation, love or materialism?

Fortunately, that answer is pretty easy from the Gospel in two ways. Firstly, Christmas is about God's gift to the world caught in sin (Rom 3:23). He sends His only son, Jesus, as a gift to escape the wrath that we deserve (Rom 6:23). Although Jesus may not have been born on December 25th, this is the time of year that we slow down to recognize the importance of this one baby's birthday on the entire world. 

God's gift to the world, all of His creation, was sending His son Jesus, through Mary to be our salvation.

Secondly, in the story of Jesus's birth and first months on the earth. We read in the Scriptures that the Magi travel to the place that He (Jesus) was born bringing gifts of great value to show their reverence in Him and the important person that He was. 

As you give and receive gifts tonight or tomorrow just remember the greatest gift that was and is given freely and openly to everyone who would accept it. The gift of redemption from sin and a chance to know the Lord God personally and intimately. 

Merry Christmas!

This is the story of Jesus as presented in the NIV Bible through the Books of Luke and Matthew:

Luke 2

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave births to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Matthew 2 (some time has passed, possibly up to 2 years)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.