How’s Your Christmas Going?

Christmas. 

It is often recognized as a time to come together. A time for peace, harmony, unity, good will to men, and all of the many great things that are sung about from October to the beginning of January.

How is it going? Think on it, answer to yourself. 

I ask that question for you to identify it and now-

Throw it to some far off winter wonderland, far from you. 

Leave it behind, at least for a moment. Look with me what Christmas time is supposed to look like and what joyful times Christmas should stimulate for the rest of the year. 

Many people are familiar with the term, the “reason for the season.”

Even though many people constantly reiterate this phrase, many may leave the phrase as some mystical revelation without ever revisiting it again, thus leaving Jesus as a baby. 

The two need to remain hand in hand. 

You may ask how I can make such an assertion?

My answer would simply be that the Bible never separated the two, so why would we? 

The news of Jesus to Mary in Luke 2 was quickly announced to be “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” What are these good tidings? You do not have to look to the Greek to put context clues together, but I think it may be worth the time to do it. 

The original word for “good tidings” that will be to all people is euangelizō. It is a verb form of the word euaggelion, or Gospel. Euangelizō means to evangelize or proclaim the Gospel! In Greek translations of the Old Testament, the word is used for any form of Messianic good news as well!

To divide the story is to take an unbiblical look to Emmanuel’s coming and therefore lighten what it means for Christ our Lord to be “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). 

So allow me to reiterate the story and get back to the first question of how is your Christmas season going?

Jesus was prophesied to come (Isaiah 7:14).

He came, born of a virgin (Luke 1:27).

Then, He grew up in stature and Godly wisdom (Luke 2:52).

Jesus lived a sinless life (1 John 3:5).

He performed many miracles and was obedient to the Father up to (Matthew 19:2)-

His unjust sentencing, death, burial, and soon resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

A resurrection that gave power to our justification (Romans 4:25). 

He was seen by the disciples and many others (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). 

Emmanuel ascended, but Emmanuel did not leave man to themselves (Acts 1:9). 

Christ’s Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost and then (Acts 2:4),

Jesus revealed Himself and spoke continually again to the Apostle Paul (Acts 9; Galatians 1:12).

The Apostle Paul went out and spread the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21).

This ushered in the beautiful Age of Grace we live in now, where we ourselves can speak expressly to the Father through Jesus forever and ever amen (Ephesians 3:2-4).

Jesus is coming back through the Rapture to take His Church and eventually to reign 1,000 years on Earth where following, He will right every wrong and eternally (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelations 20:4),

He shall receive our praise. For He is worthy (1 Timothy 1:17). 

So again I ask, how is your Christmas season going?

Christ came to give hope, joy, and noel not for a couple months each year, but rather each second of every day eternally. 

Join me as we entertain this perspective and life changing implications it may bring.

That Christ is Emmanuel, forever.

God bless!