| The secular world is always attacking Christmas. Oh, | | | | cross "to make propitiation for the sins of the |
| how the economy would suffer if we ever STOPPED | | | | people" (Hebrews 2:17). |
| celebrating this holiday! There's no denying that there | | | | After Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, had |
| are many who would prefer that Christ had nothing | | | | been granted the right to remove Jesus from the |
| to do with Christmas. | | | | cross and lay Him in the tomb built for Joseph |
| Before we Christians get our lederhosen in a twist in | | | | himself; Nicodemus came, bringing embalming |
| defense of our beloved holiday, let's consider a few | | | | materials, to help with the burial of Jesus. We are |
| things about this celebration of "the night of our dear | | | | told in John 19:39: "Nicodemus, who had first come to |
| Savior's birth." We may be surprised to find that | | | | Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh |
| Christ - and many Christian traditions - had little to do | | | | and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight." Myrrh |
| with Christmas as we know it. | | | | was used as an embalming ointment. Myrrh was also |
| I'M NOT BEING A GRINCH BUT... | | | | an incense frequently used in perfumes. You will |
| When it comes to Christmas Pageants and Nativity | | | | recall, in John 12:1-7, that Mary, sister of Lazarus, |
| scenes, let's acknowledge how erroneous they are. | | | | took a jar of costly perfume of pure nard and |
| Invariably, they combine the visit of the Shepherds | | | | anointed the feet of Jesus. When Judas Iscariot |
| (found in Luke’s Gospel) with the visit of the | | | | chastised her for this, Jesus told him, ". . . Let her |
| Magi (from Matthew’s Gospel) into one | | | | alone, in order that she may keep it for the joy of |
| harmonized birthday celebration. | | | | My burial." |
| See, in Luke’s Gospel, the account goes | | | | On the web site, Bible Fragrances --- --- we read: |
| something like this: Shepherd’s are in the field | | | | In the Old Testament, nard is referred to in the Song |
| and an angel appears to them and directs them to | | | | of Songs, as a symbol of the intimate nature of the |
| visit Bethlehem where the baby has been born (Luke | | | | Bride’s love. This is the point at which relations |
| 2). Verse 16 declares, " So they came in a hurry and | | | | with her beloved are initiated. When the perfume of |
| found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby | | | | nard is named, the bride recognizes her beloved as |
| as He lay in the manger." Let's not overlook that | | | | such. |
| point: a BABY in the manger. The Greek word used | | | | With that in mind, we see that Mary was |
| there means clearly refers to a newborn baby. | | | | representing what ALL Christians have been down |
| Nowhere does Luke mentions “wise | | | | through the ages, i.e., the Bride of Christ, recognizing, |
| men” or “magi." | | | | worshipping, and adoring the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. |
| Then, as we examine Matthew, we read nothing | | | | So, we see the Gold representing His royalty; the |
| about shepherds or a manger. Here’s how | | | | Frankincense representing His priesthood; and the |
| Matthew tells his story (Chapter 2): “Now after | | | | Myrrh representing His death. That is the true |
| Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of | | | | meaning of gifts at Christmas as they tell the story |
| Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in | | | | of the Gospel of Jesus Christ all by themselves. If |
| Jerusalem, saying, etc." After Jesus was born, these | | | | you want to really give your family, especially your |
| Magi showed up in Jerusalem and asked where a king | | | | children and grandchildren, the very best gift possible |
| would be born in this particular kingdom. They are | | | | for Christmas, share with them the story of Jesus' |
| told, in Bethlehem. So, off they go. The story picks | | | | birth and why He came to earth, as the Mediator |
| up in verse 11: “After coming into the house | | | | between God and man. |
| they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they | | | | Don't go broke buying gifts. Instead, give your family |
| fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening | | | | the most precious gift, Jesus Christ. |
| their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, | | | | HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS? |
| frankincense, and myrrh.” Did you catch that? | | | | I know that many will say that Christmas is not really |
| When the Magi arrive, they enter a HOUSE and find, | | | | the true time of Jesus' birth. That's true, for no one |
| not an infant - as in Luke - but a toddler, older than | | | | really knows the true date of His birth. We DO know |
| an infant, according to the Greek definition. | | | | that Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem for the |
| These facts demonstrate two things for us: | | | | census decreed by Caesar Augustus, that all must go |
| 1) The Shepherds arrived immediately after | | | | to their own city to be registered and counted. Now, |
| Jesus’ birth and visited him while he was still in | | | | since the Roman government heavily taxed the |
| the manger. | | | | Jews, they would certainly have waited until AFTER |
| 2) The Magi arrived about two years later and visited | | | | the fall harvest to call them to leave their fields |
| the toddler in his parent's house in Bethlehem. | | | | Otherwise, the harvest to be taxed would be smaller. |
| Matthew and Luke are telling two different stories | | | | The Romans wanted more bang for their buck, one |
| that we have somehow attempted to blend | | | | might say. |
| together. The birth accounts need NOT be combined | | | | Also, I've read that it was most likely the early Fall |
| because they describe different phases in the | | | | when the shepherds were still in the fields with their |
| childhood of Jesus. The fact that Herod killed all | | | | flocks. In December, it would be too cold for them |
| Bethlehem boys age 2 and under could be evidence | | | | to have their sheep in the fields. |
| that Jesus was about that age. | | | | It is also true that December 25th was chosen |
| Hence, when Christmas Pageants and Nativity Scenes | | | | because it was a pagan holiday, Saturnalia, a Roman |
| include both Shepherds and Wise Men, they do so | | | | festival and holiday, and it has nothing to do with the |
| against Biblical testimony and contrary to the Gospels | | | | birth of Jesus. Put yourself in the place of the |
| themselves. In short, they telescope two separate, | | | | Christians during that time. They were seeing all the |
| distinct events into one. Does this mean such | | | | revelry of the Roman Saturnalia festival; they were |
| pageants are evil? No, but it does mean they are | | | | seeing many of their friends and family being lured |
| inaccurate. | | | | toward the good times of that festival. What could |
| THE MEANINGFUL GIFTS OF THE MAGI | | | | they do? Just as today many Christians offer |
| The gifts were given to the baby Jesus by the | | | | Halloween "alternative parties" for their children to |
| Three Wise Men (Magi) from the East. Were there | | | | keep them from the pagan rituals of Halloween, the |
| REALLY three? Probably not but there were at least | | | | Christians in that day decided to celebrate an |
| two. Let's look at what those gifts were and what | | | | alternative to Saturnalia. What better thing to |
| they represent. The three gifts we read of in | | | | celebrate than the birth of Jesus Christ? The natural |
| Matthew 2 are a BIG part of the Gospel story for | | | | thing to do was to give the Christians a holy event |
| they are symbolic of the reason that Jesus was born | | | | to celebrate while their neighbors were busy |
| in a human body; they are an expression of His | | | | celebrating their pagan holiday. That is why we |
| ministry on earth. | | | | celebrate December 25th as the birth of Jesus Christ. |
| Matthew 2:10-11 "...After coming into the house they | | | | If you think about it, we should be celebrating His |
| saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to | | | | birth every day for there is no greater gift than that |
| the ground and worshiped Him... they presented to | | | | free gift given to us by God, the birth of His Son |
| Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." | | | | who came to be our be our King of kings, to be our |
| First, the Gold is telling of His royalty, that He is the | | | | High Priest, and, to die in our place, that we might |
| true King of kings. | | | | have an opportunity to be born again, free from sin. |
| Second, the Frankincense tells of His true reason for | | | | Share this priceless gift with your family. Tell them |
| leaving the glory of Heaven and becoming man...His | | | | the TRUE story of Christmas. |
| priesthood. We read in Hebrews 2:17 that He became | | | | Have an incredible Christmas! Uh...by the way, the |
| like us that He might be our "faithful high priest in | | | | word "Christmas" comes from the Middle English |
| things pertaining to God." | | | | "Cristemas" and from the Old English "Cristes Messe," |
| And, third, the Myrrh represents His death on the | | | | or Christ's festival....in case you were interested. |