What is Christmas? Why do we celebrate it? What is its importance? These are just some of the questions that come into our minds during the month of December. If you have thought about Christmas just as I do, then this article is for you. 😊 If you haven't thought about the meaning of Christmas and have no interest whatsoever, I hope and pray that after reading this simple article, your interest will be kindled and eventually will be blessed.
My Personal Goal (PinoyMensahero's Goal)😊
My goal in this article is very simple and straightforward. I have already mentioned about the blessings you'll receive in knowing the true meaning and importance of Christmas in the first paragraph. 😊 The other goal, which I believe is the most important, would be our response to Christmas itself. You see, it's good to know the true meaning and importance of Christmas, but if it didn't touched our lives and if we don't respond to its demands, then Christmas wouldn't have any deep meaning at all. Yes, Christmas actually "demands" something from us. And our responses to these demands are very important.
Christmas In The Eyes Of Many
Just as there are two sides of a coin, I have seen that there are two kinds of belief about Christmas which are very common for most people. Both have its own perspective or meaning about Christmas. Both are actually correct in some way.. but, the main focus is a bit shifted that it favors one thing from the other. There is a high probability that you might belong to either of the two. I am not saying you are "completely" in a wrong side for either side have some truths to offer. My intention however, is to shift both sides to the main truth that actually matters. 😊 Yes, there are many truths about Christmas. Both are positives and negatives. But the most important truth above all is all that matters. 😊
Sides (A and B)
As I mentioned a while ago, there are two common beliefs about Christmas. And like I said before, both have some truths to offer. Let's talk about the first one.
Side A
This first belief is actually what I have seen to be the most common of all. And when I was a child, I really loved this truth and became very excited everytime Christmas comes. Yes, the belief that Christmas is all about giving. 😊
Since we were children, we usually receive Christmas gifts from our ninongs and ninangs, classmates and friends, mothers and fathers, and even from our own selves. 😊 We were also taught by our parents, friends, schoolmates, and even by what we see on televisions and movies that Christmas is all about giving and sharing your blessings to someone you love or even with people you don't know who are poor and needy. We even have made a friendly (and chubby) Santa Claus who gives gifts and goodies to little children who were good and obedient. 😊 This belief is deeply rooted in us during Christmas that even our employers give Christmas gifts and bonuses because they believe Christmas is all about giving. 😊 And sadly, I got to say this without bias, even some churches focuses on gifts giving, love and blessings sharing. We normally say, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." All of these, like I said have some truths to it. But the focus is only a bit shifted. 😊
Side B
Now, this second belief is shifted way far from gift giving. Actually this belief goes too far that it even neglects the celebration of Christmas. Yes, the belief that Christmas has no meaning and has no significance since it is a paganistic ritual. And those who celebrate Christmas were tagged as pagans. These people who are on this side of belief point out the fact that Jesus Christ wasn't born on the 25th day of December and so there is no reason to celebrate. Christmas has no value in this type of belief. But yet again, I am stressing that this belief has some truths to it. 😊
Factual But Out Of Focus
Indeed, during Christmas, we love to give and share our blessings to people that are closest to our hearts. We love the joy that comes from giving especially to those whom we love. It gives us a sense of purpose and value that we have been a blessing to those whom we love and even to those whom we don't even know. There is nothing wrong about giving. But we need to know what "should" be the real reason why we give.
It is true that Jesus Christ wasn't born on December 25. It is also true that Christmas is a paganistic ritual. But the next question that would come into our minds would be, "Does it really matter?" It is good if the date of Christ's birth is known, but sadly it is not. God did not wrote it in His Word. He sovereignly did not reveal it. Christmas is paganistic in some sense mainly "because" people who celebrated it did not know the main reason what it is for.
Refocusing Christmas to Christ
The word "Christmas" is actually derived from two words. That is "Christ" and "mas". The first word is very obvious.. "Christ" means Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God, our Redeemer and Saviour who was born in Bethlehem, who died on the cross to pay for our sins, and promised to give eternal life to those who believed in His name. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He was in the beginning with the Father. He is the only Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. He is the Door that leads to the sheepfold. He is our good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. He is the Bread of Life and the Fountain of Living Water. Anyone who drinks of the water He gives will never be thirsty anymore. He is the Vine and we are the branches, apart from Him we are nothing. Before Abraham was, He is the great I AM. He is the Resurrection and the Life, anyone who believes in Him though he died yet he shall live again. He is the Light of the World, the Light that shines out of darkness but darkeness have not overcome Him. He came to the world, yet His own did not recognized Him. He was born in a manger, and was called Immanuel, which means God with us. He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our inquities, and smitten by God. Upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And with His stripes we are healed. He is the Author of Life and the Judge, and someday every knee will bow down and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father!
That is Jesus Christ! And there is more to it that I can say.. but I am out of words for He is Infinite and I am nothing but only a finite being trying to share an incomprehensible truth as best as I can to people who are finite as well.
And lastly, the second word of Christmas is "mas".. which simply means "holiday". It is different from the word "mass" that means a gathering of people.
Christmas is indeed worthy to be celebrated because Jesus Christ was born. He should be the focus of this great celebration. Christ should be the only reason of the season. That is why we give. We give because God has given first His Son for us! Every gifts we give should be a reflection of what God has done. He gave His precious Son, the Best of the best. We should give our best to God as well. More importantly, we should love Him, for He has first loved us. And that's that true meaning of Christmas.. Christ-center. 😊
Our Response
As I mentioned a while ago, Christmas demands something from us. This demand is very important because our life depends on it. This simple demand is.. DO YOU BELIEVE?
Not believing about Christmas is like not believing on Christ Himself. I have said that because if you believe who Jesus Christ is, and on what He claimed to be, then you will simply celebrate His birth whether or not He is born on December 25. What matters most in Christmas is Christ, the Saviour of the world being born. If you reject that truth, then salvation would not be available for you. In other words, the celebration of Christmas reflects our gratitude to God by sending His Son. This should be our response.. Believe in Christ and Focus on Him alone this Christmas!
Have a blessed Christ-centered Christmas to everyone! God Bless! 😊
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