Celebrating the Birth of Jesus

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are traditionally filled with decorations, gifts, food, and family. The eyes of children sparkle while parents watch and enjoy their children's responses. There is nothing wrong with any of these traditions. However, I just want to remind all of us that first and foremost, Christmas is about celebrating and worshiping Jesus on the day designated to remember His birth and coming into our world as the promised Christ. Before Christmas Day ends, I hope we will all have a time set aside to celebrate and worship Jesus as the baby of Bethlehem who is to be the Savior of the world through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

While you may have read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clark Moore to your children, consider reading these Scripture passages and singing two well-known Christmas carols to help children and adults be reminded of the reason we celebrate and worship Jesus this and every Christmas.

The prophet Isaiah gave hope to the people of Israel about the Savior that God would send into our world. (Isaiah 9:6-7a)

"For unto us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall

be upon his shoulder,

and his name shale be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace;

Of the increase of his government

and of peace there will be no end,"

Time passed many years until God fulfilled the words that He had given Isaiah to speak. The fulfillment came with the birth of a baby in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:1-20)

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

The shepherds worshiped and praised God when they had seen the baby Jesus and been told by the angels that this was the promised Messiah, the one who is truly King and Lord over all. One of these Christmas Carols expresses joy in the coming of Jesus while the other reminds us to invite other people to know Jesus also.

JOY TO THE WORLD (ISSAC WATTS 1719)

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (FREDERICK OAKELEY)

FROM LATIN HYMN ADESTE FIDELES (JOHN FRANCIS WADE)

O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be glory given!

Word of the Father,

Now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

I hope that each of you have a Merry Christmas as you celebrate and worship the living Christ who dwells in the lives of every person who puts their faith and trust in Jesus, God's only Son, the promised Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

MERRY CHRISTMAS