We all have, at some point in our lives, been to a celebration of some sort. In America, we celebrate almost everything possible. For the Fourth of July, New Year’s Day, and even Christmas, fireworks fill the night sky. We celebrate Thanksgiving with meals where family and friends gather to reminisce. In the past decade, a child’s first birthday has become a big deal. A small cake is bought for the one-year-old to dig into with their hands, enjoy making a mess, and taste the sweetness of the day. Many hours and a significant amount of money will be spent on a birthday party that the child will not remember. We live in a culture where we bounce from one celebration to another, looking for a good time. Our celebrations have become shallow and self-serving. We seek out activities and events, hoping to fill a void that only Christ can fill. Yet, the one who can fill us and give life meaning received no celebration at all at His birth. At this time of year, Christmas, we should be celebrating the one whom the holiday was named after. However, most of what you see has nothing to do with Christ.
When Christ was born, the whole world should have been celebrating, yet this was not the case. When Jesus was born, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that everyone in the region of Palestine should return to their ancestral homelands. The city became overrun with people. Those who sold goods were anticipating the money they would make. Their focus was not on looking for the Messiah. A young woman riding on a donkey in labor did not phase those who were enjoying this rise in the economy. The excitement was electric, the air full of celebration, but it was not about Jesus.
Luke 2:1-5 “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
Of course, God knew the hearts of the people. Their focus was on what the events of the day could do for them. The Jewish nation had heard of the coming Messiah throughout their history. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet proclaimed that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” In Luke 1:27, this prophecy was fulfilled. The angel spoke, “To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” The place of His birth would be Bethlehem, which was prophesied in Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” The fulfillment is seen in Matthew 2:1-2, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” The scribes and King Herod knew this was the one the Jews had looked for. Herod was not Jewish, yet he had heard the prophecy and believed this infant was a threat to his design for the kingdom.
Matthew 2:3-5 “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet.”
To Herod, Jesus was a rival to his power and his way of life. He would only celebrate when he knew this new king was dead.
Today, we look back at the truths that were fulfilled in Jesus. We see a baby in a manger and think of this precious event, but instead of celebrating him, we grow further away from Him during this time. We get so busy with gifts, food, and activities that we skip our devotions and the study of God’s word. We sit in church services thinking of all the things we must get done, instead of soaking up the message from the pulpit. We stay up late and get up early, not to spend more time with Him, but to prepare for others. While there is nothing wrong with putting in extra effort for family and friends, it is wrong if we neglect the one we are to be celebrating. Think about it. When you celebrate a birthday for someone you love, everything is focused on them. You have the foods they like, the decorations that reflect their personality, and the people they enjoy being with. The celebration is all about them!
While you may be caught up in all the fanfare, it is time to stop and analyze why you are doing what you are doing. It is time to celebrate our Savior’s birth and make this Christmas all about Him. Talk about Him at your gatherings and spend some extra time with Him. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing when we celebrate this Christmas.
