"Christmas" ?

CHRISTMAS

The Bible does not contain the word "Christmas". (That is also true for some of the traditional "seasonal" representations, including dating.) So, why this post? I examine New Testament (NT) statements that actually do relate to Jesus coming into our world the first time.

Here (again) is a succinct statement by Paul (the Apostle): But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. (Galatians 4:4, NLT). The timing, the person, the process and the setting, neatly encapsulated.

I note the insistence on a real live birth, and that all this was a plan made by God. The contemporaries of Jesus show no doubt they were dealing with a human being like them (- and just who did he think he was, anyway!).  Moreover, Paul reminds us, Jesus, the Son who was sent, was born a Jew - or perhaps more accurately, an Israelite - one of the people generously bonded to the LORD and guided by his law. (Later on, people would speculate that Jesus was something else, not flesh and blood.)

In Romans Paul includes more "incidental" insistence on the reality of the Nazareth carpenter being like us: This good news is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! As a human, he was from the family of David. But the Holy Spirit[a] proved that Jesus is the powerful Son of God,[b] because he was raised from death (Romans 1:3-4, CEV). Further on in the letter we are told: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,[a] because the law[b] of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law[d] of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering,[e] in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4, CSB). Jesus and we share the same humanity. When cut, when pierced, he would bleed.

Hebrews discusses Jesus being "one of us":  Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:14-18, ESV).

These writers only make sense when we know that Jesus, the man from Galilee, was born like we are. Truly human? - yes; but, a rebel? - no!: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV). The writer has a further point on Christ sharing our path, and the finalisation of the sin and judgement question: If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age[a] to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him (Hebrews 9: 26-28, NLT). Die once, he did. However, unlike us, the Christ appeared, and will appear.

 
In Philippians chapter 2, a striking ancient creed-like formulation moves from his glory to his sacrificial death via his coming into our world.  Along with the insistence on actual human-ness there is the other facet, one which gives a model for emulation:

 
Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,

who, though he existed in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be grasped,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

assuming human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a human,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8, NRSVUE).

Some time before those explanations above were being shared, during an interchange in the Temple Jesus insisted:“I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the one who sent me is true, and what I have heard from him—these things I tell the world.”

They did not know he was speaking to them about the Father (John 8:26-27, CSB). (text omitted)

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and I am here. For I didn’t come on my own, but he sent me. Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to[a] my word (John 8:42-43, CSB). So, again we see that Jesus was "sent" into this world; in the very same context, he says he "came".  (More than once we find the verb in the perfect tense, "I have come".)

Jesus summed up the reason for his first coming: The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue[a] many people (Matthew 20:28, CEV).  "who will give" - note that second clause, please. The Son of Man came purposing to give his life a ransom for many, even by death on a cross, as being one accursed by God.

Another time Jesus described himself and his role this way: I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:9-10, ESV). This is why he came, and come he did indeed.
 
We find Jesus on trial telling the truth to the Governor:Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:36-37, NIV). Again, Jesus says his coming into the world was intentional. He did not put it indirectly, as, "I was born for this" but rather the direct, "I have come". Who then is this? Pilate had a lot to think about that day!

In Mark, as in John, Jesus simply appears on the opening page as an adult. Perhaps some believers in early days may never have had their curiosity satisfied.  John has the striking prologue giving the meaning of Jesus. Here is some of what John has: So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.[c] For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[d] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us (John 1:14-18, NLT). The pre-existent "Word" took on "flesh" through his birth, and lived a fully human life. Mysterious and strange.

The "Nativity" account is another matter. So we read: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[a] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:18-21, NRSVUE). "Nativity" is not a word in the English or Greek Bible (the word that is used there is equivalent to "genesis"). Nonetheless, as you see, Matthew relates the miraculous birth of Jesus.

Luke also reports on the impossible angelic message: Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” [a] (Luke 1:30-34, CSB). Surely not surprising that Jospeh, and Mary, would have trouble with these ideas!

The infancy accounts do not readily harmonise.

Matthew has: 

• Angel, 
• Jospeh, 
•  Mary, 
• pregnancy, 
• marriage, 
• "Jesus", 
• astrologers (?), 
• Herod, 
• Bethlehem house, 
• Egypt, 
• Nazareth.

Introduced by birth of John the Baptiser, Luke has: 

• Mary, 
• angel, 
• pregnancy, 
• Nazareth, 
• "taxes", 
• Bethlehem, 
• manger, 
• shepherds, 
• Jerusalem, 
• "Jesus", 
• Nazareth. 

So, Matthew and Luke read quite independently, with different emphases and perhaps are from the standpoint of either, Joseph (who was to decently marry the mother), or of Mary, who was to be the (birth) mother. Incidentally, who does the naming? Is it Mary, or is it Joseph? (In each case the verb is singular.) No way to be definitive but I assume it was a joint and equal act - which contrasts in some ways with the portrayed status of women. There is no conflict as to the actual name he was given - Jesus!

The baby of Bethlehem came unremarked by the "people who counted", the religious establishment and the 'inner circle'. It looks like most of those affected back then were from the "hoi polloi". Today? What Jesus said makes clear the significance of his coming to be a saviour ("The Saviour") for you and for me. His offer is for real and for always. This actually is the gift that "keeps on giving". I hope you have or will make that gift your own.

Did our local traders capture Christmas (which was a truly commercial success)? Have I covered the meaning of "Christmas"? The word originally was about a certain kind of church activity at a particular time in the calendar. Nowadays? I reside in a location that is not "WASP" majority but has many different demographics, including from the Mediterranean, Middle East and Asia. Still, just like everywhere in Australia (no doubt), we have public decorations (sample below - ours are "neutral"), and much "Christmas" for sale. Do we not actually have an annual cultural festive holiday season which is detached from celebrating a birth?  (The birthday in mind back then was of the one who came that you and I might have life, and life "in its fullest".)

Above decorations adorn local bins, etc, here, courtesy of the traders. Possibly the December date has reverted to a more ancient pagan function?

However, just past the edge of our commercial zone there is a large block of land containing a church, etc, and this durable seasonal decoration (below), which reflects some popular interpretations of the birth accounts and a nice sentiment (if only):

A local garden contribution:

I have reproduced an earlier post which has drawn some reader attention.

May you be blessed by God

Allen Hampton 

Scripture passages accessed via BibleGateway.com

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NRSVUE) are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

Note: I retain the reference marking to footnotes [a], but not the content. The footnotes may be found in the text, eg via Bible Gateway.

AL 17/01/24