It is a time for celebration, relaxing, enjoying, eating, and maybe some shopping. I personally like to spend some time meditating about my life. What are the things that really matter in life? What are the things that I have been learning from God? How should I invest my time the coming new year?
Though celebrating is good thing, I see the importance of meditating why we are celebrating. Because the reason for celebrating Christmas is to commemorate an event that will change the fate of humanity. That God sent His Son, Jesus, to live as a man who embodies the intent from God regarding what a man should be. Jesus taught us how to pray, how to love, how to serve, how to be humble, how to submit, etc. Thw
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." - John 1:14
Furthermore, Jesus died on the cross so that in Him we can be reconciled with God, and spent in eternity with Him. To love us, God paid a very costly price with the atonement of Jesus.
Some postmodern thoughts argue that Jesus is not the only way to salvation. And they like to categorize Christianity as been very exclusive. It's true, Christianity is exclusive, Jesus is the only way to God (John 14). But their thoughts are also exclusive themselves, as they are categorizing that Christianity is not the true. So in the end, every religion is exclusive. Out of all religions, I believe that Christianity (which in its core is about a God who gave up His life for the good of His enemies) is the one that can save me and can lead to a life of peace and joy. I know by experience that even if I attempt to achieve morality and do many good works, I always fail. Always falling short. Because I realize I am sinful by nature, and that even though I know what it is good to do, I end up doing what is evil. So, I cannot attain salvation myself. It's only through Christ Jesus, who lived the perfect live that I should live, and received the punishment of my sins that I deserve, so that I can be reconciled with God. This is grace, and that is the beauty of Christianity.
I can't help, but to acknowledge that I am in need of Christ, and that He is the only way to salvation. So I bow down and worship Him. Because it's all about Christ.
For those interested in digging more how to express the supremacy of Christ in this postmodern era, there are this series of lectures from Tim Keller (preaching Christ in post modernism) that are heavy but very helpful. I don't like itunes, but I willing installed it for this haha.
A few random facts about Christmas:
- The reason why Christmas is celebrated on Dec 25
- Not because Jesus was born on Dec 25. Winter in Israel is harsh, and the passages in Luke narrates that there were shepherds taking care of their sheep outside. This suggests that it is likely not winter
- Dec 25 is the winter solstice. It is a cosmic symbolism, the sun gives light, and Christ is the light of the world.
- Some pagan celebrations were on the same day, so installing Dec 25 as Christmas served to re-affirm the truth of Christianity
- The idea of Christmas trees was initiated by Martin Luther (no idea why)
- The sugar cane candy
- The red color symbolizes the blood of Christ that was shed for our sake
- The white color symbolizes the purity, blamelessness, sinlessness of Christ
- The cane refers to the cane of the shepherds
- The cane has a shape of a "J" of Jesus
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