CHRISTMAS ??

Reproduced from earlier post

CHRISTMAS

Coming

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

About/Contact (updated v9)

Hello! This Blog is a work under construction. The central purpose is to assist you to explore about Jesus for yourself, with 'no strings attached' by me.

... Expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ

Consider how Jesus and his first followers interpreted him as Saviour. 

The purpose and procedure

The Gospel writer in John chapter 1 [see Introduction] is clear that Jesus came and was unacceptable to his own [ie First Century Israel]. Some did nevertheless welcome him and believed and were made children of God.  Further below you see the (Matthew) quote that he would save his people. 

Nonetheless, as you read on it becomes clear that his coming is actually for all who will receive him.

The procedure.

I set out an orderly series of readings and provide links refer to online sources. You can use the links online sites to read the texts if that suits. The important thing is to read the record and think for yourself.

[I prepared a lengthy compilation for on-screen reading.]

Readers

My work here is not intended for younger readers but nor do I intend to exclude anyone. [Younger readers however might find the visual material on Max7 app. more useful.]

The purpose

The Fourth Gospel has this:
³⁰ Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. [John chapter 20, verse 30-31, WEB]

The statement is applied to John's Gospel but I think it applies to all four. Furthermore, I intend this blog to bring you, the reader, into touch with that purpose. I believe help for you is directly available from the ultimate author of the sacred Scriptures. Just ask God.

I am not writing an academic argument or dissertation. I claim only to be a person who is a conscious follower of the Way, a member of ‘the household of faith'. I want you to know Jesus well, or better, and to be equipped to discover more. I do not want to present the views of anything other than the texts as we have them.

All about Jesus
“….And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NLT

“And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” Romans 5:9 NLT 

These statements relate to Jesus the Carpenter from Galilee [Roman region]. He is the one given the title ‘Saviour’.
In one place he is called ‘Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth’. This fuller description distinguishes one man from others, both contemporary and predecessors. By the way, ‘Jesus’ was not an uncommon name in the Greek documents. See further in the 'Page' of this blog.

The setting of the accounts may be helpful:
You can see photos and map: [Very useful website with excellent images]
http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,2,5,36,555

"It" or "I"

“It” or “I"? The convention I know dictates the use of third person, or of plurals, or other oblique ways of writing. So, which says it best: “My guide is to Jesus..”. or “The guide is to Jesus..” or “Our guide is to Jesus..”, or “Christians say..” or “The Court finds..”? I think it better for me to own what I say. I hope you agree.

 

EDITS

As this is a live blog, I have the opportunity to make edits in posts, here and there, from time to time. Mostly the edits are additions. I hope this is not annoying. If I make a "major" edit, I change the name of the post to show it is a revised and updated edition!

17/06/24  This post has been here for 9 years. According to the Google stats, it has lots of "hits". I read it again. Is there is a need to add or revise? Maybe a new post could help?  

An introduction from much earlier

Introduction to an account of Jesus 

In the beginning the Word already existed.
  The Word was with God,
  and the Word was God.
 He existed in the beginning with God.
 
God created everything through him,
  and nothing was created except through him.
 
The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
 and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
  and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]

God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] 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.[f] 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,[g] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.


Gospel of John, Chapter 1, verses 1-18. [New Living Translation – NLT]
Notice the 7 footnotes given in NLT re specifics:
a. Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything.
b. Or and the darkness has not understood it.
c. Greek a man named John.
d. Greek became flesh.
e. Or grace and truth; also in 1:17.
f. Or received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace.
g. Some manuscripts read But the one and only Son.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Note re footnotes
By their footnotes the publishers of the NLT version above honour the other possible translations and the literal meanings, as well as a textual variant. (For myself, regarding note [f], I prefer the Greek. That choice leads inevitably to interpretation – a topic for another day maybe.)

This is a brief post to set the scene and indicate something of the approach I will take.

HOWEVER, although I will post many pages of Bible translations, despite their value and importance I will not include footnotes. The inclusion of them would be very difficult and disruptive.

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.