Posted December 20, 2007
One of the many flaws in the way people approach Christ is shown at this time through the Christmas tradition.
Christmas is a few days away, and once again we see a lot of talk about "the reason for the season." There is the usual focus on the materialism of Christmas, along with the annual admissions that the traditions of Christmas are not supported in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ..
I see that the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, in a BBC interview clearly knocked in the head many the wrong notions about the Christmas celebration. About the wise men, he said, "Matthew's GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . doesn't tell us there were three of them, doesn't tell us they were kings, doesn't tell us where they came from. It says they are astrologers, wise men, priests from somewhere outside the Roman Empire, that's all we're really told." Anything else was legend. "It works quite well as legend," the archbishop said.
That is true. So much legend has been built up around the birth of Christ. The legends obscure the real meaning of His birth within the plan of God. The focus of the Christmas story on a babe in a manger blurs the critical role of Christ today as the living Son of God in the midst of His Church, leading and guiding the proclamation of the eternal gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Christ today is not only our personal Savior but also the soon-coming King of Kings. His disciples misunderstood the timing of this key role in the first century. Over and over again the disciples thought the Kingdom would be restored to Israel in their lifetime (Acts 1:6). The Kingdom of God was not to be restored till the time of the end when Christ returns with full power to restore all things to this earth.
RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). gives us a clear picture of Jesus that serves as the touchstone for our minds to consider when we think of the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah")., the Son of God. He stands in the midst of seven gold lamp stands clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair are like white wool, as white as snow, and His eyes blaze like a flame of fire. His feet are like brass, and His voice like the powerful sound of the mightiest rushing river. As if this is not enough to impress us, we are told His face shines with the strength of the sun (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 1:13-16).
John's awesome description of Christ should be imprinted on our mind when we bow in prayer or think of the mercy God has granted to us in His Son. Christ is the author of the book of RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25).—He is the Revelator. This is where we go for the true description of Christ and the true story of Christ's work on this earth.
One of the many flaws in the way people approach Christ is shown at this time through the Christmas tradition. The constant focus on the helpless image of a babe in a manger is so far from the current reality that it distorts the real story of BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ..
We have written much about this. I would direct you to our booklet, Jesus Christ: The Real Story , for an eye-opening look at the real Jesus of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. For more information on the Christmas myths, I point you to an interview done this week by one of our senior writers, Jerold Aust. Jerold was interviewed by Alan Colmes on Fox News Radio. Jerold wrote an article in the November-December Good News magazine, "What's Behind the Magnetic Pull of the Christmas Season?" which apparently caught the attention of the show's producers.
Wherever you may be traveling over the next few days, be careful and be safe.
Keep watching,
