Jesus Christ, the reason for the season (Matthew 1: 18 - 25)

Jesus Christ, the reason for the season (Matthew 1: 18 - 25)

Many people celebrate many things. Some celebrations don’t even have a theme. If our team has won a match we celebrate, if we lost, we drink to excess in order to forget. In all of the occasions we think the reason is more important than the means.

As we discussed last week, some people say they don’t celebrate Christmas for so many reasons, so they left one end of the spectrum and went to the other end.

Psalms 137:1

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

As I view it, they still celebrate, only they do it by abstinence. Christmas has been the talk of the town for weeks . It is always at this season.

Luke 2:13

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

One deeply thought out phrase that caught my eyes was from one of my professors. According to him, there is only one Christmas, the rest are anniversaries. To me this is conclusive for both celebrants by celebration and celebrants by abstinence.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

On a particular day, Christ was born. The rest is history. So to those who celebrate in December, January, March or April, they are just anniversaries. To be on a safer side, I celebrate Christ everyday. By that I cannot miss the birthday.

Galatians 4:4

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

So when you celebrate by celebrating or celebrate by abstinence, remember Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. Be it the virgin birth that caught your attention, or Joseph’s encounter with the angel, or Isaiah’s prophecy that came to pass, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. The most important though should be his salvic work by which many people are redeemed and their lives and eternity redefined for ever.

1Corinthians 15:1

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Are you redeemed? It calls for a deep thinking as Joseph did may be you will personally rediscover the truth.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. God bless you.